To what extent should engineers extend the public knowledge?

Background – “Enhance the public regard for the practitioner’s profession”

Included in the Reading Assignment for Lecture #1, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 941, or colloquially Regulation 941 of the Professional Engineers Act, includes the Code of Ethics for engineering practitioners. Specifically, Section 77(2)(ii) states that practitioners shall “endeavour at all times to enhance the public regard for the practitioner’s profession by extending the public knowledge thereof
and discouraging untrue, unfair or exaggerated statements with respect to professional engineering”. Similar statements are included in the Code of Ethics of all the professional engineering associations in Canadian provinces and territories.

In modern society where the advancement of technology is progressing at an ever more rapid pace, the impact of the work of engineers can be found in all facets of life, in every part of the world. The democratization of information via the internet also contributes greatly to this rapid advancement of technology, as many more people have access to technical specifications through open databases and education of fundamental engineering theories through free online courses. Information brings both a benefit and a detriment to the engineering profession. On one hand, the public has a greater understanding of the work we do as engineers but, on the other hand, a greater level of infringement on the profession is evident, as demonstrated by cases such as “self-taught engineers” and unauthorized uses of the title of “engineer” (see OIQ v. Microsoft [2004]).

Essay Assignment:

In a 1500-2000 word essay, provide the reader a clear understanding of the statement found in Reg. 941s. 77. For example:
To what extent should engineers extend the public knowledge?
What type of statements should be considered untrue, unfair, or exaggerated as it relates to the profession? How should engineers balance the ethical dilemma as described in the second paragraph of the Background, above?
You should also take a position (and defend it) on: As it relates to enhancing the public regard for the profession, should an engineer be licensed or not be licensed?