Aerospace Engineering Technical Elective Program - Focus Areas

The profession of engineering in the United States has historically served the status quo, feeding an ever-expanding materialistic and militaristic culture, remaining relatively unresponsive to public concerns. There is a need to cultivate a passion for social justice and peace and to develop skill sets to take practical action for change.

This book describes the history of engineering and the development of a pro-active use of engineering skills in the promotion of peace, known as "peace engineering". It also presents stories of contemporary engineers who have used their technical skills in the promotion of peace in society.

This book reviews the development of engineering as a distinct profession and of the humanitarian movement as a special socio-political practice. Having noted that the two developments were situated in the same geographical and historical space, the book argues for a mutual influence and synthesis that has previously been lacking. In this spirit, it describes Humanitarian Engineering as the artful drawing on science to direct the resources of nature with active compassion to meet the basic needs of all -- especially the powerless, poor, or otherwise marginalized.

The climate crisis is a crisis of leadership. For too long too many leaders have prioritized corporate profits over the public good, exacerbating climate vulnerabilities while reinforcing economic and racial injustice. Transformation to a just, sustainable renewable-based society requires leaders who connect social justice to climate and energy.

This book breaks important new ground in describing the enhancements in performance, motivation and mental well-being that Inclusive Leadership brings to organizations.