Engineering Scholars as Engaged Scholars
Engineering Scholars as Engaged Scholars, or (ES)², is a first-year program that fosters an engineering culture that reflects our richly diverse national community and prepares students to be engaged, well-rounded citizens. We thank the GM Foundation for their generous support of this program.
(ES)² student Ricardo Fort traveled with Engineers without Borders to rural Peru as part of his summer fellowship project to provide safe drinking water alternatives.
Because our students receive the best training in the world from top faculty, in laboratories doing cutting-edge research, they can use their education to make a genuine impact. Berkeley engineers create technologies, like the Darfur stove, that save lives and benefit communities. (ES)² prepares you to take what you are learning in your engineering classes and solve real-world problems.
(ES)² benefits
As a participant in the (ES)² program, you will:
- Fulfill Berkeley’s American Cultures requirement by taking the Berkeley Engineering course E157AC, Engineering, The Environment, and Society,
- Join a student cohort committed to making a difference in our diverse communities,
- Learn about social entrepreneurship,
- Pursue research experiences and internships that focus on community engagement,
- Gain professional development and leadership experience that employers find invaluable,
- Develop a deeper understanding of the social and cultural dynamics that drive our diverse, globalized economy.
Program details
The program begins with a fall seminar series that introduces students to social and environmental justice through workshops, guest speakers and field trips. In the spring semester, students take a special course, Engineering, the Environment, and Society, with Professor Khalid Kadir, a Chancellor’s Public Scholar. This course engages students at the intersection of environmental justice, social justice and engineering. Topics include environmental justice as it relates to air, water and soil contamination; political ecology; race and privilege; expertise; and engaged citizenship. In the summer, students have the opportunity to apply for grant funding to complete projects, internships, or research related to the social justice and engineering.
How to apply
Applications are available online.
The following criteria are considered in reviewing your application:
- You must be an incoming first-year or transfer student. Undocumented students are welcome.
- You should demonstrate a commitment to providing service to underserved communities through previous experiences.
- You must be able to attend the “Kick-off Event” on Wednesday, September 4 from 5-7 PM.
- You must be able to participate in the fall seminar series, and register for the designated American Cultures course in the spring. Please note that most workshops in the fall seminar series will take place on select Wednesdays from 5-6:30 PM.
