Engineering schools are critical for future-proofing the innovation economy of California and the nation – and we do it one student at a time. In this way, engineering and computer science schools are unusual – even magical – places of personal and technological transformation with outsized positive impact.
People come to engineering schools to be transformed – to BECOME engineers. Students arrive with a strong desire to do constructive things in the physical world. They want to have positive impacts on others. Computer science education is equally transformative – our digital worlds are, indeed, ever more tightly bound to the physical world.
Federal funding for engineering and computer science research is critical for future-proofing our innovation economy over the long term. I am deeply concerned about the current federal research funding uncertainties. This month, I am looking at this issue in terms of our students. When they graduate, they become the workforce that future-proofs our innovation economy. This cycle repeats year after year, with each graduating class.
Perhaps you hold concerns about federal funding cuts and about our ability to continue to future-proof the innovation economy. If you do, now is the time to share those concerns – and for whatever ways you can support us, I will be grateful.
Together, we make bold possible.
As always, I can be reached at DeanPisano@ucsd.edu
Sincerely,
Al
Albert ("Al") P. Pisano
Dean, UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering
Special Adviser to the Chancellor for Campus Strategic Initiatives
