We provide an unprecedented environment for tackling some of the fundamental problems in science and engineering.

• Our traditional strengths in applied sciences and close connections to basic science departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences provide an exceptionally strong base in foundational science.

• Our interdisciplinary nature—we do not have departments and faculty carry out research in multiple areas—is ideal for tackling the next generation of problems.

• Our existing and potential ties to Harvard’s professional schools offer unparalleled opportunities for collaborative work, education and research, and outreach to society.

Balancing Basic with Applied

Sustaining our traditional strengths in applied mathematics, applied physics, applied mechanics, and environmental sciences continues to be an essential part of our mission. SEAS aims to give interdisciplinary researchers the space and resources necessary to advance foundational science, especially as such advances may shape research for decades to come.

At the same time, cultivating an ethos of invention and discovery will enable us better to translate research into possibilities for tomorrow, from new tools for scientific inquiry like optical tweezers and lasers to new ways of producing sustainable, eco-friendly energy. To excel at both, researchers—whether computer scientists, engineers, or biologists—require the intellectual and physical resources to transcend existing disciplinary boundaries.

Investing in Collaboration

During the past decade, SEAS more than doubled the size of its core faculty. Today, there are 90 total participating members from areas including physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and public health.

Further, the School has strengthened foundational disciplines; built capacity in areas such as electrical engineering and computer science; and nurtured emerging areas such as bioengineering and nanotechnology.

By emphasizing collaboration with other fields and connections to the professional schools, SEAS will make an even greater contribution to the educational and research mission of the entire University.

Engineering the Possible

We will continue to build on a tradition of excellence in engineering and applied sciences. Science Watch reported that for the period of 2001-2005, among institutions that produce high-impact scientific papers, Harvard University ranks #1 with the greatest number of papers ranked in the top 10 in all scientific fields. 

SEAS is in an ideal position to make advances in the years ahead, both in our understanding of how the world works and in the development of future technologies. Key areas of increasing focus include:

Applied Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

The possibilities: surface chemistry, self-assembled systems, biological and industrial process modeling and optimization.

Computational Science

The possibilities: quantum computation, unbreakable cryptography, smart software agents.

Biologically Inspired Engineering

The possibilities: creating fully biocompatible materials, regenerating tissue or reprogramming complex physiology in debilitated or aging patients, developing low-cost medical technologies.

Nanotechnology/Small-scale science

The possibilities: viral detectors for cancer, nanowirebased chips that offer solid performance without high-temperature production or high-priced silicon, smart drug delivery systems, new tools and methods such as novel imaging techniques and molecular and optical tweezers.

Energy and Environmental Technologies

The possibilities: a new generation of fuel cells to power portable electronics or cars, artificial photo-synthesis, novel ways to transform biomass into liquid fuels, more robust electrical networks, green chemistry.