About the administrator – Engineering is important

My name is Clint Steele and like you I am an engineer. I have always thought that engineers are very important to society and that for this reason they should be well connected. This would enable them to share information so that they can become better engineers, and benefit society even further. That’s why I set up Ingeneers Network: to help engineers exchange ideas and knowledge to become better and more successful engineers.

 

About the history of the network’s creation

I got the idea for Ingeneers Network when I was in industry. Occasionally I would come across a problem that required some skill or knowledge that I didn't have; the same for my colleagues. The thing was that we always knew that there must have been someone out there who would have the knowledge that we needed. The trouble was we just couldn't find them.

 

I should point out that I had tried other ways to network. I am a member of APESMA, EA, the Risk Engineering Society (RES) and the American Society for quality (ASQ). Now I can't say that they didn't help me. They did. In fact, sometimes they helped me a lot. But this was for two reasons:

1. I was very much involved with these organisations and the people who helped me were also heavily involved. I was a vice president on a committee for one of the organisation and a treasurer for a committee of another.
2. Additionally, whenever I made a useful connection it was with another committee member.

 

It needs to be easier for engineers to connect

This told me that the current engineering organisations would only help me with a problem if I was seriously involved. Now this just doesn't work for most of us; we can't all be committee members. Still, these other organisations are excellent, and I reckon that you should be a member. It's just that I don't think that they are ideal for the kind of networking that I knew I needed.

 

I should also point out that I am involved with other online networks. Networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and EngTips. These too didn't really help.

 

I needed people who were more closely located so I could meet them and properly explain my problem, I needed to be able to search a database that actually included engineering details, and because I was often working on commercially sensitive project I couldn't use a public forum. So once again, what was on offer wasn't really what I knew engineers needed.

 

Once again, I am not criticising these other online networks; like I said, I am involved with each of them. They're just not enough for engineers in Australia.

 

So that was the idea for Ingeneers Network: a database of engineers that engineers could use to connect with each other and share knowledge. By doing this you can benefit in 3 ways:

 

1. you can find the knowledge you need - knowledge that you might not have otherwise been able to find
2. see how valuable your knowledge really is - until you can see how frequently your knowledge is needed you just don't know its true worth
3. you can see new opportunities for your career that you might not have otherwise not known about - that's the benefits of a network

 

About how the network works

The first step is to sign up. Once you do you create a profile with all of your interests and skills. Your profile can now be searched by other members. Then one of two things will happen. You will look for and contact someone who can help you or someone will contact you for help. Hopefully, each will happen many times. Each time you meet with someone you will share knowledge and expand your network. That's as simple as it is. All you need to be involved is to join.

 

Here are some features and benefits of the network.

 

Feature	Benefit
Free to join	No risk to try it out and no large costs like with other engineering organisations.
Purely online	You don’t need to attend special meetings go anywhere else to get the full benefits.
Purely engineering based	Because it is all about engineering you know that everything is related to engineering, and your career.
The shop	It’s not easy finding things for engineers or finding things that you would want to buy yourself. The engineering shop has an excellent collection of engineering related products.
Member benefits page	You get access to information products that you just won’t find elsewhere or that you would normally have to pay for.
Passive system	You are automatically connected to everyone else. That means that you don’t need to spend time building your network.
No search restrictions	Some online groups require you to pay to perform certain searches. Here you can search everywhere so you know you’re going to find the best information and connections

 

 

Ingeneers Network really is all benefits and an excellent way to increase your engineering connection. However, be warned Ingeneers Network Australia is not all about taking. It is also, and perhaps more importantly, about giving back. Do not join the network if any of the following are true:

1. You only wish to ask for help without offering to anyone else
2. You are not prepared to maintain professional relationship with the people you contact
3. You will not express gratitude to the other engineers you meet and who help you

These go against the spirit of Ingeneers Network Australia. If this spirit does not suit you or the way you work, then it is best you do not join.

 

About the name

As mentioned in the FAQ, the name Ingeneers was chosen to differentiate the ingenious engineers from the technical or operating engineers. For example, a train driver is an engineer and numerous trades use the name engineer because they operate machinery (or an engine).

 

Debate over this method of differentiation is not new. Take a look at this article from the New York times, pay attention to the date. Take a look at this article too, once again, pay attention to the date.

 

You will note the different spellings in the two articles. That is ‘ingeneer’ and ‘ingineer’; however, there is also a third common option: the French ‘ingenieur’. While this third option is more common it was thought that simply replacing the ‘e’ with an ‘i’ would be the most convenient.

 

The word ‘engineer’ will be used on this website to mean professional ingenious engineers. This is until a new word is commonly, or officially, adopted. The use of ‘ingeneer’ within the title is make it clear the kind of ‘engineers’ that the network is intended for.

 

 

 

Now imagine being a part of the most dynamic and effective engineering network in the country. Imagine helping improve the quality and reputation of engineers and engineering in Australia. Imagine continually becoming a better engineer throughout your career.

Once you join, you will!

 

Still want to know more?

If you do, then take a look at the FAQ page. You will find your answers there.

 

If not, then Join now, and start being more active in your engineering community.

 

Clint Steele

Ingeneers Network Administrator