Engineering ethics is attracting increasing interest in engineering universities throughout the nation.At Texas A&M University，evidence of this interest in professional ethics culminated in the creation of a new course in engineering ethics，as well as a project funded by the National Science Foundation to develop material for introducing ethical issues in required undergraduate engineering courses. A small group of faculty and administrators actively supported the growing effort at Texas A&M，yet this group must now expand to meet the needs of increasing numbers of students wishing to learn more about the value implications of their actions as professional engineers.

The increasing concern for the value dimension of engineering is，at least in part，a result of the attention that the media has given to cases such as the Challenger disaster，the Kansas City Hyatt-Regency Hotel walkways co11apse，and the Exxon oil spill.As a response t this concern，a new discipline，engineering ethics，is emerging.This discipline will doubtless take its place alongside such well-established fields as medical ethics，business ethics，and legal ethics.

The problem presented by this development is that most engineering professors are not prepared to introduce literature in engineering ethics into their classrooms.They are most comfortable with quantitative concepts and often do not believe they are qualified to lead class discussions on ethics.Many engineering faculty members do not think that they have the time in an already overcrowded syllabus to introduce discussions on professional ethics，or the time in their own schedules to prepare the necessary material.Hopefully，the resources presented herein will be of assistance.

练习：

1). Engineering ethics is a compulsory subject in every institute of science and technology in the United States. -N

2). The number of students wishing to take the course of engineering ethics is declining at Texas A & M University. -W

3). The National Science Foundation involves itself directly in writing up material about ethical issues. -W

4). It seems that medical ethics and business ethics are more mature than engineering ethics. -R

5). Several engineering professors have quit from teaching to protest against the creation of a new course in engineering ethics. -N

6). Many engineering professors may not have time to prepare material for class discussion on professional ethics. -R

7). It is likely that following this introductory passage, the author will provide the necessary material related to the topic of engineering ethics. -R