Ομιλία του Yannis C. Yortsos - Engineering a Better World for All Humanity

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Ο βραβευμένος με το βραβείο Bernard M. Gordon για το 2022, για τη συμβολή του στη διδασκαλία των μηχανικών, καθηγητής του Πανεπιστημίου USC και Κοσμήτορας της Πολυτεχνικής Σχολής του USC, Yannis Yortsos, έδωσε σε διαδικτυακή ομιλία την Δευτέρα 14 Φεβρουαρίου στις 5:00μμ με θέμα: Engineering a Better World for All Humanity.

Yannis C YortsosΣτην ομιλία του εστίασε στις μεγάλες προκλήσεις της εκπαίδευσης νέων μηχανικών σήμερα. Η ομιλία διοργανώθηκε με πρωτοβουλία του ΕΜΠ, και η πρόσκληση στην εκδήλωση δόθηκε εκ μέρους του Εθνικού Μετσόβιου Πολυτεχνείου, του Πολυτεχνείου Κρήτης και των Πολυτεχνικών Σχολών της χώρας, κατόπιν συνεννόησης των Πρυτάνεων και των Κοσμητόρων τους.

Abstract 

Engineering and technology are driving discovery and innovation in practically all disciplines at an unprecedented pace, one that is certain to accelerate even further with advances in computing of all types, and the increasing relevance of AI and data sciences. Outstanding technical competence is needed to keep driving this transformation - we have termed this as the need to hug the exponential. In the constant and inexorable intertwining of the interface of technology with society, humanity, and the living environment, engineering has become the enabling discipline for solving grand-challenge-like problems, including increasingly human-centric ones. This engineering + mindset is permeating a vast variety of disciplines and areas, creating particularly fertile grounds for collaboration and innovation across the sciences, the professions, and the arts.

At the same time, choosing what problems to focus to solve is an ethical decision. This means that as we educate the engineers, innovators and technologists of tomorrow, we should also help them with the building of character, shaped by a deep understanding of the human nature, ethics, and the impact, intended and unintended of engineering and technology to society, humanity and the living environment. In all these endeavors, with deep technological and human dimensions, we need to constantly re-invent, innovate and lead. Together, competence and character spell trust, and the creation of trustworthy engineers, more urgently needed today than ever before.    

This webinar addresses key, salient features of these ideas and their relevance to engineering education and research. In particular it focuses on the development of the associated mindsets for our undergraduate engineering students, as articulated in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program, which aims at the creation of such engineering graduates.