How can engineering education contribute to a sustainable future?

In this paper we question how engineering education (and engineering) can support greater participation and inclusiveness in decision-making and science and technology. We consider the work relating to engineering and society which is conducted by the Science and Technology Studies scholars but which is rarely read or considered by the engineering educators who could draw on it.  We consider the results of an initial analysis of data collected from interviews with Science Technology and Society (STS) faculty across North America and Europe. STS looks at how technology affects society and how society affects technology, whilst engineers ‘create’ technology. Consequently the authors suggest that it would be of great meaning to both engineering and STS to join up the thinking across these two arenas by focusing on a question that is not privy to the disciplines, that is how can we create a socially just and sustainable future for all? We shall consider how questions asked in STS of technology engineering), e.g. what is its impact on society, who owns the technology, what are the political artifacts of the technology and reflect on their influence on engineering (education).

We used a qualitiative methodology (phenomenography) that focuses on the variation in epxerience; this approach has been used predominatly in education to look at student learning experiences. Using a phenomenographic approach to the research, twelve categories of description have emerged. Three of these categories are highlighted in this paper; participation, politics and policy, and citizenship, as they reflected themes rarely ‘discussed’ in engineering curricula but appear to be uppermost in the STS arena. Participation was described in a range of ways, from approaches to participation to the case for and against it.  In politics and policy much was made of the interplay between scientists and politicians and the power and knowledge games between these two arenas. Citizenship is a hotly discussed topic and is evident in a number of government agendas. Approaches to enhancing citizenship are discussed in a myriad of ventures, e.g. through public participation, being critical of information and through education.

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Created on 02 Feb 2015, Last modified on 02 Feb 2015