Archive | Fall 2017

By Jenny Y. At the beginning of the semester, I did not understand the concept of “Engineering of Social Change.” Considering the class is centered around donating $10,000 to a nonprofit organization, I also did not see the point of allocating class time for lectures on irrelevant issues. However, I was immediately proven wrong. Through […]

By Cody W. This class focuses a lot on “unintended consequences”, it’s a main theme that we’ve linked to almost every topic. But why do unintended consequences matter? After all, if they’re by definition unintended, then there shouldn’t really be anything we can do about them, so why would they be a point of focus. […]

By Michael W. Engineering for Social Change helped qualm the doubts that had developed about choosing mechanical engineering as my major. A large part of my college experience has been bouncing back and forth between completing engineering assignments and rushing around to plan and execute fundraising events for UMD’s chapter of Students Helping Honduras. Travelling […]

By Haroula T. “Ignorance is bliss” is a term commonly used in daily life to explain why people are apathetic to certain situations. The phrase comes to mind when thinking about what I have learned this semester in ENME467. As engineers, we spend most of our time learning about the importance of innovation and invention, […]

By Joy S. Consequentialism within ethics is the idea of cause and responsibility of effect.  The doctrine of negative responsibility goes one further, and claims responsibility over inaction.  Bernard Williams, moral philosopher, postulated that everyone has the same amount of responsibility to indirect effects as direct effects. This is due to both purposeful action to […]

By Abhishek P. Like many other engineering students, I had no expectations from this class. Honestly l just thought this is going to be one more engineering class where I’ll learn something to never use again in real life. As the semester progressed, I noticed a shift in my perspective regarding the application of the […]

By Umar O. My time in the Engineering for Social Change course this semester has been an exhilarating and exciting experience. Before this course I never considered engineering or my engineering degree for anything except getting a job and making money after graduation. This class has opened my eyes and my mind to the endless […]

By Justin M. This semester has challenged me in many ways, but I am glad I signed up to take this class as it reminded me of how engineering is a human endeavor, and not just a technical field, substantially filled with solving complex math problems and making machines do specific tasks.  Most people I […]

By Sarah K. When I first heard about ENME467: Engineering for a Social Change I didn’t know what to expect.  What does an engineering course based on social change entail?  Will this really help develop the technical skills necessary to become a profession engineer, as most technical electives are designed to do?  This course did […]

By Mofoluso K. This semester I learned that as a millennial life is sweet yet ominous. The age I live in is one of scientific and social breakthroughs, increased wealth across the world, and hyper communication. Yet, for as many positive developments that have arisen in the last 100 years there are as many negative […]