An Inconvenient truth: Responsible? Reluctant to change? Take action !

In the film, Gore's persuasive argument exposes “an inconvenient truth”. That is we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenges facing our global civilization.

Again, we are discussing one of the most controversial problems: global warming. Compared to other problems like terrorism, disease or financial crisis, whose effects show up in front of our eyes and influence our daily life directly, global warming seems somewhat remote, invisible or mild. Despite the temperature going up to some degree, Our routines keep undisturbed as usual, with air-conditioning on, with fancy neon lamps on, with private cars running, with budget-flight ticket, with all the electronic blessings from modern technology. Resources are reachable and affordable, even to meet those luxurious high-class needs. Human beings are unprecedentedly good at consumption, for a more comfortable and convenient so-called modern lifestyle. Taking a step further to society, factories’ mass production, dynamic business, soaring economy (in developing countries like China), or generally steady prosperity in advanced countries ( let alone financial fluctuation in these days), ambitious political will for Great Power, all the phenomena above comfort us with the thought of a convenient world, a promising future for human civilization. Unfortunately, what is convenient may not be the truth. While we each are enjoying our facilitated life at the expense of sped-up consumption, we each are contributing to depriving posterity of a secure earth. We each are responsible.

Scientific researches on global warming has been carried out worldwide for decades of years, based on integrity, accuracy, elaboration and objectiveness of scientists’ attitude. It is those factual statistics data or charts according to long-term observation that we should take a serious look at, rather than conceived assumptions or debates by some eloquent speakers who never received scientific training nor bothered to read “academic” information, not to mention understanding the actual situation. Gore assured none of the reports from scientific studies disagree with alarming trend of global warming.

So why do people still doubt or hesitate? Undeniably, it takes pain to address global warming, either by slowing down energy consumption, or by wide application of renewable energy. Certain government members are afraid to lose their country’s competitive power or their own power from supports of industry, due to limiting energy consumption. Certain industrial companies are afraid to reduce their profits if production cost goes up with energy price. Crucially, people who are accustomed to dependence on new technology, but still keep old habits or attitude (sadly including majority of us) are reluctant to make a big change of the living way that they are familiar and comfortable with. It demands clear thinking and strong determination to overcome our inertia and take our initiative. Difficult? Never forget nowadays we are ready for most of technological preparations. Without action, we never know what obstacle lies in the way of recovery, but what we definitely know is the danger in the way of human civilization.

How an Engineer expands the world

In the article “The Expanding World of Engineers”, Prof.Ramakrishna stated that “an engineer’s training helps to systematically analyze complex information and apply a holistic approach in designing solutions.”In this sense, while the rapid growth of globalization and technological application is expanding the workplace of engineers, in the meantime, engineers are expanding the territory of human being by systematic and innovative solutions to diversified issues in almost every field, from manufacture to service industry, from system design and management to resolution of new challenges including potential energy crisis.

An engineering education placed the emphasis on problem-solving strategies, which advantages engineers on pragmatic, effective and creative thinking. Engineers with this positive attitude, tend to be more flexible in solution design and decision making, as they base their ideas not only on empirical knowledge accumulated through industrial history, but also on the fresh information base changing at high speed constantly. After seizing the first-hand facts, engineers dare to dream big, beyond any existing convention. What they focus on is how to break restrictive limitations and maximize real benefits, rather than avoid stepping into sensitive area or compromise on an assortment of rules which are traditional concern and thus constraints. All engineers concern about is an optimized solution that provides most promising effects. Under this firm direction, engineers undertake projects by a systematic approach, efficiently and determinedly, according to thorough analysis of current situation. This process is exactly what engineering’s training brings into play. Within every field of society, only in a systematic manner, can a comprehensive study and complex agendas be carried out. More importantly, for engineers who take up jobs in manufacturing and associated sectors, in-depth professional knowledge enables them to meet rigorous technical demands and play a key functional role in leadership of enterprise.

make-up example:
"Dreaming big has paid off for four from NUS at the fourth SMU Lee Kuan Yew Gloabl Business Plan competition.This team impressed with their cartilage-repair biotech business plan and walked away with the first prize."
---- The Business Times,July 14,2008
They are engineering students who dream big