Shining a Light on the Impacts of Our Innovations
Consigning the impact of our innovations to a postscript
"...Academic silos barricade us from thinking broadly and holistically. In materials science, students are often taught that the key criteria for materials selection are limited to cost, availability, and the ease of manufacturing. The ethical dimension of a materials innovation is generally set aside as an elective class in accredited engineering schools. But thinking about the impacts of one’s work should be neither optional nor an afterthought. By allowing this to be the case, we, as educators, put blinders on the next generation of scientists." (Issues in Science and Technology, Spring 21)
Posted: May 20, 2021, 8:51 AM