Ideas sobre la Tecnología en Ingenieros/as Profesionales y Graduados/as en la Universidad de Buenos Aires

Previous works have shown the survival of the conception of technology as an applied science, and of concepts related to Science Push in textbooks used for the training of engineers. In the present work we propose to carry out an exploratory study to detect the presence of such ideas in the thinking of engineering professionals. It is an investigation of a preliminary nature, carried out with the objective of generating working hypotheses that serve for more in-depth investigations. For this purpose, a very brief questionnaire was generated, which was answered by 19 (nineteen) engineers. From the analysis of the responses, the preeminence of the Science Push model emerges in the conception of technology tacitly held by engineering professionals. Furthermore, it is clear that technology is a complex process, which involves a vast network of interactions between technology itself, science, techno-scientific policies, society and culture, among other factors. These elements cannot be taken in isolation, since the game between technology and society involves them all simultaneously. The terms “sustainable” or “sustainable” are not mentioned in any of the responses. In relation to this, the transformation of the environment produced by technology does not appear either. Linked to current discussions on artificial intelligence, in no response is technology considered as an end in itself, which can be considered a positive thing. Finally, we did not find references to cultural construction mediated by artifacts.