Special Session: Starting a Dialogue on Decolonization in Engineering Education

Decolonization is a radical approach to transforming education by confronting and undoing colonizing practices used in the past that continue today. This session endeavors to begin a dialogue on decolonization in engineering education. Through a series of activities and facilitated discussions, participants will critically analyze how engineering may not be neutral or objective, describe how the myths of objectivity and neutrality in engineering perpetuate colonialism, critically examine the different values and assumptions that underpin engineering decisions and how these affect different people in different ways, and reflect on what decolonizing might mean for engineering education. This is a challenging topic that requires considerable thought, reflection, and openness to different ways of knowing. We believe such conversations can help advance our shared mission of diversifying engineering education and enhancing research and engineering practice.