What and who

defines what is
engineering?1

What (and whose)

knowledge is valid? Is the
validity of our technical
knowledge socially
constructed or objectively
defined?1

How did Western

technical knowledge
become hegemonic
(dominant) over all
others? 1

Working for the

earth is not a way
to get rich, it is a
way to be rich.4

Working towards greater inclusiveness is

not the same as assuming that everyones
needs can be met with any one system.3

In our attempt to look and become

Westernized, we have created a
monster out of developmentalism,
lost touch with our social
consciousness and humanity, and
surrendered our national dignity and
culture. We trust Westerners more
than ourselves, virtually in every
respect.2

Bikas solidified the colonial notion that we were

incapable of doing things for ourselves and by
ourselves. The colonial 'civilizing mission' was
resurrected as the mission of development. These
Western 'civilizers' first undermined our relative selfsufficiency and self-reliance, and then categor- ized
us as inferior and poverty-stricken. Closely
interwoven with nature and its cyclical rhythm, our
way of life was certainly different, but not inferior.
Development was measured in terms of the distance
between humans and nature. The greater the
distance between the two, the higher the level of
development. The distance between the two
definitely increased - in some cases literally, as poor
Nepalese village women walked further and further
every year in search of fire wood and animal fodder.2

How can the technical

knowledge of engineers
support, rather than replace,
local knowledge?1

At present, we are stealing the future,

selling it in the present, and calling it
gross domestic product. We can just
as easily have an economy that is
based on healing the future instead of
healing it.4

A lawyer, a priest, and an engineer are scheduled to be

executed by guillotine. The lawyer goes first, the
executioner pulls the cord, but nothing happens. Double
Jeopardy! You have to let me go! cries the lawyer. And the
executioner does. The priest is next, the same thing
happens. Divine Intervention! You have to let me go! cries
the priest. And the executioner does. The engineer is next.
As the executioner gets ready to pull the cord, the engineer
cries, Wait! I think I see your problem . . .

1.
2.
3.
4.

To the
optimist, the
glass is half
full. To the
pessimist, the
glass is half
empty. To the
engineer, the
glass is twice
as big as it
has to be.

Are engineers just

cogs or
servantsin the
system? 1

When does the

knowledge of the
powerful erase other,
similarly valuable local
knowledge? When does
the power of our
particular form of
knowledge over another
change cultural values,
norms, and ultimately
peoples lives?1

Dean Chahim . From Engineering for Social Justice Weekly Assignments.

Shrestha , Nanda. Becoming a Development Category. 1994.
Nieusma, Dean. Alternative Design Scholarship: Working Toward Appropriate Design.
Hawken, Paul. Commencement: Healing or Stealing? 2009.