Conference Session

Building Blocks for Public Policy in Curricula

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alison Tramba, University of Virginia; Edmund Russell, University of Virginia; P. Paxton Marshall, University of Virginia

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

habits in thecontext of engineering practice.Practical design, product development, and project management skills require a synthesis ofknowledge from engineering, business, and humanistic disciplines. Too often, research-basedacademic settings do not integrate these practices effectively to communicate the societal impactof technology. Undergraduate engineering students study humanities and social science inrequired classes that do not relate the humanities to relevant engineering applications. As anexample, an economics class might discuss the effects of rising oil prices, but generally will notexpound on the technical ways in which builders can reduce home-energy use and costs. Still,engineering graduates enter professional worlds where

Conference Session

Building Blocks for Public Policy in Curricula

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carl Fayerweather, University of Toledo; Sorin Cioc, University of Toledo; Douglas Oliver, University of Toledo

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

research.The objective for each team was to convince their classmates why their design was betterthan the others’ team design. As stated before, they would not be only looking at how acertain power source works, but rather what kinds of impacts it has on society and natureand why their power plant is a better choice than their opponents’. Furthermore, if the Page 11.1001.3assigned power source had certain stigmas attached to it, the groups would attempt tofind support for why this stigma was wrong. However, if this stigma was right, theyshould explain what steps are being taken to improve this shortcoming. The informationgained was then organized into a

Conference Session

Building Blocks for Public Policy in Curricula

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Dunn, Environmental Protection Agency

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

engineering course through a course project that focused on mobile sourceemissions. Six of the eight students enrolled in the course were third and fourth year mechanicalengineering students. Two graduate students from other engineering schools were also enrolled. To formulate my ideas for the project, I collaborated with staff at the City of ChicagoDepartment of the Environment, the Region 5 EPA office, and EPA headquarters. The resultingproject had two elements. Both originally focused on Pilsen, a Chicago neighborhood that isboth a trucking hub and a population center for working class families. As part of the firstelement, students assumed the role of fleet managers of small trucking firms in Pilsen seeking tojoin EPA’s SmartWay Transport

Conference Session

Topical Public Policy Issues

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carole Womeldorf, Ohio University-Athens

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

public and conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession...” In this paper, rather than discuss the teaching of engineering ethics, the author will explore the significance of the “hold paramount” principle for engineering educators, the engineering curriculum, and its potential impact on public policy and the student body. How we teach engineering may in fact dominate the ethical and societal lessons we wish to teach. Questions explored include: How can one effectively and practically teach fundamental engineering concepts in a way that will equip our graduates to

Conference Session

Engineering and Public Policy Pioneering Courses

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Green, Mississippi State University; Jerry Emison, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

2006-121: MINDING THE GAP: AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE ONENGINEERING AND PUBLIC POLICYRobert Green, Mississippi State University Robert A. Green is the Undergraduate Coordinator for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University. He has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering, an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, and an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College. He is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration at Mississippi State. He is a registered professional engineer and was a research engineer for 14 years prior to assuming his current position.Jerry Emison, Mississippi State University Jerry Emison is an