From The Dean

The start of a new academic year is always exciting. but this fall—a time when AI and data science underpin so many of our endeavors—is particularly energizing.

There is currently considerable public discourse about ChatGPT, an AI tool that can generate coherent, seemingly researched narrative responses when given a basic prompt.

Through this issue’s three feature stories, I believe one can see how resilient we are, even in the most challenging times.

An academic year that started with an undercurrent of uncertainty and caution has drawn to a close with the campus again bustling with activity. Spring Fair, commencement ceremonies on Homewood Field, and students hanging out on the “Beach” signal a return to normalcy that I think we all craved.

Today as never before, engineers and engineering impact just about every aspect of our lives—from our understanding of how infectious diseases spread and the reliability of the power grid to commerce, social interactions, and even political discourse.

While the impact of COVID-19 is not fully known and even as society continues to address ongoing challenges, I am thrilled to share with you that we’re planning for a staged return of activity on the Homewood campus this fall.

While we continue to work through the impacts of COVID-19 on the university—as well as on our lives—a comforting sense of business-as-usual began to take hold as the fall term progressed.

Today, as never before, we can see just how critical engineering and engineers are—and will be—to our health, safety, and well-being. I am immensely proud of the way the WSE community has risen to the challenge and is making an impact on the world.