ENG 4A03 Sustainability & Ethics in Engineering

Course Syllabus Official Version - Fall Term, 2014

Updated September 8, 2014

Course Description:

Official Description: The impact of triple bottom line thinking on the engineering profession, including
economic, environmental, and social responsibility. The ethical and legal responsibilities of engineers.
The role of the engineering profession in the social control of technological change.

Our personal vision for the course: You'll leave with a better understanding of how the world is
interconnected and a clearer idea of how you want to contribute, both personally & professionally.

Instructor: Joel Hilchey, M.Eng You can learn about Joel at www.joelhilchey.com

Email through Avenue to Learn - hilchey , hilchey@mcmaster.ca for MSAFs. Because Joel is not on
campus regularly, the best time to meet him is before or after class. If you expect to need more than a
few minutes, email ahead. The course also has three TA's who will be assisting with evaluations: Office
hours will be posted on avenue as appropriate.

Learning Objectives By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Identify and analyze the essential characteristics of a complex problem from a sustainability
perspective, including its ethical dimensions, risks, and uncertainties.
2. Feel and explain a sense of respect for diversity, the environment, and past, present, and future
generations in all engineering decisions.
3. Identify professional ethical dilemmas and competing stakeholder interests and develop
conscientious, well-reasoned, professional responses.
4. Identify and quantify short and long-term impacts of engineering on a scale ranging from the
local to the global.
5. Detect patterns, connections, and relevant data, and then apply that knowledge to synthesize
original thoughts and solutions.
6. Devise creative solutions to overcome opposing needs by collaborating with designers and
experts of all disciplines to incorporate a variety of social, economic, and environmental
perspectives.
7. Communication skills for effective teamwork, influence, and effectiveness.
8. Thoughtfully consider personal and professional choices and career contributions.
Relevant Engineering Accreditation Attributes & Learning Objectives

Impact:

Is able to identify and quantify the full range of short-term, long-term, local and global impacts of their
engineering projects on society, including: economic aspects; social, cultural, and human health aspects,
and; ecosystem integrity aspects.
Is able to address uncertainties in the prediction of interactions on society and the environment in a
structured and transparent manner.

Professionalism

Understands the role of the engineer in society, especially in protection of the public and public interest.
Understands legal requirements governing engineering activities (including but not limited to personnel,
health, safety, and risk issues).
Is aware of the PEO and the role of licensing.

Ethics:

Applies the engineering code of ethics, understanding of the stakeholders: the individual, the employer,
and the public.
Possesses the ability to apply ethical frameworks and reasoning in situations where there may be
conflicting interests among the stakeholders
Ability to apply knowledge of law and principles of equity to ensure equitable treatment of others.

Lifelong Learning

Be able to critically evaluate and apply knowledge, methods and skills procured through self directed and
self identified sources, including those that lie outside the nominal course curriculum.
Is aware of the wide range of engineering societies, literature, conferences, and other information
sources.

Sustainability

Triple Bottom Line - An ability to design and evaluate complex open-ended engineering systems using a
triple-bottom line of sustainability dimensions: social, economic and environmental
Metrics and Tools - Demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to use and interpret sustainability
metrics and tools
Stakeholders - An ability to interact and collaborate with stakeholders having a broad range of cultural
and social backgrounds to consider the needs of present and future generations in developing creative
solution(s) to an engineering problem
Ethics and Responsibilities - Recognizes and values the importance of dealing ethically with uncertainties,
diversity, intra and inter-generational equity and other non-technical challenges which affect engineering
decision-making
Complexity - An ability to work within complex systems (environmental, social, economic or technological)
using sustainability considerations and understand the limitations due to uncertainty.
Lecture Outline:
1. Creativity & Social Responsibility
How schools kill creativity
The need to get beyond The Right
Answer
Exploration of your personal sense of
responsibility
2. Ethics An Introduction to the Grey Zone
Trolley Problems
Ethical Foundations - Utilitarianism,
Consequentialism, Moral Obligation, and
Observer (Dis)Involvement
Moral Psychology How we develop a
sense of right and wrong
3. Sustainability & Resilience
The Triple Bottom Line Concepts &
Measurement
Stakeholders & their Interests
Global Issues - Energy, Urbanization, Geo-
engineering
4. Food for a Sustainable World
Environmental Factors Organics, Land
Use Issues, Energy Input
Social Factors Fair Trade, Health, Food
Security & Equity
Technological Approaches Industrialized
Food, Vertical Farms
5. Personal Dynamics for Professional Practice
Personality Inventory Analyzers, Drivers,
Amiables and Expressives
Approaches to Collaboration in the
Workplace and the World
Guest Speakers Whats Valued in the
Workplace Lynn Stewart, Tony Cupido
6. Professional Ethics & The PEO
Guest Speaker Matt Minnick
The Professional Practice Exam
Approaches to Ethical Problems
Law & Licensing
7. Finding a Job that Fits Your Values
Selling with Integrity & Landing Your
Dream Job - Guest Speaker Tom Stoyan
Emerging Fields - Biomimicry, Sustainable
Energy, Policy & Planning
Knowing Your Values
8. Sustainability from the Global Perspective
Poverty The Bottom Billion
International Development, Aid,
Complexity, and Learning from Failure
Emerging Economies & The Future of
Development
Guest Speaker Levi Goertz, VOTO Mobile
9. The Problem of Politics
Decision-making Structures & Power
Incentives & Influence
Conflict Management
10. Sustainability Perspectives
User Generated Content Night
Student presentations of cases and
concepts related to Sustainability
Interdisciplinary thinking applied to
relevant problems
11. Educating for a New Era
What knowledge is essential?
How do we learn, and how do we teach?
Learning from culture, history, and
experience
12. Digital Technology and the Future of
Humanity
The effect of technology on people &
society
What counts as human?
Empathy, experience, and the privilege of
real life
GRADING:

The ENG 4A03 Challenge Course:

McMasters 12 point GPA system is

represented by 12 levels. Start at
Level 0 and work through the
challenges to advance your level.

Challenges are designed to

encourage learning, not compare
students against each other:

Pass/ Fail Grading - No need

to dispute minor discrepancies in
evaluator judgement. Need
numbers? Think of a pass as
approximately 75%.
Relatively Short There are a bunch of challenges, but the Stepping Stone and Ladder Rung
challenges can be completed within ~1 hour. Other challenges give you more involved activities.
Fail-Proof Fail is in quotes because you only fail if you give up. Dont pass the first time? No
problem! Just redo it and resubmit. Learning is the goal, so multiple attempts are encouraged.

Stepping Stone Challenges (They dont increase your
level, but are necessary to get to the ladders. Earn
up to all 5 steps.):
Post-dated Letter
Sustainability Foundations Quiz
Journal #1 Ethics & Sustainability
Ethics Quiz
Personal Vision Statement
Key Challenges (Unlock the doors to the first ladder
and to Levels 10 and 11. Earn up to all 3 keys, at any
time, but do them in this order):
1. A Short History of Progress Reflection The
lessons we must learn.
2. Personal TED Talk Something about
Sustainability
3. The Truth About Stories - Reflection A story for
Sustainability?
Read on for complete information, details & requirements for all challenges.
Ladder Rung Challenges (Climb higher; increase your
level from 1 to 9. Earn up to 9 rungs, in any order):
Choice Challenge Package (2)
Journal #2 Sustainable Food & Prof. Ethics
Journal #3 Global Sustainability & Politics
Annual Report Debunk
4 In-Class Quizzes Various ethical scenarios.
Administered randomly during class - Must be
present to win! (No resubmits available, but 1
Make-Up Quiz Available during the final class.)
The Omnivores Dilemma Book Reflection (Can
be used as a make-up for a missed/failed quiz)
Trampoline Challenge (Bound up to Level 12!):
Article - My Most Significant Change
Due Date: All challenges (including re-submissions)
officially due at 12 noon on Wed, Nov 26, but
accepted with MSAF until noon on Wed, Dec 3.
 ENG 4A03 Stepping Stone Challenge #1: Post-dated Letter

Write a letter, post-dated for January 1, 2015. Dear Joel, I got my A because
It should outline what you learned, what you did, and how you changed as a person.

Some notes to help you out:

All past tense; no I hope.., I intend to.., etc.

Accomplishments are okay, but were particularly interested in the PERSON you have become.
What did you learn through the course?
How did you change as a person?
What choices have you made?
Fall in love with that person youre writing about. It can be your best self.

Suggested Submission for most effectiveness: Week 2. Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn
in the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of effort.

 ENG 4A03 Stepping Stone Challenge #2: Sustainability Foundations Quiz

In a word document, answer the following 9 questions in short answer format. Of course, include your name,
student number, and title.

There are no trick questions all the information is freely available. Feel free to use whatever resources you
need to learn. Dont copy; Use your own, concise words, and cite others work where appropriate.

Suggested Submission for best learning: Before Lecture 3. Submit the file as a pdf in the Avenue
dropbox.
Pass Criteria: Complete, and mostly correct. To conserve TA time, you will not receive feedback on
specific errors, so we recommend discussing your work with a friend to verify your answers.

1.
a. What is the most commonly quoted definition of Sustainable Development,
b. from where is it cited, and
c. what two concepts does it contain?
2.
a. What are the three components of the triple bottom line?
b. How is this different than the typical bottom line?
3.
a. What does CSR stand for, and
b. what is it?
4.
a. Describe each variable of the I=PAT equation, and
b. explain the equations purpose:
5.
a. Whats an Ecological Footprint?
b. Name three specific subcategories of footprints?
6.
a. What does LCA stand for, and
b. what is it?
7.
a. What is a Sustainability Metric or Indicator?
b. Name and briefly explain 3 examples:
8.
a. Explain the concept of a climate refugee or environmental migrant:
9.
a. What quality of a system enables it to bounce-back after a shock?
b. How is this quality related to sustainability?
 ENG 4A03 Stepping Stone Challenge 3: Journal #1

Journal Overview: The purpose of the journals is for you to practice synthesizing information. Observe
the world, and connect your observations with material from the lectures. You may draw from current
events, news articles, personal experiences, or other research. Perhaps you see relevant real world
examples or applications of the material covered in class. Perhaps you are able to expand on the
concepts and add your own perspective and experience. Ideally this should hone your abilities to
make connections and produce valuable insights.
A secondary goal is to help you practice communicating concisely. Your journal reflection should be
between 400 and 500 words. Of course, feel free to write more than that for your own interest and
practice, but your official submission should be about a page long.

Journal #1: Ethics & Sustainability

Write a journal entry connecting some of your observations or experience to content from either
Lecture 2 (Ethics) or Lecture 3 (Sustainability).

Suggested Submission: Within a week of Lecture 3. Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in
the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of effort.

 ENG 4A03 Stepping Stone Challenge 4: Ethics Quiz

More on this challenge to be revealed on or around the time of Lectures 5 and 6. Fear not, youll be
given all the information you need, including on avenue.
 ENG 4A03 Stepping Stone Challenge 5: Personal Vision Statement

Create a personal vision statement.

It should:
Describe the way you ideally envision the world to be, including a description of how people
are behaving. It MAY stem from a dissatisfaction with the way things are currently.
Include the WAYS YOU ARE COMMITTED TO BEHAVING to move the world in the desired
direction. Include both personal AND professional approaches.
Include specific values and ways of being that you feel are important to uphold.
Include, if you choose, standards or measurements or benchmarks to suggest how you will
know you are living this vision.
Look nice you should be proud enough of it that you'd want mom to post it on her fridge.
Include a permanent email address where it could be returned to you in the future (ie in 2
years).
Be not more than a single page. In fact, for many people, a few sentences are entirely
sufficient. Being specific and concise allows you to better assess your actions for consistency
with your vision. If its a full page of writing consider trying to distill it down to the CORE of
what youre saying.
Optionally - be signed by you.
Be something to hold yourself accountable you could ask, Am I doing this right now? It can
be a set of values and behaviours that are testable you can check to see if youre on track...
Note that it should NOT be a description or story of WHY you believe as you do. A vision statement
looks towards the future, not into the past. This particular vision statement includes commitments to
behaviours you believe will make your vision a more-likely outcome.
Consider printing a copy for yourself and posting it somewhere you'll see it often.

Submission: Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of effort.

 ENG 4A03 Key Challenge #1: Reflection on A Short History of Progress

Read (or listen to) A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright. If you prefer to listen, its free at:
http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/massey-archives/2004/11/07/massey-lectures-2004-a-short-history-of-
progress/

The Lessons We Must Learn

In the book, Wright cites many historical examples of progress traps. He shares stories that he
believes are important because every time history repeats itself, the price goes up.
Citing examples from the book, write a reflection on a specific example of a progress trap that you
perceive in our current society. You should discuss both the problem AND a solution. How might
our society avoid this progress trap?
It may be related to your specific field of study or not, but it should be something specific enough that
you can discuss concrete ideas and examples rather that just abstract generalizations. In your
discussion, you should also tie in concepts of ethics and sustainability from the course, and draw
parallels to Wrights examples where appropriate.

This reflection should be about 800 words.

Submission: Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of thoughtfulness and effort.

 ENG 4A03 Key Challenge #2: Personal TED-Style Talk

Create a 3-4 minute TED-style presentation. The topic must be somehow related to
sustainability and/or ethics. Share your wisdom with the world.

You should video record yourself giving the presentation, and you can add post-production
effects/photos/slides/videos if you like.
The presentation is an individual presentation, and the hard-stop maximum length is 4 minutes. If you find you
need less than 3 minutes, you should consider expanding your content to make a stronger or more in-depth point,
but most people will find they need to focus more, not expand more.

Some notes to help you out:

Remember that a 3-4 minute presentation is often harder than a 20-30 minute presentation so if you find
it difficult, you're probably on the right track.
Tighten it. Eliminate the fluff. Eliminate the filler words. You've got 180-240 seconds. That's all. Make
your time count. Focus more. Don't try to say too much.
Presenters don't generally speak at the limit of their knowledge some estimate that they share 10% of
what they actually know about a subject. In your prep, you'll likely want to gather TOO MUCH info, and
then narrow it down from there.
If you care about the topic, it will probably be more fun.
Give some thought to the visuals. Is there original material that would be helpful?
Practice bounce ideas of other people, and practice saying what you want to communicate a lot you'll
probably find it gets easier to say the more often you do it.
Remember the goals of the course perhaps there's a way to relate it to your personal vision of
contribution or the interconnectedness of things.
This challenge has the potential to require more work than many of the other challenges. However,
hopefully you also end up with a product that you feel proud to have produced.

METHOD of SUBMISSON: Post your video on youtube (either public or viewable by anyone with the link - Do
NOT list it as Private or we won't be able to grade it). Have a friend try to view your video once you post it to
ensure it works. Title your youtube video: ENG 4A03 YOUR NAME TITLE. You should check that the link works
and remains active until May 31, 2015.
Create a WORD document (not a pdf) - no need for a cover page that contains:
the title of your talk,
the link to your youtube posting,
your name, and your student number
The script of your talk, and any references that are appropriate.
Submit this document on Avenue.
To help with speed of grading, paste the link in the comment section when you submit document.

Pass Criteria: Your talk must: Make a clear, relevant point. Explain the point. Demonstrate that you put effort into
the project.
 ENG 4A03 Key Challenge #3: Reflection on The Truth About Stories

Read (or listen to) The Truth About Stories by Thomas King. If you prefer to listen, its free at:
http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/massey-archives/2003/11/07/massey-lectures-2003-the-truth-about-
stories-a-native-narrative/

Additionally, because this book is quite different from books engineers are used to reading, I suggest
you read this excellent review of the book:
http://www.quillandquire.com/review/the-truth-about-stories-a-native-narrative/

A Story for Sustainability

Citing specific examples from the book, explain how Kings book can be viewed as a commentary on
issues of sustainability, and elaborate with other specific examples of societys stories. Feel free, if
you like, to include some thoughts on how you believe societys stories must change if sustainability
is the goal.
To help in the process: Thomas King states The truth about stories is thats all we are. Give some
thought to what King really means by this, and how his philosophy shapes his approach in the book.

This reflection should be about 800 words.

Submission: Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of thoughtfulness and effort.

 ENG 4A03 Ladder Rung Challenge: CHOICE Challenge Package:
Complete any TWO of the following SEVEN Challenge Options. The final submission should be 2 pages max,
plus appendices (as noted in the options). This package is worth TWO ladder rungs.
Submit online in the Avenue dropbox, as a single pdf, as usual.
Pass Criteria: Challenges and reflections are well done, with evidence of effort and thoughtfulness.
Challenge Choices: Choose any TWO:
LOW IMPACT FOOD & SOCIAL: Cook a healthy, vegetarian
(or sustainable or low-impact) dinner for you and at least 3
other people: Submit the recipe as cooked (this recipe may
be included in an appendix), a photo of you and your
dinner group with the food, and a 2 paragraph reflection
(300-400 words): One paragraph on why you chose the
foods that you did, and one paragraph reflection on the
experience.
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT: Calculate your own ecological
footprint using these 2 online calculators:
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN
/page/calculators/ - Use the detailed USA version, rather
than the Calgary version.
http://www.myfootprint.org/ - This one is less detailed,
but faster.
Do a screen capture of some of your results from each
calculator (include the screen shots in an appendix). Submit
the screen captures, and a 300-400 word reflection.
Include two things you could personally do to reduce your
footprint and why you either will, or will not choose to do
them.
LETTER TO A POLITICIAN OR LETTER TO THE DEAN: If
politician: Write a letter to a politician (at Local, Provincial
or Federal level) sharing your ideas and views on a policy
issue. Include the address you would mail it to (this can be
on an appendix). You do not need to actually send it, but
you're definitely welcome to do so!
If for the Dean (or another ranking figure at the university
not Joel): Write a letter and make some suggestions on
how to improve the Engineering education at McMaster
University. Include the address you would mail it to (this
can be on an appendix). You do not need to actually send
it, but you're definitely welcome to do so!
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING TOUR: Take a Sustainable building
tour at both the Engineering Technology Building (ETB) and
at McMaster Innovation Park (MIP). Make sure to ask
about their rainwater harvesting (RWH) technologies. Are
the RWH being used? Are the RWH meeting their reduction
goals? How are the RHW different in functionality? Write a
short reflection of your thoughts and what you have
learned and found most interesting from the tours.
FAIR TRADE ANALYSIS WHAT'S THE HOLD-UP? Read at
least three academic papers/sources analyzing Fair Trade
and reflect on why Fair Trade is or isn't a good thing. Why
do you think it is not catching on as quickly as a the
Green movement? Write a 300-400 word reflection.
Submit your reflection and, in an appendix, the links to the
references (or, if they're not online, the citations).
SOCIAL MEDIA REDUCTION CHALLENGE: Go 7 days without
any texting, facebook, twitter, or any other social media.
You can decide if email is acceptable. Write a short
introduction as to why you chose this challenge, and write
a 300-400 reflection on the experience. Also, get 2 friends
to write a few sentences of any differences that THEY
noticed in you while you were abstaining. Submit your
introduction, reflection and 2 friends' statements.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CHALLENGE: Take THREE one-hour
introductory in-person lessons to try a musical instrument
you've never played before. The teacher should be
someone who a) you don't know and b) a professional
music teacher someone regularly charges money for
lessons. Snap a photo of yourself with your new teacher
and instrument. Include an introduction on why you think
this challenge would be included in ENG 4A03; how does it
relate to the course? Write a 300-400 word reflection on
it. Submit your reflection and the photo.
 ENG 4A03 Ladder Rung Challenge: Journal #2

Journal Overview: The purpose of the journals is for you to practice synthesizing information. Observe
the world, and connect your observations with material from the lectures. You may draw from current
events, news articles, personal experiences, or other research. Perhaps you see relevant real world
examples or applications of the material covered in class. Perhaps you are able to expand on the
concepts and add your own perspective and experience. Ideally this should hone your abilities to
make connections and produce valuable insights.
A secondary goal is to help you practice communicating concisely. Your journal reflection should be
between 400 and 500 words. Of course, feel free to write more than that for your own interest and
practice, but your official submission should be about a page long.

Journal #2: Sustainable Food & Professional Ethics

Write a journal entry connecting some of your observations or experience to content from either
Lecture 4 (Sustainable Food) or Lecture 6 (Professional Ethics).

Suggested Submission: Within a week of Lecture 6. Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in
the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of effort.

 ENG 4A03 Ladder Rung Challenge: Journal #3

Journal Overview: The purpose of the journals is for you to practice synthesizing information. Observe
the world, and connect your observations with material from the lectures. You may draw from current
events, news articles, personal experiences, or other research. Perhaps you see relevant real world
examples or applications of the material covered in class. Perhaps you are able to expand on the
concepts and add your own perspective and experience. Ideally this should hone your abilities to
make connections and produce valuable insights.
A secondary goal is to help you practice communicating concisely. Your journal reflection should be
between 400 and 500 words. Of course, feel free to write more than that for your own interest and
practice, but your official submission should be about a page long.

Journal #3: Global Sustainability and Politics

Write a journal entry connecting some of your observations or experience to content from either
Lecture 8 (Global Sustainability) or Lecture 9 (The Problem of Politics).

Suggested Submission: Within a week of Lecture 9. Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in
the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of effort.

 ENG 4A03 Ladder Rung Challenge: Annual Sustainability Report Debunk

Overview: Many companies now produce annual sustainability reports. Reporting enables companies
to showcase their efforts, and also opens up the possibility for external review. An important skill of
engineers is to be able to review reports and other information with a critical eye.

Annual Sustainability Report Debunk:

Choose a for-profit company that produces a sustainability report. Review the report with a critical
eye, and write a critique of the report.
Your critique should be about 500-800 words. Likely, this means you will need to focus on 1-3 aspects
of the report, rather than trying to do a comprehensive review.
Be sure to cite specific examples, and bring in other sources (news articles, for instance) to support
your ideas.
Some notes to help you out and get you thinking:
Do you believe the report is accurate? Why or why not?
Do you believe the report telling the whole story? Why or why not?
How does the company integrate sustainability into their core business? Or are they
separate?
What is NOT being stated in the report? What other important factors are hiding beneath the
surface?

Ideally, your final product would be something that will showcase your analytical skills something
you could show to a future employer during an interview as evidence of your talent.

Submission: Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of effort.

 ENG 4A03 Ladder Rung Challenge: Reflection on The Omnivores Dilemma

Read (or listen to) The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

Industrialized Food
In the book, Pollan follows the food we eat from farm to table, providing an insight into the social
and environmental dimensions of our food system. Citing examples from the book, discuss what
you believe to be the role of engineers in creating the industrialized food landscape, and discuss
what you believe to be the role of engineers in creating a sustainable global food system.
Note that this Ladder Rung Challenge is substantially more involved than the other ladder rung
challenges. It is intended to be a make-up challenge for those who miss an in-class quiz. However, it
will also be an interesting alternative challenge for those who are interested in more reading about
the food system in particular.

This reflection should be about 800 words.

Submission: Submit the file as a pdf on Avenue to Learn in the dropbox.

Pass Criteria: Done - with lots of evidence of thoughtfulness and effort.

 ENG 4A03 Ladder Rung Challenge: In-class Quizzes

During regular class time, there will be 4 pop-quizzes on random days. You must be present to
write the quiz in class. Since attendance is expected, but it is reasonable that emergencies and
sickness would sometimes prevent someone from attending, there is a make-up quiz available on the
final class night.

Each quiz is worth a ladder rung.

To help you practice and think through things ahead of time, the quizzes themselves will be based
on scenarios similar to the following 4 examples:

1. The internet of things is progressing. As objects become equipped with their own IP addresses, it is
possible, for example, that your toaster, hot water tank, and alarm clock could communicate with each
other and have a hot shower ready for you when you wake up, and toast ready for you when you hop
out of the shower. Suppose this internet of things were implemented on a household basis. List
some potential unintended consequences of this new technology, including economic, social/cultural,
health, and ecosystem integrity.

2. You have worked for a small engineering firm for 6 years. Youve become dissatisfied with the
management of the company, and you worry that your companys preferred technique isnt the safest.
You have decided to start your own business, offering the same basic services as your current
company. You have two colleagues (also designated PEOs) at your office who you think would make
great teammates for your new business. Youve been the primary contact for at least 10 clients, and
you think that they would be loyal to you, rather than to your current employer, so youre confident
youd have a solid starting client base. Identify the stakeholders in this scenario, and explain your
obligation to each of them under the Engineers Code of Ethics. Explain your decision to go forward.

3. Canadas nuclear facilities for manufacturing medical isotopes have been occasionally shut down for
safety concerns. Politicians have, on occasion, overturned the safety commissions instructions and
had the plants restarted. Name at least 4 stakeholder groups in this situation, explain each stakeholder
groups interests, and apply some ethical foundations to provide a brief analysis of how the decisions
are being made.

4. You work for a logging company. The company has a long history in the region, and a positive
relationship with the community. Some new reports have brought concerns to logging the old growth
forest. While the company follows the Sustainable Forest Management initiatives, the reports have
brought up concerns about a loss of biodiversity and a change in habit of the regions deer and caribou,
the main food source for First Nations reserves in the area. Suppose you are the chief engineer for the
logging operation. How would you respond to the reports?
Policy Statements

Joel's General Policy: Show up. Bring an open mind. Participate. Ask questions. Give feedback. Take responsibility for
your own learning and achievement. Be honest. Collaboration is strongly encouraged, but do your own final work. Do it
well. Hand it in on time. In the case of emergencies or unusual circumstances, do what is reasonable and consistent with
the above expectations. Joel will make every effort to be reasonable also.

Please also read the official University Policies, which will supersede Joel's personal policies in the event of a conflict:

Academic Dishonesty
You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behaviour in all aspects of the learning process. Academic credentials
you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic integrity.
Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in unearned academic credit or
advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with
a notation on the transcript (notation reads: Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty), and/or suspension or
expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various types of
academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity
The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not ones own or for which other credit has been obtained.
2. Improper collaboration in group work.
3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

Inclusivity
The Instructor & T.A.'s are committed to creating an equitable environment and encourage openness to multiple
perspectives and points of view. Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. If you have a
dis/ability or health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to approach one of the instructors
and/or Student Accessibility Services (http://sas.mcmaster.ca/) as soon as possible.

A Note About the Use of Avenue to Learn

In this course, we use Avenue to Learn. Students should be aware that, when they access the electronic components of
this course, private information such as first and last names, user names for the McMaster e-mail accounts, and program
affiliation may become apparent to all other students in the same course. The available information is dependent on the
technology used. Continuation in this course will be deemed consent to this disclosure. If you have any questions or
concerns about such disclosure please discuss this with a course instructor.

Course Modifications
The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may
change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes
necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to
comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check his/her McMaster email and course websites weekly
during the term and to note any changes