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The Ethos Center

History

Working with Aprovecho Research Center in Oregon, Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities of Service Learning (ETHOS) was developed in the spring of 2001 by a group of undergraduate engineering students from the University of Dayton. Our program was founded to promote the service learning aspect of engineering through technical immersions, student activities, research and hands-on projects. Since its founding, the Aprovecho Research Center has been one of our engineering partners. ETHOS has sent 330 students to 20 different countries, working with 40 project sponsors.

The ETHOS program is rooted in the belief that engineers are more capable to serve our world when they experience opportunities that increase their understanding of technology's global linkage with values, culture, society, politics and economics.

Through these experiences, students have gained perspectives on how engineering and technology are influenced by the world. Participating students have been able to use their engineering skills for humanitarian purposes, serving others through practical engineering knowledge. Our alumni learn about the world, different cultures and themselves.

From “ETHOS” TO “The Ethos Center

ETHOS began as a student-lead immersion program in 2001 and was given the name “ETHOS,” which stood for “Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities for Service Learning.”  While the word ethos in the center’s name no longer is an acronym, the word ethos still embraces the essence of who we are — a Center to imagine and realize a justice-oriented ethos of engineering. Since 2001, many other faculty, staff, and student programs and collaborative partnerships have been added to the center, but our keystone program still continues to be our immersion program. To honor the history of the center, the original capitalization of ETHOS, and this keystone program, our immersion program will retain the capital letters and will be referred to as “ETHOS Immersions,” with ETHOS standing for: Engaging with community partners for socioTechnical and Human Rights focused Opportunities for Social change.

Mission

The foundation of The Ethos Center is our reciprocal partnerships between community-based organizations and UD's School of Engineering. Through collaborative work on shared goals and aspirations of these partnerships, our mission becomes a reality:  

The Ethos Center promotes, develops, and sustains community-engaged engineering education, research, partnerships and action to:

  • Research, develop, and validate just and sustainable technologies and systems. 
  • Facilitate transformative learning opportunities for students to engage in sociotechnical projects with community partners and explore their vocation. 
  • Catalyze transdisciplinary collaborations for evidence-based influence on policies and practice. 
  • Champion engineering curricula that advances community-oriented engineering for the common good.

Vision

Grounded in our Catholic and Marianist Identity to “educate for service, justice, and peace,” educate the whole person, and build community to creatively meet the needs of the world; and grounded in our School’s mission to advance engineering for the common good. The Ethos Center aspires to develop culturally-responsive, environmentally responsible, and community-engaged engineering practices, research and partnerships that actualize a just and equitable world.

The Ethos Center: Shaping engineers to realize a more just and sustainable world for all.

4.3 MILLION PEOPLE
The number of people who die prematurely every year from illness due to solid fuel indoor air pollution. Properly designed stoves and heaters can burn fuel more efficiently and reduce the amount of pollution released into the air.
READ MORE ABOUT ETHOS' WORK WITH STOVES
75 MINUTES
The amount of time it takes the sun to send the world the same amount of energy we consume in a year. Making use of this valuable resource not only reduces emissions from fossil fuels, but gives people untouched by energy from the grid the opportunity to access power.
READ MORE ABOUT ETHOS' WORK WITH SOLAR ENERGY
3.4 MILLION PEOPLE
The global population that dies every year from a water related disease. Proper management of human and animal waste, implementation of filtering devices, and education can help reduce the effects of water related disease.
READ MORE ABOUT ETHOS' WORK WITH WATER
CONTACT

The Ethos Center, Kelly Bohrer, Executive Director

Kettering Laboratories
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 0212
937-229-2306
Email