Plagiarism and the Role of Ethics in Engineering

1
Plagiarism and the Role of Ethics in Engineering

• Scott Coffel
• Director, Hanson Center for Technical
  Communication
• College of Engineering
• The University of Iowa

2
Why Do Engineers Need Ethics?

• Engineers are responsible for designing,
  constructing, and maintaining the inventions of
  civilization.
• There are few (if any) mere technical decisions.
• Knowing how to calculate stress or design a
  circuit is in part knowing what the profession
  allows, forbids, or requires .¹¹"Online Ethics
  Center Teaching Ethics Across the Engineering
  Curriculum" Online Ethics Center for Engineering
  6/19/2006 12926 PM National Academy of
  Engineering Accessed Tuesday, November 13, 2007
  ltwww.onlineethics.org/CMS/edu/instructessays/davis
  .aspxgt

3
Two Comments on Ethics

• The world has achieved brilliance without
  wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world
  of nuclear giants and ethical infants. Omar
  Bradley, US General in WW2

• Ethics are a kind of highway code for traffic
  among mankind. Sigmund Freud

4
Bonus SlideMore Fascinating Ethical
Observations

• Rules are made to be broken.
• Nice guys finish last.
• Go along to get along.
• If the boss does it, that means its not illegal.

5
We Think Were Ahead of the CurveBut Were Not

• Everything that can be invented has been
  invented.
• Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, US Patent
  Office, 1899
• The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert
  in explosives.
• Admiral William Leahy, Manhattan Project, 1943
• 640KB ought to be enough for anybody.
• Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft, 1981

6
To Be Misquoted Can Ruin your Reputation

• Poor Duell this is what he actually said in
  1902
• In my opinion, all previous advances in the
  various lines of invention will appear totally
  insignificant when compared with those which the
  present century will witness. I almost wish that
  I might live my life over again to see the
  wonders which are at the threshold.

7
Imagine if an Engineer Werethe President of the
United States

• Global Engineer (and President) Herbert Hoover,
  1928 1932, donated all his paychecksto
  charity.
• Unlike doctors, engineers cannot bury their
  mistakes in the grave.
• Herbert Hoover (1954, from an article in
  Engineers Week)

8
What Professional Engineers Tell Us

• They find team writing and writing for multiple
  audiences difficult.
• At times, the teams personal dynamics are in
  conflict with the teams responsibility to tell
  the truth.
• Some of the worst ethical problems result from
  tensions between competing responsibilities.

9
NSPE Code of EthicsEngineers, in the fulfillment
of their professional duties, shall

• Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of
  the public.
• Perform services only in areas of their
  competence.
• Issue public statements only in an objective and
  truthful manner.
• Act for each employer or client as faithful
  agents or trustees.
• Avoid deceptive acts.
• Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly,
  ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the
  honor, reputation, and usefulness of the
  profession.

10
Plagiarism A Fancy Word for Unethical and/or
Foolish Behavior
11
Let's Be Blunt About Plagiarism

• The Latin term for kidnapper was plagiarius. As
  aspiring engineers, you need to know that
  stealing the ideas of others has consequences
  beyond your own prospects and reputation
• It also damages your institution and the honest
  members of your profession by loosening the bonds
  of trust that tie us all together.

12
Credibility and Depth of ResearchStriking
the Right Balance

• Cite enough sources so that your audience trusts
  your conclusions and recommendations.
• Dont overload your reports with cited material
  at the expense of your own insights.

13
Ignorance of the Rules Is No Excuse When in
Doubt, Ask the Experts

• The Hanson Center Writing Resources page offers
  valuable and easy-to-read guides for writing and
  speaking ethically.
• The Engineering Library offers a wide range of
  citation and bibliography software to help you
  cite sources with speed and accuracy.

14
Ethics Requires Precision in Thought and Language

• Competent writing establishes your credibility
  as an engineer.
• Engineers achieve success as writers through a
  process of drafting, feedback, and revision.
• There are no shortcuts to good writing.

15
Summary

• Ethical engineers navigate conflicts with an
  inner compass.
• They also use the needs of the community as a
  guide.
• They balance responsibility to themselves, their
  profession, and the world.

16
Thank You