engineer vs scientist

salzrah

Engineers ask how something works
Scientists ask why something works

tygerdawg

My (US Engineer) perspective:

Surviving an Engineering curriculum at the Bachelor's level will teach one how to solve problems. Getting through a Master's Engineering program in graduate school teaches one how to learn new subjects and deep analysis. The Ph.D. develops a skill in deep thinking and analysis, and to independently develop new insights.

In industry, engineers have constraints imposed upon them such as production schedules, finish dates, budget limitations, and limited resources (financial, physical, equipment, & personnel). The perception is that engineers are there to solve the problems of those conflicting constraints and "make it happen" to get the project completed or the products out the door in order to make revenue. It involves technical compromises, cutting corners but maintaining <whatever important criteria>, and occasional negotiating with a variety of stakeholders to accept other-than-specified parameters or changes of project scope or completion dates or budgets.

Not to seem disparaging in any way, but my experience with "scientists" is that they are often more narrow in scope and perception; focused on the task of discovery rather than the results; appear to value their worth via individual accolades (e.g., paper authorship) rather than an engineer's desire to show successful completion of projects.

My experience is that there is distinct difference in thought processes and motivations. But I think that there is a place for both in the world, and many times in the same company.

chill_factor

i think i understand what you mean.

even in applied sciences, the focus is on "making the device operational". The engineering mindset is "this device is operational. how do we make better without incurring horrendous losses?

DragonPetter

I usually think of a scientist as being focused on devising experiments to understand nature, analyzing empirical data related to those experiments, and learning/creating theory related to understanding nature.

I think of an engineer as someone who may also perform experiments, but with an application in mind rather than purely understanding the nature of the world. They will analyze data to understand performance or characterize systems in the hopes that it will lead to practical uses. And they will learn/develop theory that may be mathematical or science in nature, but use this to explain or create man-made systems or use the information to benefit humans.

Like everyone seems to say, a scientist often uses engineering, and an engineer often uses science. I have found the people who excel in both are the ones I admire the most.