Engineering ethics education has emerged in the last decades as a discipline in its own right, seeing philosophers and ethicists expanding their work to comprise a pedagogical focus. It becomes increasingly important to reflect on how to bring topics of philosophical and ethical significance to the awareness of engineering students, both in terms of the theoretical lens employed and through the pedagogical methods for conveying the complexity of such issues.

This roundtable session aims to foster an active discussion connected to the forthcoming launch of the Routledge International Handbook of Engineering Ethics Education, expected for publication in the second half of 2024. The volume includes contributions on both theoretical and practical themes ranging from foundational aspects in engineering ethics, interdisciplinarity, teaching, and assessment in engineering ethics education. It is authored by 115 established and emerging scholars based on 6 continents.

The roundtable will be led by two editors of the handbook (Diana Martin, University College London, and Gunter Bombaerts, TU Eindhoven), who are philosophers and ethicists with experience teaching and researching engineering ethics education. They will be joined by the chapter authors Lavinia Marin (TU Delft)  and one commentator (tbc) for a conversation on the theoretical foundations of the philosophy of technology and engineering ethics and the prospects for bringing these into engineering education.

The aim of this roundtable discussion is to use the launching of the Routledge International Handbook of Engineering Ethics Education as an opportunity to take stock of the key advancements in the field of teaching the ethics and philosophy of technology, and to look ahead by making a series of recommendations for the next decade. 

The insights and recommendations are closely linked to emerging issues in the philosophy and technology and the rapid development of the field, alongside recent calls highlighting the importance of adopting a postcolonial approach to the philosophy of technology and the use of non-Western ethical frameworks, originating in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The audience will be an active part of this conversation.