Engineers-alchemists for the new century?

In the middle ages alchemists devoted themselves to the attempt to turn base metals into gold. They failed, but their quest is an allegory for modern engineering endeavour. Engineers are trained to find solutions to real problems. There are two different roles they can play in this process. The first is to wait passively until someone else tells them what to do, what problem to tackle, what sort of solution to seek. This is the time-honoured role of the engineer: always on tap, but never on top. The second, and far more exciting role, is to decide for themselves, make their own decisions and set their own agendas. The bureaucrats and politicians, the lawyers and accountants, would prefer engineers to accept the former role. The author suggests they seek the latter. The author discusses the role engineers will play in the future of the human race.