Mark Abbott of Engineering Change Lab Canada kicked off Day Two of the 2024 Engineering Ideas Institute with his presentation of “AI as a Wicked Problem.” Mark led an exploration of the proliferation of AI as either problem or opportunity. ECL Canada’s new AI Stewardship Practice Program will focus on shaping the landscape of AI for the benefit of all. Mark described AI stewardship as a way to shape the impact of technology on our physical and mental evolution.
Participants then participated in a group exercise that utilized scenario thinking to imagine the future of AI. Participants formulated future scenarios related to AI’s impact on education, transportation, and health care. Insights from these scenarios included the need to give up the traditional identities tied to engineering disciplines, our ethical obligation to care for the casualties of major changes stemming from AI, the multi-disciplinary aspects of all the scenarios, and the inevitability of collateral damage.
Kristen Uhlenbrock of the Institute for Science and Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science addressed the prevalence of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation in a VUCA world. To build trust in institutions, like the engineering community, Kristen highlighted the Institute’s practices of recognizing complexity, learning to disagree respectfully and define what the debate is about, and building meaningful relationships through listening. Participants reflected on this message, highlighting the need for all in the engineering community to recognize our own worldviews can shape the information we seek out and our messages to others.
The final wicked problem to be examined at the institute is the recent emergence of the pushback against DEI programs and the implications of this emerging trend for the engineering community. Provocateurs Yolanda Webb of WEBB Advisory Group, Rico Thomas of Civil Technology Inc., and Bryan Dewsbury of Florida International University offered different perspectives on this issue. Yolanda challenged participants to be daring not daunted in the face of this trend. Rico cautioned against shifting to the extremes of the issue and the need to focus on effective execution of programs. Bryan discussed his teaching philosophies that have resulted in remarkable results for students from marginalized communities, encapsulating the reasons why DEI exists.
We look forward to Day Three and a deep dive into what we are learning about the leadership mandate for the engineering community in a VUCA future.
Stacy Bartoletti Kyle Davy Lauren Evans Tricia Hatley, PE, F.NSPE, ENV SP Edwin Friedrichs, P.E. James Laurita Amy Squitieri Alison Wood Mark Abbott, P.Eng. Kristan Uhlenbrock Yolanda Webb Rico Nelson Bryan Dewsbury
#eclusa #futureofengineering