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Week 2 Discussion: Professional Development in Engineering
Sep 5, 2024 5:19 PM - Anthony Bellahcen
Engineers are some of the most important people in our society. Due to this, engineers hold a massive responsibility to be ethical in their work. Ethicality is the discipline in dealing with what is good/bad and moral duties and obligations. Morals are your rights or wrongs, and being able to express the right behavior. Ethical engineering is good because it can benefit society, increase credibility of the engineering profession, and improve relationships with clients, stakeholders, etc. Unethical engineers can damage the reputation of the engineering profession as a whole, as well as harm the individuals and potential environments that are affected by your engineering.
Similarly, in "The Role of the Engineer in Society," the authors discuss that engineers are responsible for ensuring the safety, health, and welfare of the public. Engineers are impactful to so many people - likely every single person on this planet. They have to put those first priority—over any client or other entity. Additionally, while engineers are responsible for a lot of things, they must also be accountable for the consequences of their designs and the impact on others and the environment.
My thought process reading through the materials opened my eyes up to what engineering truly is. Everyone knows what an engineer is, but engineers are deeper than "people that invent stuff." I now understand that engineers are the backbone of our society. Every single person has been impacted by engineering in their lives. Engineering has shaped our society, and it is truly an amazing and rewarding field to be in.
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Week 2 Discussion: Professional Development in Engineering
Sep 5, 2024 5:34 PM - Anthony Bellahcen
It is true that scientists explore knowledge that helps engineers solve problems in society. There is a lot of creativity in engineering but also a lot of responsibility. Engineers must be willing to be accountable for the consequences of their work.
Personally, I am aware as a future engineer that my work will have an impact on people. I must keep this in mind and be accountable for anything that results from that.
Week 2 Discussion: Professional Development in Engineering
Sep 5, 2024 5:43 PM - Anthony Bellahcen
After reading "Professional Responsibility: The Role of the Engineer in Society," I agree that not all knowledge is always beneficial to society. Engineers take that knowledge, interpret it, and use it to solve problems and benefit society. If scientists and engineers continue working together, our world will evolve at a rapid pace.
Do you think scientists are growing at a pace that is on par with engineers?
Week 3 Discussion: Ethical Decision-Making in Engineering Design
Sep 8, 2024 1:45 AM - Anthony Bellahcen
While Generative AI has been in the spotlight recently, it dates back to chatbots like ELIZA in the 1960s. Generative AI has evolved drastically and now uses Machine Learning to simulate cognitive functions such as reasoning, problem-solving, and language understanding. This raises ethical dilemmas such as intellectual property, bias, and the undermining of human labor. While AI is useful when used ethically, these concerns need to be addressed through legislation and further evolution.
For me, AI has been a useful tool for preparing for job interviews, studying for exams, and learning about topics I’m unfamiliar with. It’s an exciting tool, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves.
