So, as an engineer, is "ethics" important to you?

So, as an engineer, is "ethics" important to you? The Royal Academy of Engineering thinks it should be. "Engineers have a profound impact on the world in which we live. To ensure that this impact is always directed towards the public good, it is essential that we operate with a real commitment to honesty and integrity," says Lord Broers FREng FRS, President of the RAEng. "We can only be proud of our profession if we behave, and are seen to behave, ethically."

In practice, I'm sure few engineers will have the ethics of what they're doing uppermost in their thoughts on a Thursday afternoon. But if the subject can be given more priority when we first study engineering, it must be a good thing. The RAEng, the Engineering Council (UK) and other professional engineering institutions have just launched a "Statement of Ethical Principles" for professional engineers, along with a 'curriculum map' for the teaching of ethics in undergraduate courses.

The 'statement' is worthy enough, built around the four fundamental principles of accuracy and veracity, honesty and integrity, respect for life, law and the public good, and responsible leadership. But think it's the educational aspect which has the best chance of making an impact. The 'curriculum map' is full of the almost obligatory 21st century mumbo-jumbo (a 'pedagogic focus' is what, exactly?) but if you skip past all the tortuous prose there's a good framework (oh no, they've got me at it too now) for teaching institutions to consider.

Anyway, see what you think. http://www.engineeringtalk.com/information/raeng-editorial.html