In the Community

Chancellor Drake Kicks Off Engineering Symposium

Chancellor Michael Drake joined 125 students, faculty and engineering industry executives May 19 to kick off the 7th annual “California: Prosperity through Technology” symposium at the Beckman Center.

“UC Irvine’s engineering research and teaching are making a profound impact by improving quality of life and propelling the state’s economic development,” Drake said. Among the examples he cited: UCI researchers have developed a more efficient method for sorting stem cells; are creating a center to engineer the next generation of armor for U.S. soldiers; and are collaborating with airport officials to protect baggage-screening rooms from disasters.

The chancellor recognized Dean Nicolaos Alexopoulos for his leadership of The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, and warmly welcomed renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineer Rafael Bras, who will assume the deanship when Alexopoulos steps down later this year. Henry Samueli, former CEO of microchip firm Broadcom, and Dwight Streit, vice president of electronic technologies at Northrop Grumman, were among the industry leaders on hand to honor Alexopoulos for his service and celebrate the school’s significant achievements.

Alexopoulos presented UCI’s “Engineering the Future” awards to Jim Mazzo, CEO of Advanced Medical Optics, and Michael Mussallem, CEO of Edwards Lifesciences. Both represent local companies that share UC Irvine’s goal of harnessing the power of technology to improve human health.