Engineers Engaging with Community: Negotiating Cultural Difference on Mine Sites

Abstract

In this paper we scrutinize the concepts of culture and cultural relativism and argue that, despite difference in academic interpretations, they have relevance for engineers in their working lives. Engineers, particularly those who work for transnational resource companies, often confront different belief systems when they work on site. This article looks at the misunderstandings that can arise from superficial readings of cultural relativism, as well as the productive relationships that can emerge when engineers engage in a meaningful way with other cultures and epistemologies. This type of engagement has the potential to transform engineering knowledge and practice. We argue that it is important for engineers to understand not just why, but also how, culture matters when negotiating an equitable relationship with the communities in which they work.