Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is the engineering school of Columbia University, a private Ivy League research university located in New York City. Founded in 1864 as the School of Mines, it is one of the oldest engineering schools in the United States and has been central to numerous technological and scientific advancements. The school offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, fostering innovation through its deep integration with the university's other renowned divisions like Columbia College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

History

The school was established in 1864 as the Columbia School of Mines, with an initial focus on mining engineering and applied chemistry under the leadership of Professor Thomas Egleston. It was later renamed the School of Engineering and subsequently merged with the academic programs of the former Sheffield Scientific School at Yale University. A pivotal moment in its history occurred in 1997, when Chinese philanthropist Z. Y. Fu made a transformative donation, leading to the school's current name. Throughout its history, the school has been integral to major projects, including early contributions to the Manhattan Project and the development of FM broadcasting technology by alumnus Edwin Armstrong.

Academics and departments

The school is organized into several academic departments, including Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and Mechanical Engineering. It offers the unique Combined Plan program, in partnership with liberal arts colleges nationwide, allowing students to earn a Bachelor of Arts from their home institution and a Bachelor of Science from Columbia. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary study, with strong connections to the Columbia University Medical Center and the Data Science Institute.

Research centers and institutes

Research is conducted through numerous interdisciplinary centers. Key facilities include the Columbia Nano Initiative, which operates the Clean Room for nanoscale research, and the Columbia Electrochemical Energy Center. The school also houses the Center for Computational Learning Systems, the Institute for Data Sciences and Engineering, and the Earth Institute, which addresses global challenges like climate change. Collaborative research is further supported by partnerships with Brookhaven National Laboratory, IBM, and NASA.

Campus and facilities

The school's primary facilities are located on Columbia's Morningside Heights campus in Manhattan, centered around Seeley W. Mudd Building and the Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research. The Northwest Corner Building provides advanced labs for interdisciplinary science. The school also utilizes resources at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus in Washington Heights and the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York.

Notable alumni and faculty

The school's community includes a distinguished roster of innovators and leaders. Notable alumni comprise inventor of FM radio Edwin Armstrong, former U.S. President Barack Obama (who attended Columbia College), Pixar co-founder Edwin Catmull, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Renowned faculty have included Nobel laureates such as Isidor Isaac Rabi, Polykarp Kusch, and Horst Störmer, as well as pioneers like Ginsburg's collaborator in law and technology. Other prominent figures include astronaut Michael Massimino and engineer Robert A. Millikan.

Category:Columbia University Category:Engineering universities and colleges in New York (state) Category:Educational institutions established in 1864 Category:Ivy League