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Evening Lecture Engineering Ethics: Case Studies in Innovation, Technology, and Society
Presenter: Sujata K. Bhatia, MD, PhD, PE - Professor Drexel University
Date: Tuesday Nov 22, 2022 at 5:30 PM
As engineers, we cannot confuse technological advancement with ethical progress.If we fail to do so, then we are in danger of becoming “tools of our tools,” in the words of Henry David Thoreau.Since the ultimate goal of technology is to improve the quality of life for all, we must be cognizant of not only the technical feasibility of our designs, but also the social impact on humanity, as well as the environmental impact on our shared planet.Technology structures our communication, transportation, education, health care, and economy.Technology drives the distribution of food, water, energy, and shelter.Technology shapes the way we work, the way we are born, the way we die, and the relationships we form in between.Novel technologies can assuredly bring societal benefits, yet these technologies can also exaggerate societal disparities, leave out underserved communities, create moral and legal dilemmas, and remove human agency.New technologies can bring harm as well as good.Thus, addressing technological grand challenges will not only require technical competence but also deep ethical reflection, as emerging technologies have the potential to change the fabric of society.This talk will feature four contemporary case studies in technology innovation: Robinhood, Theranos, Neuralink, and Facebook.Each case will be examined for lessons in corporate leadership, social responsibility, and unintended consequences.The impact of each case on public perceptions of engineers and engineering will also be discussed.
Please register no later than Tuesday Nov 22nd at 12 noon.
Registration Page
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