Greetings from Northwestern Engineering

This issue of Northwestern Engineering was wrapping up as the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting our region. Our team took a step back to try to share some of the incredible responses from the McCormick community. I hope that reading them makes you proud.

The meanings of AC and BC have changed forever; the AC world is now the After COVID-19 world. We are all adapting to the AC world, in many different ways. I have heard from many of you and appreciate the strength and resiliency found within our community.

In times of crisis, it is important to not only solve the issues in front of us, but to take a long view to prepare for the world that awaits us. These times inspire innovation, and some of the changes unfolding before our eyes will impact us long after the pandemic concludes. The world is now realizing that connectivity is changing everything, and that we are not only interconnected, that we are interdependent. Our job is to use engineering thinking to tackle these problems head on, with innovation that creates impact.

There is no question that we are in a time of rapid change. However, as I have told students for years, change brings challenges, and challenges bring opportunities. Creativity and the ability to execute are needed more than ever, and they are the hallmark of a McCormick education.

This issue also contains news about the emergence of synthetic biology as a particular area of strength at Northwestern. We have built an interdisciplinary team of faculty that has proven to be among the best in the country in a rapidly growing field. Their work is also timely; faculty in the Center for Synthetic Biology are working on both diagnostics and therapeutics for the novel coronavirus.

I also want to highlight a special anniversary. This year marks 150 years since women were admitted to Northwestern. At McCormick, we have a long and proud history of building a diverse and inclusive culture. In this issue, we highlight two of the many staff members who have helped to build this culture, Carolyn Krulee and Ellen Worsdall. In my conversations with alumni around the world, I often hear about how impactful individual mentors have been to our students. I am delighted to highlight them in this issue.

I am grateful for your ongoing support of Northwestern Engineering. As we move forward together, I continue to be inspired and motivated by our community.

As always, I welcome your feedback.

Julio M. Ottino
Dean, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science