SWE is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is accredited to issue the IACET CEU. In order to earn CEUs for this course, you must complete the full course and pass the knowledge check assessment with an 80%.
ABOUT THIS SESSION
Understanding why unconscious bias exists and how it affects our decision-making processes is a key element of many successful contemporary Diversity and Inclusion programs. Recent research in brain science, social identity studies, and neurological research has allowed us to see how unconscious bias is "wired" into our brains. Each of us has some personal collection of unconscious biases gathered over time from our families, from our culture, from our socialization, from our training, from our experiences, from the media, and from our friends. As professionals and leaders responsible for the lives or livelihoods of others, it is important that we become aware of our own biases so that we can acknowledge their automatic influence and then choose to make a well-considered decision. This lecture will introduce a method of helping engineers to engage in conversation around diversity and inclusion issues in a non-confrontational manner using the Diversity and Knowledge cards recently published by Arup and SWE. These cards summarize the key research available regarding some of the most common biases present in technical fields in the culture of North America.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify how unconscious bias affects our decisions
- Evaluate the importance of engineers engaging in diversity conversations in the workplace
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Erin McConahey, PE is a Principal in mechanical engineering for Arup, a global employee-owned engineering and planning firm. Her Bachelor's in Mechanical and Masters' in Structural Engineering are from UC Berkeley. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). In addition to her project roles, she is the Americas Region Diversity and Inclusion Advocate for Arup and is a Certified Diversity Professional.
ACCREDITATION INFORMATION
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102; (703) 506-3275. In obtaining this approval, the SWE has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET 1-2018 Standard which is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of their Authorized Provider membership status, SWE is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET 1-2018 Standard.
SWE personnel are obligated to respect the education records of both active and inactive members. We will not share information with a third party. Members have a right to inspect and review their education records. Education Records may be disclosed to a third party only if the member has given written permission for the additional disclosure. We will require a written release by the student to share records. If you have questions about your records, or our privacy policy, please contact us at learning@swe.org.
