ENGL 181: Engineering Communications

How-to steps from Dr. Jon Leyden, professor at the Colorado School of the Mines (see his Ted Talk above).
Bio: https://hass.mines.edu/project/leydens-jon/

From the abstract: "The case study focuses on how our engineering study of different natural plant fibers for soil erosion control led us to small villages in Kerala, India, where marginalized women workers often stand waste deep in water several hours a day, clean and beat coconuts by hand, and separate and spin coconut (coir) fibers into yarn by hand, for very low wages."

"This wiki, curated by Beyond Sticky Notes, collates insights and resources around community-led or community-driven design."

From the abstract: "This ebook presents a roadmap for engineers to become empowered and engage one another in a process of learning and action for social justice and peace."

"In Part 1 Baillie introduces ideas associated with the ways in which engineers relate to the communities in which they work. Drawing on scholarship from science and technology studies, globalisation and development studies, as well as work in science communication and dialogue, this introductory text sets the scene for an engineering community which engages with the public."

"In Part 2 Catalano frames the thinking processes necessary to create ethical and just decisions in engineering, to understand the implications of our current decision making processes and think about ways in which we might adapt these to become more socially just in the future."

"In Part 3 Baillie and Catalano have provided case studies of everyday issues such as water, garbage and alarm clocks, to help us consider how we might see through the lenses of our new knowledge from Parts 1 and 2 and apply this to our everyday existence as engineers. "

"The topics covered include a history of engineers and development, the problems of using industry-based practices when designing for communities, how engineers can prepare to work with communities, and listening in community development. It also includes two case studies."

From the abstract: "A response of the engineering profession to the challenges of security, poverty and underdevelopment, environmental sustainability, and native cultures is described. Ethical codes, which govern the behavior of engineers, are examined from a historical perspective linking the prevailing codes to models of the natural world. With the ethical code based on an integral community in place, new design algorithms are developed and also explored using case studies."

"Engineers have an important role in mediating between the values of society, clients, the environment and the possibilities of technology. Constructive Technology Assessment and Value Sensitive Design are two methodologies which engineers are using to better account for the social and ethical implications of their work."

"Water and energy are fundamental elements of community well-being and economic development, and a key focus of engineering efforts the world over. As such, they offer outstanding opportunities for the development of socially just engineering practices. The ebook includes a detailed case study of issues involved in the provision of water and energy, among other needs, in a developing and newly independent nation, East Timor."

"We apply technical knowledge to solve pressing challenges in developing nations, while providing SCU students with real project experience."

"From the selection of the senior design project to the completion of the senior thesis, this resource applies different ethical approaches (identified in the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics’ “Framework for Ethical Decision Making”) to each phase of the capstone project, in an effort to aid design teams in producing safe,effective, and robust technologies."

"This book will focus on "Waste Management," a serious global issue and engineers' responsibility towards finding better solutions for its sustainable management. Solid waste management is one of the major environmental burdens in both developed and developing countries alike."

An introductory course on humanitarian engineering from ethical, cultural, and practical perspectives from faculty members at the Colorado School of the Mines.

Began with Volume 1, Number 1 (spring 2012).

"WFL is a not-for-profit organization that works to promote poverty-reducing solutions to environmental problems, and its educational branch is an international consortium of universities in six countries, involving students in support of community development projects. WFL currently works in Lesotho and Argentina."