The need for engineering ethics education

It is argued that, as society becomes increasingly dependent on technology, it is more and more incumbent on the masters of technology to assume the responsibility for protecting the public from technology gone awry. It is pointed out that a comparison of the actual events of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster with the IEEE Code of Ethics reveals that this Code is not widely implemented in the engineering workplace. It is further noted that, although the TQM (total quality management) movement helps by creating a corporate atmosphere of openness, it is up to the engineering schools to empower their graduates with the skills and the determination to live up to the IEEE Code of Ethics. Some proposals for engineering ethics education, including (1) establishing an engineering oath modeled on the Hippocratic oath and (2) increasing requirements for courses in ethical engineering and effective communications, and provide on-the-job training for practicing engineers