Comet Calendar

The Jonsson School Distinguished Lecture - Connecting the Dots: Engineering, Ethics, and Equity by Dr. Yvette Pearson

Friday, January 28, 2022 11am to 12pm

Virtual Event

Abstract:

What does engineering have to do with social justice? Given what we know about how engineering impacts society, both positively and negatively, this question was particularly disturbing to hear. What made it especially troubling is the fact that it came from an engineer. Researchers have long noted the disconnect between engineering and societal impacts in the perceptions of the public, pre-college students, and engineers themselves. One reason may be that the mantra “Engineers are problem solvers” has historically excluded a key element – people. More prevalent now than ever is the need to recognize the importance of solving problems with, not just for, people. Building on her work in advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in engineering contexts, Dr. Pearson will share insights and engage the audience in discussions that draw connections among ethics and equitable engagement in engineering education, research, and practice.

Biography:

Dr. Yvette E. Pearson is Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the University of Texas at Dallas. A Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Pearson was the inaugural chair of ASCE's board-level committee, MOSAIC (Members of Society Advancing an Inclusive Culture), which is charged with leading the Society in all matters of DEI for the profession. As past vice chair of the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion she was part of the team that first introduced DEI into ASCE’s Code of Ethics, providing leadership for the principle that requires engineers to consider the diversity of the communities they serve and to include diverse perspectives in planning and design. Among her numerous awards and honors are ABET's Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion, ASCE's Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award, University of Texas Regents Outstanding Teaching Award, the Society of Women Engineers’ Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, and ASCE’s President’s Medal. Pearson is a registered Professional Engineer, a Commissioner on ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission, and host of Engineering Change Podcast, which has listeners in over 50 countries on six continents.

Virtual Event

Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Melissa Maxey
Email
972-883-6789

UTD strives to create inclusive and accessible events in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact the event coordinator (listed above) at least 10 business days prior to the event. If you have any additional questions, please email ADACoordinator@utdallas.edu and the AccessAbility Resource Center at accessability@utdallas.edu.

Event Publishing

Add an Event 

Submit your own event using our simple event submission form. It only takes a minute!

Event Publisher Training 

Learn best practices to maximize the calendar’s latest features.

Make a Calendar Feed 

Embed events anywhere on the web with our widget builder.

Explore Comet Calendar

Events by Email

Get a personalized list of events in your inbox with our digest emailer.

30-second Survey

Share your feedback and suggestions on how we can improve the Comet Calendar.

The University of Texas at Dallas