The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), defines engineering as follows:

Engineering is the profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgement to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.

The difference between engineering and science can become obscure because of the similarities and the fact that engineers and scientists, along with technicians and mechanics, often work together in teams.  Their goals often overlap so that their differences are unimportant.  In general, scientists create knowledge.  Engineers use that knowledge to create systems, devices, materials, and consumer goods, through analysis, synthesis, and design.  The products of engineering are so vast, we often forget where and how they were developed and produced.  Some estimates say that engineers contribute 50% of the US GDP. A few examples include: appliances, airplanes, rockets, computers, semiconductors, integrated circuits, cell phones, the internet infrastructure, telecommunications equipment, transportation systems and infrastructure, microprocessors, food and chemical processing systems, water and waste treatment systems, and energy productions systems.

Some Wilmington area companies that rely heavily on engineering are: BASF, Chemtex, Corning Optical Fiber, DAK America, Elementis Chromium, General Electric, International Paper, Invista, Progress Energy (CP&L), US Army Corp of Engineers, Wilmington Machinery, and numerous local consulting engineers.

See this site for different types of engineering.

Check out the following sites for engineering information:

American Society for Engineering Education - precollege web site
Junior Engineering Technical Society - (JETS) home page for useful guidance and career preparation materials
Discover Engineering - lots of interesting facts about engineering and engineers (you may have to try this link twice)
How Stuff Works - as the name implies, how stuff works!  Founded by an electrical engineer in Raleigh.
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology - see which colleges offer engineering degrees.
National Engineering Societies
National Academy of Engineering
Professional Engineers of North Carolina
National Society of Professional Engineers
PBS series Building Big web page
Engineer girl web site

Greatest Engineering Acheivements of the 20^th Century

25 Microchips That Shook the World

Famous engineers

Wilmington Area Engineering Societies

National Engineers Week