W2T1 Writing assignment

In the article “Introduction to the Grand Challenges for Engineering” (article [1]), many problems and challenges that engineers face, as well as ideas and areas that we, as engineers, can look into. In my opinion, managing the nitrogen cycle, one of the ideas stated in the article, is not only the most important to the profession as an engineer, but also as challenging. Scientifically speaking, nitrogen is the essence of amino acids, and from which proteins are created, and in turn is required by all life forms. However, this natural occurring cycle is disturbed, mainly by human factors. Artificially manufactured fertilizers for agricultural purposes contribute largely to this problem. This disrupted cycle contributes not only to just global warming, but also air and water contamination. Nitrous oxides and ions released by the fertilizers damage the environment. Increasing nitrate concentration in drinkable water caused by it is adding on to the water crisis that we are already facing. Thus solutions engineered to counter those problems will be very crucial not just to humans, but to all living organisms that inhabits this planet. As the world population continues to increase, adding upon the large amount of people we already have, we can make the assumption that the production of fertilizers is not going to decrease anytime soon, and so does the harmful nitrogen compounds. This gives rise to the challenge for engineers to manage the nitrogen cycle, while sustaining agriculture output for the population. Compared to the other problems and ideas, I believe that this problem is very real and is affecting our very own survival, thus engineers should focus more on this area of idea.