Numerical & Design Problems With Ethical Content

These 18 problems were originally developed as part of an NSF-funded project to create numerical problems that raise ethical issues for use in engineering and other course assignments. This project included a workshop held at Texas A&M University in August, 1995, under the direction of Professors Charles E. Harris and Michael Rabins. Additional cases and details can be found on the Texas A&M website.

HVAC Design Problem
Heat Pump Ethics Problem
Heat Transfer Problem
Mt. Dioxin
Challenger O-Ring Data Analysis
Underbidding the Job
Risk, Tradeoffs, and Informed Consent: "The Hundred-Year Flood"
Product Reliability, Hazard, and Risk
Software Testing
Probabilistic Software Testing
What You See Is What You Don't Get!
Let the Chips Fall Where They May
Database Discredited
Allowing Defective Chips to Go to Market
Computer Encryption Software
PCs and Occupational Hazards
Handling Bribes
Weapons for Life