Minding The Gap: An Introductory Course On Engineering And Public Policy

There exists a gap between engineering and public policy which must be bridged. Engineers are affected by public policy but are seldom involved in setting policy. Engineers, and the decisions they make, also affect public policy. Those who set the policy frequently do not have a full appreciation of the technological issues involved and the engineers often do not appreciate the implication of their decisions on society. If engineers do not take a more active role in the setting of public policy, they will be left to work within the policies set by others who may lack adequate technical skills and they will be remiss in their duties as citizens to foster good policy. If the policy setters do not develop a greater appreciation of the technological issues involved they will develop and implement policies that are less than optimal. A course has been developed and offered that brings engineering and political science students together to explore public policy issues. As a result of the class, the students have a greater appreciation of the other field of study and they are better equipped to develop and implement policy.