Embedding Environmental Ethics in Engineering Courses
- Conference
- Location
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Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
- Publication Date
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April 22, 2022
- Start Date
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April 22, 2022
- End Date
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April 23, 2022
- Page Count
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9
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--42168
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/42168
- Download Count
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196
Paper Authors
Uma Balaji Fairfield University
Dr. Uma Balaji received her Ph. D from University of Victoria, B.C., Canada in Electrical Engineering. She was a Canadian Common Wealth Scholar. Her research focused in novel modelling techniques to design components for wireless and satellite applications. Some of the components designed and fabricated by her include RF power amplifiers, antennas and filters. Another area of her research and teaching interest is Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). Prior to joining Fairfield, she is a recipient of the University Grants Award from IEEE EMC society to develop and teach a course on EMC. She is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and a Professional Member of ASEE. She was the Chair of the Affinity group - IEEE Women in Engineering of Long Island Section, NY in 2012 and 2013 and Vice Chair of Educational Activities Committee, LI section. Her research interests include Design of Radio Frequency and Microwave Components, Antennas, RF power Amplifiers, Electromagnetic Compatibility and Signal Integrity. She teaches the following courses: Electric Circuits, Electronic devices and Circuits, Signals and Systems, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Communication Systems and Numerical Methods in Engineering
Isaac Macwan
Fairfield University
orcid.org/0000-0002-6621-7961
Isaac Macwan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at Fairfield University. He received his MS (Electrical Engineering) and PhD (Computer Science and Engineering) from the University of Bridgeport in 2008 and 2014 respectively. He received his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pune (India) in 2005. He is a member of BMES, IEEE, ASEE and MRS. He is interested in developing bioelectronic devices and understanding the interactions at the interface of biological macromolecules and nanoparticles. He studies the stability and energetics of proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids through molecular dynamics to solve the problems in biomedical engineering such as inhibition of cellular communications in case of tumor cells and enzymes and understanding the nature of interface between biological molecules and carbon-based nanoparticles.
Abstract
This work focuses on embedding ethics topics in electrical and biomedical engineering courses. A dedicated course titled Engineering Ethics that existed in the curriculum has been replaced in the department recently by embedding ethics topics into several courses. This work focuses on including topics in the area of environmental ethics into two courses, Electric circuits and Biosensors. It is very relevant as it introduces students to current consumerism and its environmental impact. The global world relies on handheld devices that use rechargeable batteries. There is a need to educate public on the proper disposal of them. Some engineering students are unaware of environmental impact of the improper disposal of batteries and other electronic products and discard them as normal waste. The first course on electric circuits is taken by all engineering majors. Energy from mobile device batteries is discussed at the start of the course along with the need for safe disposal. A project to research on safe disposal regionally and internationally is assigned. The project includes students to survey family members and friends on disposal practices and on the need for advocacy and social responsibility. A survey of students on impact of this assignment will be presented here. Similarly, topics relevant to the study of environmental contamination are covered in the Biosensors course. Students are assigned a project on the use of biosensors to study environmental toxins and to survey family and friends on practices of hazardous waste disposal. A survey of the students on its impact will be presented.
Balaji, U., & Macwan, I. (2022, April), Embedding Environmental Ethics in Engineering Courses Paper presented at ASEE-NE 2022, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts. 10.18260/1-2--42168
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