This week is National Engineers Week!  Pat yourself on the back engineers, because YOU deserve to be celebrated!  Also known as E Week, this week celebrates millions of engineers and future engineers everywhere.  Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, this holiday is observed by engineering, education, and cultural societies, as well as corporations and government agencies.  The NSPE created this holiday to encourage the growing interest in engineering and technology as a career option for current students.  NSPE works with other organizations to inspire and motivate youth to pursue a career in this field.  Let’s be honest.  Engineers rule the world.  Without them, we wouldn’t have things like cars, computers, electricity, chocolate factories, or Ferris wheels.  

Speaking of Ferris wheels, here are 8 fun facts about engineers and some of the awesome things that they have accomplished:

1. An engineer created the Ferris wheel! In 1893, George W. Ferris created the first Ferris wheel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  It was the largest piece of single forged steel at that time using 140 foot steel towers.
2. Without a civil engineer, the water slide would not be possible!  An engineer designed the pumping system that pumped just the right amount of water down the flume.  Without this, there would be no ride.
3. Engineers created the snowboard! Serman Poppen bolted two snow skis together and attached a rope to the front for his daughter to use in the snow.  This “Snurfer” was then refined and modified to evolve into the modern snowboard.
4. The first engineer known by name was the Egyptian pyramid builder Imhotep.  He gained a godlike status in Egypt when he built the step pyramid around 2700 B.C.
5. The word “engineer” is derived from the Latin word “ingenium.”  Until the 18th century, engineers exclusively created and built weapons and fortresses.
6. Mount Everest was named after an engineer!  This mountain was named after British surveyor George Everest.  He was the Surveyor General of the “Great Trigonometric Survey of Indian.”  From 1832-1842, he contributed greatly to the measurement of the Indian meridian arc, reaching all the way up to the foothills of the Himalayas.  
7. Have you seen Jurassic Park?  Star Wars?  Any of the Marvel movies?  The CGI effects of movies like these would not be possible without a computer engineer.  Together with animators, they are able to morph digitally mastered images to make them appear more realistic.
8. Interactive TV would not be possible without engineers!  Engineers have created every part of interactive TV technology, including film emulsions, developing better sound quality, and designing new cables.  This allows us as viewers to select any film, game, or program from more than 500 channels.

To all of our engineering friends, we thank you for all that you do!