Northeastern University formally opens the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex
On Monday April 3, 2017, Northeastern University officially opened the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC). Northeastern University’s President Aoun was joined by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, and National Science Foundation Director France A. Córdova for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The six-story structure, which cost $225 million, will be home to interdisciplinary researchers focused on drug discovery, robotics, and security.
According to the university, the new complex is a part of Northeastern University’s plan to continue to be “a powerhouse on par with the nation’s elite research colleges and universities.” In 2016, according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Northeastern was of the top 115 universities with the “highest research activity”.
Senator Warren said of the complex “This building is a testament to the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary research, to experiential learning, to the kind of work that strengthens our city, strengthens our commonwealth, strengthens our country, and that truly strengthens our world.” This sentiment was echoed by other elected officials and distinguished guests at the event.
The opening ceremony also included a series of TED-style talks, which highlighted a number of Northeastern University’s interdisciplinary ventures including the Global Resilience Institute. GRI founding director, Dr. Stephen Flynn, discussed the importance of resilient and sustainable systems and networks and posed an important question to the audience: “The networks we’ve built in the 20th century were built for efficiency, not for resiliency or security, If we have a shock to our system, how will it recover?” Through the new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, the University plans to bring together researchers from across sectors and across disciplines in order to protect those networks and create a healthier, safer world.
Sources and Further Reading:
- ISEC Opening Ushers in New Era of Discovery at Northeastern – News @ Northeastern
- Northeastern University Formally Opens $225 Million Science, Engineering Facility – The Boston Globe
- Sustainability across Disciplines – News @ Northeastern
- Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex
- In Photos: A New Era Dawns with ISEC Opening – News @Northeastern