BTU4Future Talk: "Decolonising engineering: a fashionable trend or a moral imperative?" Professor Srinjoy Mitra/ Edinburgh University

While decolonisation is discussed in various disciplines within and beyond academia, engineering remains firmly grounded in the idea of Eurocentric knowledge and of its excellence. A reflection on the colonial history that brought about development in the applied sciences, and discussions on how technological progress enhances and reinforces neocolonialism, are rarely part of the Engineering curriculum and practice. The design, development and use of technology are crucial aspects of the architecture of the contemporary world. Here Professor Mitra argues that training future engineers on the colonial legacy of their field, their own impact in reinforcing a neocolonial world and global justice should be considered an urgent moral imperative.