Manhattan Project
Signed the letter to FDR outlining concerns about Germany’s progress on building an atomic bomb?
Albert Einstein
What does Reif think is the best way to maintain america’s edge in innovation and technology?
increase funding for basic science
What is the act by an employee of informing public or higher employment of unethical or illegal behavior by an employee or supervisor?
whistle-blowing
What specific technology does Arati Prabhakar talk about in her discussion of the ethical implications of DARPA research?
neurotechnology
What was the problem with the design of the Ford Pinto in the 1970s?
Location of the fuel tank at the back of the vehicle
The report issued by scientists at the University of Chicago arguing against the use of the bomb.
The Franck Report
In How to Maintain America’s Edge, what was the groundbreaking scientific discovery of the LIGO project in 2016?
two black holes collided and the resulting gravitational waves had been heard by detectors at the observatory
Describe the difference between internal and external whistle-blowing
internal - reporting to someone within the company
external - reporting to someone outside the company and/or the media
In what capacity and government agency did Arati Prabhakar serve in?
Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Name 2 (of 6) factors from the Fleddermann textbook that you should consider when evaluating risks.
voluntary vs. involuntary, short term vs. long term consequences, expected probability, reversible effects, delayed vs immediate, threshold levels of risk
The engineer who refused to sign the Szilard Petition.
J. Robert Oppenheimer
What is the most successful neural prosthesis that has been created so far, and what does it do? (Should Scientists and Engineers Resist Taking Military Money?)
artificial cochlea, restores hearing in deaf people
Describe the difference between anonymous and acknowledged whistle-blowing
anonymous - reporting anonymously
acknowledged - attaching your name to the whistle-blowing report
Who does Prabhakar say decides how new technology will be used and thus ultimately determines our future?
society; acceptable answers are the people, communities, citizens etc.
Philosopher who believed the concept of “natural rights” was nonsense.
Jeremy Bentham
Office created after Pearl Harbor and led by Vannevar Bush. Responsible for researching radar, nuclear fission and weapons, etc.
Office of Scientific Research and Development
Why is basic science considered “unguided”? (How to Maintain America's Edge)
It’s very open ended and it could take decades to see results
What are the three types of conflicts of interests?
actual, potential, appearance of
Name one applications for neurotech that Prabhakar mentions
overcome depression, boost physical health, learn complex tasks quickly
Name for complex, technologically sophisticated, tightly coupled organizations
High Reliability Organizations
Name 2/4 people who signed the Science Panel’s Report to the Interim Committee
A. H. Compton, E. O. Lawrence, J. R. Oppenheimer, E. Fermi
In Should Scientists and Engineers Resit Taking Military Money, what does the author think should be the ultimate goal of the defense department’s research?
find alternatives to violence/ ways to make arms and armies obsolete (nonviolent activism and opposition)
What does Fledermann believe to be the most fundamental right of an engineer?
the right of professional conscience/ the right of conscientious refusal - includes the right to exercise professional judgements and the right to refuse to do unethical behavior
Prabhakar mentions two paralyzed military veterans, Nathan & Jan, that have participated in studies involving neurotech & prosthetic arms; When Jan started this study, what was one of the first things she wanted to do?
feed herself a chocolate bar
List the three “categories of accidents”, as described in Fleddermann Chapter 5 “Risk, Safety, and Accidents”
procedural, engineered, systemic