Reading Response #1

The nature of engineering and the way engineers are trained is crucial to understanding our society and the lens it has been constructed under. Before the study of Science and Technology had emerged Science/Tech was generally portrayed as solely a positive thing for society and the negative social implications were not necessarily addressed. This was a huge issue because often times Science/Tech was created under a patriarchal model of linear progression and people began to see this as natural and inevitable.

For this reason exactly the ways in which scientists and engineers are working and being trained “are matters of vital concern in our society.”(2-Donovan). To start out we can examine British engineering and how it began focusing on ideals of craftsmanship, hard work and emphasized the importance of personality in the working world. British engineers utilized their freedom and normally began participating in the subject because they genuinely had a passion for it.

In my opinion this emphasis on creativity, individuality, and versatility in British engineering is a very positive thing to stress because it encourages engineers to think outside of the box because now day’s engineers must be thinking about much more than a product created under a linear model of progression. A socially and ethically responsible engineer must use creativity to address issues of global warming, racial injustices, unfair distribution of power, etc.

French engineering on the other hand seems to be less equipped at addressing current global issues because it was created under a patriarchal model that promoted classicism and nationalism. French engineering was “THE recognized way to the top, both socially and professionally” (1-Barsoux) which enticed many people, however, often times for the wrong reasons. In turn, many French engineers entered the field because of its associations with money and power.

In terms of addressing global issues the French model of engineering falls short because it was created under a hierarchal framework that inevitably was created to benefit some and hinder others. Unlike the British system, the French system inhibits creativity and individuality because it is too closely tied with politics and power. This of course makes it very difficult to address the multiplicity of global issues we currently face today.

In my opinion a great engineer would focus more on the classic British model of engineering and would combine creativity and technology in order to create a product that addresses a variety of needs based on a variety of global issues. The French engineering model may fall short in this sense because the desire to achieve social and professional status may impede their ability or want to create ethically fair/sustainable global engineering.

-Mariel Emanuel