E125 Summary Reflection

Posted on May 13, 2014 by brapponotti

Before I took E125, I had a fairly limited understanding of what constituted engineering ethics. Still, I had an opinion of what it was. I had an understanding of engineering and ethics as well, and combining them didn’t seem to be too hard. I viewed engineering as a practical fusion of math and science for the purpose of creating new technologies or architectural structures for the benefit of humanity. And I had discussions about ethics, and how ethics differs itself from the idea of morals, in English class in high school. Ethics was very much a societal implementation of values, like codes of conduct, to help serve as a guideline for people, engineers included. Going back to what I wrote about what I hoped to gain from the class in my learning proposal:

“I hope to gain some knowledge in being able to more concretely shape my idea of what engineering is, and of what engineers do. This class will hopefully help me gain some experience as well in the ethical practices of engineering and in discussing in small groups during discussion about articles pertaining to ethics in engineering.”

Were any of these assumptions challenged or changed? Why or why not? (Refer to  specific assignments that are in your ePortfolio.)

Looking back and reading through my learning proposal, I definitely know that my presentation and communication skills were tested. I made sure not to speak with notes to help me speak on the fly; I prepared beforehand, so I did know what I was talking about. Also, the article Alice Pawley wrote, How Engineers Define Engineering, really broadened my understanding of what engineering is. Moreover, visiting the Berkeley Museum of Art seemed to coincide with the idea described in the article. Engineering, like art, is a very broad topic: art can be functional, and like engineering, can bring about discussions about ethical issues. The aesthetics of art don’t need to be the only thing connected with engineering. Still, art isn’t really the entire purpose of engineering, nor is it the most important.

What does it mean to be an ethical engineer?

Being an ethical engineer is not simply following a code of ethics. In fact, during interview presentations, I noticed that a few people had said that their interviewee did not really use a code of ethics when being faced with an ethical decision. Mostly, they had followed their own ethical code, their moral code, if you will. The examples of the BART and the Challenger were also examples of ethical engineers trying to stand up and say that some engineering project was not safe. In fact, even if their fears were not vindicated, as in the case of the BART or the Challenger dilemmas, legitimately questioning the safety of a project is an important part of being an ethical engineer.

How does (or should) ethics fit into the larger engineering curriculum?

Ethics is involved with every design and decision in engineering, and thus, shouldn’t simply be taught as one unending chunk. It needs to be broken up and discussed regularly in engineering curriculum, just like it should be in the workplace.

What is/are the engineer’s societal role(s)? Or, what should the engineer’s role be?

Just like the case of the BART, or another case from the Ethics textbook, the case of Johan van Veen, in the section on human welfare, engineering designs can have devastating effects if they fail. The professional code of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) states that “engineers shall use their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare.” This definition, although short, gives a very fair societal role.

What is your future learning plan?

One great way to incorporate a future learning plan is to read other ethics blogs. Because engineering is built around collaboration and discussion, reading the opinions of others allows you to imbibe new perspectives of others. There may be people in specific fields focusing on nuclear engineering ethics of bio-engineering ethics, so you can diversify yourself as well. http://abutec.com/ is just an example of a link to a blog I can visit. In fact, simply reading books and listening to debates on issues not even relating to engineering can help built an ethical framework. As was stated before, ASCE states engineers should use their knowledge and skill for advancing human welfare. Thus, understanding where human welfare needs enhancing is important, and being politically aware, of local, national, and even global politics can create opportunities for social and economic benefit via the introduction of engineering projects, such as water filtration systems to poor countries where people are dying of lack of potable drinking water. These seem like lofty goals and initially they are. Discussions about ethics with friends is a lot easier and more informal, This propagates a culture of ethical discussion, which is very important for guiding us towards a more ethical frame of mindset when doing engineering, amongst other fields.

Project Personal Reflection

Posted on May 8, 2014 by brapponotti

As a brief summary, our group was inspired to pursue the project we did because we had interviewed professionals working in engineering fields. We thought that we could juxtapose what we had learned from these interviews with Berkeley undergraduate students pursuing research, which is very similar to the work environment of some engineers in the field today. We asked them some questions about their research and ethical challenges as well as how they would describe the atmosphere around ethical discussions with their PIs and fellow lab mates.
Reflection on it, I think it was a very good project idea. In complementing our interview project with this group project idea, I feel like we extended it, continuing the assignment that was given to us in class. It was certainly not the easiest to make the video, as our video editing skills were not the best, but hopefully the meat of the interviews, the opinions expressed by those we interviewed, would best the most important aspect. Just interviewing undergraduates was a good start, and by extension, questions raised about the practice of ethics in undergraduate research is likely to extend to graduate student research. Getting this information to the public will hopefully be a stepping stone for Berkeley faculty to prep young minds passionate for research to consider ethical challenges in their research and the ethical impacts just like they would have to in the real world.

Group 6 – Group Project Proposal Revisions

Posted on May 5, 2014 by travaglini

Revisions:

After considering feedback for our project proposal, the following revisions were made:

For our revised group project objective of creating a video, the filmed interviewees were asked open-ended questions, to try and elicit their natural response encouraging them to really think about it – not just provide ‘stock responses’. Questions included ‘what is ethics’ or just an opening prompt to share their thoughts. We designed this so we would not pre-bias people’s opinions.

We tried to capture a wide range of topics brought up by our interviewees, which we felt was important from the beginning of our project (also reflected in our interviews, chosen to represent some of the diverse fields of engineering). We did not provide strict prompts, and also randomly chose people on the campus during ethics week – we felt this would help reflect our aim to engage the wider community.

The video will be brought to a wider audience by screening it at future ethics events on campus, and we are considering taking the video to local groups including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, followed by being available for questions about further resources or sources of information. We hope our community will be inspired by our video to keep ethics in mind in their careers, and hope to measure meeting our objectives by continuing to share our video via an online platform and counting the views over time.

1. Ethical Project Proposal Summary

The audience of our project is UC Berkeley Community, students, student engineers. The topic of our project is designed to follow up to ethics week, and promoting ethics in the sciences by explaining ethics and making it fun. When brainstorming as a group our first ideas included:

Anonymous. blog to encourage sharing of Ethical narratives and questions
A physical ‘Dropbox’ in a University plaza for people to leave notes with ethical issues they encounter
Monthly open meetings at public areas of the University

Our initial chosen plan was to hold a small, informal information event in either a classroom or on Sproul plaza with a few of the student engineering groups on campus (Engineers Without Borders, Super Mileage Vehicle Team, Bridge Building Challenge Team etc) where campus goers can learn about why group members chose to join and inspire others to join as well.

However, we felt this would not communicate the questions that ethics in engineering pose, and also wanted to create an outcome that could be shared by social media, the most used communication form of our intended audience. After one of our group members spoke to the prospective groups, we were also concerned the resources required to hold an event were too ambitious, as we would need publicity help, making posters and gaining campus awareness about our proposed event in the science classroom and just Berkley in general. We would also need to rent a few tables and possibly a microphone or classroom on Sproul.

We decided to change our project when we were inspired when one of our group volunteered at the booth during Ethics Week. We decided the filming of people answering ethical questions would be the perfect opportunity and medium to engage our audience and make a video as our project deliverable. We wanted to capture the broad spectrum of topics in Ethics, as we had found through our interviews, and also felt a video was the best way to communicate this in a sharable, easily accessible manner.

2. Summary of Ethical Interviews

Alton:

I interviewed Professor Vern Paxson who studies computer security related to the internet, such as cyber attacks and cyber defense.

He’s worked as a network administrator.

Ethical challenge faced: Seeing suspicious network activity from a customer that might be illegal, and deciding whether to investigate or not. He and his coworkers decided to always turn the other way.
Other potential challenges: Government issues a request for company to give out data about a customer. Is the company loyal to the customer or the government? Even if what the government is doing is legal, is it ethical?
Given the recent fall out of the NSA spying on U.S. citizens, where do we draw the line between looking for criminals and protecting the innocent? Very grey area, and Prof. Paxson didn’t have a definitive answer.
Ethical Resources: Electronics Frontier Foundation. IEEE code of ethics.

Sonia:

Professor Grace O’Connell of UC Berkeley’s Mechanical Engineering department researches the effects of damage and repair on human spinal tissues. Such research demands strict guideline and ethical best practices to protect the patients, the researcher and their institution. Professor O’Connell explained how many tissues for experimentation are gathered from waste human tissue from surgeries in hospitals, with the patient tissue donor giving written consent before the surgery, having been informed it would be for research purposes. The ability to ask for such tissues and to use them for experimentation is closely regulated and controlled by multiple agencies.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Clinical Research Policy Analysis and Coordination, who work to standardize and promote consistent policies across the NIH, for NIH funded research with human specimens and data.
The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) provides leadership in the protection of the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of subjects involved in research conducted or supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Access to human tissues is controlled through these by a system of forms, and despite occasional clerical delays at some institutions, Professor O’Connell gave an overall positive view, including that possible issues were identified, solutions found, and contingency plans made. The overall conclusion was the regulations supported research and provided a source of support and information for the researcher. They also provided clear, open information, which both scientists and the public have access to, making complex ethical topics understandable and useful.

3. Community Engagement

Our group covered a wide variety of ethical issues and topics, interviewing individuals from a variety of professions – we felt a common theme was one of public views of the ethical issues, and decided the way to address this was to create a video of members of the UC Berkeley community being asked questions about ethical topics, to create awareness of ethical issues. The video will be freely shared with the community, and we aim to screen the video at UC Berkeley community meetings on campus.

4. Conclusion

Raising awareness of ethical issues among the UC Berkeley community is vital help ensure future Engineers, scientists and the public we serve make ethical choices for all of us. Using modern technology to create and share a video with thought provoking questions is our group’s way of helping this come to fruition.

Technology and Regulations

Posted on April 29, 2014 by brapponotti

Many government organizations have control over regulation. One such is the Department of Energy. Another is the EPA when pertaining to environmental concerns. Most private sector regulations are regulations that are determined less on a legalistic aspect than they are on an ethical aspect. With or without regulation, these companies need to satisfy their customers and make sure that said product is safe. Regulations from the government may add or subtract from said regulations of the private sector and are more hotly contested on a legal basis. Congressmen take initiative to change or add regulation, since they are the ones with the power to do so. However, citizens who vote in their Congressmen sort of have a responsibility to vote in people who would represent their ideas of regulation or deregulation. Everyone, thusly, has a role in this, but it is more important and with greater possibility that people in powerful positions can change and add regulation more easily than others.

Group Proposal – Group 3 Discussion 103

Posted on April 20, 2014 by shubhamsinha

Team Members: Shubham Sinha, Shaun Singh, Neel Rane, Leo Wu

Statement of Problem:

Tech giants namely Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon have petabytes of data stored on their servers about their registered users. The data not only includes valuable information such as name, telephone, address etc but also includes user internet activity, places checked, destinations traveled to name a few. Such information could be easily used by third party data analytic companies to target users accordingly. It is not just an invasion of privacy but delves into a much bigger issue of user manipulation through specific online marketing schemes. It is scary to think about the future of such big data in the hand of few business corporations whose sole purpose is to maximize profits and please investors. However, this issue simply doesn’t exclusively apply to software companies but is also applicable to the UC Berkeley system. The UC Berkeley calnet system provides access to portals such as bspace, berkeley library system, bearwalk and numerous other services. Thousands of Berkeley students use these services everyday without realizing where exactly this data goes and what it could be used for. How do we know that Berkeley doesn’t run some sort of analytics on all this data available? Is this data being sold to third party companies? Our Group believe that even if it isn’t being misused in any way , it definitely has the potential to and there isn’t any existing framework to safeguard us from this horror.

Executive Summary:

What initially made us think about this problem was our group presentation about our interviews. Through a fortunate coincidence, all our interviews were related to the idea of user data and user data analytics and its potential misuse for manipulation. Through our presentation we realized the gravity of this issue and how significant its impact will be in future. The harsh reality is that such data mostly benefits individuals and corporations that already have unnecessary amounts of money. Our group aims to provide concrete, feasible suggestions to tackle this issue. We hope to make the students aware of this problem so it could be open to discussion throughout the whole campus by submitting a proposal to the ASUC student body. As we have the right to make sure that our privacy isn’t threatened and that our personal students information isn’t being misused. As ethical engineers it is our responsibility to make sure that the existing technology is being used to solely for utility and benefit. By making the ASUC aware of this problem and by gaining their support we would be able to write a much stronger proposal to the chancellor of the university.

Objectives:

Proposal the ASUC student body highlighting the aforementioned issue.

Setting up a committee of both students and faculty to determine the current state of data storage by the university
Transparency of the data usage if any by the university.
Transparency about the type of data being stored by the current university run web and mobile apps such as video data, voice data etc
Official guarantee to safeguard our personal information and the data collected against any misuse.
Establishment of a cyber security team that enforces ethical use of the data collected by the university.
Set an example for other universities to do the same. If the issue garners enough attention perhaps it would make the general public more aware of the practices of big data companies.
If the committee does find any misuse of personal data then the university should immediately abolish such practices.
Removal of any personal data that are deemed unnecessary for storage in the university servers.
Scrutinize currently running research projects that use student data or record student data through web app services.
Ethically evaluate proposed research projects in the field of software engineering and other related engineering disciplines

Action Plan and Conclusion:

First and foremost we would begin with submitting a proposal to the ASUC student body. After that we would engage the engineering faculty in a discussion about this issue. Our most important task would be to aware people of this existing problem. Support from fellow students and faculty would be key in making this proposal a success and reality. It would take us 1-2 weeks to write the proposal and get it proofread by some faculty members. It would also be important for us to do some research to obtain factual data to substantiate our proposal. However, it would eventually come down to the ASUC to approve our proposal and take the next necessary steps. Our group would stay committed and active throughout the whole process. Data misuse is a reality. As engineers it is our ethical and moral responsibility to make sure that isn’t happening to us and our community. Our group truly believes that our proposal highlights the issue appropriately and our objectives provide the needed course of action.

Group 6 – Group Project Proposal

Posted on April 20, 2014 by travaglini

1. Ethical Project Proposal Summary

Anonymous. blog to encourage sharing of Ethical narratives and questions
A physical ‘Dropbox’ in a University plaza for people to leave notes with ethical issues they encounter
Monthly open meetings at public areas of the University

2. Summary of Ethical Interviews

Alton:

I interviewed Professor Vern Paxson who studies computer security related to the internet, such as cyber attacks and cyber defense.

He’s worked as a network administrator.

Ethical challenge faced: Seeing suspicious network activity from a customer that might be illegal, and deciding whether to investigate or not. He and his coworkers decided to always turn the other way.
Other potential challenges: Government issues a request for company to give out data about a customer. Is the company loyal to the customer or the government? Even if what the government is doing is legal, is it ethical?
Given the recent fall out of the NSA spying on U.S. citizens, where do we draw the line between looking for criminals and protecting the innocent? Very grey area, and Prof. Paxson didn’t have a definitive answer.
Ethical Resources: Electronics Frontier Foundation. IEEE code of ethics.

Sonia:

The National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Clinical Research Policy Analysis and Coordination, who work to standardize and promote consistent policies across the NIH, for NIH funded research with human specimens and data.
The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) provides leadership in the protection of the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of subjects involved in research conducted or supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Access to human tissues is controlled through these by a system of forms, and despite occasional clerical delays at some institutions, Professor O’Connell gave an overall positive view, including that possible issues were identified, solutions found, and contingency plans made. The overall conclusion was the regulations supported research and provided a source of support and information for the researcher. They also provided clear, open information, which both scientists and the public have access to, making complex ethical topics understandable and useful.

3. Community Engagement

4. Conclusion

Mid-Semester Self Evaluation

Posted on March 7, 2014 by brapponotti

If I were assigned a participation grade this week, I would give myself a B+. I participate a bit in lecture, but in discussion I participate a fair amount. During presentations, I try to ask at least one question for each presenter or group presentation, partly to help myself understand better but also to help the presenter to be able to answer. However, I only gave myself a B+ because I haven’t really gone above and beyond on the blogs. I don’t read and comment on enough blogs, and I think doing that would have demonstrated going above and beyond in participating in this class so far. I do arrive on time for class (Berkeley time of course, since I have a lecture in Stanley Hall that ends at 2 and I have to walk across campus to get to Mulford). I read the ethics in the news articles, though I should comment on them as well. I also try to participate in the group work. One thing I can do better in reading the textbook. I try to read what I can, but I haven’t read all the chapters as thoroughly as I should.

I think I am meaning most of the objectives I set out for in my learning proposal. The stuff I had outlined that I need to do better in hasn’t yet been fully met, so I do have some work to do. The text book has been very helpful in writing up blogs for the ethics in the news articles and critical reflections articles that were assigned. I also found the book helpful when writing up my interview reflection, even citing a few case studies from said book to try to connect my interview to what I was learning in class.

Ethics in the News: Advanced Prosthetics are about to Transform Sport

Posted on February 25, 2014 by travaglini

03/25/14: Advanced Prosthetics are about to Transform Sport (Revised)

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/08/29/advancedprostheticsareabouttotransformsport/

In 2012 the Olympic fever was for the paralympics, with new world records, a new popularity and

interest in the Games, and new technology. Athletes with disabilities are currently exploring a

whole new range of possibilities and freedoms by using recently developed technology in

materials. While past prosthetics were mainly designed for aesthetics and used relatively basic

technology, new prosthetics use advanced materials, such as carbon fiber and electronic

processors. Engineers have used this new technology for new applications, such as for a

replacement limbs prosthetics that are specifically designed for competitive sports use.

As I also developed new materials and studied the latest technologies such as in carbon fiber, I

believed all new technology which improves life and solves problems was positive, and did not

extensively consider the ethics. The use of the new prosthetics quickly raised questions about

fairness and equality in sports, particularly when the technology which is necessary and

improves the life of the athlete, could also provide an unfair advantage. Initial responses to finding

the new ethical boundaries considered many factors, such as; if all athletes would have access

to such technology, such as from less prosperous countries, or if the cultural norms of the

society might prevent all athletes choosing to use prosthetics for sports.

The crux of the argument is that I think while technological, economical, social factors,

geographical location and culture could all affect the question of if a sports prosthetic is ethical in

sports, the development of new prosthetics for competitions is no different to the development of

a better training regime, or better designed swimsuits the technology merely enables the

athlete to perform to their full ability.

While this is the current stateofplay, one has to consider the far future; as performance

enhancing drugs had to be banned be prevent inequality, the use of technology may grow to

needing to be restricted too. These restrictions may not just be for the athlete, as there is already

a debate of if technology should be used to judge competitors. We currently accept camera

‘replays’ in judging sports now, but will it end with enforced sensors attached to athletes bodies?

Technology has now developed to the point where prosthetics could well be superior to ‘natural’

bodies made of materials that never wear out, that do not age, and can be updated to keep

pace with scientific discoveries. Such options may become more widely adopted, as I would

personally be happy to choose technology which aids me to be better wouldn’t you? Such

advances in technology have opened up more questions that will be found and answered,

creating new boundaries and new viewpoints that will define how we as a society see the

boundaries and ethics of the integration of technology with ourselves.

Manipulating Our Memories

Posted on February 11, 2014 by brapponotti

The Era of Memory Engineering Has Arrived

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/era-memory-engineering-has-arrived/

Memory engineering sounds like a field straight out of a comic book or a science fiction movie. And while movies like the Matrix, which only came out fifteen years, seem to make the idea of memory manipulation fantastical, two MIT researchers have shown that these possibilities are closer than they seem. By using Channelrhodopsin to make neurons light-activated during a certain period, they are able to find the source neurons that lit up, thus tracing the recent memories to certain brain cells in the mice and allowing the scientists to reactivate the memories via certain cues or parts of experiences that occurred during the original memory activation, such as shining a light on the mice.
While ethical issues can be raised about the treatment of the mice in the experiments, the effects that these will have on humans is extremely important. I wish to point out a few of the possible uses that memory engineering (or if you prefer the article’s more poetic version, memory manhandling) as well as highlight a few of the ethical issues that will arise from this recent discovery.
Just like any kind of physical manipulation of the body, it seems to me that memory engineering can be a possible, if expensive, form of therapy or healing. Traumatic experiences are such because they are replayed in the minds of those who experience them, and can stay with that person until they die. However, with the introduction of technology that can change or even get rid of these traumatic memories, people will have an opportunity to heal. Another positive use may be the treatment of Alzheimer’s. With old age, memories of loved ones may fade or even disappear, and people may even forget their own spouses, which is a horrible fate for anyone in love or a family member of friend of the afflicted.

And what of simple personal or public use? Memories might even become a marketable commodity. People looking for escape have traditionally sought out comedy clubs, movie theaters, and bars to go and get away from life for a while. Happy memories might become sought after as a means for people to have a bit of pleasure and escape into their own mind for a bit, and can hold onto those memories, just like the memories of a good movie, for years to come.

Can we implant memories into criminals and sociopaths to make them more caring, just as we could take out memories? Since the brain is responsible for thought and thus, is needed for action from an individual to occur, being able to change it.

Another ethical objection brought up might be the artificiality of such experiences. People wouldn’t actually have experienced them, and the line between actual and artificial memories becomes vague and blurry and may cheapen the experience of living. Such a technology with powerful implications for human memory engineering, while still in its infancy, could prove to have radical implications on human psychology and thus careful ethical consideration should be taken to prevent unethical use.

Humanities Looking into the Sciences

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Alexander

Now I am probably the only humanities major in E125. As a pre-business freshman, I am probably one of the youngest as well. So why in the world would a second semester first year want to take an engineering ethics class with some of the best minds in the country? Well, I admire them and perhaps one day, I will be one of them. My sojourn in ethics class should bring me one step closer to committing to a major switch, or at least add a minor. I hope that surrounding myself with all the ideas of engineering (without the intimidation of hard math and science) will get my demons to scurry away. At a minimum, as a business major I would like to enter an engineering firm in management so the responsibilities of the professional objective really appeals to me. If everything would be dandy, that would be an automotive manufacturer, Porsche to be exact. I am extremely interested in all things car related and today’s leaps in bounds in autonomous vehicles are very appealing. So to summarize, I am a pre-business major looking into a discipline a night-and-day different from my own: engineering.

It is quite the battle internally. For the greater part of my life I have been business interested. I sold paper airplanes at my dad’s shop when I was little, I was the business guy at my school’s student government and now I am taking econ and UGBA. But I also played with Legos. I had as much fun building bridges and buildings out of scrap wood with my father. I enjoyed making the paper airplanes almost more than selling them. My family says business, but my friends and my mind tell me engineering. So I am at a crossroad, and that is why I am taking Engineering Ethics and Society.

So what I hope to gain from this experience is a sure fire way to determine if engineering, mechanical to be precise, is something that I would love or something that maybe is just a phase in my life. All the questions that arise during class and the people who answer them are my influential factors. If I can keep up with what people say, and what people say sound awesome, then I am all in.

Aforementioned, I would like to enter Porsche in management, so the objective to discover what the professional responsibilities are of an engineer can prove to be very useful. We mentioned in class a few problems that arise between management and the engineers and many of the conflicts arose from poor communication. It cannot hurt to learn both sides of an argument right? As a manger in Porsche or some other car manufacturer, I am surely going to step in at a time where self-driving cars are being tested widespread and so that is something I would very much like to investigate further. And as a pre-haas major, I think my wish to explore a discipline other than my own is quite clear, it is engineering in its entirety.

Making Ethics Meaningful

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