Post-ASEE Debrief and Unpacking — Open Space for Critical Conversation hosted by Engineering, Social Justice, and Peace

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July 30, 2021; 9am – 12pm PST // 12-3pm EST // 9:30pm-12:30am IST

Future meetings: Every last Friday of the month 9am – 11am PST // 12-2pm EST // 9:30pm-11:30pm IST

Immediately following the ASEE 2021 virtual conference, 17 engineering-related knowledge workers (academics, practitioners, researchers) came together in a virtual open space format organized by the ESJP network. The gathering was in response to a call for sharing thoughts and exchanging ideas on

  • How and where are we reinforcing and replicating meritocracy, technocracy, commodification of difference, cementation of privilege, and gatekeeping knowledge within ASEE? 
  • What material condition changes for the working class and oppressed peoples are possible within the engineering education academy?
  • How are the powerful institutions within engineering education addressing or not addressing climate change, COVID-19, global capital, militarism, labor exploitation in the field, or other crises?
  • What vision and agenda can we set forth to build together this year?

These questions were formulated by the IJESJP (English) editorial board members and emerged from several months of deliberations on the criticality of the moment and our shared disappointments and frustrations on how the mainstream engineering bodies functioned and reinforced the existing structures of oppression even during a moment that called for radical transformation.

The participants expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. In this 3-hour long open-space discussion forum, the following themes emerged:

  • Unpacking ASEE experience: Despite attempts at carving out space for progressive change, ASEE remains entrenched in structures of oppression. Incidents of transphobia and reifying of academic hierarchies were explicitly noted.  Consequently, people reported having been through an emotional “roller-coaster,” where a few sessions offered progressive potential while other conversations varied from being mundane and parochial to abusive and violent.
  • Institutional Change: How can we use the existing structures to empower people? Can we, for example, use our role in teaching, research, service towards creating alternative models of resistance? How can we build stronger networks with activists? For example, one idea that was shared was writing grants to support on-the-ground activism.How can diversity & inclusion work guide transformational structural change? What tools and skills do we need to hold institutions accountable? Participants shared their frustrations with the reinforcing of the status quo around these questions. 
  • Alternative Institutions: The current model is not working. Academia / higher ed has been in decline for several decades now. The pandemic has only exacerbated poor working conditions for the majority of workers.How do we get folks like us to create something that will actually benefit our community and not feed the military-industrial complex? The university should help people! 

The event ended by a mutual sense of relief of having found each other and appreciation of this space. The participants agreed to meet monthly to build on these themes, support each other, and transform our work, institutions, and engineering culture for a kinder and more humane world. We shall be meeting every last Friday of the month from 12 – 2 pm EST. Join us if these themes resonate with you. Register here to receive the zoom link.