Where does the top Mechanical Engineering talent in the US work?

[noimagination]

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Well, let me ask you: how many people with smartphones are willing to relinquish them? How many people would willingly refrain from using the Internet? The empirical evidence seems quite clear that most people do indeed prefer the advancement of technology.

Just as many executives hire the management consultants and investment bankers whose pay is such a large concern of yours.

Um, how’s that? Do you own this forum? If not, then pray tell, exactly what gives you the right to tell others what topics they’re allowed to discuss here? I don’t tell you what you’re allowed to discuss.

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<p>I only see the relevance of advice for engineering students and graduates. A general indictment of the FIRE economy, or whatever else you are arguing for, doesn’t relate.

Then by that Panglossian argument, no American ever has a right to agitate for any change about anything, right? After all, even the poorest American living in the vilest, most crime-ridden neighborhood still lives better than plenty of poor people in the Third World. So he should have no right to agitate to improve his lot?
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Those are just some of the potential systemic downsides that I can see from the signing of Lin. But I doubt that Lin cares about any of that. Nor should he. He simply cares about improving his own station in life. Engineers should also be concerned primarily with improving their own stations in life.

Well, you certainly have the right to demand a higher salary. Let us know how it goes.</p>

<p>In case you are missing it, part of the message I am trying to convey here is that engineering and investment banking are different and that this difference is a good thing. People who are interested in the finance lifestyle can pursue that, through an undergraduate degree in engineering if that’s the preparation they want. I don’t envy them the competition, or the current prospects (banks are not doing well right now).

Sure, here’s a simple one: political lobbying. Engineers and scientists need to become more politically vocal and demand greater respect and support for sci/tech funding…and if they want to identify a source of revenue for that funding, might I point to that $700bn financial bailout as a starting point. I would ask why exactly does the Federal Reserve wield such extraordinary powers to provide oceans of liquidity at below-market rates to banks, but not for the funding of, say, tech startups? </p>

<p>Here’s another step: become a registered patent agent. Anybody with an ABET-accredited engineering degree is legally allowed to take the USPTO Bar exam and, upon passage, become a fully certified patent agent. You don’t need any work experience, and can attempt the exam literally right after you graduate. While patent agents are not able to provide legal opinions, they can provide opinions regarding patentability. They can then leverage the patent system to protect the inventions of themselves or their colleagues. Even if they never do, the fact that you are an registered patent agent will surely only improve your marketability and value as an engineer, particularly given the widespread patent litigation and negotiations that happen seemingly on a daily basis within the tech industry.

Thank you, these are interesting ideas.</p>