The Scientist and the Engineer 71 



the use of words and mathematical symbols, and it is in 

 academic circles that these skills reach their highest levels. 

 Science really doesn't exist until the results have been accu- 

 rately described to and accepted by other workers in related 

 fields. 



The engineer may do much of his mental work in a 

 nonverbal, more or less intuitive way. The first recognizable 

 product is an actual material thing rather than a verbally 

 expressed idea. This tendency to skip the symbolic stage 

 of the creative process is often reinforced by the necessity 

 for secrecy involved in much industrial and military engi- 

 neering. The engineer is not only less interested and less 

 capable than the scientist in communicating his results; he 

 often finds it unprofitable or even dangerous to do so. 



In summary, I hope I have said enough to show that both 

 scientists and engineers come in a variety of shapes and 

 sizes, that there are very great differences in the degree of 

 creativity exhibited within each field. Both scientists and 

 engineers may be engaged for much or even all of their 

 lives in essentially routine tasks; on the other hand, either 

 field offers opportunities for the highest forms of creativity. 

 At certain stages in the development of new technological 

 fields the activities of scientists and engineers become in- 

 distinguishable. 



Nevertheless, there are certain differences in attitude, in 

 style of life, and in the character of satisfaction to be gained 

 in the two fields. These differences are great enough to 

 justify a good deal of self -analysis before a given individual 

 makes a final choice between them. 



