Effect of Australian Engineering Ethics on Professionalism and Society

Question

Explain engineering professionalism and ethics in the Australian contexts

Answer

Explain The Historical Impact Of Engineering On Society
Engineering solutions have had a very crucial impact on the society and the community not only today but also in the past. The implication has been both negative as well as positive. Positive, as it has ensured invention of home appliances and decontamination of water but negative such as invention of bombs which has polluted the environment drastically, so much that the effects cannot be eradicated totally. Thus the role of the engineers have underwent a change to the extent that they are required to focus upon containing the destructing implication of reaping the surrounding by the humans and the same is minimised too. Thus it can be said the engineers have now become more insightful concerning the ecological outcomes of their inventions.

Earth has become a better to live and it is undoubtedly due to the actions and events conducted by the engineers around the world. The most congratulating attribute of engineering is that it helps to solve various social problems such as sustainability, safety, sanitation and alliance as well. Engineers seek to achieve the people of today by eminence precious configurations that fundamentally assist to enlarge and advance haulage and living environment of the population of the planet Earth. Engineering has been assuring that the resources are adequate enough to support the growing populace, thereby campaigns for persistent increase of the humankind (Royal Academy of Engineering., 2013).

But the impact of the population is augmenting by each passing day and the same should not be ignored. From more than a century ago, the engineers have been focussing at domineering natural world rather than supporting and aiding it. On the application of domineering, the two components i.e. humankind and the natural world were alienated and it was the humankind who were seen adopting an aloof and a carefree stance towards the protection of nature. But engineering was ensuring to make a mark in the world by the exceptional achievements while ignoring the environment around. Engineering have always thought about the near developments, thus ignoring the future implications of the developments. Thus the positive impact of engineering since historical times is short term in nature but the negative outcomes are long lasting. Developments such as better drainage system, sanitary systems have improved the living conditions of the present human race but at the same time have ensured to augment the population of the human race as well. Lack of knowledge was realised when the reduction of the threat and echelon of spontaneous or redundant predicaments in the natural system associated with engineering systems.

Therefore it is evident that although engineering has ensured that humankind are able to live a better life but while trying to enhance the same, the engineers had ignored the fact that their acts are destroying the nature and the air which the humankind is breathing in. Thereby it is there duty to synchronise their mechanical and methodical knowhow with a better perception towards what is known as ‘soft’ tissues which is beyond their technical knowledge (Franquesa et.al. 2015). Hence it can be rightly said that their work is not limited to only mechanical knowledge but goes beyond the same towards giving a thought to the innovations and the advancements that it has on the nature. For example, engineers had invented motor vehicles to ease transportation with respect to time and safety. But during the invention of the same they ended up neglecting two major issues i.e. the fuel with the help of which these cars run are non-replenishable in nature and they contribute to the increasing pollution which is making the air non-breathable by each passing day. Hence, history is a proof to the fact that not only technology is crucial but the implication of the same to the nature and the environment is equally crucial.

Hence the viewpoint for educating engineering is not limited to only technical part of it but also the non-technical part which would consider the ecological balance and the long lasting implications on the society. The chronological brunt of engineering is so disturbing that the principal defiance that the particular career tackles presently is to teach such persons who would struggle in the direction of fetching catalysts of sustainable growth and social and economic changes (National Academy of Engineers, 2004).

Therefore on scrutinizing the implications and outcomes of engineering on the community, it is unspoken that construction of a sustainable situation and atmosphere that provides a safe and sound, sheltered, hale and hearty, dynamic and sustainable way of life to all folks should be the main purpose of the engineering profession in the present scenario.

References:
Franquesa,D., Cruz,J.L., Alvarez,C., Sanchez,F., Fernandez,A., & Lopez,D., (2015), The Social and Environmental Impact of Engineering Solutions: from the Lab to the Real World, Available at https://www.academia.edu/374354/The_Social_and_Environmental_Impact
_of_Engineering_Solutions_from_the_Lab_to_the_Real_World (Accessed on 19th April 2018)

National Academy of Engineers, (2004), Engineering for the Developing World, Available at http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/7126/7356.aspx (Accessed on 19th April 2018)

Royal Academy of Engineering., (2013), Engineering in Society, Available at https://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/reports/engineering-in-society (Accessed on 19th April 2018)