From Dean Luay Nakhleh

Engineering and Computing at Rice: A Legacy of Innovation, A Future of Impact

The world is in the midst of a computing revolution. Artificial intelligence and advanced computing are transforming every facet of society, from medicine to energy, education to space exploration. At Rice University, we recognize that engineering and computing are now inseparable—each driving innovation in the other. This deep connection is why we have renamed the George R. Brown School of Engineering to the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing.

This change is more than just a name—it reflects a reality that has been true at Rice for decades. In 1961, Rice built the R1 computer, the fastest and largest university-based computer of its time. Ken Kennedy helped define the field of high-performance computing and compiler optimization, while Sid Burrus pioneered digital signal processing, laying the foundation for modern wireless communication and audio compression. In optimization, Bob Bixby co-developed CPLEX and Gurobi, the world’s leading tools for solving complex decision-making and logistics problems.

Rice’s entrepreneurial spirit has also fueled ventures like ROLM Corporation, co-founded by Rice engineers, which became a leader in telecommunications and computing. That same spirit continues today, as Rice computing alumni have founded some of the most influential tech companies of the modern era.

The demand for computing education has never been greater. Computer Science is now the largest major at Rice University, and, to meet this increasing demand, we have launched new online degrees in computing, a new Master of Data Science, and we are preparing to launch an undergraduate major in Artificial Intelligence—positioning Rice as a leader in AI education and research. Our Data-to-Knowledge (D2K) Transformation Lab provides students with hands-on experience in data science, collaborating with industry and community partners to solve real-world problems through data-driven insights.

With computing no longer confined to traditional tech fields, our researchers are using AI to design new drugs and materials, computational modeling to understand the human brain, and data science to tackle climate change. Additionally, our school is leading the way in leveraging computing and AI to create personalized learning experiences.

Today, we are making major investments in AI, quantum computing, computer systems, and interdisciplinary computing research. We are hiring world-class faculty, expanding research initiatives, and deepening collaborations with industry and government partners.

This issue of our magazine explores the power of computing, the people who are driving change, and the ways our school is evolving to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Welcome to the future of Engineering and Computing at Rice.