Educate. Design. Discover. Together.

With our community partners, The Ethos Center sustains community-engaged engineering education, research, partnerships and action.

Educate

All Ethos student programming promotes personal growth and transformation. We strive to develop critically reflective, global citizens who incorporate the sociocultural dimension of engineering in all that they do. We challenge students to be more inclusive and holistic in their approaches as they analyze and change how they frame problems and define solutions.  Students grow in cultural humility, vocational discernment, practical wisdom and commitment to social responsibility. Our students and alumni develop global competence skills and a deep passion for the common good and justice for all. They also develop interdisciplinary and creative technical capabilities while also confidently and rigorously applying technical knowledge and skills in support of human rights, social justice and environmental wellbeing.

Design

Ethos-centered design promotes just and sustainable technical tools and practices to advance the common good and address root causes of inequalities. Our socially and environmentally responsible design work is co-created with community partners and the local communities in which our partners work to address real-world social issues. Our design model stresses equity-centered design and interdisciplinary systems analysis. Our design work embodies the ideals of environmental protection, social justice, human rights and peace. 

Discover

Faculty, staff and students engage with The Ethos Center community partners for research and development of new or enhanced technologies, processes and systems to meet the needs and aspirations of the community. Students are involved in research projects either through working in labs at the University of Dayton with faculty, working with STEM-oriented partners in their labs, or testing or implementing research projects on site with community partners. Faculty engage in applied research, systems analysis, and advocacy to further advance the vision and mission of our community partners. Ethos promotes the innovation of just and sustainable technical tools and practices and promotes a community co-created approach to translating knowledge to action.

Together

Innovation and social change happen best through partnerships with communities and collaborations across disciplines, perspectives and organizations. Our reciprocal partnerships with community-based and social change organizations in Dayton, across the country, and around the world are at the heart of The Ethos Center. Our partnership model embraces right relationships and ethical engagement. This means that we listen first, approach our partnership work with humility and integrity, and ensure co-creation of goals, measures of success, and solutions. We develop long-term, effective and collaborative relationships with organizations that build organizational capacity, leverage assets and promote community-driven action.