Complementary goals: Solving global problems and preparing leaders
A defining -- and extraordinary -- quality of Princeton University is its ability to combine the best aspects of a liberal arts college with those of a major research university. These ideals may seem at odds within a single institution, but scanning just a few news stories and videos on this site shows how the School of Engineering and Applied Science exemplifies the vital connections between research and teaching. In our view, solving societal problems and educating leaders go hand-in-hand.
You will find news about our newly formed Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, which is part of major investments we are making in research on sustainable sources of energy. Other stories show students taking up similar challenges – for example, designing a "green makeover" for a building in Trenton, N.J. as part of a course that applies engineering skills to community service projects.
You will also read about how closely engineering is connected to the liberal arts at Princeton. A recent video shows computer science and archeology coming together to shed light on the art and culture of ancient Greece. As graduate students collaborated across oceans and disciplines, Professor Szymon Rusinkiewicz brought his experiences together in a provocative freshman seminar on “Technology in Art and Cultural Heritage.”
We are building on these connections as we grow. As part of Princeton's Aspire campaign, the University is making major investments in engineering with an emphasis on four key areas of societal need: energy and environment; heath; security; and the preparation of leaders for an increasingly technological world.
Each of these initiatives is born from Princeton's deep commitment to a strong engineering school as part of a liberal arts institution and as a vital means for improving lives around the world. As you get to know our school I hope you will share my excitement about the work of our students, staff, faculty and alumni.
H. Vincent Poor
Dean
