The Engineering Commons Podcast

Episode 139 — Estimation

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 21:31:57 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss the importance of accurately estimating time and budget as a practicing engineer. Brian frequently makes estimates as part of his professional duties. Detrimental effects of our anchoring bias are noted by Jeff. We reference lecture notes from Francine Warner of Kennesaw State University in this episode. In making estimates, … Continue reading →

Episode 138 — Still Awkward

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 17:10:02 +0000

We catch up with Sam Feller (who previously joined us in Episode 70), discussing his interests, projects, and latest entrepreneurial ventures. Having left industry to pursue an academic career, Jeff isn’t chomping at the bit to move back into the entrepreneurial world. Our guest for this episode is Sam Feller, a mechanical engineer who may … Continue reading →

Episode 137 — Late Summer

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 05:07:36 +0000

In an episode that was recorded in early October, Adam, Carmen, and Jeff reflect on their summer activities, and on plans for the remaining months of 2017. Carmen spent a lot of his summer traveling, both domestically and internationally. Although he spends a good deal of time dealing with marketing people, Carmen claims that he’s … Continue reading →

Episode 136 — Circle of Competence

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 18:07:49 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff consider the boundaries of one’s own competence in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Competencies seem to be driven by past failures, notes Brian. For learning about “magical potions” developed with “unicorn science” (chemical engineering), Brian recommends the NurdRage channel on YouTube. Brian takes a cruel pleasure in seeing Mehdi … Continue reading →

Episode 135 — Target Audience

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 04:18:29 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons, the gang discusses tailoring a presentation to meet the needs and interests of your intended audience. Adam’s favorite form of communication is an old-fashioned face-to-face conversation. The data throughput of smoke signals is a bit too slow for Carmen’s needs. Jeff suggests flag semaphore as an alternative means … Continue reading →

Episode 134 — Twenty Forty

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 00:42:21 +0000

Adam, Carmen and Jeff discuss how engineering might change by the year 2040 in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Adam hopes to move a little higher into middle management over the next decade… unless he wins the lottery and can immediately proceed to retirement! We begin by looking back 23 years, to what engineering … Continue reading →

Episode 133 — Embarrassed Engineer

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 04:07:02 +0000

This episode finds the gang discussing engineering projects that went awry, but did not result in the loss of human life. While map makers include trap streets to catch copyright violators, Adam reassures us he’s never been asked to physically construct such a street. It seems that mapping software sometimes makes traffic worse. At the … Continue reading →

Episode 132 — By Any Other Name

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 17:34:20 +0000

We discuss the case of an Oregon man fined for “practicing engineering without a license” in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Both Jeff and Adam have attended a few plays authored by William Shakespeare. A line from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet is often used to assert that names do not change what something … Continue reading →

Episode 131 — Five Years

Mon, 22 May 2017 04:10:19 +0000

Chris Gammell returns to The Engineering Commons to discuss how his views on engineering education (and the engineering profession) have evolved over the past five years. Jeff is coming to appreciate that learning is a social event. Massively open online courses (MOOCs) were once thought to be the next “big thing” in education. Our guest … Continue reading →

Episode 130 — DC Motors

Mon, 08 May 2017 04:13:48 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss an electromechanical component commonly used to achieve physical motion; the ubiquitous direct-current (DC) motor. Carmen admits to getting turned on by electricity… and sugar! Although differences between engines and motors can be argued, at least one definition claims that an engine converts chemical energy to mechanical … Continue reading →

Episode 129 — Noticing

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 15:57:45 +0000

We are joined once more by Dave Goldberg, author of A Whole New Engineer, to discuss the critical engineering skills of noticing, listening, and questioning. Brian takes a 50/50 shot at guessing whether President Lincoln faces left or right on the United States one-cent coin. For younger listeners, Jeff describes the features of a telephone … Continue reading →

Episode 128 — Industrial Academic

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 04:07:54 +0000

Dr. Dave Vandenbout offers up his insights on choosing between academic and industrial careers in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Carmen wastes no time in revealing his secret method for stress-testing CMOS chips. X-ray systems can be useful in locating bad solder joints hidden underneath a ball grid array (BGA) integrated circuit. Our guest … Continue reading →

Episode 127 — Technical Writing

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 06:15:15 +0000

We talk with iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens about documenting and sharing technical procedures, especially those related to the repair of consumer devices. We start this episode by catching up on some past episodes… In Episode 111, “Environmental Engineering,” we talked with Bronwyn Bell, an environmental engineer from Western Australia, who is now featured in an … Continue reading →

Episode 126 — Diesel Power

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 05:15:39 +0000

Aeronautical engineer Clay Coons joins us to discuss the many applications of diesel engines. Adam’s Kubota BX tractor is powered by a 23 HP diesel engine. During his high school years, Jeff learned that gasoline (petrol) engines don’t run too well on diesel fuel. Ska Punk music often features horns, as evidenced on a song … Continue reading →

Episode 125 — Cubicle Farm

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 05:54:09 +0000

We discuss how the workplace environment influences our productivity in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Jeff is currently sharing an office, so although he doesn’t have much extra space, he does have a door he can close when necessary. Brian uses his office as a storage locker, collecting old printed circuit boards and spare … Continue reading →

Episode 124 — Mad Skillz

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 05:07:39 +0000

The gang discusses how one acquires the skills most frequently used by engineering professionals. Brian knows that parliamentary procedures are described in Robert’s Rules of Order, but he has not had to use such procedures in the course of his engineering career. A quorum is the minimum number of voting members from a deliberative group … Continue reading →

Episode 123 — Transitions 2016

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:07:12 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss transitions experienced by Adam, Carmen and Jeff during the past year. Brian participates in our round-robin discussion, but it seems his 2016 was fairly routine. Adam has been residing in his new estate since mid-November, and is still uncovering new surprises on his property. A power … Continue reading →

Episode 122 — Jared Asks

Mon, 26 Dec 2016 21:03:14 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we answer questions from listener Jared about coping as an engineering student. Carmen informs us that making accurate estimations is an important engineering skill. In this episode, we answer questions from listener Jared about surviving the math-science death march encountered in the typical engineering curriculum. It’s normal to … Continue reading →

Episode 121 — Idle Doodling

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:07:12 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons, our intrepid crew discusses planning, leading and attending the dreaded corporate meeting. It seems that Brian elects to daydream when in boring meetings, whereas Jeff has been known to doodle extensively. Jeff located a website claiming to offer doodle analysis and interpretation, although the disclaimer notes that it … Continue reading →

Episode 120 — Augmented Engineer

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 13:58:07 +0000

This episode of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff predicting how virtual and augmented realities might soon be incorporated into daily engineering activities. Adam’s not so sure he’s ready to plug into the Matrix. Brian suggests that understanding differential calculus is much less practical than knowing Kung Fu. Bullet time is a … Continue reading →

Episode 119 — Gears

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 13:01:13 +0000

Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss mechanical gears in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Although a mechanical engineer, Jeff isn’t much for working on cars. We share a few stories about synchronizing generators, including use of a synchroscope. Brian mentions mechanisms with extremely high gear ratios. The two main functions of gears are trading off … Continue reading →

Episode 118 — Practical Engineering

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 04:07:26 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast, we talk with civil engineer Grady Hillhouse, producer of YouTube’s Practical Engineering channel. Carmen has been known to wield a reciprocating saw as he refines his woodworking skills. Our guest for this episode is Grady Hillhouse, a professional civil engineer from Austin, Texas who runs the Practical … Continue reading →

Episode 117 — Soft Skills

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 05:26:48 +0000

This episode of The Engineering Commons dives into the importance of “soft skills” to engineering professionals. A fictional giant from the 1984 Ghostbusters movie, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is the chosen form of Gozer the Gozerian. We use the LinkedIn article “Top 5 Must-Have Soft Skills for Professional Engineers” as a framework for our … Continue reading →

Episode 116 — The Grid

Thu, 08 Sep 2016 07:13:48 +0000

Adam, Brian and Jeff discuss the electrical grid in this episode of The Engineering Commons. The difference engine, conceived of by J. H. Müller in 1786, and designed by Charles Babbage in the 1820s, is often considered the world’s first computer. Brian notes that electric furnaces are increasingly used in steel production. Adam and Brian … Continue reading →

Episode 115 — Bearings

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 23:57:09 +0000

Carmen and Jeff discuss mechanical bearings in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Carmen has a pretty good sense of his navigational bearing, but is less knowledgeable about mechanical bearings. U.S. interstate highways are numbered with even numbered roads going primarily east-west, and odd numbered roads passing mostly north-south. Differences between skateboards and longboards … Continue reading →

Episode 114 — Driven Electrons

Thu, 04 Aug 2016 15:02:34 +0000

Brian leads our discussion of electric vehicles in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Carmen notes that a single resting electron has a mass of 9.11 x 10-31 kilograms. Brian suggests some form of positronic vehicular propulsion might be possible, although radiation issues would make it impractical for most earthbound applications. One of the … Continue reading →

Episode 113 — Chemical Engineering

Sat, 23 Jul 2016 12:54:14 +0000

Chris Welch joins Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff to talk about the field of chemical engineering. Jeff believes in unicorns, even though he’s never seen one! From his childhood, Jeff recalls watching a DuPont film about “Better Living Through Chemistry.” Our guest for this episode is Chris Welch, a chemical engineer from New Brunswick, Canada, … Continue reading →

Episode 112 — Boomer Exodus

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:03:34 +0000

The gang discusses opportunities and challenges of dealing with Baby Boomers as they depart the engineering field. Adam is aware of the “retirement cliff,” which describes an impending loss of skilled workers, nearly all of them Baby Boomers, in a short period of time. Americans tend to derive much of their self-identity from their jobs, … Continue reading →

Episode 111 — Environmental Engineering

Thu, 23 Jun 2016 10:38:50 +0000

Bronwyn Bell joins Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff to discuss the challenges and responsibilities of an environmental engineer working in the mining sector. Carmen likes to help out local beer brewers in harvesting hops, but he’s not sure what makes for a good hops growing season. Environmental engineers plan, design and manage projects associated with … Continue reading →

Episode 110 — Engineering Vacation

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 05:09:47 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss the activities they enjoy when escaping the workplace for a few days. Brian enjoyed reading Michael Lewis’ book “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine” on a recent vacation. Adam’s vacation time is more likely spent making home repairs than traveling to the beach. Vacation spots of possible interest … Continue reading →

Episode 109 — Design Process

Thu, 26 May 2016 04:07:37 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss theoretical and practical aspects of the design process, as well as the emotional states they experience when engaged in design activities. Carmen is starting to gain confidence in his design abilities. Jeff notes that a lot of his colleagues wanted to be design engineers, but the number of available … Continue reading →

Episode 108 — Engineering Sensibilities

Thu, 12 May 2016 04:56:16 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss an engineer’s sense of right and wrong, and why that worldview may conflict with organizational priorities. A recent article in Engineering & Technology Magazine addressed the issue of whether engineers are “made,” or “born.” Brian references the classic spherical chicken joke. A discussion ensues about how often engineers see … Continue reading →

Episode 107 — Steel

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 04:44:51 +0000

This episode of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian and Jeff talking about steel, the most common of engineering metals. Jeff and Brian consider whether comic book hero Superman should have been called the “Man of Osmium,” or the “Man of Molybdenum,” rather than the “Man of Steel.” Steel is not an element one can … Continue reading →

Episode 106 — Flight Test

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 04:31:19 +0000

Aerospace engineer Eric Becker explains the duties of a flight test engineer, and offers a few insights on dealing with operational risk, in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Like most engineers, Carmen occasionally worries whether he’s made the proper decision at work. To avoid making mistakes, Carmen suggests napping under one’s desk, like George … Continue reading →

Episode 105 — Reddit Questions 3

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 04:07:29 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff answer questions from Reddit, and discuss a few queries of their own making. Jeff is patiently waiting to be asked to consult for an obscenely large hourly rate. Brian struggles to remember the exact wording of a quotation from the movie Good Will Hunting: “Nobody in this town works without … Continue reading →

Episode 104 — Downturn

Thu, 17 Mar 2016 05:12:48 +0000

Civil engineer Mike O’Connor shares stories of continuously revamping his professional skills to stay afloat during turbulent economic times. Adam sees economic cycles, both short- and long-term, influencing his engineering activities. Petroleum engineers have recently seen an economic downturn in their industry, similar to a downward slide suffered 30 years ago by the oil business. … Continue reading →

Episode 103 — Ones and Zeros

Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:56:15 +0000

Electrical engineer Dave Vandenbout guides us through a survey of programmable logic devices, and offers advice for young engineers wanting to succeed in the world of digital design. Brian finds his work offers a good mix of analog and digital electronic design challenges. The issue of signal integrity has been discussed on several podcasts, including … Continue reading →

Episode 102 — Admiral Rickover

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:07:06 +0000

Metallurgical engineer Paul Cantonwine shares insights into the life and career of Admiral H. G. Rickover in this biographical episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Adam has no interest in being associated with solar FREAKIN’ roadways. (While a cool concept, not everyone believes solar roadways are feasible.) Our guest for this episode is materials engineer … Continue reading →

Episode 101 — Effective Email

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 05:07:49 +0000

Electrical engineer Bob Schmidt joins Adam, Carmen, Brian and Jeff to talk about the importance of making a good impression, and delivering the intended message, with effective email. Jeff readily admits that he doesn’t use newer communication channels such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Rather than use Instagram, Jeff has a Kodak carousel projector in … Continue reading →

Episode 100 — Interdisciplinary Skills

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 05:07:03 +0000

Founding co-host Chris Gammell returns to The Engineering Commons to talk about the importance of interdisciplinary skills with Adam, Carmen and Jeff. Knowledge of heat transfer is useful in circuit design, acknowledges Carmen. As part of a required engineering class, sixteen Harvard students designed a smoker for cooking the “perfect” beef brisket. Chris’ educational site, … Continue reading →

Episode 99 — Review 2015

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 06:29:27 +0000

Adam, Brian and Jeff discuss highlights and back stories from episodes of The Engineering Commons podcast released in 2015. Brian started work the Monday after he graduated from college, and now wishes he had taken a little time off before beginning his professional career. Listener Joel suggests we invite Karl Stephan to participate in a … Continue reading →

Episode 98 — Relocation

Thu, 24 Dec 2015 06:21:42 +0000

Mechanical engineer Jim Heilman returns to The Engineering Commons to cover questions engineers should ask before relocating to advance their careers. Adam moved for his current job, but had to abandon the high-speed internet connection he enjoyed at his previous residence. Our guest for this episode is Jim Heilman, a mechanical engineer who spent two … Continue reading →

Episode 97 — Next Hundred

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 06:59:43 +0000

Adam, Brian, and Jeff discuss where the podcast should venture during its second hundred episodes. Adam claims to be better at long term than short-term planning. Listener feedback is encouraged as we try to sort out what topics to cover in upcoming episodes. Tutorial episodes (for example, Nuts and Bolts) seem well-received, but require substantial … Continue reading →

Episode 96 — Perceptions

Thu, 26 Nov 2015 05:05:37 +0000

This episode of The Engineering Commons finds the gang discussing how engineers are perceived by those outside the engineering field. Jeff accidentally reveals the plot of a well-known fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin, while sharing a childhood recollection. At the end of 1981, when Jeff graduated from college, inflation in the U.S. was around 10%, six-month certificates … Continue reading →

Episode 95 — Details

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:09:04 +0000

Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss the role of details in engineering projects, and how one goes about evaluating, managing, sharing, and documenting critical minutia. In the introduction, Jeff misses the detail that this podcast is published in November, not October. Carmen doesn’t mind sweating the details, but reviewing documentation for typographical errors is not his … Continue reading →

Episode 94 — Relevance

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 04:07:02 +0000

This epiosde of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian, and Jeff discussing what it means to be relevant, and how engineers can increase their relevance on the job. Brian is not entirely sure what a thought leader is, but he’s pretty certain he doesn’t want to be one. However, Brian invents the perfect term for … Continue reading →

Episode 93 — Capacitors

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 04:24:30 +0000

Electrical engineer James Lewis stops by to share his insights on the surprisingly complex world of capacitors. Carmen introduces the show as covering “passives.” This refers to passive electrical devices that have no control over voltage, current, or signal gain. Our guest for this episode is electrical engineer James Lewis, a Marketing Director for capacitor … Continue reading →

Episode 92 — Garage Gear

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 04:44:11 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss tools they use for utility and enjoyment at home, where the cost-to-quality evaluation is slightly different than in the workplace. Jeff’s collection of tools is rather ancient, as suggested by his 35 year old corded Craftsman drill, and his 20 year old cordless Mikata drill with rapidly fading batteries. … Continue reading →

Episode 91 — Home Automation

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 05:34:38 +0000

This episode of The Engineering Commons finds the guys discussing the technologies, toys, and tribulations associated with wiring one’s home to the internet. Carmen is holding off on constructing his own JARVIS (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System) personal assistant until he can construct it using nothing but solder and transistor-transistor logic (TTL). Fermilab’s Main … Continue reading →

Episode 90 — Traffic Engineering

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:39:52 +0000

Adam leads us through some key concepts related to traffic engineering in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Brian has some practical reason for looking forward to self-driving cars. During 2013 the United States experienced 32,719 motor-vehicle related fatalities. Self-driving cars may have a disruptive effect on the auto insurance industry. Our guest for … Continue reading →

Episode 89 — Early Lessons

Thu, 20 Aug 2015 21:27:46 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss the lessons we learned during our first two or three years of working as engineering professionals. Adam considers himself a fast learner, although he finds that pain occasionally increases the rapidity of his learning. In this episode, Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss lessons learned early … Continue reading →

Episode 88 — Reddit Questions 2

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 14:20:12 +0000

With Brian away on vacation, Adam, Carmen, and Jeff address issues and questions found on the “Engineering,” “Ask Engineers,” and “Ask Electronics” sub-Reddits. Carmen is off on an immediate rant about finding brown M&Ms in his trailer this week, which is apparently a violation of his appearance rider. We discuss needing custom-printed M&Ms for the … Continue reading →

Episode 87 — Existential Engineer

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 04:07:54 +0000

Mechanical engineer Jack Reid joins Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff to discuss the philosophical aspects of engineering, and to review Samuel Florman’s book, “The Existential Pleasures of Engineering.” Jeff is pretty sure his life is not a syllogism, although he’s not completely sure what the term means. Our guest for this episode is Jack Reid, … Continue reading →

Episode 86 — Idiot Box

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 04:07:31 +0000

Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss movies and TV shows they find inspiring or entertaining (or maybe just awful) from an engineer’s perspective in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast! Carmen recently “unplugged” his cable service, and will soon be using a Tablo device to record over-the-air TV programs. The Martian is a soon-to-be-released movie … Continue reading →

Episode 85 — Unwritten Rules

Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:35:07 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss the values and ideals that often guide engineering decision making, even if these policies are rarely written down or mentioned in academic settings. Brian finds that Dilbert cartoons help him develop a “befuddlement with life and others.” Scott Adam’s book, Dogbert’s Top Secret Management Handbook, provides guidance on how … Continue reading →

Episode 84 — Workflow Balance

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 04:16:08 +0000

Chemical engineer Aaron Spearin chats with Jeff and Adam, sharing insights on workflow balance, value stream mapping, and the importance of interdepartmental communication. Adam gets frequent complaints about traffic backups at this time of year, as many of his employer’s road construction projects are in full swing during the summer. Our guest for this episode … Continue reading →

Episode 83 — Career Planning

Thu, 28 May 2015 05:12:13 +0000

We talk with aeronautical engineer Patrick Riordan about the challenges of developing and navigating a career road map, Archimedes’ lever, and the Star Trek method for being perceived as a miracle worker. Although he’s enjoyed his career, Jeff isn’t ready to claim that he’s changed the world in any meaningful manner. Jeff points out that … Continue reading →

Episode 82 — Photonics

Thu, 14 May 2015 04:07:47 +0000

We talk with mechanical engineer Tim Quinn about advances being made in the world of photonics, wave–particle duality, and optical computing in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Carmen is pleased that Google Fiber is coming to his neighborhood. Our guest for this episode is Tim Quinn, a design engineer who works for Thorlabs in … Continue reading →

Episode 81 — Plastics

Thu, 30 Apr 2015 05:40:46 +0000

Our conversation with mechanical engineer Jim Heilman delves into exciting advances being made with plastic materials, the types of molding equipment used to manufacture high-volume plastic parts, and whether or not the movie industry can be trusted to provide good career advice. Dustin Hoffman appeared in his first staring role as twenty-year old Benjamin Braddock … Continue reading →

Episode 80 — Spatial Reasoning

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 06:02:58 +0000

During this episode, we chat with researcher Jonathan Wai about the strong spatial skills exhibited by many engineers. We also discuss why standardized tests don’t measure spatial abilities, the manner in which highway clover leafs are designed, and how one particular co-host would go about reconfiguring his local deli counter. Adam describes the process of … Continue reading →

Episode 79 — Tools of the Trade

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 04:07:36 +0000

This episode centers on tools that we enjoy using, whether engineering-related or not. Jeff is of the opinion that many engineering professors dislike teaching “tools” because software packages are constantly changing in scope and syntax, and associated teaching materials must be vigilantly updated. Reliability is an important characteristic for a good engineering tool, according to … Continue reading →

Episode 78 — Grad School

Thu, 19 Mar 2015 04:01:23 +0000

We discuss the pros and cons of returning to school for an advanced engineering degree in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. After knocking over a beer, Brian asks about the “industry exemption” for engineers. As a point of reference, Jeff has a PhD, an MBA, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering. Adam has … Continue reading →

Episode 77 — Remote Host Toast

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 05:19:12 +0000

We chat with software engineer Elecia White about embedded programming, self-driving cars, and why internet appliances must connect to the web more quickly and easily if they are to find commercial success. Carmen is looking forward to burning images of Darth Vader or Fry from Futurama into his morning slice of toast. Rather than looking … Continue reading →

Episode 76 — Creative Diversity

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:18:48 +0000

What is your creative style, and when might it be most effective? We talk about creative diversity with electrical engineer Kathryn Jablokow in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Brian finds it best to have multiple solutions ready for every engineering problem he encounters, because potential solutions have a nasty habit of failing to … Continue reading →

Episode 75 — Vectored Thrust

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 05:09:50 +0000

Mechanical engineer Herb Roberts shares his stories of developing an advanced jet engine for the US military in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Jeff admits he’s never torn apart an engine, although he spent a lot of time repairing his 1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible, which had an incredible knack for discovering inopportune times … Continue reading →

Episode 74 — Ideas Without Words

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 05:04:13 +0000

Electrical engineer Bob Schmidt joins the discussion of how engineers convey important concepts without using words. Beyond writing down a few words to remind him of key details, Brian likes to dive straight into analysis or development when he has a new design idea. Brian often uses LTSpice to analyze electrical circuits. A debate ensues … Continue reading →

Episode 73 — Review 2014

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 07:26:58 +0000

Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss highlights and back stories from episodes of The Engineering Commons podcast that were released in 2014. Carmen and Adam explain why certain beers benefit from aging. It is suggested we introduce canon for our podcast, so as to keep track of “reality” for those multiverses in which our errors … Continue reading →

Episode 72 — Getting Stuff Done

Thu, 25 Dec 2014 05:11:36 +0000

Carmen, Adam, and Jeff address a few methods by which engineers can track, organize, and prioritize the tasks for which they are responsible. Jeff admits that he often struggles more with deciding what to do than with getting something done. Even though Chris is not with us this week, we reference once of his favorite … Continue reading →

Episode 71 — Design Avenues

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 05:38:03 +0000

We talk with electrical engineer Chris Gammell in this episode, discussing design tradeoffs, parametric part searches, and the manner in which design work is being altered by component manufacturers. Adam finds that he doesn’t have much choice in choosing between mechanical, electrical, and software components; bridges pretty much have to be constructed of steel and … Continue reading →

Episode 70 — Awkward Engineer

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 04:08:52 +0000

In this episode we chat with mechanical engineer Sam Feller about product design, power optimization, and drawing skills. Oh, and we talk about dunking cookies in milk… how can you beat that? Adam continues working on a semi-automated system for brewing beer. An xkcd comic suggests an optimal blood alcohol level for effective programming, otherwise … Continue reading →

Episode 69 — Credentials

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 05:55:21 +0000

We talk with Gary Bertoline about graphics communication, computer-aided design, credentials, and competency-based degree programs in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Adam is less stressed now that he’s earned his professional engineer (PE) license. Our guest for this episode is Gary Bertoline, Dean of Purdue University’s College of Technology. In addition to his administrative … Continue reading →

Episode 68 — Engineering Expert

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 06:10:52 +0000

James Trevelyan speaks with us about the skills and talents of expert engineers, and how those of us who have not yet achieved “expert” status can improve our ability to complete engineering projects on time and within budget. Brian feels he is becoming less of an expert as time goes along; there just seems to … Continue reading →

Episode 67 — Pragmatic

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 03:26:04 +0000

Electrical engineer John Chidgey joins us in this episode of The Engineering Commons to talk about ladder logic, podcasting, and an engineer’s role in making the world a better place. An open invitation to discuss general engineering issues got Jeff started in the world of podcasting. Carmen, Brian, and Adam became trapped involved as co-hosts … Continue reading →

Episode 66 — Nuts and Bolts

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 04:16:06 +0000

We discuss some of the considerations that go into choosing a threaded fastener in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. It can be more complicated than you might think! Carmen has a tendency to make up words every now and then; this leads to quizzical reactions from his co-workers. For many years, Jeff has … Continue reading →

Episode 65 — A Whole New Engineer

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 05:49:10 +0000

In a lively discussion of how to best prepare today’s engineering students for tomorrow’s engineering challenges, we talk with Dave Goldberg and Catherine Whitney about their new book, A Whole New Engineer. Any “dot-com” dreams that Brian harbored during his college days have long since dissipated. Carmen suggests that ridiculous buyout amounts are now measured … Continue reading →

Episode 64 — Reddit Questions

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 20:03:02 +0000

We answer nine questions about the engineering profession, gathered from a quaint little website called Reddit, in this episode of The Engineering Commons. You may notice a common thread in our responses, as there is rarely a clear-cut solution, and the answer often depends on the situation! Carmen turns to application (app) notes or textbooks … Continue reading →

Episode 63 — Engineering MBA

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:57:35 +0000

Michael Lachman, who started his career as an aerospace engineer, leads us through the pros and cons of following up an engineering degree with an MBA. Adam doesn’t have much interest in business, so he doesn’t think he’s a likely candidate to pursue an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree. Our guest for this episode … Continue reading →

Episode 62 — Role Model

Thu, 21 Aug 2014 18:53:50 +0000

Electrical engineer Meagan Pollock explains how engineers can be more effective role models. We also learn about promoting equity in the workplace, discover how digital movie projection technology is used to improve medical care, and consider whether or not software engineers deal with entropy. Jeff doesn’t recall any technical role models growing up, but benefited … Continue reading →

Episode 61 — Renaissance Engineer

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:14:16 +0000

Our conversation with Dr. Janusz Kozinski, Founding Dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, covers the trials and tribulations of starting a new engineering school, as well as the the attributes and mindset of a “renaissance engineer.” Additionally, we learn a little bit about the skill sets that will be expected of tomorrow’s engineering professional. … Continue reading →

Episode 60 — Social License

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:33:35 +0000

Geological engineer Pamela Rogalski shares her insights about using social license to enact change in organizations and communities during this episode of The Engineering Commons. Adam notes that bureaucracies seem rather opposed to the concept of change. Our guest for this episode is Pamela Rogalski, a licensed professional engineer from Canada who has worked as … Continue reading →

Episode 59 — Engineering Technology

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 18:34:03 +0000

We talk with aeronautical engineer Mark French about degrees and careers in Engineering Technology, as well as delving into wind tunnels, guitars, and how to launch a ping-pong ball at supersonic speeds. While Carmen is unsure if he’s a technologist, he’s pretty certain that Daft Punk is Technologic. Our guest for this episode is Mark … Continue reading →

Episode 58 — Miscellany

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 18:21:04 +0000

In a completely off-the-cuff discussion, Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff wander through subjects including finite state machines, power circuit wiring, and the economic implications of technological advances. Jeff is busy preparing to teach a Software Carpentry course, as well as revising the Mechatronics course he taught the past two years. Although there are certain conceptual … Continue reading →

Episode 57 — What Engineers Do

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 18:39:35 +0000

In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss engineering skills and duties learned in the workplace, rather than from a textbook. Brian tells young engineers that an engineering degree is a “learner’s permit.” Once in the workplace, engineers have to teach themselves to solve an entirely new class of problems. A gold-fish shaped retention … Continue reading →

Episode 56 — Analog Footsteps

Thu, 29 May 2014 18:18:22 +0000

We discuss the legendary engineers of analog electronics with Linear Technology’s Todd Nelson. Jeff and Brian discuss how analog computers have been replaced by digital computers, but digital signals have to be treated as analog waveforms as the bandwidth increases. Brian references the video game Asteroids in making an analogy about the relationship between analog … Continue reading →

Episode 55 — Engines

Thu, 15 May 2014 14:29:24 +0000

Aeronautical engineer Clay Coons explains the most common types of engines, and why each type is optimal in certain applications. Antidisestablishmentarianism is the longest non-technical word in the English language. “Suck, squeeze, bang, blow” is a mnemonic phrase for remembering the stages for a 4-stroke engine. For engineers not dealing with computers or software, an … Continue reading →

Episode 54 — Brain on a Stick

Thu, 01 May 2014 14:07:14 +0000

Biochemical engineer Kai Zhuang walks us through the evolving relationships between technology and humanity, especially as it relates to engineering education, in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Jeff and Adam discuss the high salaries being offered to software engineers in Silicon Valley. Adam notes that the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) placed a … Continue reading →

Episode 53 — Storytelling

Thu, 17 Apr 2014 14:48:55 +0000

We talk with mechanical engineer, product designer, educator, and executive consultant Craig Sampson about the importance of storytelling in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Carmen likes the universality of engineering stories, in that all engineers eventually encounter similar difficulties in dealing with customers, managers, and organizations. In a prior episode of this podcast, … Continue reading →

Episode 52 — Engineering Pranks

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 06:08:42 +0000

In this episode we talk about engineering pranks through the years. We seem to have a new focus for this podcast; as we will apparently be talking about “Tar Roads!” Tar is a black, thermoplastic material produced by the destructive distillation of coal, and was widely used in the early and mid 20th century for … Continue reading →

Episode 51 — Product Development

Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:37:00 +0000

In this episode we talk about product development with electrical engineer Dave Young, who is an author, educator, and small business owner. Brian has been fortunate enough to be involved in new product development for much of his career. Many firms try to avoid a technology push, in which a novel technology is introduced to … Continue reading →

Episode 50 — Art of Engineering

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:41:09 +0000

We talk with systems engineer Mike Parks about the intersection of art and engineering in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Adam finds that his beer brewing talents exceed his drawing and singing skills. Our guest for this episode is Mike Parks, a systems engineer, Navy veteran, and licensed professional engineer with over 16 … Continue reading →

Episode 49 — Women in Engineering

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 23:48:10 +0000

In a conversation with electrical engineer Cherish Bauer-Reich, we consider factors that encourage or dissuade women from entering the engineering profession. Over the past thirty years, Jeff has seen a definite increase in the number of women attending engineering school. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) reports that women now comprise around 14% of … Continue reading →

Episode 48 — Troubleshooting

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:45:53 +0000

We talk with electrical engineer Bob Schmidt about troubleshooting in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Please help us improve the podcast by filling out our 2014 Listener Survey! Adam, Brian and Jeff agree that troubleshooting computer software problems can be a frustrating process. Our guest for this episode is Bob Schmidt, an electrical … Continue reading →

Episode 47 — Project Management

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 05:22:06 +0000

Adam leads the group on a discussion of project management in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Please help us improve the podcast by filling out our 2014 Listener Survey! Brian feels any technically interesting project is probably of sufficient complexity to require a project manager. Since Adam has a certificate in Project Management, he … Continue reading →

Episode 46 — Review 2013

Fri, 10 Jan 2014 03:35:04 +0000

Jeff, Adam, and Carmen discuss the highlights and back stories from last year’s episodes of The Engineering Commons podcast. Please help us improve the podcast by filling out our 2014 Listener Survey! Carmen is hoping that when he moves into his new house, and can convert the Dr. Suess bedroom into a office, he will … Continue reading →

Episode 45 — Success

Thu, 26 Dec 2013 14:38:49 +0000

We talk with civil engineer, author, and coach Anthony Fasano about steps one can take to ensure a successful engineering career. Although Jeff’s engineering career hasn’t led to huge financial success, he considers it to have been successful, as he has gotten to work on a lot of interesting projects, and meet many fascinating people. … Continue reading →

Episode 44 — Ambiguity

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 19:24:27 +0000

In this episode, we consider how engineers deal with ambiguity, uncertainty, and risk. Carmen would be willing to take a 50/50 shot at $1001 tomorrow over a certain $500 today. Most people are risk-averse when dealing with gains, and would take the sure money. According to the article “The Five Neglects: Risks Gone Amiss,” (Berger, … Continue reading →

Episode 43 — Context

Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:39:50 +0000

We talk about context and learning with Chris Gammell, founder of the Contextual Electronics series of instructional videos. Adam’s favorite lab course in school was Bituminous Materials, which investigated the properties and characteristics of asphalt. Our guest, Chris Gammell, recently tweeted about Christmas Ale from the Great Lakes Brewing Company, and we inquire about his … Continue reading →

Episode 42 — Six Sigma

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 00:54:20 +0000

Guest Erica Lee Garcia explains the role of process improvement tools such as Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and Statistical Process Control in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Although process improvement tools are widely used in manufacturing, not all engineers are familiar with their usage. Our guest is Erica Lee Garcia, a Professional Engineer … Continue reading →

Episode 41 — Going Solo

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 12:38:30 +0000

Guest Sophi Kravitz helps us understand some of the issues involved with starting a one-person consulting firm. Jeff started out on his own in 1994, but had a rocky beginning before landing on his feet. Carmen fears that, left to his own devices, he would spend his days watching Seinfeld reruns. Our guest, Sophi Kravitz, … Continue reading →

Episode 40 — Engineering Fiction

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 04:41:15 +0000

Guest Stefan Jaeger joins us to discuss the portrayal of engineers in literature and mass media. If his work life were a procedural crime drama, Brian’s not sure whether he’d be portrayed as a hero or a villain. Brian enjoyed the movies Real Genius and Sneakers for their representations of quasi-engineers. Our guest, Stefan Jaeger, … Continue reading →