2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering ethics and the public: Impacts of a graduate-level course on students' ethical perceptions and conduct in research and professional settings (2010-20)

Presented at Engineering Ethics Division (ETHICS) Technical Session _Monday June 26, 11:00 - 12:30

A graduate level three-credit elective course entitled “Engineering Ethics and the Public” has been offered by the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Virginia Tech since 2010. The course draws on high profile case studies, both past and unfolding, to examine real-world ethical dilemmas that confront engineers and scientists in research, policy, and practice. Course alumni from 2010-2020 (n=65) were surveyed in 2021-2022 to determine their perceptions of the class and its impact on their ethical principles and conduct. Responses were compared to a control group of graduate students who were enrolled in the same department during the same time period who did not take the class (n=68). The control group placed significantly higher value on technical expertise, salaries, and work on projects for perceived job satisfaction, compared to course alumni, who placed greater value on interactions with the people whose lives their work may impact (p<0.001). Course alumni also were also more likely to listen to members of the public outside of their field (p=0.040) in considering ethical dilemmas.

Authors

Frank A. Mazzola Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [biography]

Frank is a PhD student in Civil & Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. He researches the corrosion of drinking water infrastructure, focusing on lead complexation by polyphosphate and on the impact of water treatment strategies on the galvanic corrosion of lead solder. In 2022, Frank began serving as teaching assistant for the graduate level course “Engineering Ethics and the Public,” co-founded by his advisor, Dr. Marc Edwards. Frank received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Virginia Tech.
Mr. Siddhartha Roy Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [biography]

Dr. Siddhartha Roy is a Research Associate at the UNC Water Institute, where he conducts research at the nexus of drinking water, public health, international development and environmental justice. He received his MS/PhD in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Dr. Marc Edwards Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [biography]

Dr. Marc Edwards received his bachelor’s degree in Bio-Physics from SUNY Buffalo and an M.S./Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington. Dr. Edwards is currently a University Distinguished Professor, and teaches courses on engineering ethics and applied aquatic chemistry.

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