Engineering is all about relationships. Engineering is about physical, social, and spiritual relationships.
While engineering draws from the scientific models of the physical world, this mathematical framework is only one aspect of this highly dimensional field. Each field (chemical, electrical, mechanical, et al) contain several fundamental equations that define the relationships between physical phenomena. For mechanical engineers, the fundamental equation is F=ma. For electrical engineers, the fundamental equation is V=IR. At a higher level (and somewhat less fundamental level), the systems engineers even have transfer functions that will define the relationship between mechanical forces and electrical inputs. A simple example of this relationship is a motor.
A college education ingrains these fundamental physical relationships in our minds, but the classroom neglects the social and spiritual relationships that are fundamental to our profession.
Engineering cannot succeed in a vacuum. When parts need to be made and components ordered, a successful engineer will know how to work with the team through the design review processes. Birthing a widget and taking the product from the drawing board and into the physical world requires discovery, partnerships, and interactions. Engineering is just as much about these human social interactions as they are the physics.
relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
spiritual
When I talk about the spiritual relationships of engineering, I think about the human spirit and the drive to innovate, explore, and build a better world. When we design a widget, we ask ourselves several fundamental questions: Who are we helping? What do they need help with? Where can our skillset provide the most impact? When do they need a working prototype or solution? Why?
Because we want to help build a better world. And we can do that through understanding the physical, social, and spiritual relationships in engineering.