Humanitarian engineering
By: Carl Mitcham and David Muñoz
Contributors: Muñoz, David R.
Series: Synthesis lectures on engineers, technology, & society -- # 13
Publisher: Morgan & Claypool
Published: 2010
Place of publication: San Rafael, Calif. (1537 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 USA)
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
ISBN-13: 9781608451524; 9781608451517
Subjects: Sustainability; Engineering; Study and teaching; Humanitarianism; Social aspects; History
Other titles: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.
Description: Humanitarian Engineering reviews the development of engineering as a distinct profession and of the humanitarian movement as a special socio-political practice. Having noted that the two developments were situated in the same geographical and historical space--that is, in Europe and North America beginning in the 1700s--the book argues for a mutual influence and synthesis that has previously been lacking. In this spirit, the first of two central chapters describes humanitarian engineering as the artful drawing on science to direct the resources of nature with active compassion to meet the basic needs of all -- especially the powerless, poor, or otherwise marginalized. A second central chapter then considers strategies for education in humanitarian engineering so conceived. Two final chapters consider challenges and implications.
Notes: Part of: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.

Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 13, 2010).

Series from website.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-72).

Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.

Also available in print.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Table of contents: title: 1. Engineering; title: What engineers do; title: From military to civilian engineering; title: Use and convenience, extended and criticized; title: 2. Humanitarianism; title: Humanitarianism versus humanism and human rights; title: Humanitarian universalism; title: Anticipations of the humanitarian movement; title: Phase one (1800s): rise of the humanitarian movement proper; title: Phase two (early 1900s): humanitarianism beyond the battlefield; title: Phase three (1950s-1960s): humanitarianism as free world ideology; title: Phase four (1970s-1990s): alternative humanitarianisms; title: Phase five (2000s-present): humanitarianism globalized and questioned; title: The humanitarian charter; title: 3. Humanitarian engineering; title: The Fred Cuny story; title: Other precursors and influences; title: Maurice Albertson and the U.S. Peace Corps; title: Médecins sans frontiers and Engineers without borders; title: Humanitarian engineering: core features; title: 4. Humanitarian engineering education; title: A few model programs; title: The Peace Corps master's international program; title: What counts as a humanitarian engineering project; title: The needs question; title: New dimensions in engineering and education; title: 5. Challenges; title: Practical challenges; title: Theoretical challenges; title: 6. Conclusion: humanizing technology; title: Bibliography; title: Supplemental bibliography; title: Authors' biographies.