Work in Progress: A Missing Narrative of Violence in Engineering Education

Violence is prevalent in many areas of engineering practice. Engineers engage in and support projects that are demonstrably violent against living beings and systems, including future generations of humans. Generally neglected in engineering education in Canada is a nuanced narrative of how violence broadly influences engineering decision making, especially when viewed through topics such as decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This work examines types of violence prevalent in engineering with a particular emphasis on the role of both violence and counter-violence in engineering practice. EDI are reframed using a new inclusive foundation of moral consideration, showing a natural connection, though violence, between principles of decolonization and sustainability. A new, semi-quantitative framework is proposed for incorporating questions of violence into project decision making intended to prompt discussions about the impact and utility of violence in engineering projects.