2 single -space page discussion

Objectives Develop awareness of ethical issues in engineering careers.

Consider how you career may be affected by global developments

Reflect on a situation in which ethics is relevant.

Assignment Read the excerpt from the World is Flat, the National Society of Professional Engineers’ (NSPE) Code of Ethics, which is available here: http://www.nspe.org/sites/default/files/resources/pdfs/Ethics/CodeofEthics/Code-2007-July.pdf, and this executive summary: https://science2017.globalchange.gov/chapter/executive-summary/ Additional recommended readings/videos are listed on the next page.

The future will certainly be different from the present, whether from the technological transformations discussed by Friedman, from climate change, or from other factors (see next page). Engineers, by virtue of their knowledge and training, have the ability to be active participants in responding to the challenges that will arise. On the other hand, engineers may simply defer to their bosses and focus on making a good living. Taking into account the readings, discuss how you, as an ethical engineer, would consider these challenges in your future.

Deliverables A two-page discussion, uploaded to Moodle.

Grading A – Well written, specific, comprehensive AND with plausible responses

B – Well written, specific, comprehensive BUT with implausible responses or

B – Not well written BUT with plausible responses

C – Poorly written and mostly implausible responses

D – Very poorly written and completely implausible

F – Not turned in

Some things to think about and some articles to read/videos to watch

Globalization has the potential to decrease cost of production and reduce the cost of products that we buy. On the other hand, it may result in jobs moving to other countries where the working conditions are worse and environmental protection is less stringent. Overall, the question arises: who benefits and who loses?

Globalisation: the rise and fall of an idea that swept the world | World news | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/14/globalisation-the-rise-and-fall-of-an-idea-that-swept-the-world

Welcome to the age of anger | Pankaj Mishra | Politics | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/08/welcome-age-anger-brexit-trump

Neoliberalism: the idea that swallowed the world | News | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/aug/18/neoliberalism-the-idea-that-changed-the-world

Robots have the capacity to revolutionize many activities that people normally do or make possible activities that would otherwise not be possible. On the other hand, indefinitely increasing use of robots could take away more jobs than they create.

<Globalization and robots.pdf> available on Moodle

Automation is a real threat. How can we slow down the march of the cyborgs? | US news | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/08/humans-v-robots-defending-jobs

NYTimes: No, That Robot Will Not Steal Your Job

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/07/opinion/sunday/no-that-robot-will-not-steal-your-job.html

Climate change is likely to transform the world drastically in many ways. Melting of polar ice, for example, will result in rising sea levels, flooded cities and climate refugees. Combatting climate change and its effects may result in fewer jobs for coal miners but more for wind turbine installers and contractors who build sea walls.

Rising seas and military preparedness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_0QfFFgmXs

Lecture on rising sea level:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_DaaAhNx8g

Plastics are useful for just about everything that is manufactured today but result in enormous pollution problems in the oceans

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_plastics/