Group 76 “Terminator technology” or “suicide seeds” coin their name from the genetic use restriction technology (GURT) which caused controversy when it was used to develop plants that yield sterile seeds. Although not yet commercialised, biotech companies claim the innovation protects intellectual property and prevents the escape of modified genes. However, others are viewing this … Continue reading Terminator Seeds – They Won’t Be Back!
Group 75 Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly growing area with an 4x increase in revenue between 2010 and 2015. It has sparked massive interest and a large following, however it is not without fault and there have been calls to regulate its development and the parts it produces. The common argument for regulation of … Continue reading Group 75
Group 73 Genetically Modified (GM) crops have shown to provide a new path for farmers by allowing selection of the desired characteristics for their crop. This selective ability has been used to allow crops to grow in much harsher environments or to produce crops that yield more of the key component for biofuels. Production of … Continue reading Fuel The Rich Or Feed The Poor
Group 72 In 2012 Grenfell Tower, a building of council flats in Kensington, began major renovations. In 2017 the tower caught fire, which resulted in 71 deaths. This article aims to judge whether the relevant parties in the lead up to the fire acted ethically by providing two opposing arguments. The renovation contract was won … Continue reading Grenfell Tower Disaster – Who’s To Blame?
Group 71 Drone, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has granted the world with being prominence in its capabilities to deliver high technology surveillance while having effectiveness in mobility. All around the world, organizations, companies and governments are using drones for various purposes such as delivery, aerial photography and surveillance. Law enforcement bodies took … Continue reading Group 71
Group 70 In an ever increasing world of interconnectivity the modern day consumer’s personal and private information is subject to exploitation via technologies which unknowingly extract and sell user information on a daily basis. The distribution of personal data is currently a major financial resource for corporate giants Google and Facebook who dominate the digital … Continue reading Data Mining: The Greater Good Or Invasion Of Privacy?
Group 69 Genome editing, a new technology in the medical field today, has proved its effectiveness in 2015. A doctor in United Kingdom had used a technique called Transcription Activator-like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) to treat a patient of leukemia. Genome editing works by having doctors directly treat patients by editing their DNA, and effectively ‘cut’ … Continue reading Group 69
Group 68 Autonomous vehicles (AV’s), once the thing of fantasies has become a thing of reality – virtually overnight. In an age of rapid advances in technology it is easy to lose sight of the essential questions; is the development of self-driving cars ethically justified? This blog will dissect and analyze the different ethical viewpoints … Continue reading A World Where Robots Are In Control
Group 67 While many people see civilian firearms as a means of lifesaving protection or as a harmless pastime, recent tragic events bring to light the controversial nature of the gun industry, which puts lethal weapons in the hands of killers. So, is it ethical to build lethal weapons when one cannot determine how they … Continue reading Is It Ethical To Work In The Firearms Industry?
Group 66 In 2015, hoverboards became the must-have gadget of the year. Celebrities such as Lily Allen or Mike Tyson appeared in pictures and videos riding them. They even became some of the most popular Christmas gift items worldwide for users of all ages. However, quite soon after their surge in popularity, retailers such as … Continue reading Group 66
Group 65 Nowadays, hydroelectric power plants have been widely used around the world. Hydropower, as a clean and renewable source has a great contribution to energy conservation, reducing the emissions from conventional fossil fuel. However, potential risks in environment have also been found in several aspects. Therefore, the engineering ethics regarding whether to continue to … Continue reading Group 65
Group 64 Kyrgyzstan currently controls Toktogul dam which provides a majority of its electricity demand (Poindexter, 2016). Doing so allows them to be less fossil fuel reliant on neighbouring countries, especially downstream Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. However, subsequent unstable water flow potentially places the citizens of these countries in agricultural peril, ultimately leading to starvation (Aliyeva, … Continue reading Toktogul Dam: All For One, Or One For All?
Group 63 The world is heading towards achieving equality and empowering those with disabilities in all aspects of life, including in sport. Allowing disabled athletes to compete in the Olympic Games – as opposed to the Paralympics – raises a number of issues within ethics and engineering. This article aims to discuss the potential benefits … Continue reading Should Prosthetics be Allowed in Athletics
Group 62 Every time you turn on your computer, take a picture or even drive a car you are relying on a set of metals you’ve probably never heard of. With names like Praseodymium and Lanthanum, these space age sounding elements are in many ways central to the modern world, improving tech lightness and efficiency. … Continue reading Mine Your Own Business – Rare Earth Metals In Mongolia