Engineering ideology

Following a brief reflection on the connotations of the words `engineering¿¿ and `ideology¿¿, the author gives his own definition as `the manner of thinking which characterises engineers¿¿. This is considered under several headings, with the author´s view of the validity or otherwise of the various ideologies described. Examples are given of engineering projects which have caught the public´s imagination, fuelled public prejudice and reinforced the stereotyped image of the engineer to the point of caricature. Reference is also made to projects which, though no less significant, have failed to register with the public at large and hence have not served to enhance the engineer´s reputation in the way that might have been expected. Possible reasons for this, and suggested ways of increasing both the public´s awareness of `the true engineering ideology¿¿ and the engineer´s perception of public thinking, conclude the paper.