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EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN ENGINEERING 32 professional societies had begun to be active. The dissemination of information on an organized and consistent basis was an essential factor in the burst of inventiveness seen during the 1870s, as well as in the move toward organized research by industry. Support By Key Individuals. At a time when there was no coordinated planning or direction of technology development on a societywide basis, the support of influential individuals was critical in the development of engineering as a profession. The efforts of Thomas Jefferson, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Ezra Cornell, and others were instrumental in the initiation of engineering education in America. In the opinion of the panel, it is usually individuals, not institutions, who bring about change in traditional practices and entrenched points of view. When those interested individuals are also in a position to bring governmental and political influence to bear (e.g., Jefferson, Hoover, and Franklin D. Roosevelt), their advocacy is of great importance. Government Support. The scale of actions needed to foster increased development in the engineering professions is often too large to be undertaken by individual companies or groups of individuals. Thus, passage of the Morrill Act of 1863 was a pivotal event in the professionalization of engineering, opening up the opportunity for technical training to large numbers of people. It is clear that government support for large public works-style projects such as the Eric Canal, railroads, the Panama Canal, and flood control was crucial in early periods of engineering. Similarly, government action during the Depression and, again, during World War II was in large part responsible for the nation's success in overcoming both of those threats to national well-being by means that were partly technological. At the same time, these actions gave tremendous impetus to engineering in all its forms, providing large-scale engineering employment and fostering the development of high-cost, R&D-intensive new fields such as aerospace and computers. In a technological society, government support of and intervention in the technology development process is crucial. Supportive Societal Environment. The existence of a social climate conducive to technology development and engineering activity is also essential. The panel believes that there are three main conditions that contribute to such an environment: ⢠Societal approval of technological advancement (i.e. is such advancement seen as beneficial?) ⢠Acceptance by the existing establishment [i.e., do the political,
