Research Picture
CREATING TOMORROW

SEAS FlagThe world of the future rests in the hands of engineers and applied scientists. Whether it is putting an entire computer on a sheet of plastic, affordably sequencing the human genome, finding novel ways to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, or sending astronauts to Mars, engineers and applied scientists will solve the problem. Through a synergy of teaching and research, our School educates leaders in engineering and applied science who will both thrive in and drive tomorrow’s technologies.

The School’s strategic plan, “A 2020 Vision for SEAS,” charts a course for future expansion that will optimize the School’s strengths in the coming years. By 2010, 20,000 square feet of laboratory and shared facilities space will be added, followed by more than 500,000 square feet of space in buildings now being planned for Manhattanville, the new campus north and west of the current campus. Key technical focus areas will be in entrepreneurship, financial engineering, genomic engineering, materials science, biotechnology, and energy and the environment—among the fastest growing fields of interdisciplinary endeavor.

Spotlight on Community

Engineers solve problems, and there is no shortage of them in New York City. Our School puts the creative minds of every first-year student to the task of finding ways to solve or ameliorate these real-world problems. From designing and building a wheelchair swing for a playground to constructing a greenhouse for a high school, our students experience the satisfaction of helping others while learning the basics of design, collaboration, communication, problem solving, and project management. In our community-based programs, from a workforce development training program in informational technology for community residents to sponsoring the Harlem Middle School Robotics Competition, our students can learn well by doing good.

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Focus on Community
Hayden Engineering and Applied Science Program
The Hayden Engineering and Applied Science Program at Columbia is sparking interest in engineering and applied science in local middle and high school students by giving them the opportunity to experience these subjects in a hands-on educational environment