Abstract:

A typical feature of modern engineering is the differentiation of its various disciplines and functions. This differentiation, however, has not arisen instantaneously: complex cooperation of the various fields of engineering has developed only gradually. During the first stages of its “scientific” development, engineering was oriented on the application of natural sciences (primarily physics) and mathematics, and included invention, prototype design, and planning of the manufacturing process for a new product. By the start of 20th century the engineering activity already represents an intricate complex of various types of activity (invention, construction, design, technological etc.), which serve various spheres of engineering (machine building, electrical engineering, chemical engineering and so on).

Within the gamut of present, interrelated engineering activities, three main lines can be distinguished, which require different types of education.

1) First, there are production engineers, who have to combine the capabilities of a manufacturing engineer (production manager), a production scheduler, and a maintenance engineer. This type of engineer must be trained chiefly in practical activities.
2) The second group includes research and development engineers, who have to work as inventors and design engineers, since these functions are closely associated with research. The engineers in this group form the main link between science and industry, and they need thorough theoretical training.
3) And finally, there are generalist systems engineers, whose function is to organize and manage the various engineering activities; the range of disciplines required to train this type of organizer to manage the various engineering activities must be very wide indeed.

After Chernobyl catastrophe the scientific view of the world is changed. It is understood that: it is needed to have an independent experts for technology assessment, men’s knowledge and scientific prediction are limited, for creators, staff of the nuclear power station and population (living near from this station but not understand what dangerously it is) situation is quite different, it is needed to inform the population and the political set about the normal or extraordinarily situations in the Nuclear power station and near from it. This is very important to organize independent (from the operational organizations, designers and emergency organizations etc. but qualified) environmental monitoring of the radiation situation near from ecological dangerous objects. For democratization of the technology assessment of the nuclear safety the international information change and the organization of the free visibility of date play important role. On the basis of the full information is it possible the realization of the free choice for individuals (and not for individuals) as a main principle of the democracy. This means a possibility of the participation of the citizens in the decisions-making by technology assessment not only after creation of the technique but also before and in the process of the design.

This paper is prepared for the project "Social-philosophical and methodological problems of the technological risks in the modern society“ 12-06-00092 of the Russian Foundation of Basic Research

Keywords:

Scientific engineering education, engineering activity, systems engineering, technology assessment.