An important facet of the engineering and geoscience professions is an understanding of the social implications of engineering works. This understanding should include:
- An awareness of an engineer’s/geoscientist’s professional responsibility to guard against all conditions dangerous or threatening to life, limb or property, and to call any such conditions to the attention of the responsible.
- An awareness of potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the projects with which the engineer/geoscientist is involved. This should include an understanding of:
- the safeguards in place to protect the public and mitigate adverse impacts;
- the quality assurance measures involved with the manufacture of products;
- an awareness of the value of engineering works and/or geoscience to the public;
- an understanding of the safety and/or economic consequences to both the public and employer/client of the work being carried out;
- knowledge of the interface between the engineering/geoscience organization and the public when communicating the impacts and benefits of engineering/geoscience works, and
- or a recognition of the significant role of regulatory agencies in the practice of geoscience, and a demonstrated interest in the wider social implications of engineering/geoscience, through attendance at public meetings, or seminars sponsored by the MIT’s organization.