About

We Research, Educate, and Practice

The Center for Socially Engaged Engineering & Design (C-SED) advances sociotechnical thinking and skillsets of engineers and designers by creating evidence-based, transformative learning experiences for students, instructors, and practitioner learners.

C-SED is dedicated to creating a future where engineers habitually integrate their technical knowledge and abilities with societal inquiry to constantly pursue holistic and sustainable technology solutions. 

We support this future by advancing the sociotechnical thinking and skill sets of engineers and designers by creating transformative learning experiences for students, faculty, and practitioner learners. These experiences leverage novel educational content, tools, and methods developed by C-SED in robust and reciprocal partnerships with its diverse community stakeholders within and beyond the University of Michigan. These engineering education experiences are rooted in our commitment to fundamental research and the development and application of evidence-based strategies for sociotechnical integration in curricular, co-curricular, online, and professional development settings.

Key Activities: 

• Creating SEED Content – We develop engaging materials that bring Socially Engaged Engineering & Design (SEED) concepts to life.
• Innovating SEED Teaching Methods – We design dynamic approaches to effectively teach SEED principles in diverse learning environments.
• Integrating SEED into Education – We weave SEED into course sessions, full courses, and broader academic programs to enhance learning experiences.
• Training Future SEED Educators – We equip graduate students and instructors with the skills to confidently teach SEED content.
• Advancing SEED Research & Assessment – We evaluate our impact and contribute to research that strengthens SEED education.

Our approach. 

At C-SED, we don’t just teach socially engaged engineering and design—we apply it to our own work. Whether we’re developing SEED content, training educators, or integrating SEED principles into courses and programs, we use the Socially Engaged Design Process to guide every step.

For Instructors: We design and refine SEED teaching methods using the same iterative approach we encourage you to bring into your classrooms. By analyzing our own processes, gathering feedback, and considering the broader social and educational context, we ensure that SEED content is engaging, adaptable, and effective for a wide range of learning environments. Our work evolves through research, assessment, and collaboration—helping you integrate SEED into your courses with confidence.

As a recent example, instructors within Mechanical Engineering partnered with C-SED to bring our Volvo case study into their course. Students explored the development of Volvo’s innovative Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) as a potential solution for the problem of whiplash, proposed potential strategies for testing the efficacy of this system, and discussed how engineers might account for variability among users.

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For Students: Socially engaged design isn’t just something you learn—it’s something you do. At C-SED, we apply the same principles of iteration and contextual awareness to the way we develop SEED education. This means you’re not just receiving static course material—you’re engaging with an ever-evolving approach that reflects real-world challenges. Whether you’re exploring SEED in a single session or a full program, you’ll gain the tools to think critically, design responsibly, and create lasting impact.

Student Project Team BLUELab Metro joined C-SED’s FUSED Program to learn about and create a functional and relevant Socially Engaged Engineering & Design tool or strategy to deploy in their design process. In one year of the program, Metro was able to strengthen their understanding of their design challenge and work towards creating a smart irrigation system for a local community farm by honing their stakeholder identification and interviewing skills.

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By continually assessing and improving our own methods, we ensure that SEED education remains dynamic, relevant, and deeply connected to the communities it serves.

Learn More about the socially engaged design process.