The fields of engineering and the life sciences are converging to create an essential multidisciplinary framework for the anticipated discoveries and product innovations in biotechnology, according to a study by ASME International (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
The convergences of the life sciences and engineering "will define the applications of scientific progress" in biotechnology in the 21st century, notes the study, which ASME commissioned in an effort to identify the key issues affecting its members and the mechanical engineering profession at large.
The Convergences of the Life Sciences and Engineering says that engineers of all disciplines will work alongside physicians, biologists, environmental scientists, and other professionals "to initiate and manipulate organisms at the cellular level" and evaluate, develop, design, and manufacture the products and processes of the rapidly growing biotech field.
According to the study, creating the next generation of such promising technologies as implantable biosensors is requiring an intersection of two previously disparate disciplines. The specific role of mechanical engineers, notes the study, will continually evolve.
While the traditional skills of mechanical engineers, such as fluid dynamics and energy transfer, will continue to advance the life sciences, at the same time the complexity of biotechnology is "requiring MEs to adopt new perspectives and consider alternative, previously unthinkable, solutions."
The convergence of the life sciences and engineering will expand employment opportunities for mechanical engineers, according to the study. Mechanical engineers "will increasingly move into fields such as robotics, biomedical engineering, and biotechnology," says the study. "The mechanical engineer's ability to understand the mechanistic underpinnings of many types of systems will increase demand for MEs in a wide variety of industrial sectors."
Challenges associated with the new multidisciplinary framework include the specter of public fear and distrust regarding biologically derived products and the need for colleges and universities to readdress the traditional approach to engineering education.
The Convergences of the Life Sciences and Engineering (Book No.: AFO202) is available for $25. The discounted price for members of ASME International is $20. To order, call ASME at (800) 843-2763.
ASME International () is a 125,000-member organization focused on technical, educational and research issues. ASME conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations, holds numerous technical conferences worldwide, and offers hundreds of professional development courses each year. ASME sets internationally recognized industrial and manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public welfare and safety.
RSS