Baltimore , Maryland
June 25, 2023
June 25, 2023
June 28, 2023
Engineering Libraries Division (ELD) Technical Session 5: Collections & Spaces
Engineering Libraries Division (ELD)
15
10.18260/1-2--42497
https://peer.asee.org/42497
150
Zachary del Rosario is an Assistant Professor of Engineering and Applied Statistics at Olin College. His goal is to help scientists and engineers reason under uncertainty. Zach uses a toolkit from data science and uncertainty quantification to address a diverse set of problems, including reliable aircraft design and AI-assisted discovery of novel materials.
Safe design requires that engineers consider sources of uncertainty. For instance, variability in loading conditions and material properties create a risk of structural failure. However, previous research suggests that engineers, and people more generally, often fail to recognize uncertainty. In this study, we aim to determine what sources of uncertainty engineers recognize through a scoping review of engineering textbooks.
In this work-in-progress, we are investigating *recognized* sources of uncertainty in engineering. Since engineering textbooks are a recognized tool for training new engineers, we will conduct a scoping review of engineering textbooks as a proxy corpus of well-recognized engineering knowledge. We will curate a list of library reserve lists from multiple engineering institutions, in order to identify textbooks that are in-use for teaching purposes. To manage the scope of our study, we will focus attention on books relevant to structural mechanics / design. To conduct content analysis of textbooks, we will study Index sections to identify and code keywords as relevant to uncertainty. This study will result in multiple data products that will be of interest to other researchers, such as consolidated reserve lists and Index term counts across textbooks.
We anticipate differential recognition of uncertainties within engineering and across engineering disciplines. For instance, geometric tolerances are commonly discussed in drafting courses, but material variability is often reified and ignored in structural engineering courses. These results will highlight strengths and gaps in present engineering education with regards to uncertainty.
Vo, K., & Evans, A., & Madan, S., & del Rosario, Z. R. (2023, June), A Scoping Review of Engineering Textbooks to Quantify the Teaching of Uncertainty Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--42497
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