Toward the Environment and Sustainability Ethic in Engineering Education and Practice

Abstract

The engineering profession must embrace the ethic of sustainability in engineering education, in continuing professional development, and in practice. The current scene from a United Kingdom perspective is presented, including developments elsewhere. The results of surveys into the environmental content in undergraduate curricula are given. Changing requirements of the Engineering Council and the Joint Board of Moderators are presented. Initiatives from the Royal Academy of Engineering are highlighted as are those of young engineers of the Commonwealth. An overview is presented of the linkages between business and the environment. The work of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations in the area of environmental education is highlighted, as is the work of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Institution of Chemical Engineers in learned society and continuing professional development matters. The engineering profession stands at a fork in the road; will it continue in the existing paradigm or will it change direction along the path marked “the liberated and civilized engineer”? People matter, but their attitudes to the natural world and to each other matter most of all.