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Engineering gets a boost
August 10, 2006

Today's Boston Globe reported that Bernard Gordon, founder and CEO of Analogic, is giving away $40 million to boost engineering awareness and education. According to "Science Museum, NU to widen paths," the Gordon Foundation will donate $20 million each to Northeastern University and to Boston's Museum of Science. The donations will let the university expand its engineering program and let the museum expand its exhibits that focus on engineering.

Gordon has long been outspoken regarding engineering education, having once donated $20 million to Tufts University. He's long argued that engineering education is important and he's put his money where his mouth is.

Gordon is somewhat legendary in both the electronics industry and in the Boston area. Stories of him still echo in the halls of companies that employ former Analogic employees.

I still recall reading an article Gordon wrote in the summer of 1979 called "The Inept Training of Engineers." The article struck a chord with me because I was entering my senior year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and would enter the workforce one year later. Ironically, I took a job with Analog Devices, which was Analogic's arch competitor at the time. Both companies manufactured modular op amps, ADCs, DACs, and other compoents. Since then, Analogic has moved into medical and security systems and Analog Devices moved into ICs so the two no longer compete. One of my first tasks at Analog Devices was to trace the PCBs of ADC modules made by both companies to see who copied who.

Speaking of engineering education, Test & Measurement World's September cover story will focus on just that topic. We interviewed EE professors and students at several universities to get their perspectives on the engineering profession, those who choose to enter the field, and what's being done to encourage young people to consider engineering careers. Go to this site on September 1 to read the article or look for your print or digital magazine to arrive.

Posted by Martin Rowe on August 10, 2006 | Comments (0)