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Reproductive Ethics, Genetic Engineering, and the Common Good – Word on Fire
Home Articles Reproductive Ethics, Genetic Engineering, and the Common Good
In November 2018, media outlets around the globe were abuzz with the news of the birth of twin girls with modified genes designed to make them immune to HIV. This groundbreaking and controversial experiment was conducted by He Jiankui, a Chinese biophysicist, who used CRISPR technology to disable the CCR5 gene, enabling HIV infection. However, He Jiankuis work, which aimed to immunize babies against HIV, was shrouded in controversy due to its ethical and legal implications. Chinese regulations prohibit research on human embryos beyond the fourteenth day of existence and their subsequent implantation into a uterus. Moreover, the scientific community was concerned about the potential unintended consequences, as the CCR5 gene is also associated with significant brain functions. This experiment might not only have prevented HIV but also inadvertently enhanced the intelligence and memory of the twin girls.
This event sparked intense debate over using CRISPR-Cas9, the latest gene-editing technology. Genetic engineering is not a new field; arguments for and against it have been made for years, and various regulations have attempted to provide legal and ethical frameworks, albeit incomplete and often controversial. However, CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized genetic engineering, potentially transforming public perception and ethical considerations surrounding gene editing.
The Canadian philosopher and Jesuit Bernard Lonergan offers a compelling interpretive framework for examining the epistemological and ethical dimensions of reproductive choices. His Critical Realism emphasizes the interplay between knowing and being, guiding us beyond individual interests toward a vision that values the collective welfare of humanity.
Lonergans seminal works, Insight and Method in Theology, provide a layered conception of goodfrom an elemental notion linked to desires objectives to the intrinsic Good of Value, fully comprehensible only within the context of moral conversion. This nuanced understanding is particularly relevant for todays debates on reproductive ethics, encouraging us to make decisions that harmonize technological potential with broader human well-being.
In Insight, Lonergan explores the nature of human understanding and how we come to know and discern truth. He introduces the idea of the good in a foundational sense, linked to the immediate objectives of our desires (i.e., particular goods). This basic level of good is what people seek instinctively, driven by their immediate needs and wants. However, Lonergan does not stop at this elemental notion.
In Method in Theology, he deepens this exploration by distinguishing between different levels of good:
1. Particular Goods (those of desire): This is the most basic level, where good is perceived as satisfying individual desires and needs. Its an immediate and often self-centered understanding of good.
2. The Good of Order: This level involves understanding good within the context of social structures and relationships. It recognizes that individual goods are interconnected and that a well-ordered society is necessary for individuals to flourish. Here, good transcends personal satisfaction and includes the well-being of the community.
3. The Good of Value: This is the highest level of good, which can only be fully comprehended through moral conversiona profound transformation of ones values and priorities. At this level, good is understood as that which genuinely enhances human dignity and promotes the common good. It involves a self-transcending love and commitment to what is genuinely worthwhile, beyond mere personal or immediate gain.
This more nuanced understanding of good is particularly relevant for todays debates on reproductive ethics. Modern technologies, such as CRISPR and other genetic modifications, offer unprecedented potential to alter human biology. However, decisions regarding their use should not be driven solely by the basic good of satisfying individual desires (such as selecting for desired traits) or even the societal good of preventing diseases. Instead, they should be guided by the higher good of value, which considers the broader implications for human dignity and the common good.
Notwithstanding, these advancements in reproductive technologies have, in some contexts, normalized the transition from a natural birth to a chosen birth. However, this heightened agency brings with it significant ethical considerations. The concept of the best baby, which includes not only rectifying genetic anomalies but also enhancing specific traits, raises fundamental questions about our understanding of human nature and the potential societal implications.
For instance, preferences for specific traits may vary widely across cultures, societies, and individuals, potentially leading to new forms of inequality and discrimination. Lonergans philosophy urges us to transcend individualistic aspirations and consider the collective impact of these choices on society.
Lonergans insights into the Common Good offer a comprehensive perspective that transcends individual welfare. He emphasizes a societal dimension where each individuals good contributes to and is enriched by the well-being of all. His philosophical constructs urge us to move beyond mere individualism and consider the collective welfare of humanity, particularly in the context of reproductive technologies.
This conception of the Good is multi-layered, encompassing different aspects of human desire and ethical reasoning. He differentiates between the Good of Order, which refers to the structured coordination of human actions toward common goals, and the Good of Value, understood within the context of moral conversion and deeper ethical commitment. This layered understanding is particularly relevant for todays debates on genetic modifications and reproductive choices.
Individual decisions regarding reproductive technologies have far-reaching implications. While promising to eliminate certain hereditary diseases or enhance specific traits, genetic modifications pose significant ethical challenges. How might these choices impact the human gene pool over generations? What are the potential ecological and biodiversity consequences of narrowing genetic variability?
Appropriating this framework helps us understand that modifying genes in human embryos can have long-term consequences on the human gene pool. By selectively enhancing or disabling certain traits, we risk creating new forms of inequality and potentially reducing genetic diversity, which is crucial for the resilience of our species. Decisions made today could set precedents that influence the genetic makeup of future generations, possibly leading to unintended health and societal issues.
The ecological implications of genetic modifications extend beyond humans. For instance, altering human genes might inadvertently affect our interaction with the environment and other species. Lonergans emphasis on the interconnectedness of all aspects of existence urges us to consider these broader ecological impacts. Narrowing genetic variability could reduce our ability to adapt to environmental changes, thereby impacting not just individual health but the sustainability of ecosystems.
If we adopt a critical realist approach, however, we can navigate these challenges with a focus on collective human flourishing. Lonergans philosophical approach advocates for informed and responsible decision-making processes that consider immediate benefits and long-term consequences. This perspective encourages us to look beyond individual desires and assess how our choices contribute to the Common Good, ultimately promoting a balanced approach that harmonizes technological potential with ethical integrity and communal well-being.
Fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and community engagement is essential to addressing these ethical considerations. Policymakers, medical professionals, and potential parents must collaborate to ensure that a commitment to the Common Good guides genetic interventions. This involves creating platforms for public discourse, ethical review boards, and comprehensive educational programs that integrate scientific knowledge with philosophical, theological, and ethical insights. By doing so, we can ensure that our advancements in reproductive technologies align with a vision of human flourishing that respects both individual rights and collective responsibilities.
Implementing policies and practices that reflect Lonergans ethical principles is essential to aligning reproductive technologies with the common good. This involves creating frameworks encouraging reflection, dialogue, and responsible decision-making across various sectors.
Policymakers play a crucial role in shaping the ethical landscape of reproductive technologies. To foster a community-centric approach, it is essential to establish policies that encourage dialogue and reflection on genetic choices. One effective measure could be the formation of Genetic Ethics Committees at both local and national levels. These committees would serve as forums for public discourse, bringing together diverse perspectives from ethicists, scientists, religious leaders, and laypersons. For example, town-hall-style meetings focused on emerging genetic technologies can provide a platform for citizens to voice concerns, hear expert opinions, and collaboratively shape policy directions.
Additionally, public funding should prioritize treatments that address life-threatening genetic disorders over aesthetic enhancements. Countries like Sweden have already taken steps in this direction, ensuring that public resources are channeled towards creating a healthier society rather than catering to superficial desires. Implementing policies that emphasize the Common Good can help prevent the commodification of human life and ensure that advancements in genetic technologies benefit society as a whole.
Within the context of Catholic doctrine, it is essential to emphasize the sanctity and dignity of human life from conception to natural death.
Concerning medical professionals, they are at the forefront of implementing and advising on reproductive technologies. To facilitate informed decision-making processes for potential parents, healthcare providers must ensure that individuals understand the broader implications of their choices. This can be achieved through in-depth, multi-session consultations beyond detailing medical procedures, including discussions on societal and ethical impacts. For instance, genetic counselors in Iceland have pioneered such comprehensive consultation models, enabling parents to make well-rounded decisions.
Introducing ethical case reviews in hospitals can also ensure that decisions are introspective and ethically sound. Regular interdisciplinary meetings involving sociologists, ethicists, and geneticists can help medical professionals stay informed about the societal impacts of genetic choices. These practices foster a holistic approach to patient care, ensuring that individual decisions align with the broader ethical framework that respects the Good of Order and the Good of Value.
Parents play a pivotal role in shaping the future through their reproductive choices. Within the context of Catholic doctrine, it is essential to emphasize the sanctity and dignity of human life from conception to natural death. Parents should be encouraged to reflect deeply on their motivations for considering any genetic interventions, ensuring that their decisions uphold the inherent worth of every human being as created in the image of God. Rather than focusing on selecting specific genetic traits, parents should consider the broader ethical implications and the potential societal impacts of their choices. Participation in church-led educational programs and ethical discussions can provide valuable guidance. These programs, facilitated by trained professionals and aligned with Church teachings, can help parents understand the moral dimensions of their decisions, encouraging them to act in ways that respect the sanctity of life and promote the Common Good.
Moreover, parents must recognize that every choice they make is part of a larger societal fabric. Understanding the long-term impacts on community values and human diversity can help ensure that their decisions contribute positively to the Common Good. Engaging in community dialogues within their parish or diocese can help parents consider how their choices might shape future generations and societal norms, always grounded in a respect for life and the teachings of the Church.
By grounding reproductive choices in Lonergans ethical framework and the Catholic tradition in which his approach was developed and emerged, we can navigate the complex landscape of genetic technologies, focusing on collective human flourishing without defaulting to reductionistic narratives and sterile utilitarian calculus. Policymakers, medical professionals, Church leaders, and parents all have roles to play in this endeavor. Encouraging policies that foster dialogue, provide comprehensive and ethical guidance, and promote introspective decision-making processes are essential steps in aligning reproductive technologies with the Common Good, something that sorely needs a recovery. This approach ensures that advancements in genetic engineering benefit individuals and contribute to societys holistic well-being, reflecting the multi-dimensional intricacies of human existence that Lonergan so profoundly emphasized.
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Reproductive Ethics, Genetic Engineering, and the Common Good - Word on Fire
International Women in Engineering Day voices from the frontline – Intelligent CIO
Now in its 11th year, International Women in Engineering Day serves as a reminder of contributions that women engineers make to the tech sector every day and whats still needed to overcome its gender gap.
Barkha Herman, Developer Advocate, StarTree
Diversity is crucial for driving innovation, not just a buzzword. When women and underrepresented groups get equal opportunities, their unique perspectives propel technology forward, creating more inclusive products. For instance, a woman-led company transformed defense robots into the first autonomous vacuum cleaners for homes. Diversity builds our future across industries and in our daily life. We must continue breaking barriers and stereotypes to inspire future generations of women to pursue engineering and STEM careers.
As a Developer Advocate and a Woman in Engineering, visibility is key. Being seen on conference stages and behind the scenes normalizes womens presence in tech, making it easier for others to follow. Its about showcasing the diverse skills and viewpoints women bring to the table. Our achievements, whether highlighted or behind the scenes, are crucial to industry progress. We need to support and celebrate each other, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
Creating equal opportunities in engineering and STEM is not just right; its smart business. Embracing diversity and inclusion taps into the full potential of our talent pool, driving innovation and growth. Lets keep advocating for change, inspiring future generations, and celebrating the contributions of women in engineering today and every day.
ChanChan Mao, Developer Advocate, Alluxio
To celebrate International Women in Engineering Day is to celebrate ourselves and the growing representation of women as the tech industry evolves. I am always so in awe every time I attend tech events and conferences and I see a woman on stage confidently speaking on her area of expertise. Growing up as a little girl in the heart of Silicon Valley, its easy to be underestimated and overshadowed by the lack of gender diversity. Perhaps the most valuable lesson Ive learned, as cliche as it sounds, is that we can do it! Our intelligence, our passion, and our innovative minds are beyond gender labels; our opportunities for growth and leadership should also be. We all have incredible potential to achieve outstanding careers in tech, and we are not allowing gender stereotypes to hinder our success.
Elisa La Roche, Senior Director, Support Engineering, Starburst
To women passionate about engineering and technology, be curious, be bold and believe that your ideas are important to achieving a greater goal. To those pursuing a career in leadership, we have more opportunities than ever to influence the change we want to see. Our commitment to developing young women professionals and early education programs to support them strengthens the field of engineering for generations to come.
By celebrating the achievements of women in engineering, we shine a spotlight on their contributions to the industry, highlighting the difference diversity makes and inspiring all those interested in pursuing a future in engineering.
Margaret Hoagland, VP, Global Sales & Marketing, SIOS Technology
Remember to be courageous enough to take your time. Trust in yourself and your audience. When you have something to say, know that it is worth the wait. Ive witnessed countless brilliant women diminish their impact by feeling rushed and speaking too quickly. So, pause. Reflect on your next words. Stand firm. Make them wait. Speak slower, move with purpose. Your voice matters, especially in STEM.
Saadia Khan, VP of Engineering and DevOps, Hammerspace
I have devoted my career as an engineer to advancing technology and innovation, consistently breaking new ground with my team and defying stereotypes. Throughout my journey, I have achieved notable successes with several patents, contributed to open-source software communities, and engaged in standardization efforts. My commitment to innovation and progress underscores my belief that International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is not just a celebration but a crucial societal event showcasing womens invaluable contributions to engineering.
Despite the distinct hurdles many have encountered in building careers and advancing into leadership in the high-tech space we can ignite the curiosity of the next generation of women to explore the diverse opportunities available in the STEM fields.
Luz Geist, Director of Engineering, Cubic Defense
As a female engineer established in my career, I have learned to embrace the good with the bad life lessons along the way, they made me who I am today. Fundamentally, to continue growing and learning, it requires challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone not for the certainty of outcome, but for the certainty that you will come out wiser. The value comes when one learns to harness those experiences to support other women striving to meet their ambitions. In todays fast-paced world it is essential to elevate other women around us, be a good role model and mentor. I always encourage learning from someone elses experiences, ask questions, push boundaries and take chances.
Annemie Vanoossterhout, Release and Project Manager, Datadobi
Its essential for everyone, regardless of gender, to create inclusive workspaces. Remote work is one way to allow for more flexible hours and benefit women tasked with balancing their family life and their job responsibilities. However, the responsibility to challenge the status quo doesnt solely lie with organizations: as women, we must also push beyond perceived limitations.
The key to accomplishing change is collaboration, and it should not be a solitary endeavor. Together, we can make a significant impact and pave the way for future generations of women engineers.
Chrissay Brinkmann, PreSales Engineer, Leaseweb USA
As a woman in STEM, Ive faced the challenge of feeling the need to demonstrate my value and expertise alongside my male counterparts, something I think other women in my field can relate to. Thankfully, I believe that women have made immense progress in the past 15 years, with more and more women joining the tech industry without having to face the same difficulties that many other women, including myself, experienced at the start of their careers.
Everyone approaches situations uniquely and from my experience, gender parity in STEM provides diverse perspectives, enhances efficiency and facilitates creative solutions. A word of advice to girls and women interested in engineering: there are a multitude of programs to help you find your niche so do your research and remember, a career in STEM puts you at the forefront of technology.
Prerana Singhal, Founding Engineer, Traceable AI
Occupations like engineering and tech are no longer considered jobs specifically for men. I am very glad to see that womens interests in STEM are now being fostered instead of being deterred by what was considered a societal norm for women. While there is still a long way to go, strides have been made in ensuring that women have a place in the engineering field. Now we must continue to pave the way for the new generation of female engineers. Young girls need to see more examples of female engineers, they need to see their accomplishments be celebrated, and they need to know that this line of work can be so much fun.
Soujanya Namburi, Software Engineer, Traceable AI
Young girls can be inspired to pursue careers in engineering by introducing them to STEM opportunities early on, fostering their interests through mentorship programs or clubs, and showcasing diverse role models in the field. For existing female engineers, employers can foster an environment where women feel comfortable leading by prioritizing respect and inclusivity. They can do this by implementing equal pay initiatives and being transparent with promotion processes to ensure fairness and opportunity for all employees. Additionally, they can implement a culture of zero tolerance for discrimination and open communication. These things will help create a supportive atmosphere where women can thrive in leadership roles without fear.
Chen Webber-Kentor, Group Product Manager, Zerto
Now in its 11th year, International Women in Engineering Day serves as a reminder of the hard work and contributions that women engineers make every day but also to call attention to the gender gap in the engineering industry. Globally, women hold less than 30% of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs, but in my role as group product manager at Zerto, I have the pleasure of working with a diverse and talented team of engineers. As we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day, I reaffirm my belief that gender parity in STEM provides diverse perspectives and unique problem-solving approaches that lead to more innovative and balanced solutions.
My passion for engineering lies in its challenging nature and the creative possibilities it offers, and I actively encourage more girls and women to pursue this exciting field. Achieving gender equality in STEM requires a proactive approach: setting clear objectives, crafting opportunities, and imparting the significance of diversity and inclusion to all employees. Additionally, fostering an inclusive culture, where women have equal opportunities for career advancement, is key for an organizations success.
Deepika Gajaria, VP of GTM and Strategy, Securin
The STEM field has historically faced challenges in embracing new perspectives and voices. However, you possess the qualities necessary to thrive in this field if you have a passion for problem-solving, a curious mindset, a desire to make an impact, and a willingness to learn and network.
Within my own journey, the experiences and qualities I collected throughout my career have provided me with valuable insights that the technology industry and my organization values. Because of this, I am passionate about enabling more women and individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams in STEM.
Those willing to learn, build connections, ask questions, and tackle problems independently have significant opportunities to contribute meaningfully, no matter their background.
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International Women in Engineering Day voices from the frontline - Intelligent CIO
4 Women in Tech on What Engineering Leaders Need to Hear – The New Stack
Most of us have already heard the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the workplace: Diverse teams make smarter decisions and even make their companies more money. While research has consistently shown why DEI is worth the effort, these efforts are still hard to scale and replicate, especially for technical teams.
Whether you think it’s a “pipeline problem” or something much more complicated, no company has completely solved it yet. But asking people in the field the right questions is often a great first step on the path to creating lasting organizational change.
For Nisha Paliwal, becoming managing vice president of enterprise data technology at CapitalOne came decades after an unexpected career shift.
“My career in engineering started by pure happenstance,” Paliwal said. “After I completed my master’s in microbiology, I moved in with my mother and became her caretaker while she was ill. I needed a job, but there were few microbiology jobs available. So I decided to learn C#. That ended up being the start of my career in engineering — a journey of learning, unlearning and relearning.”
A big part of Nisha’s journey has been dedicated to nonprofit work with organizations like Boolean Girls, CodeVA and Wings For Growth that help open educational and professional doors for women in tech.
For Confluent staff developer advocate Danica Fine, who has spent her entire career in engineering, these kinds of programs are beneficial but could use some improvement.
“We’re still at a point where being a ‘woman in tech’ is relatively novel. That’s why I am baffled that so many women in tech groups and career development programs are run and supported exclusively by women. As important as those programs are, everyone should support the effort to bring more women into the industry,” Fine said.
Smriti Sridhar, a solutions architect in Confluent’s professional services team, illustrates how company-sponsored programs can help women succeed in the field.
“I joined Confluent as an associate consultant engineer (ACE) after completing my master’s degree. The ACE program was exactly what I needed. I was looking for something different from software development, but non-traditional roles like product management were out of reach for someone so early in their career,” Sridhar said.
Sridhar explained that she soon advanced to a solutions architect position partly because of the learning opportunities she had during the year-long program.
‘[Engineering leaders]should not only help women engineers at the entry level but also encourage them to stay at their companies, invest the time to advance, and become leaders as well.’
“I joined my ACE cohort alongside two other women, and learning alongside people facing similar challenges was invaluable,” she said. “Now, I’ve seen the diversity of roles available and want to see the number of these programs grow and get better for women long term. They should not only help women engineers at the entry-level but also encourage them to stay at their companies, invest the time to advance, and become leaders as well.”
According to Sneha Wadhwa, a senior software engineer at Confluent, efforts to bolster women’s success in engineering need to go beyond training and recruitment.
“Leaders also need to implement flexible work policies that accommodate women who may be balancing work with caregiving responsibilities. Offering options such as telecommuting, flexible hours and parental leave can help retain talented women engineers,” she said.
Wadhwa added, “Women have a lot to offer in engineering and tech. They bring different skills, ideas and ways of thinking that make the field better and more welcoming for everyone.”
While each of these four women has distinct roles and responsibilities, they have consistent advice in one area: prioritizing continual learning.
“Always be pushing yourself to progress as an engineer, and your career will progress,” Fine said.
Paliwal echoed that sentiment, “Learn constantly, keep up the certifications and don’t be satisfied with the status quo. Challenge and push yourself to reach new limits.”
For Sridhar specifically, her experience working with customers has been an incredible opportunity to add to her skills and confidence in her technical expertise.
Sridhar explained, “My role is to help customers remove technical barriers by training their teams, recommending use cases and doing hands-on work alongside our consulting engineers. Being the jack-of-all-trades has pushed me to be prepared for anything, have confidence in my knowledge and think creatively. These are things I want all women in tech to experience, and I think many of them would find these lesser-known roles in engineering very fulfilling and empowering to take on.”
‘While more women are joining the field as entry-level engineers every day, their representation decreases progressively at each level up the corporate hierarchy.’
Similarly, Wadhwa has found her voice to be one of her most powerful assets in her software engineering role. When asked about the advice she wants to pass on, Wadhwa said, “Speak up. Have confidence and don’t shy away from voicing your ideas and opinions or taking part in healthy debates in meetings and projects. When you give your input within and outside of your team, you not only get a bigger picture of the organization and its mission, you become an integral part of its success.”
Paliwal said, “I’d love to see more companies mentoring and sponsoring women across the board. There’s a frustrating lack of women in middle and upper management. It’s on companies and higher-ups to help change that.”
To make that happen, Fine believes companies need to give women in tech a broader base of support, one that’s encouraged from the top down.
“Too often, I see so many women bogged down by the unreasonable expectations that they need to keep these programs running for themselves. Support should come from everyone across the company,” she said.
As a vice president with first-hand experience contributing to these initiatives, Paliwal recommends a hands-on approach. She laid it out, step by step:
“First, start participating in nonprofit organizations that devote their time to the early education of girls in tech. Second, find two to three women whom you may want to sponsor so you can share insight and guide them throughout their careers. Lastly, focus on more than just recruiting women. You need to retain, nurture and advocate to open opportunities to women engineers and women leaders in your organization.”
While each of these women put a lot of effort into furthering their education and careers, all four learned best when others were ready and willing to help them grow. Both Paliwal and Wadhwa expressed the importance of leadership in creating opportunities for inspiration, career advancement and mentorship to ensure that successful women engineers see the career advancement they deserve.
“While more women are joining the field as entry-level engineers every day, their representation decreases progressively at each level up the corporate hierarchy,” Wadhwa pointed out.
“I can’t wait until [women have] made enough progress across the industry for it to no longer feel like something we need to call out.”
“The longer this trend continues, we’ll reach a point where we can say there are many women engineers but still few women leaders. That’s not the future I want to see. Leaders need to champion active allyship in the workplace so women’s contributions are recognized, rewarded and compensated equally.”
Like the other three women, Fine believes that being a successful, visible woman in engineering is something to be incredibly proud of. At the same time, she said, “I can’t wait until we’ve made enough progress across the industry for it to no longer feel like something we need to call out.”
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4 Women in Tech on What Engineering Leaders Need to Hear - The New Stack
Transitioning from a Software Engineering Role into a Management Role – InfoQ.com
Software engineers who want to become good at leading engineers can use everyday opportunities to practice management. Peter Gillard-Moss gave a talk at QCon London where he shared his experience with becoming a manager, and provided tips and ideas for engineers aiming to become a manager.
Gillard-Moss mentioned that he wanted to enter management because he believed his technical experience gave him the insight to lead and make decisions on behalf of the team. This was a belief shared by the people who put him in the manager role, he explained:
Whilst I was keen to lead, I was reluctant to manage. In the end, the actual responsibility of management meant that I struggled in those roles.
Looking back, the reason for this was mainly bad managers, Gillard-Moss said. He did also have good managers, but those managers were very non-conventional and positioned themselves more as leaders than managers. They were very hands off and focused more on giving me direction and leaving him to figure out the day-to-day responsibilities, as Gillard-Moss explained:
I was free to make technical decisions, but this didnt help me develop as a manager. The result was that I was struggling with non-technical aspects of working with people and I lacked confidence in my role and retreated into being a senior technical individual contributor.
Gillard-Moss suggested that engineers who want to become good at leading engineers should practice in the small. There are everyday opportunities for engineers to practise management, he said. You dont need authority. In fact many engineers who end up as engineering managers are often spotted because they are showing flares of management in their teams, as he explained:
It really could be as simple as picking up an epic and taking responsibility for it end-to-end. Organising the team to deliver it successfully, providing clear communication and working to remove obstacles so the rest of the team can stay focused. Or it could be running a team ritual and working to make it valuable and productive.
If you have a good manager then youll probably realise they are already giving you these sorts of opportunities and enabling you to do it, Gillard-Moss said.
To act as role models, engineering leaders have to live up to the standard they want to set. Your every move is being watched by your team, Gillard-Moss said. The behaviour you expect from the engineers you must show first:
If you say quality is important but every time a hard trade-off needs to be made you sacrifice quality. Or you say you want to enable independence but get involved in every decision. Then you arent role modelling.
As an engineering leader, I dont need to know all the technical decisions or be an expert in every framework we are using or have intricate knowledge of how the code is organised to get the team to an answer, Gillard-Moss said. But the team does, he explained:
The value my experience as an engineer brings is that I know when someone elses idea shows promise and I should get behind it. Or when another engineer disagrees I understand where they are coming from. And when the team shows me what it looks like, whether in code or in a diagram, I connect with what they think and feel about it too.
This doesnt mean you can be ignorant, Gillard-Moss said. You have to learn from your teams and listen to them, as they will naturally keep up with things. As an engineering leader, you can nurture and encourage that. Combine that with going to the gemba and observing teams doing real work and you will pick things up by osmosis, Gillard-Moss concluded.
InfoQ interviewed Peter Gillard-Moss about managing and leading engineering teams.
InfoQ: What challenges did you face when you became a manager?
Peter Gillard-Moss: I had a strong aversion to the word manager and the idea of management. A lot of this was down to ignorance. I didnt know what good management looked like or what it meant. And the ideas I did have of it were mainly negative. Authority, approval, inspection, delegation, and giving tough feedback. I also associated a lot of those skills with project management and I knew I didnt have those things "in my blood".
It took me a while before I learned what good management is and why it is important. And why leadership and management are two sides of a coin, not a dichotomy.
InfoQ: How can engineering leaders act as stakeholders for engineering?
Gillard-Moss: You have to be a stakeholder for engineering and engineers by representing. This isnt the same as "speaking on behalf".
Your role is to bring the stakeholders perspective and ensure their needs and concerns are part of the decision-making. When making tough decisions you need to bring the engineering perspective, and help people from other disciplines understand the trade-offs being made. Negotiate with other stakeholders so we can make the best decision for the organisation and its customers and employees.
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Map of International Women in Engineering day events #EnhancedByEngineering @INWED1919 #INWED24 – Adafruit Blog
Inwed.org.uk has shared a searchable map with International Women in Engineering Day events from around the world. Search by your home country or see which events are going on around the world here!
Explore INWED24 Events
Events from around the world are being held to celebrate INWED. Browse the map below to find one near you, or get inspired to create your own!
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UK sector groups announce partnership to empower women in engineering and manufacturing – The Manufacturer
To coincide with International Women in Engineering Day [23rd June 2024] organisations from across the STEM industries have announced their intention to work together to empower women in UK engineering and manufacturing.
This pledge to increase collaboration is the result of a roundtable hosted by Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, the charity dedicated to helping employers in the engineering and manufacturing sector find new ways to close skills gaps, which was attended by senior representatives from organisations such as Construction Inclusion Coalition,Energy & Utility Skills,Womens Engineering Society,Women in Sustainability Network, andWomens Utilities Network.
Chaired by Karen Boswell OBE, Managing Director of Baxi UK and Ireland, who in her career as a senior leader running engineering and manufacturing businesses has passionately advocated for diversity and inclusion, theparticipants discussed challenges facing women in the engineering and manufacturing sector, including the need for increased gender diversity and the issue of mid-career leavers.According to a recent study by Engineering UK, the proportion of women in engineering and technology roles has decreased from 16.5% to 15.7% in the past year, with a significant number of women leaving roles between the ages of 35 to 44.
Reflecting on this worrying trend, the participants discussed other challenges facing women in the engineering and manufacturing sector, underscoring the necessity for enhanced collaboration and the need to unite industries within the engineering and manufacturing sector. While acknowledging the unique needs of the different industries, the participants agreed to work together given the pressing need for a more unified and inclusive representation.
The result is theagreement, announced last Friday, to collaborate on the following key themes:
Communication Campaign for Attraction:
The group aims to generate a wealth of stories from women in the sector, enriching future campaigns and developing the central content repository. Channels such as TikTok and other social media platforms, will be key to attracting young women by showcasing engaging and inspiring stories from female engineers. The group is looking for women in engineering and manufacturing to share their career stories to inspire the next generation.Get involved.
Leadership and Culture for Retention:
The group will focus on highlighting the importance of leadership and organisational culture in retaining women in engineering roles. It aims to address the need for supportive and inclusive workplace environments that encourage women to thrive and progress in their careers. Sharing stories of successful female leaders and their experiences will promote a culture of mentorship and support within the industry.
System/Policy Changes Needed from the Government:
The group will advocate for policy changes at the governmental level to support gender diversity in engineering and manufacturing. With the General Election in early July, the new Government must support skills and education policies and systems that facilitate entry routes and career progression for women in the sector. Collaboration with policymakers will be essential to drive systemic change and ensure long-term improvements in gender diversity.
Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, comments:Encouraging more women to enter and stay in the UK engineering and manufacturing sector can play an important role in closing skills gaps. International Women in Engineering Day reminds us all that there is more to do to shift the dial and ensure that we have diverse talent joining and thriving in the sector.
Only by working in collaboration can we jointly take bigger steps towards greater inclusivity and representation in engineering and manufacturing. By bringing together diverse voices and experiences, the aim is to create a supportive and collaborative environment that empowers women at all stages of their careers. Through this unified effort, challenges can be addressed and will pave the way for a more equitable and dynamic future.
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Bright Engineering develops long-term growth opportunities in aerospace and defence – PES Media
Lancashire precision manufacturer Bright Engineering is currently preparing for a busy period as the 2024 Farnborough International Air show looms large on the industry calendar.
Bright will be again exhibiting on the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) pavilion, a formula which has worked extremely well for the business on several previous occasions. Providing valuable access to the heart of the exhibition, and with its own dedicated area of the stand, participation with FAC allows Bright the opportunity to scope out new leads and opportunities, and critically a base for hosting meetings with existing customers who will be at the show.
The sales strategy for Bright Engineering in the last couple of years has been threefold: firstly latching onto opportunities in aerospace as the sector enjoys a sure and steady recovery. Secondly, the growth of defence opportunities has been significant Bright having seen a major upturn in the sector equating to roughly 10% of turnover. Finally, diversification across a number of manufacturing sectors remains a sure way of ensuring growth and stability.
Bright counts a number of advanced manufacturing sectors among its client base, including green energies, motorsport, semiconductor, science and laboratory. Sales director Steve Amey comments: "This deliberate diversification across our target industries, and particular efforts to back up our core turnover with new and emerging opportunities has been key to Bright's ongoing growth and stability. In fact we expect to increase sales turnover this year by a further 10% and grow our exports to the USA by around 20% compared to existing levels.
Over the last two years Bright Engineering has made multiple investments to strengthen its core offer and guarantee a robust quality offering for customers. This started with a major investment in the inspection department, doubling the floor space and modernising the facility.
With a view to making its inspection offering more data-driven and having information on tap for its Tier 1 and OEM customers, Bright invested in the latest measuring equipment, featuring Bluetooth integration and dovetailing capability with its Progress Plus ERP system.
Investment in equipment from companies like Keyence has been most appreciated by the client base, as it provides Bright with the opportunity to measure multiple parts at the same time, compile data quickly, efficiently and accurately, and assist customers with first article validation and any technical queries that arise following assembly of the product.
Steve Amey continues: "Investments in quality technology have a real and immediate impact on customers. Machining centres costing 300,000 are key to the operation but customers are comfortably familiar with them.
What customers really appreciate is a supplier willing to invest directly in quality, how we measure, trace, track and pack the product to ensure its conformity. We have had multiple large customers tell us that our inspection facilities are more impressive than their own. We are really proud of what we have created."
In fact Bright Engineering was able to demonstrate its capability so effectively that it was recently awarded BAE Systems approval, an achievement that is not regular or commonplace for most medium-sized subcontractors. As a fairly new, but highly capable supplier to BAE Systems Air Sector, Bright is well positioned for future growth and supporting new programmes.
Bright is proud of its ongoing commitment to apprenticeships and it counts a number of current trainees, and recently time-served engineers as contributors to BAE Systems projects. The business has also supported a number of young people through degree apprenticeships.
Director Jon Hoyle explains: "Operating our business in the Lancashire aerospace belt brings with it a number of opportunities, as well as competition, but it keeps us on our toes. It's easy as small business owners to say we can't compete and we can't offer decent opportunities, but we definitely can.
On a number of occasions now we've taken advantage of the Apprenticeship Levy system to provide high quality, funded degree programmes for our employees, and everybody wins. We get motivated, capable individuals who can support our growth and get involved in exciting aerospace prototype projects."
The company has also recently invested in 3D printing and intends to use it to streamline its fixture manufacture for both CNC machining and inspection. Bright believes this is yet another example of a modest investment having a sizeable positive impact on efficiency, as well as improving customer experience.
Bright Engineering http://www.brightengineering.co.uk
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Bright Engineering develops long-term growth opportunities in aerospace and defence - PES Media
Today is International Women in Engineering Day 2024 #EnhancedByEngineering @INWED1919 #INWED24 – Adafruit Blog
Every June 23 is International Women in Engineering Day. To share some inspiration and help get the word out we will be posting to the Adafruit blog all day!
The theme for 2024 is Enhanced by Engineering:
This year well be celebrating the amazing work that women engineers around the world are doing to support lives and livelihoods every day.
Were profiling the best, brightest and bravest women in engineering, who have #enhancedbyengineering peoples everyday lives and are helping to build towards a brighter future.
Be sure to check back throughout the day. For more resources here!
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon
Stop breadboarding and soldering start making immediately! Adafruits Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the shows live chat well post the link there.
Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!
Join over 36,000+ makers on Adafruits Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord
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Anisha Roberts: An apprentice’s inspirational journey into the world of engineering #EnhancedByEngineering … – Adafruit Blog
Learn about Anisha Roberts career journey this #INWED24. Via the Engineer:
Anishas inspiration came from a former colleague who, at the age of 60, decided to retrain in a field she had always been passionate about. This moment was as a catalyst for Anisha, prompting her to leave her teaching career and to explore apprenticeship opportunities in engineering. Reflecting on her decision, she recalls, If she [her colleague] can be that brave, then so can I. This mindset propelled her to embark on a new career path, one that would lead to personal growth and professional fulfilment. It shows that the impact of one woman pursuing their ambitions has an inspirational trickledown effect.
Learn more!
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon
Stop breadboarding and soldering start making immediately! Adafruits Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the shows live chat well post the link there.
Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!
Join over 36,000+ makers on Adafruits Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord
CircuitPython The easiest way to program microcontrollers CircuitPython.org
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Johns Hopkins graduate engineering programs again ranked among nation’s best – The Hub at Johns Hopkins
By Lisa Ercolano
Johns Hopkins University's engineering graduate programs are again ranked among the nation's best, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Graduate Schools rankings, released today. The Whiting School of Engineering retained its No. 14 spot, tied with UCLA.
Graduate engineering programs are evaluated by U.S. News based on a comprehensive set of factors, including a school's research expenditures, faculty productivity, admissions selectivity, and its reputation among peers and the employers who hire its graduates. Changes to this year's methodology included using bibliometric data, including publications and citations, as new overall ranking indicators.
Specialty rankings are based on reputation as measured by peer evaluations. The biomedical engineering graduate program, which is part of both Johns Hopkins' schools of Engineering and Medicine, retained its No. 1 spot.
Five engineering graduate programs saw their rankings improve this year, and every graduate program is ranked among the top 25 in its category.
Portions of the publication's annual rankings of graduate programs were released in April, but rankings for schools of medicine and engineering were delayed; rankings of schools of medicine will be released at a later date.
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