Why communities need engineers

key selling points

• this stem title introduces young readers to engineering innovations from the past and present that have helped shape our world and examines potential future innovations. the chapters are divided into areas that impact communities, including inventions in water access, waste, energy, shelter, communication, transportation and healthcare.
• this book asks young readers to think critically about engineering design in their own communities, introduces career options in the field and inspires innovation for the future.
• it highlights well-known (and not-so-well-known) engineering examples from around the world, including the steam engine, magnetic levitation trains, the development of the apple computer, the telegraph, recycling robots, toilet-to-tap drinking water, the first prosthesis and stem cell therapy.
• extra content introduces readers to notable women in engineering, including elsie macgill (who produced british hawker hurricane fighter planes in wwii), margaret a. wilcox (inventor of the car heater) and lilia ann abron (first black woman to get a phd in chemical engineering).
• the author has a bachelor of applied science in civil engineering from the university of british columbia. she studied at a time when not many women were in the field.