SEAS Dean Cherry A. Murray kicks off the new academic year

On Friday, September 10, Cherry A. Murray, dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences, kicked off the start of the new academic year with her first “All Hands” meeting.

Video, audio, and slides are available.

Highlights included:

• Continuing evolution of SEAS and how it is fulfilling its role as school
• Increasing visibility and strengthening alumni relations
• Putting teaching and learning first; emphasizing innovation and design
• Enhancing IT and community building

Murray also took the opportunity to share some of her experiences as a member of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. The day prior to her All Hands talk, she and her fellow commission members spent time exploring a working sister rig located off the coast of New Orleans. The team reached the massive rig—about twelve acres in length—via helicopter (a 90-minute journey from the port).

Finally, Murray was pleased to report that the semester has started off with some major buzz around cooking … and coding. About 700 students showed up to try to shop the new General Education course on “Science and Cooking.” The class and the affiliated public lecture series has generated international media attention, from El Pais to the Telegraph (UK) to 60 Minutes. Moreover, enrollment in the popular CS50 is up by an astounding 56 percent, from around 330 students last year to over 500.