Engineers in the Movies
Tom Pannett presented “Engineers in the Movies” at the 2026 Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference (OTEC) as part of “Engineering Ethics: Hollywood Portrayals and Real-World Standards,” a two-hour professional development session moderated by Richard Clum of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). The session also featured Sara Downs of ODOT, John Greenhalge of 428 Consulting (dba CPC Advisor), and Dean Ringle of Resource International.
Using clips from well-known films, Tom compared how Hollywood portrays engineers with the ethical obligations, professional responsibilities, and standards of practice real engineers are held to, making ethics education more engaging for a room of practicing professionals.
His presentation focused on the Ohio Administrative Code rules governing engineering ethics (OAC 4733-35-01 through 4733-35-04), including the duty to protect life, health, property, and public welfare; acting with integrity as a faithful agent for employers and the public; reporting public safety concerns; and making public statements and certifications that are grounded in fact rather than unsupported opinion. The session also covered Ohio’s Registration Act and Code of Ethics for Engineers and Surveyors, along with the requirements for professional registration.
