Perceived Societal Impact of Engineering Technology

Abstract

unprecedented technological development in the sciences and engineering fields. Nevertheless, our society is been undermied as some of this development might have negative repercussions, some of which threaten our very existence. It is necessary to expose engineering students to the promise and perils of technology and society education because it is an excellent opportunity for engineering student’s awareness.

This paper, therefore, summarises a class course content for engineering students. The course subject considered both the promises and the perils of technology in our current society through the lens of risk perception of technology development. Students realize that, while the scientist and engineers’ inventions have made our lives infinitely healthier, convenient, and enjoyable, they have also introduced new threats and risk our nature-society life. Besides, the challenge confronting society is identifying the appropriate use of technology to improve our lives while still maintaining our moral and social values and quality of the natural world of our society.