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Forensic Engineers

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Those who wish to enter the field of forensic engineering must have several years of experience in civil, mechanical, or other engineering disciplines.

In addition to the math and science background necessary for any career in engineering, forensic engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, detail oriented, and possess good "detective" skills. Especially in accident cases, they need to be aware that factors other than mechanical failure may be involved. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union in 1986, for example, is often cited as an example of the dangers of nuclear power, when in fact the accident was caused by human error. Forensic engineers should also enjoy solving problems and developing logical plans. They often work on projects in multidisciplinary teams, so prospective engineers should be able to work well both alone and with others. Finally, forensic engineers must be able to describe their work and their findings in a clear manner in courts of law and be prepared to withstand attacks on their methods and credentials by attorneys on the other side of the aisle.

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