This is an exciting year for Columbia Engineering, which is celebrating 150 years of pioneering discoveries, educational leadership, cutting-edge research, and a future trajectory that is limitless.

To kick off the celebratory sesquicentennial year, the School has planned a series of events February 16 to 22, which is National Engineers Week (an annual event now known as DiscoverE Week).

On Sunday, February 16, the School will launch the 150th anniversary year with a dinner for students, sponsored by the Engineering Student Council and Engineering Graduate Student Council. After dinner, Dean Mary C. Boyce will officially kick off the sesquicentennial with a flip of a switch to illuminate the columns of Low Library with a special display commemorating the 150th anniversary. This light display on Low will remain on at night for the entire week.

Several other events are scheduled during the week, including the Archimedes Society Dinner, featuring a talk by Robert McCaughey, professor of history at Barnard College and author of the forthcoming book, A Lever Long Enough: A History of Columbia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science Since 1864; and a SEAS networking event for students and alumni, co-hosted by the Center for Career Education and Society of Women Engineers.

On Monday, February 24, the School will host Engineering Icons: A Conversation with Mike Massimino BS’84 and a screening of the documentary, Hubble 3D, at Lincoln Square IMAX. Currently a visiting professor in the mechanical engineering department, Massimino was the NASA astronaut charged with fixing the Hubble space telescope and is featured in the film. After the screening, Dean Boyce will lead a discussion with him about space, NASA, and his Columbia Engineering education.

During 2014, the School will hold more than 30 events for faculty, students, and alumni. All these events will have a special sesquicentennial theme, and include the Columbia Engineering Young Alumni Blue and White Gala on March 29; Reunion Weekend, from May 29 through May 31; the International Parents Dinner in August, and Homecoming in October, and many more.

In addition, on May 8, the School will hold a special Senior Design Day to showcase innovative design projects by seniors. This event, which will take place in Roone Arledge Auditorium, will provide an opportunity for the larger Columbia community to celebrate the creative and innovative work of the School’s students.  

Two major highlights of the anniversary year are planned for November. The first is “SEAS 150 Symposium,” which will be held on the afternoon of Friday, November 14. The symposium will feature presentations in a mini-TEDx format given by faculty and graduate students that directly link the research that took place early in the School’s history to research now being performed by current faculty.

To cap the anniversary year, the School will host a Founders Day Gala on the evening of Saturday, November 15, in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The Gala will include a cocktail reception and dinner, with remarks by Dean Boyce and additional speakers, as well as a video of the School’s history and milestones. This date marks the exact day in 1864 when the School first opened its doors, with 20 students and 3 teachers. In the ensuing 150 years, Columbia Engineering has grown to accommodate more than 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students and 175 faculty members.