ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

Diversity as a Necessity

Engineers are not known as the most socially radical professionals in the world. But in The Bent, the magazine of the Engineering Honor Society, William A. Wulf makes this case for the importance of supporting diversity...

"The usual arguments for diversity in the engineering workforce are about simple equity and the demographics of our population, which is less and less white male.  But I think there is a much more powerful argument.  We will find better, more elegant solutions to engineering problems if we work with a diverse team.

"That may startle you, but remember...engineering is a profoundly creative activity.  Researchers in psychology have looked into the nature of creativity.  Although there is no absolute unanimity on the subject, there is a strong consensus that creativity is simply making unexpected connections between things you already know, between life experiences you already have had.  Men, women, underrepresented minorities, and the handicapped experience life differently.  Almost by definition, the life experiences of a diverse team are more varied and thus offer greater opportunities for making unexpected connections."

To consider Exchange resources on diversity, go to http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0210

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