Dean's Message
Convergence. It's a word that comes up often in conversation at SCU today as we work toward implementation of a new integrated strategic plan for enrollment, facilities, and aspirations. As SCU President Michael Engh, S.J., said, "Today, the University finds itself at a remarkable intersection: the convergence of history and tradition, great new challenges, and remarkable opportunities."
One of the opportunities being advanced is the physical convergence of faculty and students in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to promote synergies, foster creativity, and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship. For months, faculty and staff from the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences have been meeting to explore how scientific knowledge and technological innovation in service of humanity can be advanced via co-location of our STEM disciplines.
Plans for a new STEM complex are in the works. With an end goal of distinguishing SCU as a leader in STEM education, workshops have been going on for months to determine how best we can blend classrooms, laboratories, makerspaces, and informal gathering areas to foster convergence and enable greater collaboration between the sciences and engineering.
Of course, engineering is, intrinsically, a collaborative endeavor; convergence is not a new concept for our community. The articles in this edition of Engineering News are rife with examples of convergence and collaboration— students working with external industry partners, graduate engineers supporting the Department of Athletics, and engineering professors teaming up to write about spirituality. No, convergence is nothing new to engineering, but the possibilities stemming from it are exciting. Happy reading!
Godfrey Mungal
Dean
School of Engineering