The Free Talk Live BBS

Free Talk Live => General => Topic started by: Pizzly on October 21, 2010, 01:39:59 PM

Title: Trend in engineering.
Post by: Pizzly on October 21, 2010, 01:39:59 PM: Why does it seem that agriculutral engineering is one of the most demanded disciplines (by industry), and it's probably one of the most important engineering schools, but there's so little interest? I have been looking at alternative majors recently and I think I'm going with agricultural, but I find it odd that it's the least popular engineering major here at psu (as far as it seems).

The only thing I can think is that socially farmers get little respect, and this discipline is directly related to farming.
Title: Re: Trend in engineering.
Post by: YixilTesiphon on October 21, 2010, 03:43:33 PM: Honestly I'm not sure what's involved in agricultural engineering. My major was environmental engineering at Cornell, practically right next door. I assume it's fate-and-transport, drainage, soil creation, biogeochemistry, etc?
Title: Re: Trend in engineering.
Post by: Pizzly on October 21, 2010, 03:54:09 PM: This is from the ASABE website:

Quote
Biological and agricultural engineers ensure that we have the necessities of life: safe and plentiful food to eat, pure water to drink, clean fuel and energy sources, and a safe, healthy environment in which to live. More specifically, biological and agricultural engineering (BAE) is the application of engineering principles to any process associated with producing agriculturally based goods and management of our natural resources.

It seems like a very important field, but I find it odd it's not very popular. If I go with it as my major I'm probably going to focus on the agriculutural side, with an emphasis on structural systems.

I should mention that there is a popular program in the college of sciences for agriculture, but science is not engineering.
Title: Re: Trend in engineering.
Post by: Bill Brasky on October 21, 2010, 05:49:09 PM: When you become an agricultural engineer, will you be able to grow a pair?
Title: Re: Trend in engineering.
Post by: Turd Ferguson on October 21, 2010, 06:31:48 PM: Quote from: Drifter on October 21, 2010, 05:49:09 PM
When you become an agricultural engineer, will you be able to grow a pair?

I think Monsanto has a patent on growing those now.
Title: Re: Trend in engineering.
Post by: sillyperson on October 21, 2010, 08:09:54 PM: I respect the field a lot. And I think there's a shitload of money to be made in it, which I also respect.

But to me "agricultural engineering" just sounds too close to "farming", with a hint of "sanitation engineer"
Title: Re: Trend in engineering.
Post by: BobRobertson on October 21, 2010, 08:15:25 PM: Quote from: d_goddard on October 21, 2010, 08:09:54 PM
But to me "agricultural engineering" just sounds too close to "farming", with a hint of "sanitation engineer"

Not "hint", the correct word is "whiff".