Key Insight #2: Ethical Awareness & Technical Communication
Building upon my early research exposure, I further developed my confidence by engaging with coursework that emphasized ethical responsibility and professional communication in engineering practice, particularly PHIL 325 (Engineering Ethics). This course examined the societal impact of engineering decisions through historical case studies, contemporary failures, and emerging ethical dilemmas. Rather than focusing solely on technical correctness, PHIL 325 challenged me to consider accountability, public safety, and long-term consequences as essential to engineering decision-making. A defining aspect of this course was its public speaking structure. For my final project, I delivered a formal speech based on a professional letter I wrote to Richard Vencu, Head Engineer at LAION. During this speech, I addressed ethical concerns with the company’s image sourcing practices. I proposed a technically informed and ethically grounded solution by clearly articulating both the practical feasibility and broader societal implications of such a change. This exercise required me to translate complex concepts into actionable recommendations for a professional audience, strengthening my ability to communicate subtle arguments with clarity and confidence. For my within-the-classroom (WTC) artifact, I have included a video recording of this speech below:
WTC Artifact. Video recording of the Letter to an Engineer speech.
While prior coursework strengthened my technical skills, PHIL 325 highlighted a gap in how I communicated those skills beyond technical audiences. I realized that while effective engineering requires sound solutions, the ability to advocate for them responsibly must come first, especially when moral obligations are involved. This course reframed communication as a core engineering competency rather than a supplementary skill.
The relevance of this insight became clear through my participation in The 38th International Conference for High-Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis (SC25), where I presented my work as part of the ACM Student Research Competition (SRC). This experience required me to distill complex research into a concise, engaging narrative for judges and attendees from diverse professional backgrounds. Unlike classroom presentations, this setting demanded adaptability, concision, and awareness of audience perspective
During the SRC, I was interviewed by Nicolas Charbonnier, a practicing researcher in the field, which required me to clearly and confidently communicate my research, Real-time ML-based Defense Against Malicious Payload in Reconfigurable Embedded Systems. Drawing on the communication skills I developed in PHIL 325, I thoughtfully explained both the motivation and implications of my work. The ethical lens emphasized in the course also shaped how I presented this research, prompting me to discuss broader societal concerns surrounding hardware security, trust in reconfigurable systems, and the responsible deployment of machine learning in cloud-to-edge environments. Together, these considerations motivated me to contextualize my independent research within real-world conversations taking place in the broader community. For my beyond-the-classroom (BTC) artifact, I have included the video interview recorded at SC25 below:
BTC Artifact. Video recording of the SC25 interview with Nicolas Charbonnier.
Ultimately, my experiences at SC25 provided a real-world setting in which the lessons from PHIL 325 became tangible and immediately relevant. PHIL 325 reshaped my view of engineers not only as technical problem-solvers, but also as leaders and communicators, responsible for how their work is understood and applied. The connection between structured ethical reasoning and professional discourse became evident as I transitioned from classroom presentations to public-facing conversations. This experience strengthened my confidence and reinforced the importance of responsible advocacy in engineering practice.
Overall, I learned that ethical awareness and technical communication are essential for advancing work beyond individual contribution. This key insight changed how I approach professional engagement. Rather than focusing solely on implementation, I now prioritize clarity, responsibility, and audience awareness when presenting and discussing technical ideas.
Additional Photos & Materials:
Photo 1. This photo was taken at the ACM SRC at SC25 and showcases me presenting my work.
Photo 2. This photo was taken at the ACM SRC at SC25 and showcases me presenting my work.
Material 2. This is the poster that I presented during the ACM SRC at SC25.
Photo 1. This photo was taken at the ACM SRC at SC25 and showcases me presenting my work.