Engineering at the Interface

Abstract

The President illustrates the challenges facing engineers at a number of interfaces between established disciplines, experiences and structures. An account of influences on his own early education and training are followed by descriptions of his fascination with the characteristics of thin films of lubricant at the interfaces between moving parts of machine components and body masses in the human frame. Developments in engineering education, particularly in relation to the promotion of interdisciplinary subjects and the opportunities for students to interface with overseas institutions in an international form of engineering education are outlined. The important interfaces between industry, the universities and the professional institutions in relation to education, training and research are identified as essential foundations for the promotion of a research and knowledge led competitive industrial base for the twenty-first century.