Montana State University Engineering Ethics Education

Description

Montana’s land-grant institution, Montana State University (MSU) houses the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering (NACOE), which is dedicated to providing an inclusive, hands-on learning environment that supports academic excellence, strives for innovation in research and serves the community in Montana and beyond.  To facilitate MSU’s NACOE mission, the Montana Engineering Education Research Center (MEERC) is also engaged in the practice and research of engineering ethics and societal implications of science and technology.  Relevant activities within MSU’s NACOE and MEERC are described within their respective websites.

MSU’s MEERC is also collaborating with the Initiative for Science, Technology, Ethics, and Society, in order to establish a Center for Science, Technology, Ethics, and Society at Montana State University.  This initiative is funded through the Office of the VPRED.  The three main goals will be to 1) facilitate interdisciplinary research on the ethical and social implications of science and technology; 2) improve resources for ethics education in STEM disciplines; and 3) enhance the broader impacts of research done in the Montana University System through public outreach aimed at increasing public understanding of the social implications of science and emerging technologies. We currently have a Faculty Advisory Board with faculty from over 15 departments and representation from almost every college (including the MEERC Director). 

Current and Upcoming Events and Activities

• Interdisciplinary Faculty Social (Co-sponsored by MEERC and the Initiative for Science, Technology, Ethics & Society) in April 2019
• CRISPR Ethics/Policy Workshop in September 2019 (Co-sponsored with the Honors College and the College of Agriculture)
• Hausser Lecture at the Museum of the Rockies in October 2019, Dr. Patrick Lin (Cal State Poly), "Ethics of AI and Autonomous Vehicles"
• Course proposal for a new interdisciplinary team-taught course on Technology Ethics

We are also working on an internal grant proposal which would fund the Center for 3 years as we sought external funding. 

Leadership

Brock J. LaMeres, PhD, PE
Director, Montana Engineering Education Research Center
Boeing Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Montana State University

Kristen Intemann, PhD
Director, Initiative on Science, Technology, Ethics, and Society
Professor, History and Philosophy   
Montana State University

Recipient Organization

Montana State University: the Montana Engineering Education Research Center (MEERC) and the Center for Ethics in Science and Technology

Start and End Date

2017 - ongoing

Contact Information

Paul Gannon (pgannon@montana.edu)

Relevant Links

• Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering: http://www.coe.montana.edu/
• Montana Engineering Education Research Center: http://www.montana.edu/meerc/