2011 was another busy year for engineers all over the world. From inventing a device that turns air into water to exploring the oceans in a tiny submarine, scientists and engineers are exploring uncharted territory.

Like last year, we at eGFI have chronicled the most awe-inspiring innovations and stories, so in case you missed one, we present:

The Most Popular, Interesting, Weird, or Just Plain Cool eGFI Blog Posts of 2011

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Filed under: Aerospace, Agricultural, Architectural, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, e-News, Electrical, Environmental, Explore Engineering, Industrial / Manufacturing, Materials, Mechanical, Ocean, Transportation | Comments Off on Best of 2011: Our Top Stories

Tags: 3D, Aerospace, Agricultural, Architectural, Aviation, Biomedical, Biomimicry, Biotechnology, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Design, Electrical, Energy, Environmental, Giving Back, Green Technology, Green Transportation, Industrial / Manufacturing, Materials, Mechanical, Ocean, Robotics, Software, Technology, Trailblazers, Transportation

In a world increasingly affected by climate change, unexpected droughts are a harsh reality for many farmers whose livelihoods depend on regular rainfall. That’s why Edward Linacre, an industrial design graduate student from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, decided to invent a device that can literally harvest water from thin air.

Airdrop, as it’s called, recently won the prestigious James Dyson Award, which grants Linacre over $14,000 to develop the product. It was selected from among 500 entries from 18 different countries for its simple design and revolutionary approach to irrigation.

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Filed under: e-News | 3 Comments »

Tags: Agricultural, Biomimicry, Environmental, Green Technology, water desalination plant

Do you spend hours browsing Facebook every day? Chances are, you probably do. But here’s something about Facebook that you might not know: just like tech giants Google and Apple, Facebook is also looking to hire lots of engineers.

The social networking site has just announced that it plans to open an engineering office in New York City, according to a press release. The office will be led by Sekan Piantino, a Facebook engineer who has helped with the development of the News Feed and Timeline and now manages the teams that maintain Facebook Messages and Chat.

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Filed under: Computer, e-News | 1 Comment »

Tags: Careers, Computer, Software

Yves Rossy really likes jumping out of planes. At 52, the Swiss fighter pilot is the first person daring enough to strap a jet-powered wing to his back and soar over landmarks such as the English Channel, the Swiss Alps, and the Grand Canyon – feats which have earned him the nickname “Jetman.”

Although Rossy’s primary career has been that of pilot and daredevil, his journey to become Jetman produced him many engineering achievements as well. For the past two decades, Rossy has spent much of his free time pursuing a goal of flying with as little assistance as possible.

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Filed under: Aerospace, e-News | Comments Off on Jetman: Flying Soon to a Landmark
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Tags: Aerospace, Aviation