Volume 15, Number 2
"Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT" is published quarterly by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bldg. 1-383, 77 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139 Editor: Debbie Levey (617)253-7101 levey@mit.edu
The CEE Dept. and Prentice Hall, Inc., will create a new series of CEE publications spanning and focusing on the education of civil and environmental engineers at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
"Civil and environmental engineers must operate within the complex intersection of science, technology, society and public policy. They must be master integrators. Concepts of information systems, engineering systems, management, biology, chemistry and public policy are as important as concepts of mechanics and technology. Synthesis is as important as analysis," according to the initial agreement.
The series "will promote the integrative concepts and philosophy inherent in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum at MIT, including emphasis on creativity, design and synthesis. The material will be derived from MIT courses and authors and from international intellectual leaders of the profession whose work is consistent with the thrust of the series." In the future, the series might expand to electronic publishing for various titles.
On Nov. 16 and 17, 2000, 13 members of the CEE visiting committee scrutinized the Department. According to their report, "The curriculum and quality of teaching in both the undergraduate and graduate level are among the best in the country. The standing of the Department in education research and innovation within the CE profession is among the top in the nation. This status was strengthened in the last nine years and has continued to solidify since the last meeting of the visiting committee two years ago.
"Rafael Bras has done an outstanding job leading the Department over the last nine years. Key curricula changes and a forward-looking strategy have positioned MIT to lead the future of CEE. Junior and senior faculty feel that Rafael is a champion for their causes and has brought diversity to both the student and faculty population of MIT regarding women and minorities. ...The MEng program has been enormously successful. This year 67 students enrolled, well ahead of the business plan projections of five years ago. This program is a forerunner of similar programs both at MIT and other universities."
The committee commented favorably on two new initiatives within the Department: Earth Systems and I-City. "These initiatives have the potential to bring together a diversified faculty, build stronger ties to other departments and schools, and strengthen its standing into the 21st century. The committee strongly supports the initiatives currently being implemented throughout the Department such as curriculum streamlining, active leaning tools such as the virtual lab and remote teaching, and the summer internship program. ...The Department should continue to augment its activities to educate undergraduates and the public on the breadth and importance of civil and environmental engineers in the economy of the 21st century."
