Over the past century mechanical engineers have helped to transform British Columbia from a frontier land of manual labour into a modern technological society. Many of these engineers began their careers as students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Discovery by Design, the history of the department by Eric Damer, follows the department from the age of steam power and biplanes to today's high-tech world of spacecraft and robots, discussing many of the department's most exciting research projects and breakthroughs of the last decade. Rich in detail, Damer's history appeals to those interested in the history of engineering education, universities and the research life of Canada.