Introduction
The word engineering derives from the Latin noun ‘ingenium’, which means gift, talent, aptitude, and ability, or the Latin verb ‘ingenerare’, which means to infuse, to implant, and to inspire. According to the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development is engineering ‘the creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property.’ Engineering can be understood as the application of science and mathematics in order to create new technology. The Hungarian-American mathematician, engineer and physicist Theodore von Kármán once said, ‘Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that never has been’. Thus, engineering provides a practical link between all other STEM subjects and in addition to the creative arts.
Creativity
Creativity encompasses the ability to discover new and original ideas, connections, and solutions to problems. It’s a part of our drive as humans—fostering resilience, sparking joy, and providing opportunities for self-actualization. In the following video, we explain how AutoSTEM fosters children’s and students’ creativity.