1946

Not surprising is the growth of the Institute of Radio Engineers during the past few years. The part played by radio and electronics during the war is, in itself, sufficient explanation. More important than the effect of numbers, however, is the increased attention by the public at large to the accomplishments and also to the opinions of engineers. This is a situation that places a very direct and important responsibility both upon the engineer as an individual and upon the technical and professional societies through which his viewpoints are expressed. It is argued that engineers should be assuming their whole responsibilities not only in dealing with the strictly technical aspects of their problems, but also in guiding the destiny and application of their work. It is by no means a cloistered environment, but one where commercial, industrial, and economic factors are prominent in the scene. The engineer is required to deal with intangibles and with human nature, where the problems are much more difficult to solve than when confined to inanimate matter. Engineers and scientists who, together, formulate our technical advances, must and should participate actively in their subsequent use and application. It is the duty of every engineering organization to promote that participation by every means available.