Professional Ethics in Engineering
Professional Ethics in Engineering
(OP)
A brief version of the oath for the Order of the Engineer could be stated as follows:
“As an Engineer, I will carefully apply my skills and knowledge for the public good and according to the Golden Rule, our code of ethics. I will participate in none but honest enterprise and persuade others to accept my professional practice based on these principles.”
“As an Engineer, I will carefully apply my skills and knowledge for the public good and according to the Golden Rule, our code of ethics. I will participate in none but honest enterprise and persuade others to accept my professional practice based on these principles.”





RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
While the ritual is private there is an obligation for adherence to high professional ethics. The ritual is held near the final year of engineering studies and has lots of symbolic signifance.
While the ritual is not the main point the seriousness of the ritual and the voluntary taking of the oath, which is witnessed by the ring does have meaning.
See also www.ironring.ca for more information.
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
The NSPE (US) has a published Code of Ethics:
http://www.nspe.org/ethics/eh1-code.asp
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
We DO have that in the U.S. Several engineers I know have participated in the Order of the Engineer ceremony and proudly wear the ring as a symbol.
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
Could you tell me more about this Order of the Engineer that you have in the US? Where, how, who is eligile, who sponsors it, etc?
Regards,
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
Here is the website link.
http://www.order-of-the-engineer.org/
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
Looks like dig1 supplied the link while I was typing my post.
The Order of the Engineer is open to any licensed engineer (or graduate from an ABET accredited engineering school) who is willing to participate in the ceremony, take an oath that basically says that you will practice engineering with integrity, and pay a one-time fee to cover the cost of a certificate and ring.
This is very similar to the ritual held in Canada, but in the U.S. it's a stainless steel ring rather than wrought iron. As much as I hate to admit it, our friends north of the border started such an organization first (we only lagged behind by 44 years).
The website has more information, as well as links to local "links" (chapters).
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
It's stainless steel, but still called an iron ring.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
Unfortunately there is not a prominent knuckle on your pinkie finger to keep it in place. Glad it is only stainless!
The ring is a great reminder though of all the reasons that I became an engineer.
It is amazing how many of them you start to notice once you know what they mean.
miner
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
I wonder if you guys know why the ring is iron and more importantly why it's worn on the working hand? I've heard some wild explanations over the years that are all wrong.
Regards,
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
http://www.order-of-the-engineer.org/
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
The essential point, among others, is that all of an engineers's work is touched by the ring (ie. working hand)which itself includes the remnants of a structure where the engineering was inadequate to prevent fatalities and property damage. This is supposed to be a poignant reminder of the consequences of incompetent professional work.
Regards,
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
One Ring to bring them all and the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Umm, nope. Why do you ask? Are you not one of the chosen
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
I will say, since it was written by Rudyard Kipling, that the ritual is full of symbolic meanings. It simply is a remainder of the higher obligations to public safety mandated by our profession.
Then we all went to the bar.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
Rick, you said it all!
It is not a secret order, but a private commitment, made in the presence of peers. Then we all went to the bar.
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
As they were leaving, one of the regulars at that particular establishment was walking in, took one look at these two guys wearing suits and said “Think you’re a smart guy with a suit, try this” He took a swing and broke the guys two front teeth. He looked like a hockey player until the dentist was finished.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
Ken
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
do medical systems engineers get a "surgical steel" ear-lobe piercing instead?
hope you enjoyed this "seinfeld" moment... brought to you by a lot of boredom...
cheers
saludos.
a.
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
there's is no Ring tradition in New Zealand that I know of, although a Canadian mate of mine would be thrilled if we could start one. We get some ethics lectures in amongst the basic-accounting-and-management-practice papers but it's not regarded all that highly amongst my peers, which surely isn't the best start! (although J-I-T and Maslow's theory doesn't score highly either...)
Does anyone in the Australasian region have any precedents? I think I'll be writing to the US/Canadian Order guys as well. Where does one look for iron/stainless rings? Local jeweller/farrier/guy with lathe?
We do however maintain the proud tradition of "we are we are we are we are the engineers" with no tune and plenty of beer, and regular refreshers at our very own campus dive.
I for one wouldn't mind a touch more dignity in there somewhere! :)
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
two drinks = no driving,
three drinks to bring them all, and in Shadows-bar we'll find them.
In mechanical engineering, where beer is usually near.
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
back to the rings :)
RE: Professional Ethics in Engineering
see www.ironring.ca for a contact list. You may want to contact these people to start your own NZ tradition.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com