The success of
engineering projects depends on understanding the intersection of
technology with human values and behaviour. Engineers who lack an
understanding of the human side are at a disadvantage, as are citizens
who lack an understanding of the technology.
Sustained Engagement was a project funded by
Royal Academy of Engineering as part of their
Ingenious grant scheme that brought engineers and citizens
together in ways that encouraged each group to engage deeply and
constructively with the other, to the benefit of both. We believe that
engineers who got involved in this project emerged with a
better understanding of the changes towards more sustainable behaviour that
citizens would like to make, those they would not be willing to make,
and of the social barriers to change.
Sustained Engagement provided engineers with practical experience of
public engagement activities by staging a series of twelve public discussion
events on a range of issues on the theme of engineering
for sustainability. The events took place in London, The North East and
Sheffield, during which over 300 members of the public discussed engineering and
its impact on our daily lives.
Participating engineers presented their solutions to engineering-related
policy issues, allowing them to share their knowledge and reflect on the social
impact of their work. The events used a process designed by
new economics foundation (nef) called
Crowd Wise which encourages engineers to engage more
deeply with audiences in order to seek consensus.
