摘要
Because wicked problems are beyond the scope of normal, industrial-age engineering science, sustainability problems will require reform of current engineering science and technology practices. We assert that, while pluralism concerning use of the term sustainability is likely to persist, universities should continue to cultivate research and education programs specifically devoted to sustainable engineering science, an enterprise that is formally demarcated from business-as-usual and systems optimization approaches. Advancing sustainable engineering science requires a shift in orientation away from reductionism and intellectual specialization towards integrative approaches to science, education, and technology that: (1) draw upon an ethical awareness that extends beyond the usual bounds of professional ethics or responsible conduct of research to include macroethics, (2) adopt anticipatory and adaptive approaches to unintended consequences resulting from technological innovation that result in more resilient systems, and (3) cultivate interactional expertise to facilitate cross-disciplinary exchange. Unfortunately, existing education and research training programs are ill-equipped to prepare scientists and engineers to operate effectively in a wicked problems milieu. Therefore, it is essential to create new programs of graduate education that will train scientists and engineers to become sustainable engineering science experts equipped to recognize and grapple with the macro-ethical, adaptive, and cross-disciplinary challenges embedded in their technical research and development programs.
中文摘要
由于棘手的问题超出了正常的工业时代工程科学的范围，可持续性问题将需要对当前的工程科学和技术实践进行改革。我们断言，虽然关于可持续性一词使用的多元化可能会持续存在，但大学应该继续培养专门致力于可持续工程科学的研究和教育计划，这是一个正式与一切照旧和系统优化方法划清界线的企业。推进可持续工程科学需要将方向从还原论和知识专业化转向科学、教育和技术的综合方法，即：(1) 利用超越通常的职业道德或负责任的研究行为范围的道德意识，以包括宏观伦理学，（2）采用预期和适应性方法来应对技术创新导致的意外后果，从而产生更具弹性的系统，以及（3）培养互动专业知识以促进跨学科交流。不幸的是，现有的教育和研究培训计划不足以让科学家和工程师做好在恶劣问题环境中有效运作的准备。因此，有必要创建新的研究生教育项目，将科学家和工程师培养成可持续的工程科学专家，能够识别和应对技术研发项目中嵌入的宏观伦理、适应性和跨学科挑战。
