December 2006
Engineering EthicsWISE, in collaboration with the Minority Engineering Program Office; the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering; and the College of Engineering International Programs Office, recently received a grant from the University Ethics in Public Life Initiative. Engineering Ethics: Practical Strategies for a Shifting Paradigm will be a four-part lecture/workshop series with an interactive format. The topics to be covered include respect for diversity in the classroom and workplace; engineering ethics in a global perspective; engineers dissenting on ethical grounds - the whistleblower’s dilemma; and ethics and social responsibility. Engineering faculty have long insisted on the inclusion of ethics and social responsibility in the undergraduate curriculum. Yet the highly technical and voluminous nature of the engineering curriculum often makes the inclusion of ethics and professional development challenging. More often than not, these topics are included in introductory first-year courses and then followed up in senior design course, with little in-between. In addition, ethical discussions in the classroom often focus exclusively on engineering design issues without incorporating larger issues of diversity, the global community, or contemporary social issues. This series will complement and supplement the in-class experiences of undergraduate engineering students as well as graduate students, faculty, and staff. The series will be kicked-off in winter semester 2007. We will be sending out announcements in the new year and hope that you will be able to attend!
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