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AK204V Ethics and Sustainability 2.5 credits

Administer About course

Welcome to ak204v!

This course is developed for professional engineers with an interest in ethical aspects of technology development and technology use.  The course is a mix of ethical theory and applied discussions and cases with a focus on sustainability (primarily social and environmental).  

All lectures and seminars will be on Zoom and the entire course is taught in English.

 

 

 

 

Course contents

Lecture 1: Introduction to value sensitive design (VSD) followed by a workshop there the students complete group assignments on 1-2 different cases based on so called envisioning cards.

Lecture 2:Gene editing technology and ethics OR .AI and ethics (TBA)

Lecture 3: Integrity & privacy

Lecture 4: Environmental ethics

Seminar 1: Moral  offsetting

Seminar 2: Engineering role: responsibility and professional ethics. Roleplay on corporate social responsibility and ethics. 

 

Intended learning outcomes. After having completed course the student is expected to

 

  • be able to discuss and analyse, in writing and orally, ethical problems that may arise in engineering work,
  • within some engineering or technological field, in a more advanced way be able to analyse ethical problems,
  • be able to reflect on the engineer position and on the role of the engineer as a contributor to a sustainable development.

Choose semester and course offering

Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.

Application

For course offering

Autumn 2024 Start 11 Nov 2024 single courses students

Application code

10007

Headings with content from the Course syllabus AK204V (Autumn 2020–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

  • Introduction to value sensitive design (VSD) followed by a workshop there the students complete group assignments on 1-2 different cases based on so called envisioning cards.
  • Lecture 1: AI and ethics or gene editing technology and ethics.
  • Lecture 2: Integrity & privacy
  • Lecture 3: Environmental ethics
  • Seminar 1: Moraloffsetting
  • Seminar 2: Engineering role: responsibility and professional ethics

Intended learning outcomes

 completed course is expected the student

  • be able to discuss and analyse, in writing and orally, ethical problems that may arise in engineering work,
  • within some engineering or technological field, in a more advanced way be able to analyse ethical problems,
  • be able to reflect on the engineer position and on the role of the engineer as a contributor to a sustainable development.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

120 credits higher education

Recommended prerequisites

No information inserted

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

No information inserted

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

P, F

Examination

  • INL1 - Written report, 2.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The examination consists in an academic paper, where the student applies VSD on a technology that they work already with or on a technology that is during development.

Other requirements for final grade

Active seminar participation.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Profile picture John Cantwell

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

ABE/Philosophy

Main field of study

This course does not belong to any Main field of study.

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted

Contact

Barbro Fröding, barbro.froding@abe.kth.se