Caltech Division of Engineering and Applied Science

09/30/2026

As humanoid robots move from impressive demonstrations toward real-world applications, safety is becoming an increasingly important challenge.

Caltech roboticist Aaron Ames, Booth-Kresa Leadership Chair, director of the Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST), and Bren Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Control and Dynamical Systems, and Aerospace, is developing mathematical tools to help ensure humanoid robots can operate safely around people.

Together with graduate student Zach Olkin and researchers in the AMBER Lab, Ames is applying control barrier functions and AI to give robots mathematical safety guarantees as they navigate dynamic environments.

Aaron Ames and his colleagues are pushing hard to establish the math-based safety layer for the two-legged robots before someone gets hurt

04/21/2026

Last week, EAS was excited to host three Division Open Houses as part of DiscoTech—DiscoTech, California Institute of Technology’s annual program welcoming admitted undergraduate students and giving them a real sense of campus life.

Through faculty presentations, student panels, and hands-on demos, visitors experienced the curiosity, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define EAS.

DiscoTech isn’t just an introduction—it’s an opportunity for students to explore, connect, and imagine their future here. A big thank you to our faculty, students, and campus partners who helped make it all happen!

02/19/2026

A new report from the Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) outlines a blueprint for combining greenhouse gas and wind data to better pinpoint emission sources.

The effort—led by Paul Wennberg (Caltech), Mary Whelan (Rutgers University), and Nick Parazoo (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)—calls for integrating atmospheric chemistry and meteorology to improve monitoring of carbon dioxide and methane.

The multi-institution collaboration's findings will help better mitigate unwanted sources of pollution.

01/06/2026

We are proud to share an exciting milestone for the Caltech community.

Dr. Ray Jayawardhana—an accomplished academic leader and internationally recognized astrophysicist—has been named Caltech’s next president, becoming the tenth leader in the Institute’s 105-year history. Currently provost of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Jayawardhana will assume the presidency on July 1, 2026.

Known for his pioneering research, collaborative leadership, and passion for public engagement with science, Dr. Jayawardhana brings a vision deeply aligned with Caltech’s enduring commitment to fundamental research, education, and discovery in service of humanity.

We look forward to welcoming President-designate Jayawardhana and to the next bold chapter in Caltech’s legacy of excellence and impact.

The Johns Hopkins University provost, renowned astrophysicist, and award-winning author will begin as the Institute's leader on July 1, 2026.

08/15/2025

Congratulations to Andrei Faraon, William L. Valentine Professor of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, on being named the next Fletcher Jones Foundation Director of Caltech’s Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI)!

Andrei succeeds Julia R. Greer, Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Materials Science, Mechanics and Medical Engineering, who will now serve as Caltech’s executive officer for applied physics and materials science.

Since 2003, KNI has been a hub for groundbreaking nanoscale research—from quantum engineering and photonics to medical engineering and materials science. We look forward to seeing Andrei’s leadership further advance nanofabrication capabilities, research innovation, and education for the next generation of scientists.

The professor of applied physics and electrical engineering takes over at the helm of KNI following nearly six years of Julia Greer's leadership

07/08/2025

https://magazine.caltech.edu/post/ai-machine-learning-history
How do our brains, with their billions of interconnected neurons, process information? And can computers, which work in more straightforward number-crunching ways, mimic the brain’s ability to, in essence, think?

Tracing the roots of neural networks, the building blocks of modern AI, at Caltech. By Whitney Clavin

06/18/2025

05/29/2025

Join us in celebrating Professor Shuki Bruck’s remarkable contributions to the field of information, his lasting influence on generations of scholars, and the joy he brought to his work.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Neuroscience Research Building, Chen 100

RSVP required: https://shukibruck.caltech.edu/

The program will feature keynote talks by:
Judea Pearl – Chancellor's Professor of Computer Science and Statistics, UCLA
Yaser S. Abu-Mostafa – Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Caltech
Lulu Qian – Professor of Bioengineering, Caltech

05/29/2025

Big congratulations to Caltech’s Soon-Jo Chung and his team! Their paper, "Learning-Based Minimally-Sensed Fault-Tolerant Adaptive Flight Control," has won the 2024 IEEE RA-L Best Paper Award—one of only five selected from over 1,500 papers!

The research introduces Neural-Fly for Fault Tolerance (NFFT), a machine learning method that keeps flying vehicles safely in the air—even when rotors fail—without needing extra sensors.

A major milestone in the future of autonomous flight!



https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/virtual-sensors-help-aerial-vehicles-stay-aloft-when-rotors-fail

10/07/2024

Join us tomorrow at 4 PM PT at Ramo Auditorium, Caltech, for the Wouk Lecture! Pedro Pizarro, President & CEO of Edison International, and David Welch, Co-Founder of NosTerra, will discuss clean energy systems and green tech.

Can't make it in person? Watch the live stream here: https://wouk.caltech.edu/