Engineering’s
Impact on Society
Stanley M. Howard, PhD, PE
Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD
Acknowledgement
Dr. Harold Stern
Associate Professor
Communications & Controls
University of Alabama
Email: hstern@coe.eng.ua.edu
For his original Power Point work on
which this presentation is based
Slides with an “*” in the lower right hand
corner were patterned directly after his work.
Engineers Are Action Oriented
Action Means Change and

Different Segments of Society Have
Different Goals and Values

Good Intentions Can Produce Unexpected
and Unwanted Results

Only Six Percent of the Public Are
Scientifically Literate

Actions Have Unforeseen Scientific, Political,
and Social Consequences
Actions have Unforeseen
Consequences
Actions have Unforeseen
Consequences
Actions have Unforeseen
Consequences
Unforeseen Consequences
Classic Example #1
Original Problem:
Soil Erosion
Solution: Introduce Kudzu
from Japan
Unintended Consequence:
Overrun with Vines
Killing of Other Vegetation
Power Lines Shorting Out
Etc.
Southeastern USA Kudzu
Credit: Harold P. E. Stern
Unforeseen Consequences
Classic Example #2
Original Problem:
Manual Labor
Low Productivity
Slow Transportation
Solution: Industrialization
Unintended Consequence:
Air Pollution
Sweat Shops
Urban Problems
Santiago Chile Smog
Credit:
http://www.planetark.org/envpic
story.cfm/newsid/17148
Actions have Unforeseen
Consequences
Consequences are more
likely to be identified when
people with varied expertise
and perspectives offer input.
Number of People of Varied
Identifying Consequences  Backgrounds Offering Input
Issues Concerning Openness

National Security

Competitive Edge

Streamline Effort

Cut Costs

Save Time

“What They Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Them”
When Should Secrecy be
Maintained?
When Could Secrecy
Appropriately be Maintained?

National security restricted by legally
authorized government oversight

Private activities involving only intellectual
property

Product and process development with
consequences limited to consumer choice
Group Exercise
Develop a set of specific procedures to



Inform society of the tradeoffs
Gain society’s prior approval
Limit unintended consequences
*
When Should the Public be
Informed?
Inform the public whenever society could be
affected by the proposed project except in
cases of simple consumer options or national
security authorized by the legally empowered
governmental agency.
Procedures to
Limit Unintended Consequences and
Gain Public Consent

Study similar problems and previous solutions to
determine their societal impact

Identify technological trends associated with the
proposed solution

Project possible societal impacts of these trends to limit
unintended consequences

Research all laws and regulations that may exist
concerning a proposed solution

Determine the appropriate ways to inform society and
achieve an informed consensus
*
Resources Available




Prior projects
Codes and regulations
Editorials
Case studies
*
Resources Available
to Identify Trends

Codes

Phased Implementation of Laws

World Initiatives

Professional Societies
*
Resources Available to
Research Laws and Regulations

Governmental Agencies

Other Designers

Patents

Professional Societies/Associates/Groups
*
Resources Available to
Achieve an Informed Consensus

Public Meetings

Elections

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
*
Group Exercise
- Analysis
A reporter selected by each group will present their analysis

Analyze placement of widespread windmill farms in western
South Dakota

Analyze the positives and negatives and the intended and
unintended consequences

Propose societal impact management methods
Report Format

Benefits

Negatives

Consequences Likely Unforeseen by Many

Procedures
Analysis
(cont’d)

Benefits
Clean and Cheap Renewable Power, Small Land
Requirements, Economic Stimulation and Options,
Low Impact

Negatives
Periodic, No on-demand Supply, Noisy, New Power
Grid Needed, Aesthetics, Bird Strikes, Maintenance,
Large Land Requirements, More Activity
Note: The contradictory items offered by a group of
engineers. Imagine the contradictions had the
group been more diverse. This illustrates the
role of values and intangibles.
Analysis
(cont’d)
Possible Unintended Consequences
Need more infrastructure
Adverse affect on current energy-related industry
Displacement of Agri-business
Health effects
Electromagnetic induced cancers
Neurotic cows
Communication disruption
Topsoil loss
Ambience disruption
Wage/living issues
Analysis
(cont’d)
Procedures
Get more info from other experts
Focus groups, previous projects
Public hearings
Government regulations
Professional standards
Engineering’s
Impact on Society
Conclusion




Seek Input
Embrace the Regulatory Environment as an
Valuable Operating Template
Never Violate the Public Good
Use Secrecy only for intellectual rights, simple
market-related activities, or government
authorized activity