Today, innovation has transformed every aspect of society, from private commerce to public affairs, and linked the cultivation of responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions with advances in the sciences, computer science, and data science. The new Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences, housed in the new Robert Day Sciences Center, is rooted in CMC’s foundational liberal arts and leadership mission, and unique in its approach to organizing science education around grand socio-scientific challenges. Leveraging computation as a powerful vehicle for discovery and systemic solutions, and integrating CMC’s core strengths in the social sciences and humanities, the department is organized around three foci:
- Health (Genomics, Systems Biology, and Health)
- Brain (Brain, Learning, and Decision), and
- Planet (Climate, Energy, and the Environment)
The Robert Day Sciences Center
Great programs require equally impactful facilities. The Robert Day Sciences Center, home to the new Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences and designed by world-renowned architects of BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, matches the ambition of the new department. Located on the eastern frontier of the current campus footprint, the Center will create a strong presence on Claremont Boulevard, while triggering a series of developments and improvements to prepare CMC for our next chapter.
The Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences
Our innovative program is resolutely interdisciplinary, deliberately and coherently integrating the sciences, computation, the humanities, and social sciences. The program helps students contribute to the full process of scientific discovery and ensures they are able to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries, be facile with powerful computational and quantitative approaches, critically evaluate scientific contributions and trends, and understand the relationships between science, technology, and society.
A Systems ThinkerLong before she became an industrial engineer, Harriet Nembhard ’91 would ask her father, a pilot, questions like: Why are all the small planes on one side of the airport and the large ones on the other? How does a piece of luggage get to its assigned aircraft?READ STORY
Fueled-Up for SuccessThe first person Lydia (Yancan) Li ’13 told—upon learning she’d made the Forbes Under 30 list—was, of course, her mom. They’re close and talk daily. But Li also reached out to someone she hadn’t seen in a while: her former CMC faculty mentor Marc Massoud.READ STORY
A Voice of Trust and ReasonHer face may not be as familiar as Anthony Fauci’s, but infectious disease specialist Katya Calvo Corado ’01 has helped countless Americans better understand the pandemic.READ STORY
CMC Names Founding Chair for Integrated SciencesDr. Ran (“Ron”) Libeskind-Hadas has joined Claremont McKenna College as Founding Chair for its new Department of Integrated Sciences.As Founding Chair, Dr. Libeskind-Hadas will work with the faculty and senior College leadership to lead the Department. CMC plans to recruit a diverse group of 25 world-class teacher-scholars, foster student success across the widest range of experiences and backgrounds, and develop a next-generation multi- and interdisciplinary curriculum.READ STORY
Students lead sustainable campus projectsWhether it’s planting a vibrant native plant garden, devising a way to recycle disposable face masks, or tracking CMC’s progress toward carbon neutrality, four CMC students are making a tangible and sustainable difference on campus.CMC’s commitment to reducing climate change through campus-wide efforts is personified by these four environmentally aware student leaders who have earned 2022 Sustainability Fund grants.READ STORY
International ImpactBangkok’s khlongs: The historic canal system connecting residents across the city is also a mode of transport that sustains a vibrant floating market culture. Over time, many khlongs have been filled in or become so polluted as to inhibit their use. But what if science could be used to revive some of those khlongs and their surroundings—and consequently improve the lives of neighbors along the waterways?READ STORY
Dr. TanyaTwo weeks after giving birth to her second child, Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann ’94 was heading to New York to appear on Today for the first time. The California-based pediatrician was boarding the plane when a producer called to say they changed the topic for her segment—to a study being released the next morning that she didn’t know much about.READ STORY
Empowered by ScienceBiophysics major Kelly Watanabe’s ’20 approach to the liberal arts at CMC was pretty simple. “I’m happiest when I keep myself busy with learning and new experiences,” she said.READ STORY