I agree that engineers tend to be "behind the curtain" but I can't say I agree with your reason.

we may note that engineers tend to be insulating themselves from the mundane world, interacting very little with the common folks in the neighborhoods - a sort of exclusivity and technophobia?

I'm sure it is different cultures around the world but in my neighborhood (in the US) engineers are very active in school groups, coaching kids sports teams, being Boy Scout leaders etc. but they don't seem to be in politics or rise to the top of corporations much. So I agree it is something about us. Thinking about myself I don't really know why but I do know that politics just has no appeal for me. But I am trying to start with myself and find more ways to make a difference in this world and I applaud your efforts with APIX.

If in fact the engineers of the world did receive the attention that is placed on the other members of society like the ones that you mentioned. I believe that it would disrupt the advancement that they were receiving the attention for.

Can you imagine every day leaving work and having the Paparazzi following you around. News reporters up in your face. The invasion of your privacy would be so much that it would disrupt your train of thought. It is this clarity of thought that aids the worlds engineers to create.

As far as them insulating themselves the only time that I see that is when there is a problem. We are expected to find answers and we are so deep in thought we don't even know you are there.

The exclusive territory of politicians, industrialists, activists, environmentalists, writers ...

The difference between these type's of personalities & those involved in the more technical endeavors, is marketing, self promotion & a different level/type of interpersonal skills.

It is unusual to find highly skilled engineers who excell @ motovating large groups.

Individuals possesing the motovational skills usually take a different path & bypass the nuts & bolts of the engineering world.

As a scientist and engineer, I'm not sure we should have more roles in development initiatives. For one thing, an engineer is not a "people person". Its long been my experience both in college and in the work force that many of us lack the capabillity to relate to others who are not also engineers and scientists. Our quest is to solve the problem, whatever that problem might be. But, we tend to not realize there can be many ways to solve a problem, and we dont neccesarily qualify our solutions, as long as we have a solution. For example, consider a problem where you have to remove the coolant from your automobile radiator. I bet for everyone who said "used the drain plug in the bottom." 5 others thought about some sort of suction device to remove it out the top. Both will work, both are commonly used, but lets face it, the plug is a hell of alot easier. Thats the engineering mentality. Not convinced? Lets say the president of the US posed the question of how to improve communication between countries. Anyone here knows as well as I do (especially after reading some forum thread responses) that the answers from engineers will go into equiptment, power useage, antenna arrays, fiber optic cables, computers, infrastructure, etc, for a long long time before anyone discusses actual talking and writing. How many of us have gone to bed at night worrying about our equipment versus how many of us have gone to bed worrying about the economic plights of third world countries? I think the best we can do is educate people as to what engineering really is and can do and serve best in advisory roles within that capacity. We'll never be the "face" people of anything global things like politicians, activists etc because being an engineer isnt sexy. True story: When I was younger and meeting girls in bars or social gatherings, I'd tell them I was an engineer. One girl asked me what it was like to drive a train and if I worked for Amtrak. Nowadays I tell people I'm a Zamboni driver (a job I do for a little extra cash on the side) before I tell them I'm an engineer because driving the zamboni is far more interesting to people then being an engineer.

Quote:

"Nowadays I tell people I'm a Zamboni driver ... before I tell them I'm an engineer because driving the zamboni is far more interesting to people then being an engineer." ...Unquote

This very statement by "Guest" sums up the veracity of what was originally the intent in the discussion subject! The answer purported to have been made by "guest" shows the "negative complex" that is somehow ingrained in most engineers.

Be that as it may, this writer would wait for more time to understand more such view points, before coming out with own analyses, assessments and inferences.

You say "For one thing, an engineer is not a "people person"."

Unfortunately I have to agree with you, at least that is the stereotype. Although I find engineers can relate to other engineers just fine. I think the key point is we as scientists and engineers have to become more "people people". We have to work at being better communicators. When I was interviewing for my first engineering jobs as a senior in college one recruiter told something that I've never forgotten. A "Dale Carnegie" study found that 87% (that's the number I remember anyway) of a technical person's success is his/her ability to communicate and work with others. In my 25+ year career starting out as an engineer and eventually moving into management that I agree with Dale Carnegie that communication is absolutely key and often more so than the technology, because without the communication the technology never gets used.