Engineering influences every facet of human life, and with this power comes a critical responsibility—engineers have the potential to either alleviate or intensify societal challenges. Two UConn professors, Davis Chacón-Hurtado and Shareen Hertel, who co-direct the Engineering for Human Rights Initiative, will lend their expertise to an upcoming symposium focused on these issues. Titled "Issues at the Intersection of Engineering and Human Rights," the event will explore how engineering solutions can align with human rights principles to address global challenges.

The symposium is organized by the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) Cultural, Ethical, Social, and Environmental Responsibility in Engineering (CESER) Program, in collaboration with the Committee on Human Rights of the NAS, NAE, and NAM. Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions aimed at integrating human rights frameworks into engineering practices.

The two-day event will feature interactive, hands-on sessions in the afternoons, offering participants practical insights into the real-world intersection of engineering and human rights. These activities aim to demonstrate how engineers can drive social progress through ethical and responsible innovation.

Event Details & Registration

Both in-person and online participation options are available. For more details and to register, visit the event page:

NAE Event Registration

Further Reading

For a deeper dive into the topic, check out the forthcoming publication by UConn faculty:

“Engineering for Human Rights: The Theory and Practice of a Human Rights-Based Approach to Engineering”

Authors: Davis Chacon-Hurtado, Kazem Kazerounian, Shareen Hertel, Jonathan Mellor, Jack Barry, and Tulasi Ravindran.

Read the full paper in the Journal of Science, Technology and Human Values