title: Using the Chernobyl incident to teach engineering ethics.
abstract: This paper discusses using the Chernobyl Incident as a case study in engineering ethics instruction. Groups of students are asked to take on the role of a faction involved in the Chernobyl disaster and to defend their decisions in a mock debate. The results of student surveys and the Engineering and Science Issues Test indicate that the approach is very popular with students and has a positive impact on moral reasoning. The approach incorporates technical, communication and teamwork skills and has many of the features suggested by recent literature.
authors.affiliation: Muskingum University, New Concord, OH, USA. rwilson@muskingum.edu
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D004738:Engineering / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000941:ethics*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students