In 1884, the world was changing. The National Monument was built, the first skyscraper was constructed, and, thanks to new inventions like gas-powered automobiles, the U.S. had become a leader in technology innovation. As a result, The George Washington University answered the call to position the country’s capital as a central influence on scientific education, research, and discovery.
By partnering with both private and public industry, the Corcoran Scientific School, now known as GW’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (GW Engineering), was established. William Corcoran provided the vision and initial philanthropic investment to establish GW Engineering. While neither an engineer nor a tech giant, Corcoran had a history of investing in projects and ventures that would move the U.S. forward. Not wanting Washington, D.C., to be without a center for scientific discovery - when electric lighting was becoming commercially available - Corcoran led the way for future discoveries and transformation by providing the founding gift for the school.
Today, GW Engineering continues to live up to its values and founding ideologies. Through technical expertise and a broad worldview, GW Engineering applies an “Engineering And…” mindset to build trust in technology, advocate for equity and access for all members of the global community, and collaborate with industry and government on issues like health and wellness, cyber and national security, workforce development, and environmental sustainability.
Authentic to the founding of the school, GW Engineering students remain at the forefront of an ever-changing future. Whether they’re leading the evolution of autonomous vehicles to improve road safety and minimize environmental impact or developing new scientific solutions for chronic health issues like cardiovascular disease or sleep apnea, GW Engineering students, like its faculty, regularly demonstrate “Engineering And…”
Read the School of Engineering and Applied Science history to learn more about GW Engineering’s founding and the history of the “Engineering And…” mindset.