Cal Day 2025

Congratulations and welcome to our newest Berkeley engineers! Cal Day is only for newly admitted students and their families. Which means we are looking forward to getting to know you and helping you get to know us.

Cal Day invites newly admitted undergraduate students and their families to discover campus, learn about our resources and meet members of the community in interactive ways in person. Cal Week provides students an opportunity to ask questions, dive virtually into the Berkeley adventure and share their excitement with the community from anywhere!

Can’t make it to Cal Day? Join us for an April Info Session offered
in-person and online throughout the month of April.

College of Engineering events

Saturday, April 19

College of Engineering Welcome | 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Zellerbach Auditorium
Admitted students and their families: Start your College of Engineering Cal Day journey with  Engineering Student Services (ESS) and the College of Engineering. You’ll hear from the dean of engineering and current students. Plus, you’ll learn about the many resources that are available to students to support your success as a Berkeley Engineer.

Engineering Information Zone | 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. | Located on the pathway between McLaughlin Hall and the Grimes Engineering Center
Our Engineering Information Zone gives you the opportunity to talk with faculty, staff and students:

• Engineering Academic Advising Information Table: Did you know that as a Berkeley Engineer, you are automatically assigned an Engineering Academic Adviser who will work with you throughout your entire undergraduate journey? Come meet your future adviser and talk to our team of ESS advisers who are here to answer questions about how to optimize your undergraduate experience.
• Engineering Department Information Tables: Meet your department adviser, current students and faculty. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions, learn about courses and curriculum and more!
• Engineering Student AMA Stations: Want to know what a day in the life of a Berkeley Engineer is like? This is your chance to talk directly with undergraduate students who will be on hand to answer your questions. Ask them anything about their first-hand experience in the College of Engineering.
• Engineering Programs and Services Information Table: Did you know that Berkeley Engineering has a suite of programs and services that support you with everything from tutoring, mentoring, and building community? Come learn about programs we offer such as the Engineering Mentor Program, The Pre-Engineering Program (PREP), and the Center for Access to Engineering Excellence (CAEE). Meet our professional staff and student representatives from these programs.
• Engineering Student Organizations: With dozens of engineering student organizations, you’ll see Berkeley Engineering’s mission statement in action. Whether it be competition teams, honor societies, or identity-based chapters of national engineering societies there’s truly a group to match every interest.  Come visit our student leaders who will be tabling and providing demonstrations.

I’m a Berkeley Engineer Photo Booth | 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. | McLaughlin Breezeway
Remember your Cal Day experience and celebrate your acceptance to the College of Engineering with a picture with your family, friends and future peers. Admits who have accepted their offer of admission will receive a Berkeley Engineering pennant, while supplies last.

College of Engineering department/major events

Each of the departments within the College of Engineering will be showcasing their faculty, student opportunities and resources throughout Cal Day. As details are finalized they will be added below.

Aerospace Engineering

Welcome and Information Session | 1–2 p.m. | 310 Jacobs Hall | RSVP
Presented by Professor Panos Papadopoulos, Faculty Director, Aerospace Engineering Major. Learn about the Aerospace Engineering major and hear an overview of the aerospace program’s focus on emerging technologies, including sustainable aviation, autonomous flight and space exploration. Also, hear from a panel of current Aerospace Engineering students about their first year experience in the major with Q&A session to follow.

Aerospace Engineering Lab Tour in Hesse Hall | 2:10–2:40 p.m.
Meet Tour Guides at the Aerospace Engineering Table in the Etcheverry Hall Breezeway.

Bioengineering

Bioengineering major information session | 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Stanley Hall
What’s it like to be in the BioEngineering major? Learn more about the major and listen to our faculty while learning about their areas of research, what their labs are doing, and get a sense of the culture in the classroom directly from them!

Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE)

CEE tabling | 11:30–3 p.m. | Located on the pathway between McLaughlin Hall and the Grimes Engineering Center
CEE faculty, staff and students will be available to answer questions about engineering life, courses and more.

Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS)

Visit the EECS Cal Day page for a list of their events.

Engineering Science (ES)

ES tabling | 11:30–3 p.m. | Grimes Engineering Center patio
Engineering Science faculty, staff and students will be available to answer questions about engineering life, courses and more.

Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR)

IEOR tabling | 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. | Grimes Engineering Center patio
IEOR faculty and staff will be on-hand to answer questions.

IEOR information session and student panel | 1–2 p.m. | 106 Stanley Hall
Brief overview of the IEOR department and major by Professor Anil Aswani, followed by Q&A with current students.

Explore IEOR & Analytics | 2–2:45 p.m. | 106 Stanley Hall
What are engineering lectures like? What do you study in IEOR and Analytics? IEOR professor, Chiwei Yan, will give a sample lecture on logistics and supply chairs for new students.

Materials Science and Engineering

Materials Discovery | 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. | Hearst Memorial Mining Building Lobby
Materials scientists demonstrate the wonders of their world. Learn about superballs, superconductors, super liquid nitrogen ice cream, and more! Stick around for our demonstrations.

Polymer Adhesives for Fetal Surgery by Professor Messersmith | 12:30–1 p.m. | 290 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
In-utero surgeries to correct fetal anomalies like spina bifida and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome involve breaching of the amniotic sac, which often leads to preterm labor and delivery. Come to this talk to learn how biocompatible polymer adhesives are being developed for sealing surgically created amniotic sac defects.

Unlock the Secrets of Blacksmithing by Professor Kang | 1 –1:30 p.m. | 290 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
Ever wondered why blacksmiths hammer red-hot steel? Or why they plunge it into water? Join us for “Materials Science Behind Blacksmithing” and explore the fascinating world of metallurgy. Discover the science behind heat, force, and transformation – turning raw metal into masterpieces.

Energy Conversion Materials by Professor Ager | 1:30–2 p.m. | 290 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
Photosynthesis converts light into chemical energy and is responsible for life on Earth. Learn how new materials developed in UCB MSE use light and other renewable energy sources to convert carbon dioxide into chemicals and fuels as a means to sustainable chemical manufacturing.

How Salad Dressing and Materials Science Can Teach Us About Cell Biology by Professor Omar | 2–2:30 p.m. | 290 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
Organelles within the cell can form from a process known as phase separation – the same process that causes oil and water to demix (try shaking your salad dressing!). We can use materials science to understand how these so-called membrane-less organelles form and how the chaotic environment of the cell cytoplasm impacts these structures.

Materials Science and Engineering Association Student Panel | 2:30–3 p.m. | 290 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
MSE students from all years will be available to answer all your questions about Berkeley and the Materials Science and Engineering Department. What is materials science? What’s life like as a Berkeley MSE Student? What do materials scientists research? Where do materials scientists work? We’ll go through all of these common questions (and more) in this session.

Mechanical Engineering

Visit the mechanical engineering Cal Day page for a list of their events.

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Engineering info session | 1–1:30 pm. | 3108 Etcheverry Hall
Learn about the nuclear engineering program with department chair, Max Fratoni. He will answer common questions such as what is nuclear engineering? What do nuclear engineers research? Where do nuclear engineers work? Plus more!

Etcheverry Hall Lab Tour | 1:30–2:30 | Meet at NE tables on the Etcheverry Hall breezeway
Tour the nuclear engineering labs in Etcheverry Hall. Note: Visitors are required to wear flat, closed-toed shoes and long pants or skirts; no shorts or high heels are allowed. No exceptions. Also, please be mindful and careful of tripping hazards.

Nuclear Engineering tabling | 1–4 p.m. | Etcheverry Hall breezeway
Stop by their table to learn more about the nuclear engineering major. Speak with faculty, staff and current students about your questions and nuclear interests.

American Nuclear Society (ANS) student group tabling | 1–4 p.m. | Etcheverry Hall breezeway
ANS students will be available to answer questions about life as an engineering student at UC Berkeley.

Engineering undeclared (not on Cal Day)

Undeclared Information Session | Thursday, April 17, 5 p.m. | Zoom
If you’ve been accepted into Berkeley Engineering as an undeclared major, this is your chance to meet Engineering Student Services adviser, Joey Wong. You’ll get an overview of the major policies and have an opportunity to ask questions.