Engineer & Society

Why have you chosen to study

engineering
Because you perceive it to be a good
career
Because you have skills that you
believe will be well suited to a career
in engineering
Because you see the problems more
as challenges and opportunities than
as difficulties
Or because you followed the trend

WHO IS AN ENGINEER?

WHAT IS ENGINEERING?
The art and science concerned with the
practical application of scientific
knowledge, as in the design, construction,
and operation of roads, bridges, buildings,
machines etc.
The combination of art and science by
which the materials and power of nature
are made useful to mankind.
Application and advancement of skills
based on mathematics, science and
technology, integrated with business and
management.

WHO IS AN ENGINEER?
An engineer is one who effectively adapts
the findings of science to the use of man
Engineers are involved in the
implementation, application, design,
development and management of projects
and processes

DEFINITION OF AN ENGINEER

AN ENGINEER EFFECTIVELY ADAPTS

FINDINGS OF SCIENCE TO THE USE OF MAN
HE IS THE VITAL LINK BETWEEN SCIENCE
AND SOCIETY

What does having social

responsibilities mean?
Commitment from the engineering profession to
place the public safety and interest ahead of all
other considerations.
It means that engineers take into account and
show due regard for the consequences of their
conduct for the well-being of others as well as for
the impact of their work on society and the
citizenry.
This requires the engineer to make determined
efforts to discover all of the relevant facts
concerning the design, development, and
deployment and all of the possible outcomes of
the choices available that may positively and
negatively affect/impact society and the
citizenry
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Social Responsibilities of Engineers

(Some Examples)
Ensure the safety and well-being of the public
Ensure that societys funds and resources
concerning technology are well used
Refusing to work on a particular project or for a
particular company
Speaking out publicly against a proposed project
Blowing the whistle on illegality or wrong-doing
Professional Societies obligation to provide
protection for whistleblowers
Individual and organizational concern about the
impact of engineering projects on society
Contributing ones services to worthy, non-profit
groups and projects
Engineering schools commitment to educating
future engineers about their social responsibilities
8

Social Responsibilities of Engineers

(Some Examples)
Commitment of risk assessment experts to ethical
risk/safety assessments
Voluntarily assume the task of educating the public
about important consequences of various
technological and scientific developments
Commitment of engineers to design and develop
sustainable technologies
Provide expert advice to non-experts
Explicit care and concern about technologys impact
on Nature and the Environment
Abiding by the principles of sustainable development
when thinking about engineering designs
Abiding by the precautionary principle when thinking
about engineering designs
In engineering design, engineers have practiced social
responsibility by applying factors of safety to their
designs and by building in redundancy
9

Engineering and Ethics

If we accept these definitions of
engineering, it is crucial to realize the
centrality of ethical concerns at the core of
the engineering enterprise
Concern for social well being and
humanity are part of the very definition of
engineering
Assuming the intellectual rigor of these
definitions, the need of ethics in
engineering is nothing superfluous or
added, but it is the essence of the
engineering profession
10

Rationales for Social Responsibility of

Engineers
IEEE Code of Ethics

We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the

importance of our technologies in affecting the quality
of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal
obligation to our profession, its members and the
communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to
the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:
1. to accept responsibility in making decisions
consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the
public, and to disclose promptly factors that might
endanger the public or the environment;
5. to improve the understanding of technology, its
appropriate application, and potential consequences

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Examples of Engineering Codes of

Ethics
ASCE Code of Ethics
Fundamental Canon 1.Engineers shall hold paramount
the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall
strive to comply with the principles of sustainable
development in the performance of their professional
duties.

Software Engineering Code of Ethics

Principle1.03. Approve software only if they have a
well-founded belief that it is safe, meets specifications,
passes appropriate tests, and does not diminish
quality of life, diminish privacy or harm the
environment. The ultimate effect of the work
12
should be to the public good.

IEEE Code of Ethics for

Engineers
ARTICLE IV
Engineers shall, in fulfilling their responsibilities
to the community:
Protect the safety, health and welfare of the public and
speak out against abuses in these areas affecting
the public interest;
Contribute professional advice, as appropriate, to civic,
charitable or other non-profit organizations;
Seek to extend public knowledge and appreciation of the
engineering profession and its achievements

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Exercise... Acting as an
Engineer
Rank these engineering criteria in
order of importance
Economics
Security
Safety
Reliability

Exercise... Acting as a
Consumer
Rank these engineering criteria in
order of importance
Economics
Security
Safety
Reliability

The Dilemma
Engineer View
Safety
Security
Reliability
Economics

Consumer

View
Safety
Economics
Reliability
Security

MAKING OF A MODERN
ENGINEER
The dynamic & fast changing world
demands a more complex role for an
engineer.
Besides technical skills, they must be
good in non-technical skills like
Communication
Problem solving
Management

MAKING OF AN ENGINEER

ENGINEERS HERITAGE
Engineering was an art for long centuries
before it became a science
Engineer is heir to a great tradition
Egyptians channeled water to irrigate land
Romans built great roads, bridges and
aqueducts
People of Mohenjodaro and Harappa built
the first planned cities

SOME GREAT ENGINEERS

Leonardo da Vinci: Many- sided genius

Galileo : The father of mechanics
Bessemer: Converter to make cheap steel
Edison: The electric bulb
Thomson: A. C. transformer
Goodyear: Vulcanized rubber
Diesel: Automobile engine
Bell: Telephone
Ford and Benz: Automobiles
Langley and Wrights brothers: Flying

SOME GREAT INDIAN

ENGINEERS
Mokshagundam Visweswaraya Father of
Indian Engineering
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Father of Indian
Rocketry
Narayana Murthy Founder of Infosys
Sam Pitroda Force behind the IT
revolution in India
M. N. Dastur Designer of steel plants
Brahm Prakash Atomic energy
metallurgist

QUALITIES OF ENGINEERS

Courage and integrity

Thirst for knowledge
Imagination
Capacity for sound judgment
Accuracy of thought and action
Instinct for economy
Aptitude for leadership
Ingeniousness
Capacity for hard work
Ability to think and speak lucidly

ABET Engineering Criteria

2000

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and

engineering.
An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze
and
interpret data.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet
desired needs.
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
An ability to communicate effectively.
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of
engineering
solutions in a global/societal context.
A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in lifelong
learning.
Knowledge of contemporary issues.
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern
engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF AN
ENGINEER

Technical knowledge and skills

Intellectual skills
Attitudes
Standards of Engineering practice
Business practices
International & national history &
culture
Proficiency in languages

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE &

SKILLS
Science fundamentals
Engineering fundamentals &
application
Probability & Statistics
Computer science & technology
Engineering practice

INTELLECTUAL SKILLS

Logical thinking
Problem-solving skills
Communication skills
Design skills
Organizational, management and
administrative skills

ATTITUDES

Competence
Integrity
Commitment
Tolerance
Flexibility
Life-long
learning

Reliability
Conscientiou
s
Punctuality
Approachabili
ty

BUSINESS PRACTICES

Free market economy

International marketplace
MNCs
International competitiveness
Quality assurance
Insurance
Warranties
Bidding procedures

INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL HISTORY
& CULTURE

Common history
National history & development
Cultural differences
Economic & political issues
Social life & customs
Gender
Religion
Multiculturalism

PROFICIENCY IN LANGUAGES

Spoken foreign language

Written foreign language
Regional dialects
Technical terminology
Professional jargon

The Desired Skills and

Attributes for an ideal Engineer

How to Acquire the Qualities

discussed so far?

Good Habits
Cleanliness
Dressing
Exercise
Food Habits
Friendship
College
Play Ground
Library
Tours/Visits
Using Information's Sources
Learn Your Culture
Citizenship-Rights & Duties
Moral & Spiritual Values

 Letus work hard, my brothers and

sisters; there is no time for sleep. On
your work depends Future of India.
She is there, ready waiting.
Arise and Awake and see her seated
on her eternal throne, rejuvenated,
more glorious than she ever was-This
motherland of our
-Swami Vivekananda

REFERENCES
1. William E. Wickenden, A Professional
Guide for Young Engineers, G. R.
Henninger (Ed. ), Engineers Council for
Professional Development, New York,
1967
2. T. K. G. Namboodhiri, Engineering
Education in India, J. Inst. Engg. (India),
Vol. 66, IDP, 3, 1985
3. Duyen Q. Nguen, The essential Skills and
Attributes of an Engineer, Global J. of
Engg. Educ. Vol. 2, No. 1, 1998