+ All Categories
Home > Documents > Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and...

Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and...

Date post: 23-Dec-2015
Category:
Upload: gordon-mcdonald
View: 214 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
Popular Tags:
25
Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD
Transcript
Page 1: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Engineering’s Impact on Society

Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PEDepartment of Materials and Metallurgical EngineeringSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid City, SD

Page 2: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

AcknowledgementDr. Harold Stern

Associate ProfessorCommunications & ControlsUniversity of AlabamaEmail: [email protected]

For his original Power Point work on which this presentation is based

Slides with an “*” in the lower right hand corner were patterned directly after his work.

Page 3: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Engineers Are Action Oriented Action Means Change and

Different Segments of Society Have Different Goals and Values

Good Intentions Can Produce Unexpected and Unwanted Results

Only Six Percent of the Public Are Scientifically Literate

Actions Have Unforeseen Scientific, Political, and Social Consequences

Page 4: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Actions have Unforeseen Consequences

Page 5: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Actions have Unforeseen Consequences

Page 6: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Actions have Unforeseen Consequences

Page 7: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Unforeseen Consequences Classic Example #1

Original Problem: Soil Erosion

Solution: Introduce Kudzu from Japan

Unintended Consequence: Overrun with VinesKilling of Other VegetationPower Lines Shorting OutEtc. Southeastern USA Kudzu

Credit: Harold P. E. Stern

Page 8: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Unforeseen Consequences Classic Example #2

Original Problem: Manual LaborLow ProductivitySlow Transportation

Solution: Industrialization

Unintended Consequence: Air PollutionSweat ShopsUrban Problems Santiago Chile Smog

Credit: http://www.planetark.org/envpicstory.cfm/newsid/17148

Page 9: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Actions have Unforeseen ConsequencesConsequences are more likely to be identified when people with varied expertise and perspectives offer input.

Number of People of Varied Backgrounds Offering InputIdentifying Consequences

Page 10: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Issues Concerning Openness National Security Competitive Edge

Streamline Effort

Cut Costs

Save Time

“What They Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Them”

Page 11: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

When Should Secrecy be Maintained?

Page 12: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

When Could Secrecy Appropriately be Maintained? National security restricted by legally

authorized government oversight

Private activities involving only intellectual property

Product and process development with consequences limited to consumer choice

Page 13: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Group Exercise

Develop a set of specific procedures to Inform society of the tradeoffs Gain society’s prior approval Limit unintended consequences

*

Page 14: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

When Should the Public be Informed?

Inform the public whenever society could be affected by the proposed project except in cases of simple consumer options or national security authorized by the legally empowered governmental agency.

Page 15: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Procedures to Limit Unintended Consequences and Gain Public Consent

Study similar problems and previous solutions to determine their societal impact

Identify technological trends associated with the proposed solution

Project possible societal impacts of these trends to limit unintended consequences

Research all laws and regulations that may exist concerning a proposed solution

Determine the appropriate ways to inform society and achieve an informed consensus

*

Page 16: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Resources Available Prior projects Codes and regulations Editorials Case studies

*

Page 17: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Resources Available to Identify Trends

Codes

Phased Implementation of Laws

World Initiatives

Professional Societies

*

Page 18: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Resources Available to Research Laws and Regulations

Governmental Agencies

Other Designers

Patents

Professional Societies/Associates/Groups

*

Page 19: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Public Meetings

Elections

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

*

Resources Available to Achieve an Informed Consensus

Page 20: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Group Exercise - Analysis

A reporter selected by each group will present their analysis

Analyze placement of widespread windmill farms in western South Dakota

Analyze the positives and negatives and the intended and unintended consequences

Propose societal impact management methods

Page 21: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Report Format Benefits

Negatives

Consequences Likely Unforeseen by Many

Procedures

Page 22: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Analysis (cont’d)

BenefitsClean and Cheap Renewable Power, Small Land Requirements, Economic Stimulation and Options, Low Impact

Negatives Periodic, No on-demand Supply, Noisy, New Power

Grid Needed, Aesthetics, Bird Strikes, Maintenance, Large Land Requirements, More Activity

Note: The contradictory items offered by a group of engineers. Imagine the contradictions had the group been more diverse. This illustrates the role of values and intangibles.

Page 23: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Possible Unintended ConsequencesNeed more infrastructureAdverse affect on current energy-related industryDisplacement of Agri-businessHealth effectsElectromagnetic induced cancersNeurotic cowsCommunication disruptionTopsoil lossAmbience disruptionWage/living issues

Analysis (cont’d)

Page 24: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

ProceduresGet more info from other expertsFocus groups, previous projectsPublic hearingsGovernment regulationsProfessional standards

Analysis (cont’d)

Page 25: Engineering’s Impact on Society Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Engineering’s Impact on Society

Seek Input Embrace the Regulatory Environment as an

Valuable Operating Template Never Violate the Public Good Use Secrecy only for intellectual rights, simple

market-related activities, or government authorized activity

Conclusion


Recommended