• Question: Do you feel that you are taken for granted by the public for what you do? Do you think they realise how hard it really is?

    Asked by charlotteacb11 to Alex, Chris, Harriet, Jed, Ken on 15 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Ken Gibbs

      Ken Gibbs answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      @charlotte: Should any of us be worried about what others think of us ? If we do, then we’ll end up with peptic and duodenal ulcers. Me ? I don’t want any ulcers.

      If you want my full answer to your question, please Google “If + Rudyard Kipling” and then read the poem. He says it far better than ever I could.

    • Photo: Jed Ramsay

      Jed Ramsay answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      As I work for the government I’m very aware that the public play a large part in confirming that what we do is worthwhile and is a good use of the money people pay in tax.

      I think that the people I meet and explain my work to, generally think I’m doing a good job – I’ve done things like talk to groups of 200 people about flooding or met with farmers to talk about how we can improve their use of the land. The things people say to me make me think that most people understand the challenges of engineering and also appreciate that I’m making a real effort to improve things.

    • Photo: Harriet Fletcher

      Harriet Fletcher answered on 15 Mar 2012:

      I think that we all take each other for granted and it would be hard work if you considered the hard work that goes in to everything. I had never though much further than the flush before I started this path and I have not ever considered how much work goes in to maintaining our rivers or keeping the navy afloat before this competition.
      On the whole the public are quite supportive of my work when they consider it but everyone wants lower water bills so we have to make every penny count.

    • Photo: Alexander Zacheshigriva

      Alexander Zacheshigriva answered on 18 Mar 2012:

      I agree with Harriet. We all often take things for granted. But I think in general engineers get more recognition than say accountants or investment advisors. What they do is also important but most people can not see the direct link between them and something happening. While it is more obvious for engineers.

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