Adding Ethics to Engineering Education

by Willie D. Jones The Institute, December 2005 Imagine this scenario: you’ve just joined a company competing for a government contract to build a military bomber. But the plane would have to fly so fast that it pushes its envelope of safety. The project manager of your engineering team quits because he believes the design is not safe. The company asks you to take over his job. Knowing that your company’s financial future depends on getting this contract, would you give the project the green light or refuse the promotion? In handling such an ethical dilemma, engineers can’t rely on instinct alone. They need training that can help them balance considerations such as the health, safety, and welfare of the public with technical concerns. Read more