THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND PHILOSOPHY OF ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY HONOURS IN ENGINEERING / SOFTWARE
ENGINEERING HONOURS
LEVEL 5
ACADEMIC YEAR 2017/18
COURSE TITLE : TECHNOLOGY, SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT
COURSE CODE : MHJ5533/MHJ5563
ASSIGNMENT NO : 01
DUE DATE : 28. 03. 2018

INSTRUCTIONS:

Answer all questions in your own words. Marks will be deducted if a direct copy of printed
material or internet sources is given in the answer.

Assignments received after the due date will not be accepted.

If any student finds that he or she would be unable to submit the assignment on due date,
have to inform the course coordinator in written, before the due date with reasons and if
the given reasons are acceptable only, a one week extension would be given to submit the
assignment.

Please attach the cover page given by the department to the assignment.

1. Watch the documentary film, "The Story of Stuff" (available at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM and also uploaded in Moodle), and discuss
why engineering education is not all about technical education, but about the relationship of
technology with environment and society.

2. Lets assume that you are a member of a panel to evaluate engineering student research
projects for gold, silver and bronze medals. You are expected to evaluate from the following
pool of projects.

i. A project to design and manufacture a pineapple peeling machine to replace peeling by

manual labour.

ii. A project to produce biodiesel using papaya seeds.

iii. A project to early detect kidney decease that is common in the dry zone by image
processing of a person's iris in the eye.

iv. A project to decide the best location for a nuclear power plant to be constructed in Sri
Lanka.

By taking into consideration the guideline that research conducted in a country should serve the
wider interests of the people of the country, identify your choices for the gold, silver and
bronze medals. Justify your choices.
3. a. What is the difference between sex and gender?

b. Describe how womanhood is culturally constructed in Sri Lankan context with

examples.

(Watch the video on Cultural influences on gender on you tube to get a better understanding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8tJLGosDFc)