Paper ID #48493Escalating Effects of Software Technical and Ethical Debt and ImprovementThrough Design Discipline and Social ConstructsMr. James Wessel, Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS) James Wessel possesses over 40 years of major software development and acquisition management experience among varied DoD services and industry partners, providing expert consultation in software engineering best practice within major software intensive system program settings. This includes the emergent software engineering areas of the Cloud, Agile, Digital Engineering, DevSecOps and Cybersecurity. James Wessel has been a member
Paper ID #45878Creating Public Resources to Diversifying Content in Mechanical Engineering:Fostering Awareness and Ethical ConsiderationsDr. Siu Ling Leung, Pennsylvania State University Dr. Siu Ling Leung is an Associate Teaching Professor, the Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs, and the Director of Undergraduate Laboratories in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Pennsylvania State University. Her work focuses on renovating the engineering curriculum to enhance students’ cognitive skills, raise awareness of diverse problems around the world, and equip them to address real-world challenges. She employs
Paper ID #46293BOARD # 281: NSF IUSE: Integrating Ethical-Epistemic Pedagogy to FosterMoral Agency in Undergraduate Engineering EducationDr. Caitlin A Grady, The George Washington University Caitlin A. Grady is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at George Washington University. She earned her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and her M.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University. She earned her B.A. in Humanities, Science, and the Environment from Virginia Tech. Her research expertise lies in ethical-epistemic inquiry, coupled
Laboratory in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. Dr. Johnson received his S.M. and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on production economics, engineering education, and design tools. Dr. Johnson has over 100 peer reviewed publications and several patents. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and industry.Glen Miller ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025ER2: Preparing High School Teachers to Introduce Engineering Ethics Ideas Vandna Krishnan, Amarnath Banerjee, Bimal Nepal, Michael Johnson, and Glen Miller
Paper ID #47192Maintaining Hope Amidst Critique: The Role of Social Change Frameworksin Sociotechnical Engineering Ethics EducationNicholas Rabb, California State University Los Angeles Nicholas Rabb (he/him) is a postdoctoral researcher in the College of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles, where he is working on the NSF-funded Eco-STEM project. He completed his PhD at Tufts University in the areas of computer science and cognitive science, contributing to the development of quantitative models and tools used to study the influence of news media on adoption of
Paper ID #48021Using student-led case studies in engineering to build cultural awareness,self-knowledge, and ethical engagementKelsey McLendon, University of Michigan Kelsey McLendon is a Lecturer in the Program in Technical Communication in the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research interests are technical writing, social and emotional learning, and DEIJ in engineering education.Dr. Katie Snyder, University of Michigan Dr. Snyder is a lecturer in the Program in Technical Communication at the University of Michigan. She teaches writing and presentation strategies to students in the College of
Paper ID #46851BOARD # 261: IUSE: Prioritizing Data Life Cycle Ethical Management Educationfor Engineering Undergraduate ResearchersDr. Wei Zakharov, Purdue University at West Lafayette (COE) Dr. Wei Zakharov is an Associate Professor and Engineering Information Specialist in Libraries and School of Information Studies and (by courtesy) the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University. She is the faculty liaison to four Schools Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Semiconductors, Engineering Education, and Aviation and Transportation Technology from Polytechnic Institute at
Paper ID #46552BOARD # 316: A Digital Nudge: Assessing the Impact of an ImmutableRecords Data Management Platform on Student Researcher Ethics (ER2: theEthical and Responsible Research Program)Dr. Kazumi Homma, The George Washington University Dr. Kazumi Homma is a Research Scientist at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the George Washington University. In an NSF-funded project titled ”A Digital Nudge: Assessing the Impact of an Immutable Records Data Management Platform on Student Researcher Ethics”(ER2:the Ethical and Responsible Research Program), Dr. Homma has been leading a systematic literature review and an
all engineering disciplines, but especially Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science Engineering. His research focuses on the interplay between identity, experience, and agency in language and literacy practices in technical and workplace communication contexts through translingual and linguistic justice frameworks. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Ethical Engineering Practice through Language: A Case Study Based on the Flint Water Crisis for Teaching Language and Style1 Introduction & BackgroundThis study explores student’s perceptions of how to practice being an ethical engineer throughlanguage and was spurred by an interest to make the teaching of language diversity
Paper ID #47825Expanding AI Ethics in Higher Education Technical Curricula: A Study onPerceptions and Learning Outcomes of College StudentsMiss Indu Varshini Jayapal, University of Colorado BoulderJames KL HammermanDr. Theodora Chaspari, University of Colorado Boulder Theodora Chaspari is an Associate Professor in Computer Science and the Institute of Cognitive Science at University of Colorado Boulder. She has received a B.S. (2010) in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece and M.S. (2012) and Ph.D. (2017) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern
: Engineering Communication: from principles to practice (with Dr. Peter Eliot Weiss) and Writing in Engineering: a brief guide, both with Oxford University Press. He teaches enginee ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Building Sociotechnical Competencies through an Integration of Engineering Ethics and Science, Technology and Society Studies: A Reflection on Instructional PracticesIntroductionWith the goal of providing engineering students with a solid grounding in sociotechnicalthinking, and an opportunity to explore the complexities of sociotechnical systems, engineeringcurriculum can draw from a combination of engineering ethics and STS (Science, Technologyand Society) studies to offer students
Paper ID #49504BOARD # 475: Enhancing AI Literacy Among University Students: ExploringTrust and Ethical Decision-Making through the Prisoner’s Dilemma in GameTheoryMr. Qixian Zhao, Nanyang Technological University Zhao Qixian is a currently a Year 2 Undergraduate student in Nanyang Technological University, majoring in Data Science & AI, minor in Business. He is devoted to AI applications in industries like education, engineering and social welfare, supported and guided by Dr. Ibrahim H. Yeter. Qixian’s research and entrepreneur idea aim to facilitate inclusive and ethical AI applications to shine lights on the neglected
Paper ID #46332BOARD # 368: ER2 & RFE: Experiences of Ethics and Equity in EngineeringPractice: A National Survey of Early-Career Engineers as they Transition tothe WorkforceChika Winnifred Agha, Colorado State University Chika Winnifred Agha is a Ph.D. candidate in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Colorado State University. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in civil engineering. She employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods to examine how early-career engineers navigate ethics and equity as they transition into professional practice. Her research interests center
Paper ID #47423BOARD # 404: NSF ER2 Project: Exploring the Variation in Understandingand Experiences with Ethical Engineering Research among Faculty in BiomedicalEngineeringDr. Justin L Hess, Purdue University at West Lafayette (COE) Dr. Justin L Hess is an associate professor in the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University. Dr. Hess’s research involves exploring and promoting empathic and ethical formation in engineering education.Dr. Nicholas D. Fila, Iowa State University of Science and Technology Nicholas D. Fila is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at
1st year students and transfer students coming into the field of engineering. She is working to advance the field of engineering education through accessibility while also researching, developing, and integrating practices to support students’ growth in teamwork, leadership, communication, and meaningful engagement in the community. Through this effort, she also works to advance ways to integrate emerging technologies as productive tools to support student learning and assessment.Dr. Benjamin J. Laugelli, University of Virginia Dr. Laugelli is an Assistant Professor of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia. He teaches courses that explore social and ethical aspects of engineering design and practice
Paper ID #48830The ISP and GenAI Crossroads: A Student Crossroads Between InformationSearching and Ethics in Intro to Engineering CoursesDr. Kristina Bloch, University of Louisville Dr. Kristina Bloch is the Engineering Librarian at the University of Louisville. She received her BA in Political Science in 2009 and her MA in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on Library Science in 2011 from Tennessee Tech University. She received her second MA with an EdS in School Administration from Bellarmine University in 2014. In 2023, she received her EdD in Leadership from the College of Education at Spalding
Education, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea. Her expertise lies in using instructional technologies to enhance performance and establish learning communities. Her research interests include designing effective learning environments and fostering problem-solving processes in various learning contexts. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 (WIP) A New Curriculum Design in Aerial Computing: Teaching Ethical Decision-Making with Drones through Socio-Scientific InquiryAbstractThis work-in-progress paper presents a new curriculum that introduces undergraduate students todrone-centric cybersecurity and ethics in Sky-of-Privacy-Things (SoPT). Using a
caninfluence the design, conduct, or reporting of academic research. There are also legalimplications for universities that take public funds but engage in private business activities.When COIs are not managed, a university risks its reputation, and public trust can be damaged(Harman, 2022).Category 1: Personal Interests versus Professional ResponsibilitiesThis category of COIs refers to the ethical dilemmas that arise when an individual’s personalinterest and involvement in academic entrepreneurship conflicts with their professionalresponsibilities. These dilemmas compromise decision-making, transparency, and trust withinacademic and entrepreneurial settings. Examples include the following:Financial Conflicts of InterestFaculty involvement in
) initiative [2] integrates new problem-solving approaches into engineering education toprepare students to tackle sustainability challenges alongside historically marginalized communities.Additionally, increasing the participation of underrepresented students, including first-generation collegestudents, in engineering is vital for sustaining the U.S. research and innovation capacity. However, thesestudents must navigate complex challenges to see themselves as integral members of the field [1].Teaching sustainable ethical designs and service-based components for undergraduate students helps thenext generation in understanding their engineering identity and belonging. In this paper, a curriculum thatincludes community partnerships helps future
Paper ID #46252Educating a Responsible AI Workforce: Piloting a Curricular Module on AIPolicy in a Graduate Machine Learning CourseMr. James Weichert, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University James Weichert is a recent M.S. graduate from the Virginia Tech Computer Science Department, where he studied AI ethics, policy and education. Starting fall 2025, James will be joining the faculty at the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering as an Assistant Teaching Professor.Hoda Eldardiry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Eldardiry is an Associate Professor of
from cells using bioreactors. This innovative field blends engineering, nutrition, animal science, and ethics, offering a rich platform for pre-college STEM exploration. Tufts University is advancing research in growth methods, media, scaffolding, and consumer acceptance, while also leading educational outreach. The project has created three free activity guides for middle and high school students that promote hands-on learning and discussion around the science, ethics, and sensory aspects of cellular agriculture. 80-100 Grades minute lessons
, stayingconsistent and repetitive with feedback and grading was also a concern.This course is also designated in the core curriculum in the social and behavioral science core atthe university, which requires that assessment takes place on course learning outcomes. Oneoutcome that requires assessment is that “Students will demonstrate an understanding of differentcultural perspectives.” In the course, this requirement is met by measuring how students applyprofessional ethics in engineering economic decision making. The assignment evaluated is anethical dilemma case study, where students must choose from one of four predefined cases andprovide their perspective on the ethical dilemmas presented in the case. The assignment promptsstudents to the type of
essential competency for undergraduate students. However, current conceptual frameworksoften neglect the intersection between gender and disciplinary background, particularly regardinghow female students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) andnon-STEM fields engage with AI. This review synthesizes existing literature on AI literacy,highlighting the distinct challenges and strengths of female undergraduates across disciplines.We propose a Tri-Pillar Integrative Framework—Technical Competency, Ethical Reasoning, andContextual Application—to foster comprehensive AI literacy. The paper underscores thefragmented nature of current AI education, emphasizing gender-specific barriers such asstereotype threat and techno-anxiety, and
power through the design and deployment of structures, technologies, andcomplex systems. While contemporary corporate-driven Western engineering is often framed assolving problems and enhancing quality of life, the forces driving technological development—economic interests, techno-evolutionary pressures, political agendas, technological pathdependencies, national security concerns, individual ambitions, and considerations of ethics andecological sustainability—often conflict, ultimately undermining these aims. These systemic andpsychological dynamics are frequently obscured in engineering discourse and education.Recognizing them is essential to understanding how individual mental states and behaviors bothshape and are shaped by broader social
become an essential toolfor academic and professional growth. Over the past couple of years, the use of GenerativeArtificial Intelligence (GAI) in academia has been the subject of several debates, with discussionsfocusing on its ethical implications and how to use it to aid teaching and learning effectively. AsGAI technologies become increasingly prevalent, raising awareness about their potential uses andestablishing clear guidelines and best practices for their integration into academic settings isessential. Without proper understanding and frameworks in place, the misuse or over-reliance onthese tools could undermine the educational goals they aim to support. Workshops and seminarsplay a critical role in addressing these concerns by not only
. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Experiences with using an LLM-based Chatbot for a Multicultural Engineering Program Orientation (Experience)AbstractGiven the pace with which AI systems are being developed and used, there is a growing need formore guidance around the ethical use of AI. Due to the prominence of artificially intelligentsystems, future engineers need to be able to analyze the available AI models and makeresponsible choices critically. In the Fall of 2024, The Human in Computing and Cognition(THiCC) Lab collaborated with the Multicultural Engineering Program Orientation (MEPO) atPenn State to teach incoming engineering students about the responsible use of AI systems withthe help of an interactive
study employs a comprehensive approach by incorporating both qualitative and quantitativesurvey questions to gather insights from faculty and students. It delves into various aspects suchas the extent to which educators embrace or oppose the use of genAI, specific use cases inteaching and research, and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of these technologies.Additionally, the research discusses students’ perspectives on the advantages and potentialmisuse of genAI tools in their education, providing a balanced view of the impact of thesetechnologies on engineering education. Through these two perspectives of educators and studentsanalysis, the study aims to contribute valuable insights into the evolving role of generative AI inthe