SEFI Spring School on Ethics and Sustainability

Description

Do we need ethics or sustainability in engineering? How to decide on this question?
Inspiration for the title of the spring school - Children’s Book: Crocodile or Octopus?
The children’s book “Kroko oder Krake? Du musst dich entscheiden!” (“Crocodile or Octopus? You have to decide!”) by Jörg Mühle sets the tone for the spring school. The picture book gives a choice on each page, for instance whether you want to live in a huge mansion or a small house, whether you want to be raised by a serpent or an eagle, whether you want to get lost in the woods or in a crowd and of course if you would rather have a crocodile under your bed or an octopus in your bathtub. In engineering and higher education we are confronted with this every day. However while growing up we tend to reduce arising questions to all or nothing dilemmas that have only one valid answer. With this spring school we want to reflect on who gets to ask the questions and how to answer them as well as who gets to represent the choices and how to choose. And yes, we also want to regain a bit of playfulness in order to find creative solutions for what lies ahead.

Do we accept quick technological fixes to complex societal issues? At what cost?
A predominant belief in technological progress is held up through a society wishing for easy technological solutions for complex ecological and social problems. For instance, there is a strong demand for technological innovations as a remedy for ecological destruction as well as a pathway to end hunger and to establish peace. This belief in quick technological fixes is further held up by engineers who reduce the complexity of our local and global societies and their entanglement with nature to mere questions of optimization and efficiency. On a political level, these technological fixes are then presented as if there is no alternative to them which in return calls for their immediate, technocratic and often forceful implementation. Therefore, the question arises if this is still democratic or already authoritarian.

Questions and choices that are linked to the spring school
This SEFI Spring School on ethics and sustainability addresses the role of democracy in engineering education: How to decide on what and how to teach in engineering education? - Who gets to teach and learn engineering? - What is the societal role of universities (of technology)? - Should universities educate towards democracy? If yes, how is it done? If no, who else should take care of that? - Should (higher) education be democratic? If yes, what does that entail with regard to critical debate, protest and resistance on campus? - Are there core values in a democracy and how do they relate towards the values of engineering, ethics and sustainability? How to teach, learn and practice these values as (prospective) engineers? - What is the difference between an engineer as a professional and as a citizen with regard to democracy? - What can engineers do to contribute to a democratic and sustainable society? How can they be decision-makers and change agents? - Who should be integrated in decision-making processes on technology and when is it acceptable to leave someone out? - What purpose should technology serve? - Is a democracy better suited to implement sustainable development or should we leave sustainability to a benevolent dictator? - How can we uphold an equal right to freedom for all humans? - Is there a chance for peace without democracy and sustainability?

Period	10 Apr 2024 → 12 Apr 2024
Event type	Conference
Location	Berlin, GermanyShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International