Engineers and Professionalism
What is Engineer?
Engineer's role in society
They apply the principles of engineering, science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems
One who translates into action the knowledge and concepts of science to achieve sustainable management of the planet through application of technology
Difference between science and tech
Science: Well founded testable knowledge about natural phenomena. A pursuit of knowledge without concern about needs of society
Tech: Systems concerned with solving problems and meeting needs in the real world
Engineering connects pure science to society.
Engineers face a constantly changed environment in which they design, build, manufacture and operate. That causes engineers to encounter challenges and uncertainties which science doesn't have to deal with. There are success and failure throughout the history
Engineering is intertwined with military and it arose because of great need to build massive structures like bridges, harbors, canals
History of Engineering
Why study history of Engineering
Phase of the history in Engineering
Understand why things happend and make sense of the present and the future
Understand the connections between engineering and other aspects of society
Scientific Revolution (16th century)
Industrial Revolution (18th century)
Modern Industrial Era (20th century)
The rise of capitalism brought about strong interest in the practice of the
trades of the traditional artisan who transformed into modern professionals especially in civil, mining, metallurgical and mechanical engineering.
Machine powered by steam engines replaced human muscles. Practival thinking became scientific in addition to intuition. Enginnering colleges and professional societies emerged.
Galileo: telescope, earth revolve round the sun. Bacon: inductive approach to draw conclusions from experimental data. Descartes: deductive approach through math, advocated science and religion should be separated
Machines replaced animal and human power. Symbolised by mass production and transportation
Prominent emergent diciplines: Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering and Control Engineering which accelerated the pace of automation
Industrial engineers designed and managed mass production and distribution systems. Graduate schools emerged. Individual inventions organised into systematic innovations. Tinkering became organised research
Some British pioneer engineers. John Rennie (Built Canals), George Stepherson (First President of the institution of mechanical engineers)
Crystal Palace Exhibition was a celebration of British engineers and engineering
Material Science and Engineering, Astronautic Engineering took great strides. Atomic Power opens a new field of nuclear engineering. Microelectronics, communications and computer engineering joined forces to start information revolution
Rise of Large-scale R&D at national level, maturing of graduate education
Turn of 21st century
Rapid Development in Information Technology
Emergence of notable complex technologies that required disciplinary cooperation and integration: Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Environmental Technology
What is a computer engineer
They are involved in the process of creating, developing, integrating, sharing and applying knowledge about electrical, computer and information technologies for the benefit of humanity
Main goal: desire to better the human condition today and in the future through the improved use of information
Skill: 1. Mathmatical/logical skills, 2. Communication. 3. Be able to apply scientific concepts that they have learned, using those math skills. 4. Perform operations analysis in order to analyze requirements and constraints on a project to ensure the design does not exceed requirements. 5. Troubleshooting since there are design problems.
Famous Engineers
Henry Ford: President of Ford Company, Neil Armstrong: Aerospace engineering, first man to walk on the moon, etc.
Famous Computer Engineers
Steve Wozniak, Cofounder of Apple, Bill Joy, cofounder of Sun Microsystems
What is a profession
A paid occupation, especially one involving training and a formal qualification or a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science or a calling/service
It is distinguished by pioneer professions, prestigious, commanding respect, has a controlled group, even elitist and exclusive
Controlled Group developed from membership in guilds (persons who specialized only they could do)
Membership protected them while requiring certain rules of behaviour
Specialized function needed
Today remains but more democratic membership - open to anyone with the right qualifications. No longer requiring to belong to a professional association. Need not belong to be a professional
Profession and its characteristics
Possession of specialized knowledge, extensive training and significant intellectual component, require specific qualifications
Exercise of discretion and judgment – higher
intellectual plane
Marked by group consciousness, group behaviour, conformity and peer pressure
Satisfy indispensable and beneficial social
need.
Obligations and relationships with others: since they work for others, some relationship is expected, particularly, fiduciary
Have gained enough footing in society to form association and organization
Distinguished by membership in professional association, of which key feature is code of conduct and ethics
Service motive – professional integrity and
ideals
Why do we need professions
Maintenance and progress of society usually to be held by professions, our society is complex today, we tend to depend on professionals to decide things for us. Complex society will require specialized knowledge and skills. Professions possess such skills
Professional Engineers in Singapore
Professional Engineers Act
Establish PE Board
Provide for registration of PE
Regulate qualification and conduct of PEs
Regulate corporations which supply professional engineering services in Singapore
Professional Engineers Board (PEB)
PEB Mission
PEB Scope
PEB Key Objectives
PEB main functions
PEB members
Privileges of PE
Requirements for supply of professional engineering services
Requirements for supply of professional engineering work
Professional Engineering Work & Services
Professional Engineer Title, Engineer title
Work that needs for registration for PE
Obtain recognition as PE
Use "Er." before your name
Sign and submit government authorities any plans, design or report required by law
Form a sole-proprietor or partnership firm to supply PE works/ services in SG
Qualification, application of PE
PE/Engineer Code of Conducts/Ethics
What is Engineering Ethics
Why do we need a code of ethics
Some examples of the rules
Uphold dignity, standing and reputation of profession
Act with prime regard to public interest
Discharge his duties to his employer or client with complete fidelty
IES Rules for Professional Conduct
Criteria of good codes
Emphasize positive, show what is good not emphasize bad behaviors
Confined to professional conduct for engineers
Based on universal, generally acceptable set of ethical rules, not espousing any particular religion or moral creed
Comprehensive, practical, genuine content
Cover principal elements of computer engineering, including situations calling for ethical judgment and corresponding guidance
What the code should cover
Repositories and processors of information, Producers of new forms and types of assets, Instrument of acts, symbols of intimidation and deception
Social responsibility, specific problems about IP, confidentiality and secrecy, security questions
Specific to IT: stop data misuse, encourage data minimization, promote data integrity, allow data inspection, establish privacy policies
Advantages of code of ethics
Difficulties with code of ethics
Limitation with code of ethics
Not legally binding. Efficacy from how code is regarded in actual fact and reality dependes on respect and regard for moral principles. Protection from employers. Examination of codes and clauses - internal conflicts. e.g. Obedience to Boss can conflict with public welfare. Cultural differences and perceptions. e.g. bribes.
IT is a relatively new field. There are diversity of users and fields. Need to raise awareness through education. Slow implementation in law
Set out ideals and responsibilities of profession. Motivate and inspire practitioners.
IES