Engineering Ethics

Ethics in technology is an increasingly important aspect of engineering. The BUILD Program addresses engineering ethics and the social context of technology by threading human-centered thinking throughout technical education. Rather than treating ethics as a separate subject, BUILD integrates it throughout project-based learning, where students encounter real-world dilemmas in teamwork, sustainability, safety, and ethical issues. What can engineers build for the future through leadership roles in industry, government, and academia in addition to technical jobs?

From their first year, students are immersed in projects that challenge them to consider the societal impact of the technologies they design. Whether working on automated manufacturing systems, networked sensors, or robotic machines, students explore questions like: Who benefits? Who might be harmed? What biases or risks are embedded in this system? How will we possibly deal with information credibility?

The interdisciplinary nature of BUILD — bringing together engineers, educators, business strategists, and psychologists — creates a natural space to explore questions of responsibility, equity, communication, and social value. This mirrors the National Academy of Engineering’s call for “engineers with more than technical ability,” emphasizing global awareness, ethical reasoning, and public engagement.

By incorporating reflective design reviews, discussions with mentors, and exposure to long-term impacts, BUILD makes ethics and human factors a natural part of the engineering mindset — not an afterthought.