Laura Lowes, Chair & William M. and Marilyn M. Conner Professor

Autumn quarter marks the beginning of several exciting undertakings in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, including a new admission process for engineering students, a new master’s degree program, the beginning of operations for the NSF-sponsored Natural Hazards Reconnaissance Experimental Facility and a fundraising campaign to improve our teaching labs and student spaces.

The College of Engineering welcomed 930 incoming freshman students this fall who were part of the inaugural Direct to College (DTC) admission process, which assures placement into one of the 10 engineering majors for students who meet minimum progress requirements (see article for more details). To connect with DTC students, we developed two new classes to showcase how CEE graduates are solving some of today’s grand challenges.

Also new on the educational front is the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering: Energy Infrastructure program, developed in response to the shift in the country’s energy infrastructure to renewable sources. Associated online courses are open to all CEE graduate students, including multiple one-credit classes addressing a variety of topics that civil and environmental engineers encounter in professional practice.

After two years of planning and preparation, the Natural Hazards Reconnaissance Experimental Facility, housed in More Hall, became operational this September. This issue of The Bridge offers a closer look at the new center, which provides data collection equipment for natural hazards researchers. Since its official opening, the center has already responded to several disasters including the magnitude 6.6 earthquakes in Chitose, Japan and Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina.

This issue of The Bridge also highlights a gift from Tom and Marilyn Draeger supporting lab upgrades, which have a big impact on BSCE and BSEnvE students. Gifts such as these make it possible for students to complete more hands-on lab assignments and better collaborate on projects, preparing them to address real-world problems.

As the department continues to grow, I encourage you to visit our website to learn about opportunities for alumni engagement. From mentoring students to supporting industry collaboration to enhancing UW CEE’s facilities, alumni help shape the future of the department.

Laura Lowes
Chair & William M. and Marilyn M. Conner Professor