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MAL FY26 September Meeting: “Engineering Professionalism and Ethics: Decision-Making Has Real Consequences”
Event Date:
September 26, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT
Summary:
Engineering Professionalism and Ethics: Decision-Making Has Real Consequences Professional Engineers are subject to a code of conduct. While engineers may work in a “technical” environment, the decisions made in their work also have social, economic, and political impacts. In this session, we will explore some of the real-world engineering decisions made in various case studies such as Volkswagen’s emissions, OceanGates’ submersible, Hyatt Walkway Collapse, or the Therac-25. We will explore the cognitive biases and organizational cultures that contributed to flawed decision making. In the process, participants will evaluate these situations in terms of professional ethics, how the standards of professional ethics guide communications, and learn about how to mitigate cognitive biases in decision making.
Michelle Greer Galloway is a patent litigator and Of Counsel at Cooley LLP. In addition to law practice, she is a Lecturer at Stanford University and Santa Clara University. Michelle is a frequent speaker at conferences and at companies combining current scientific and psychological research with practical advice and humor regarding leadership and building high performance teams. She is passionate about ethics not only in the law, but in everyday situations. She is a past chair of the ABA IP Section Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee for which she was awarded the ABA Recognition of Outstanding Leadership Contribution.
Date & Time:
September 26, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT
Organizer
Members at Large (MAL)
Language:
English
Event Category:
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Summary:
Engineering Professionalism and Ethics: Decision-Making Has Real Consequences Professional Engineers are subject to a code of conduct. While engineers may work in a “technical” environment, the decisions made in their work also have social, economic, and political impacts. In this session, we will explore some of the real-world engineering decisions made in various case studies such as Volkswagen’s emissions, OceanGates’ submersible, Hyatt Walkway Collapse, or the Therac-25. We will explore the cognitive biases and organizational cultures that contributed to flawed decision making. In the process, participants will evaluate these situations in terms of professional ethics, how the standards of professional ethics guide communications, and learn about how to mitigate cognitive biases in decision making.
Michelle Greer Galloway is a patent litigator and Of Counsel at Cooley LLP. In addition to law practice, she is a Lecturer at Stanford University and Santa Clara University. Michelle is a frequent speaker at conferences and at companies combining current scientific and psychological research with practical advice and humor regarding leadership and building high performance teams. She is passionate about ethics not only in the law, but in everyday situations. She is a past chair of the ABA IP Section Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee for which she was awarded the ABA Recognition of Outstanding Leadership Contribution.