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Engineering Ethics, Environmental Justice, and Environmental Impact Analysis: A Synergistic Approach to Improving Student Learning

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Conference

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Publication Date

June 10, 2012

Start Date

June 10, 2012

End Date

June 13, 2012

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Ethical Issues I: Sustainability and Environmental Ethics

Tagged Division

Engineering Ethics

Page Count

14

Page Numbers

25.544.1 - 25.544.14

DOI

10.18260/1-2--21302

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/21302

Download Count

595

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Paper Authors

author page

Roger Painter P.E. Tennessee State University

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Abstract

Engineering Ethics, Environmental Justice and Environmental Impact Analysis: A Synergistic Approach to Improving Student Learning 1 Roger Painter 1 Civil and Architectural Engineering, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USAEngineering ethics are being taught to Environmental Engineering students at Tennessee State University(TSU) in context with the broader aspects of environmental justice issues. In Environmental Engineeringpractice, ethical concerns are intrinsically tied to social and political environmental justice issues. In fact,environmental injustice is a major contributing factor to many ethical failures in environmentalengineering practice. Aside from the relationship between environmental justice issues and ethics issues,another benefit of combining the subjects is to increase the interest of students. Studies suggest that eventhough students may lack motivation to study ethics, they do have an interest in the social aspects ofengineering that can be used to leverage an interest in ethics. The content regarding engineering ethicsand environmental justice issues is presented in case studies as part of a required environmentalengineering course titled Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA). The case studies also present theimplementation of EIA via the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Executive Order 12898,“Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-IncomePopulations”, was accompanied by specific guidance from the president regarding recognizingthe importance of procedures under NEPA for identifying and addressing environmental justiceconcerns. In this regard case studies that facilitate the interpretation of NEPA naturally extend toengineering ethics and environmental justice issues. The course has been taught in this mannerfor the past two semesters and assessment of the impact on student learning is ongoing. An inclass questionnaire on the subject of engineering ethics is given at the end of the semester. Infall of 2013 the course will be conducted without the ethics content and the same questionnairewill be given to provide a control group.

Painter, R. (2012, June), Engineering Ethics, Environmental Justice, and Environmental Impact Analysis: A Synergistic Approach to Improving Student Learning Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21302

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