Ethics, Epistemology, and Engineering

On April 24-26, 2026 the University of Delaware is hosting a workshop “Ethics, Epistemology, and Engineering” featuring keynote talks by Wybo Houkes (TU Eindhoven) and Deborah Johnson (UVA).

Engineering is both a technical and a normative practice, involving judgments about evidence, models, uncertainty, and risks that carry ethical consequences. This workshop brings together philosophers and engineers to examine how engineering knowledge is produced, applied, and justified in ways that have significant social impact.

Topics include:

the nature of engineering expertise

the use of models and simulations

uncertainty in risk assessment

epistemic and moral responsibility in design

values in standards, regulations, and infrastructures

ethical and epistemic challenges in engineering with AI.

The workshop aims to foster dialogue between philosophical theory and engineering practice. 

Please direct any questions about the workshop to [email protected]