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“How Engineering Impacts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”: A Case Study in Graduate Course Design and Assessment

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Conference

ASEE Southeast Section Conference

Location

Arlington, Virginia

Publication Date

March 12, 2023

Start Date

March 12, 2023

End Date

March 14, 2023

Conference Session

DEI and Other

Tagged Topics

Diversity and Professional Engineering Education Papers

Page Count

9

DOI

10.18260/1-2--44973

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/44973

Download Count

67

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Paper Authors

biography

Bryn Elizabeth Seabrook University of Virginia

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Bryn Seabrook is an Assistant Professor in Science, Technology, and Society at the University of Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Science and Environment with a minor in Vocal Performance in 2012, a Master of Science and Technolo

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Abstract

Racist soap dispensers, algorithmic bias, and the confrontation of historical inequities exemplify incomplete engineering. What these case studies neglect to account for is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). How does the engineer of the twenty-first century understand the impact of their research in the context of DEI? Non-technical engineering courses are important tools to better understand the sociotechnical systems of the profession. The purpose of this study is to evaluate graduate level courses that emphasize the importance of non-technical engineering skills, with a focus on DEI. Specifically, this study examines a new graduate level course titled “How Engineering Impacts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” This course considers writings from a variety of authors, representing distinctive perspectives on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through active engagement with this material, this course confronts history to identify and understand instances of racism, sexism, discrimination, and bias, specifically in science and engineering. Ultimately, students are asked to recognize and address gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion in their own research. This study builds on previous scholarship presented to ASEE along with other related fields to demonstrate how discussion-based courses challenge graduate students to think more critically about the engineering design process and the active integration of the social dimensions of engineering problems.

Seabrook, B. E. (2023, March), “How Engineering Impacts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”: A Case Study in Graduate Course Design and Assessment Paper presented at ASEE Southeast Section Conference, Arlington, Virginia. 10.18260/1-2--44973

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