The engineering profession needs to undergo a radical transformation in order to remain relevant to the future that is being moulded by culture and technology, according to Central Queensland University's James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems Dean Professor Elizabeth Taylor.

"Central Queensland is about to witness engineering and technological activity on a scale that makes it one of the fastest growing process areas in the world.

Professor Taylor will address the challenges faced by today's engineers when she speaks at CQU's first Professorial Lecture for 2002 at CQU Rockhampton next week.

Although there is a commonly held belief, that engineering leads technological innovation and therefore leads and changes society, Professor Taylor believes that the reality is that engineering is a conservative profession that tends to mirror past rather than future community aspirations.

"The engineering enterprise will still have relevance in the future, however if there is no serious change within the profession, we are likely to fail to realise the possibilities the future holds for our community.

Photo above========Central Queensland University's James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems Dean Professor Elizabeth Taylor.

"It is timely to consider these issues now as Central Queensland is entering one of the most exciting and terrifying periods in its history.

"This presents vast possibilities for our future as a community.

"However we will only maximise these possibilities if engineers and the community develop a very different understanding of their relationship," Professor Taylor said.

The Professorial Lecture "The Illusion of Control: An Issue for the Practice of Engineering" will be held on Tuesday 5 March, 6pm at CQU Rockhampton - Building 29, Room G.05.

Admission is free and open to any interested member of the public.

For bookings or further information please contact Amy Hixon on 4923 2550.