Hadi Ali
Ph.D. student
Engineering Education Systems and Design
Arizona State University

The Aerospace Engineering curriculum, in its current form, is largely a derivative of the post-World War II era, when American engineering colleges embraced the analytical mode of engineering science. However, the changing nature of work, largely influenced by the rise of digital technologies and smart machines, is calling for curricular change to integrate the drive of big data in design and analysis; the modularized, continuous and recombined nature of learning with work; and the grounding in human relationships as it affects productivity, teamwork and equity. I share my journey from a personal interest in studying the Apollo Lunar Module to an interest in engineering education research. Engineers can benefit from social science research to explore the increased connectivity and interaction between humans and machines, and to understand the shift in the way we relate to one another, and the way we see cultures, economies, and institutions. I structure my talk around three major themes of my work: adaptability, risk-taking and value-making. I share my vision for the implications on the Aerospace Engineering curriculum and its purpose in graduating engineers who are socially conscious, who can survive change, and who are able to shift to new directions.


About the speaker...

Hadi studies the influence of the future of work on curricular innovation. Hadi was a Faculty Associate at The Polytechnic School at ASU and, before that, a Future Faculty Fellow in Engineering Education at Purdue. He taught at the Minority in Engineering Program at Purdue. Prior to joining ASU, Hadi worked at the University of Jordan as a facilitator for curricular change and instructor in Mechatronics.

Hadi is completing his PhD in Engineering Education Systems and Design at ASU. He has MS degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics (space systems design, and astrodynamics), MSE degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (artificial intelligence, fields and optics), MS degree in Engineering Education (design cognition and human communication inquiry), B.Sc. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics (propulsion and design) all from Purdue University; and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering (design) from the University of Jordan.

He was awarded the 2013 Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching at Purdue. His essay on “How might engineering design be used to better teach engineering analysis?” won the first place in the 2018 ASEE’s DEED competition. Recently, he was awarded the 2020 Wellness Committee Member of the Year for his work with the Graduate Students Association at ASU.