Harvard Celebrates the launching of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences September 20, 2007.
When the words “Harvard” and “engineering” are mentioned together, one often is asked the question: “Harvard teaches engineering?” This is understandable given the fact that MIT is only two miles down the Charles River in the same city of Cambridge, the fact that the entire school of engineering and applied sciences at Harvard is only 1/3 the size of the EECS department of MIT, and the fact that MIT was established in 1865 and Harvard’s engineering school did not come into full status until 1950.
However, the history of the
Given MIT was already well established nearby, it makes no sense for Harvard to try to compete with MIT subject by subject. Furthermore she will never be big enough to compete anyway. Instead Harvard should simply concentrate on appointing excellent people and never mind what area they should or will cover in engineering and applied sciences. Breakthrough and innovation are unpredictable anyway and faculty members should be given complete freedom.
However, the Gordon McKay Will did specify that his fortune is to be used to support “mechanical engineering and related arts” since he made his fortune in machines. Thus, the first strong group established in the Division of Engineering and Applied Physics (DEAP), as the school was then called, was the applied mechanics group. Four of the five original members of the faculty group were all members of the National Academy of Sciences and of Engineering and giants in their respective subfield. Of course the term “related arts” in the Will was interpreted rather loosely to include in subsequent years, applied mathematics, solid state physics and electronics, system engineering, environmental science and engineering, and computer science and engineering (Note: Harvard built the world’s first electro-mechanical digital computer in early 1940s, the Mark I-IV series. The original Mark I was on permanent exhibit at the
The DEAS operated very much as a big department under the faculty of arts and sciences for many years until recently. In 2006-07, it was officially approved to operate as a School and changed its name to SEAS. Financially it operates same as the business, law, and medical schools, i.e. independent with own budget and endowments. Administratively it is still under the faculty of arts and sciences although with a great deal of independence. September 20th was selected to be the official day of launching of SEAS. Here is the program of celebration.
Note added 7/23/08: For a you tube video and IEEE spectrum article about the new school go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrIlUPg99rY
and
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/apr08/6097
Engineering a Renaissance
The Launch of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Cambridge, Massachusetts
12:30 PM Registration and lunch
Pierce Hall Lawn,
1:30 PM Celebration
Pierce Hall Lawn,
Welcome
Venkatesh Narayanamurti
John A. and Elizabeth Armstrong Professor;
Dean,
Introduction
Thomas E. Everhart ’53
Former President of the California Institute of Technology and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Emeritus
Susan Graham ’64
Pehong Chen Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley and President of Harvard’s Board of Overseers (2006-2007)
Launch
Drew Gilpin Faust
President,
Blessing
Peter J. Gomes ’68
Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the
2:15 Pm Celebration concludes / travel to sanders theatre
2:30 PM symposia
Sanders Theatre, Memorial Hall,
Keynote Address
Charles Vest
Former President of MIT and President of the National
Bridging Disciplines: The Role of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Tomorrow’s University
H. Vincent Poor
Dean, Princeton School of Engineering and Applied Science
Subra Suresh
Dean of the School of Engineering, MIT
Moderated by Michael D. Smith, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Engineering and Applied Sciences in the Wider World: Solving Societal Problems
Harvey Fineberg ’67, ’71, ’72, ’74, ’80
President of the Institute of Medicine (Equivalent of a US National Academy of Medicine)
Paul M. Horn
Senior Vice President and Director of Research, IBM
John Holdren
Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy and Director Science, Technology, and Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Chair, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Moderated by Howard A. Stone, Vicky Joseph Professor of Engineering and Applied Mathematics; Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
6:00 PM Symposia Concludes/Travel to the
6:30 Pm Cocktails
The
Ballroom Foyer, 3rd floor
7:15 PM Dinner & Presentations
The
Ballroom, 3rd floor
Welcome
James R. Houghton '58, M.B.A. '62
Senior Fellow of Harvard College and member, the Harvard Corporation
Remarks & Video Presentation
Steve Hyman
Professor of Neurobiology,
Provost,
Drew Gilpin Faust
President,
Venkatesh Narayanamurti
John A. and Elizabeth Armstrong Professor;
Dean,
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