Engineering Principles For a Living Planet Bill Vitek Clarkson University June 14, 2007.

Engineering Principles Engineering Principles For a Living PlanetFor a Living Planet

Bill VitekBill Vitek

Clarkson UniversityClarkson University

June 14, 2007June 14, 2007

The End of the World The End of the World As We Know ItAs We Know It

Vital SignsVital Signs

Up Carbon Creek Up Carbon Creek WithWith a Paddlea Paddle

The Task of Philosophy/Ethics in Times of The Task of Philosophy/Ethics in Times of TransitionTransition

A Necessary Revolution: In Engineering, A Necessary Revolution: In Engineering, Education and BeyondEducation and Beyond

High Stakes and a Long ShotHigh Stakes and a Long Shot

The Paddle: A Failed Mental The Paddle: A Failed Mental Model Model Applied CorrectlyApplied Correctly

Nature as Boundless Source and SinkNature as Boundless Source and Sink

Human Mind/Knowledge as SufficientHuman Mind/Knowledge as Sufficient

Human Concerns First and ForemostHuman Concerns First and Foremost

Transgression of LimitsTransgression of LimitsScienceScience

EngineeringEngineering

EconomicsEconomics

EthicalEthical


Doomsday clock two minutes closer to Doomsday clock two minutes closer to midnight, “reflecting global failures to midnight, “reflecting global failures to solve the problems posed by nuclear solve the problems posed by nuclear weapons and the climate crisis.”weapons and the climate crisis.”

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that “there is a 90% Change states that “there is a 90% chance humans are responsible for chance humans are responsible for climate change."climate change."


Peak Oil: first trillion barrels consumed in last 100 Peak Oil: first trillion barrels consumed in last 100 years; last trillion barrels in next 30 years. (A 22 years; last trillion barrels in next 30 years. (A 22 year old today has lived through a time in which year old today has lived through a time in which 540 billion barrels of oil has been consumed…540 billion barrels of oil has been consumed… ~ ~ 437 trillion lbs of new CO437 trillion lbs of new CO2 2 in the atmosphere).in the atmosphere).

The current rate of species loss is being compared The current rate of species loss is being compared to the five known mass extinction waves. This to the five known mass extinction waves. This “sixth wave” is anthrogenic. “sixth wave” is anthrogenic.

One billion people lack access to fresh water.One billion people lack access to fresh water.

Soil destruction now claims 24 million acres a year Soil destruction now claims 24 million acres a year world-wide, about half the size of Kansas, a world-wide, about half the size of Kansas, a quarter the size of California or 3.5 Marylands. quarter the size of California or 3.5 Marylands.

Vital SignsVital SignsTwo of the most populous nations are Two of the most populous nations are becoming two of the largest economies.becoming two of the largest economies.

Human population growth continues to Human population growth continues to follow an exponential curve. follow an exponential curve.

There are currently 27 million slaves in the There are currently 27 million slaves in the world, more than at any other time in world, more than at any other time in human history.human history.

Eight nations possess nuclear weapons, Eight nations possess nuclear weapons, and two are working to acquire them.and two are working to acquire them.

Problems in Carbon CreekProblems in Carbon Creek

Interconnected Interconnected Technology often makes matters worseTechnology often makes matters worse

Early daylight savings Early daylight savings increased increased energy useenergy use

The recipe for success is The recipe for success is brokenbroken Unleash human ingenuity Unleash human ingenuity Harness and commodify nature’s immense and Harness and commodify nature’s immense and

complex forces (90 million acres of US corn in complex forces (90 million acres of US corn in ’07)’07)

Enjoy the new and improved world that results Enjoy the new and improved world that results RepeatRepeat

http://wolf.readinglitho.co.uk/mainpages/consumption.html

A Trip To Exponentialville

http://www.oilcrisis.com/midpoint.htm

http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/info/warming/

http://www.susps.org/overview/numbers.html

http://www.whole-systems.org/extinctions.html

Beyond the Rock is a Hard PlaceBeyond the Rock is a Hard Place

We are nearly at the end of a line of We are nearly at the end of a line of thinking that is no longer supportable by thinking that is no longer supportable by the material and energy conditions upon the material and energy conditions upon which it rests.which it rests.We need to dismantle the We need to dismantle the worldview worldview that that is dismantling the is dismantling the worldworld..Ethics Across the CurriculumEthics Across the Curriculum is one way is one way to describe it.to describe it.Engineering Education is a great place to Engineering Education is a great place to start.start.

Changing Our Minds/etChanging Our Minds/et

New Conceptual ModelsNew Conceptual Models

New/Old StandardsNew/Old Standards

Renewed Respect for BoundariesRenewed Respect for Boundaries– EthicalEthical

– EpistemologicalEpistemological

– EcosystemicEcosystemic

What is Engineering?What is Engineering?““Engineering…is the direction of the sources Engineering…is the direction of the sources

of the power of nature for the use and of the power of nature for the use and convenience of man. It is the link, the convenience of man. It is the link, the bridge between man and nature; a bridge bridge between man and nature; a bridge over which man passes into nature to over which man passes into nature to control it, guide it, understand it, and the control it, guide it, understand it, and the bridge over which nature and its forces bridge over which nature and its forces pass to get into man’s field of interest and pass to get into man’s field of interest and service” service”

Nicholas Murray Butler, Nobel Laureate and President of Nicholas Murray Butler, Nobel Laureate and President of Columbia University, 1901-1945Columbia University, 1901-1945

What is Engineering?What is Engineering?

““Engineering is the art of modeling Engineering is the art of modeling materials we do not wholly understand, materials we do not wholly understand, into shapes we cannot precisely into shapes we cannot precisely analyze so as to withstand forces we analyze so as to withstand forces we cannot properly assess, in such a way cannot properly assess, in such a way that the public has no reason to that the public has no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorancesuspect the extent of our ignorance.”.”

A.R. Dyes, British Institution of Structural Engineers, 1976A.R. Dyes, British Institution of Structural Engineers, 1976

AssumptionsAssumptions

Mind-Reality InterfaceMind-Reality Interface

Knowledge is PossibleKnowledge is Possible

Knowledge is PowerKnowledge is Power

Divide and ConquerDivide and Conquer

Nature is PassiveNature is Passive

The Whole is Equal to the Sum of its The Whole is Equal to the Sum of its PartsParts

Assumptions ContinuedAssumptions Continued

Technical and Scientific Knowledge are Technical and Scientific Knowledge are Value FreeValue Free

All Mistakes are FixableAll Mistakes are Fixable

““Cross that bridge when we come to it”Cross that bridge when we come to it”

Knowledge accumulates and drives out Knowledge accumulates and drives out ignoranceignorance

Assumptions ChallengedAssumptions Challenged

Nature is not passiveNature is not passiveWhole not equal to the sum of the partsWhole not equal to the sum of the partsKnowledge is not value freeKnowledge is not value freeIgnorance increases with increased Ignorance increases with increased knowledgeknowledgeSome mistakes are less fixable than othersSome mistakes are less fixable than othersGreater Knowledge=Greater ResponsibilityGreater Knowledge=Greater Responsibility

Engineering and EnvironmentalismEngineering and Environmentalism

Sources: 1880’s-1940’sSources: 1880’s-1940’s– ConservationConservation

Sinks: 1950’s-1980’sSinks: 1950’s-1980’s– Pollution ControlPollution Control

Systems: 1990’s-PresentSystems: 1990’s-Present– SustainabilitySustainability– Life Cycle AnalysisLife Cycle Analysis– Industrial EcologyIndustrial Ecology

Ethics and EnvironmentalismEthics and EnvironmentalismSourcesSources– ConservationConservation– UtilitarianismUtilitarianism– AnthropocentrismAnthropocentrism

SinksSinks– RightsRights– IndividualismIndividualism

SystemsSystems– SpeciesSpecies– EcosystemsEcosystems

An Ecospheric EthosAn Ecospheric Ethos

Engineering* is a tool for living Engineering* is a tool for living well in the world.well in the world.This This worldworld is alive, is alive, interconnected and crowded.interconnected and crowded.The The tooltool is limited by ethics, is limited by ethics, ignorance, and the net primary ignorance, and the net primary production of ecosystems.production of ecosystems.

* Or science, politics, economics, etc.* Or science, politics, economics, etc.

Proposition One: No HarmProposition One: No Harm

Thoughtlessly and/or willingly Thoughtlessly and/or willingly destroying life or limiting the diversity destroying life or limiting the diversity and co-evolution of life, especially at and co-evolution of life, especially at the level of species, is a moral wrong.the level of species, is a moral wrong.

Aldo Leopold’s injunction to keep all Aldo Leopold’s injunction to keep all the parts.the parts.

Proposition Two: No HubrisProposition Two: No Hubris

Human beings are the unintended offspring Human beings are the unintended offspring of evolutionary biology, and as such lack of evolutionary biology, and as such lack any special or pre-ordained tools for any special or pre-ordained tools for divining the world’s inner workings. divining the world’s inner workings.

We should behave as if our We should behave as if our ignorance will ignorance will always exceed our knowledgealways exceed our knowledge. It will.. It will.

(Dyes’ definition of engineering)(Dyes’ definition of engineering)

Proposition Three: No HurryProposition Three: No Hurry

All life depends on sunlight and the All life depends on sunlight and the complex and integrated chemical and complex and integrated chemical and thermodynamic processes it powers. thermodynamic processes it powers.

Net Primary Production (NPP) is the Net Primary Production (NPP) is the term that describes the energic and term that describes the energic and organic material production of these organic material production of these ecosystem processes. ecosystem processes.


NPP is constrained by many factors NPP is constrained by many factors and cannot be substantially and cannot be substantially improved, increased or sped up over improved, increased or sped up over time without the addition of inputs time without the addition of inputs from outside the system.from outside the system. (Haber- (Haber-Bosch Process)Bosch Process)

The Wells are more important than The Wells are more important than the Pumps.the Pumps.


Across the board this drawdown is Across the board this drawdown is increasingly noticeable in the increasingly noticeable in the exploitation of soils, aquifers, oil and exploitation of soils, aquifers, oil and natural gas. natural gas.

These are one-time draw downs.These are one-time draw downs.

We can’t speed up natural processes.We can’t speed up natural processes.

Our only option is to slow ourselves Our only option is to slow ourselves downdown..

Engineering 21Engineering 21stst Century Curricula Century Curricula

Acknowledge 19Acknowledge 19thth Century Discoveries Century Discoveries– 22ndnd Law of Thermodynamics Law of Thermodynamics– Evolutionary BiologyEvolutionary Biology– Ecosystem ComplexityEcosystem Complexity


Five YearsFive Years

Biology-Ecology SequenceBiology-Ecology Sequence

Precautionary Principle Precautionary Principle

Engineering Forensics CourseEngineering Forensics Course

History of EngineeringHistory of Engineering


More Liberal ArtsMore Liberal Arts

Public Service RequirementPublic Service Requirement

Public Orientation of Graduate Public Orientation of Graduate EducationEducation

Limits Credo: No Harm, No Hubris, No Limits Credo: No Harm, No Hubris, No HurryHurry


Integrate Green Engineering PrinciplesIntegrate Green Engineering Principles– http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/article.cgi/esthag-a/http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/article.cgi/esthag-a/

2003/37/i05/pdf/303anastas.pdf2003/37/i05/pdf/303anastas.pdf– http://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenengineering/puhttp://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenengineering/pu

bs/whats_ge.htmlbs/whats_ge.html

Why This is So DifficultWhy This is So Difficult

Flashy BrainsFlashy Brains– GenesisGenesis– PrometheusPrometheus– The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment– Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

Geological InheritanceGeological Inheritance

Crediting the Brains (the Pumps) rather than the Crediting the Brains (the Pumps) rather than the Inheritance (the Well)Inheritance (the Well)

Bacteria in a Petri Dish and the Evolutionary Bacteria in a Petri Dish and the Evolutionary Disposition to Live to Excess Disposition to Live to Excess

http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/u/up_the_creek_without_a_paddle.asphttp://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/u/up_the_creek_without_a_paddle.asp

A Necessary RevolutionA Necessary RevolutionA New FoundingA New FoundingRevolutionary Thinking…and ActionRevolutionary Thinking…and ActionAt the Outer/Inner Most BoundariesAt the Outer/Inner Most Boundaries– The EcosphereThe Ecosphere– The Human MindThe Human Mind

Using the Tree of Knowledge to Protect the Tree of Using the Tree of Knowledge to Protect the Tree of LifeLifeA True Test and Testament of a Well-Developed A True Test and Testament of a Well-Developed Neo-CortexNeo-CortexThere’s Still TimeThere’s Still TimeRevolutionary Thinking is in Our HeritageRevolutionary Thinking is in Our Heritage

The most meaningful work that we The most meaningful work that we can do is tocan do is to

““Build receptivity into the still Build receptivity into the still unlovely unlovely

human mind.”*human mind.”*

Beginning with our own…..Beginning with our own…..

*Aldo Leopold, *Aldo Leopold, A Sand County AlmanacA Sand County Almanac

The Precautionary PrincipleThe Precautionary Principle

HistoryHistory– Hippocrates (5Hippocrates (5thth Century BCE): “Do Century BCE): “Do

No Harm”No Harm”

– Public HealthPublic Health

– Germany in 1970’s: Germany in 1970’s: “Vorsorgenprinzip” or “Foresight “Vorsorgenprinzip” or “Foresight Principle”Principle”

The Precautionary PrincipleThe Precautionary PrincipleDefinition from 1992 Rio ConferenceDefinition from 1992 Rio Conference

"In order to protect the environment, "In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible threats of serious or irreversible damage, full scientific certainty shall damage, full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental to prevent environmental degradation." degradation."

Ref: http://habitat.igc.org/agenda21/rio-dec.htmlRef: http://habitat.igc.org/agenda21/rio-dec.html

The Precautionary PrincipleThe Precautionary PrinciplePrinciplesPrinciples

People have a duty to take anticipatory People have a duty to take anticipatory action to prevent harm. "If you have a action to prevent harm. "If you have a reasonable suspicion that something bad reasonable suspicion that something bad might be going to happen, you have an might be going to happen, you have an obligation to try to stop it.”obligation to try to stop it.”The burden of proof of harmlessness of a The burden of proof of harmlessness of a new technology, process, activity, or new technology, process, activity, or chemical lies with the proponents, not chemical lies with the proponents, not with the general public. with the general public.

Source: http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0398/et0398s4.htmlSource: http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0398/et0398s4.html

The Precautionary PrincipleThe Precautionary PrinciplePrinciplesPrinciples

Before using a new technology, process, or Before using a new technology, process, or chemical, or starting a new activity, people chemical, or starting a new activity, people have an obligation to examine "a full range have an obligation to examine "a full range of alternatives" including the alternative of of alternatives" including the alternative of doing nothing. doing nothing.

Decisions applying the precautionary Decisions applying the precautionary principle must be "open, informed, and principle must be "open, informed, and democratic" and "must include affected democratic" and "must include affected parties." parties."

Source: http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0398/et0398s4.htmlSource: http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0398/et0398s4.html

The Precautionary PrincipleThe Precautionary Principle

In actionIn action– EPA and OSHA in 1970’sEPA and OSHA in 1970’s

– Canada: Federal Policy (2003)Canada: Federal Policy (2003)

– Quebec Pesticide Laws (2002)Quebec Pesticide Laws (2002)

– American Public Health Association American Public Health Association endorsement (2000)endorsement (2000)

Engineering Principles For a Living Planet Bill Vitek Clarkson University June 14, 2007.

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Transcript of Engineering Principles For a Living Planet Bill Vitek Clarkson University June 14, 2007.