The environment and the electrical engineering curriculum

According to the ECPD definition, engineering involves the use of the forces and materials of nature for the benefit of mankind. Unfortunately, in the course of their daily work engineers may forget to question whether their technological developments really will be a boon to society, and experience has shown that too often quite the reverse proves to be true. If the engineer of the future is to be more than a technical specialist and is to assume an effective and active role in dealing with the environment, then it would seem that electrical engineering curriculums should be adapted to familiarize the student with environmental problems and their relationship to his chosen profession. This article discusses the beginning that has been made at one university with the introduction of an experimental course on environmental electromagnetics.