SSE HOMECOMING OPEN HOUSE
Explore the Future of Science and Engineering at Tulane
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 1 to 4 p.m. | Tulane School of Science and Engineering
Step inside the ideas, discoveries, and hands-on work shaping the future at Tulane. Meet faculty and students, explore every SSE department, see research and student projects, experience live Makerspace demonstrations, preview senior Capstone projects, and join open conversations about artificial intelligence and the future of engineering.
Explore the Schedule Plan Your Visit SSE Homecoming Tailgate
One Afternoon, Every Corner of SSE
The SSE Homecoming Open House invites alumni, families, students, and friends of Tulane to experience the School of Science and Engineering in action. Follow your curiosity across our outdoor event spaces, talk with the people behind the work, and discover how SSE is advancing science and engineering for better lives.
There is no single route through the Open House. Start with the SSE Discovery Passport, choose the departments and activities that interest you, catch a live demonstration, and make time for one or both Ask Me Anything sessions in Paul Hall Auditorium.
Four Ways to Experience SSE
Make the entire school your destination. Pick up an SSE Discovery Passport and event map at the central check-in tent, then visit department and program stations throughout the Open House. Meet faculty and students, see research and student projects, learn about academic programs, and discover the many ways SSE is tackling challenges that matter.
Visitors who collect all 7 stamps can return to the check-in tent to claim a prize!
Bring your questions to Paul Hall Auditorium for two candid, audience-driven conversations with SSE faculty. These sessions will explore fast-changing fields, new academic opportunities, and the ideas shaping the future of science and engineering at Tulane.
See engineering move from concept to creation inside the Tulane Makerspace. Live demonstrations scheduled throughout the afternoon will show how students use advanced tools to design, prototype, and build. Each demonstration will last approximately 15 to 20 minutes, leaving time to explore other Open House activities between sessions.
Get an advance look at senior Capstone projects from Biomedical Engineering and Physics and Engineering Physics. Meet student teams, learn about the problems they are working to solve, and preview projects that are still in development.
This exhibit may include protected intellectual property, so visitors must complete a brief waiver before entering the Capstone Expo Preview.
Open House Schedule
Department displays, student projects, research conversations, and the SSE Discovery Passport will be available throughout the afternoon. Featured programs begin every 30 minutes.
Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
1:00 PM | Open House Begins; Pick Up Your Map and Discovery Passport, and Begin Exploring SSE. | Check-in in Front of Boggs |
1:00 PM | Capstone Expo Preview | Makerspace Courtyard |
1:00 PM | Tours Begin | Makerspace Live |
1:30 PM | Laser Cutter Demonstration with JP Tran | Makerspace Live |
2:00 PM | Ask Me Anything Session: Artificial Intelligence (More Information Below) | Paul Hall Auditorium |
2:00 PM | Lathe Demonstration with BJ Karvets | Makerspace Live |
2:30 PM | 3D Printer Demonstration with Jordan Burse | Makerspace Live |
3:00 PM | Ask Me Anything: The Future of Engineering at Tulane (More Information Below) | Paul Hall Auditorium |
3:00 PM | Waterjet Cutter Demonstration with Trae'Jon Turner-Smith | Makerspace Live |
4:00 PM | Open House Concludes; Return Completed Passports to the Check-in Tent Before Departing. | Check-in in Front of Boggs |
Ask Me Anything Sessions
Session 1: Artificial Intelligence
Friday, Nov. 6, 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Moderator: Mark Wheeler
Guests: Ibrahim Demir, Aron Culotta, Matt Montemore, and Jianwei Sun
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we conduct research, educate students, and address complex challenges across science and engineering. Join Tulane School of Science and Engineering faculty members Ibrahim Demir, Aron Culotta, Jianwei Sun, and Matt Montemore for an engaging conversation about the rapidly evolving world of AI. Following a moderated discussion, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions about emerging technologies, groundbreaking research, responsible innovation, and how Tulane is preparing students to lead in an AI-driven future.
Session 2: Engineering
Friday, Nov. 6, 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Moderator: Don Vinci
Guests: Matt Barrios, Ryan Gelfand, and Ehab Meselhe
Engineering at Tulane is entering an exciting new era. Join School of Science and Engineering faculty members Matt Barrios, Ryan Gelfand, and Ehab Meselhe for a conversation about the growth of Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering at Tulane. The panel will explore the emerging technologies, workforce needs, and interdisciplinary opportunities shaping these programs, as well as Tulane’s distinctive approach to preparing the next generation of engineers and STEM leaders. Following a moderated discussion, audience members will be invited to join the conversation and ask questions.
Explore Across SSE
Department and program stations will offer different ways to connect with SSE. Depending on the stop, visitors may encounter research demonstrations, senior projects, hands-on activities, student experiences, academic opportunities, and conversations with faculty. Together, the stations offer a broad look at the work taking place across the school.
-Biomedical Engineering
-Cell and Molecular Biology
-Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
-Chemistry
-Computer Science
-Earth and Environmental Sciences
-Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
-Electrical Engineering
-Mathematics
-Mechanical Engineering
-Neuroscience
-Physics and Engineering Physics
-Psychology
-River-Coastal Science and Engineering
-Space Science & Engineering
-SSE Graduate Programs
Plan Your Visit
Begin at the central SSE check-in tent. You will receive the afternoon schedule, event map, and SSE Discovery Passport. The prize table will also be located at check-in.
The Open House is designed for exploration. Department stations and other experiences will be located in the outdoor areas surrounding Boggs, Paul Hall, Flower Hall, and the Makerspace courtyard. Directional signs and event staff will help guide visitors throughout the event footprint and to Paul Hall Auditorium for the Ask Me Anything sessions.
Visitors who wish to enter the BME and PEP Capstone Expo Preview must complete the intellectual-property waiver at the designated waiver station. The waiver is not required for any other Open House activity.
The SSE Homecoming Open House is an outdoor event, and there is no indoor rain location for the department displays, Makerspace activities, or Capstone Expo Preview. If rain, severe weather or other unsafe conditions prevent the outdoor event from taking place, the outdoor Open House will be canceled. Both Ask Me Anything sessions will continue indoors in Paul Hall Auditorium at their scheduled times. Please check this page and SSE social media channels for event-day updates.
For questions about the SSE Homecoming Open House, contact Jim Mahjoubian at jmahjoubian@tulane.edu.
SSE Homecoming Tailgate
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 9:00 AM - Kickoff | Berger Family Lawn
Keep your Homecoming weekend going with the School of Science and Engineering! Join fellow alumni, students, faculty, families, and friends for the SSE Homecoming Tailgate before Tulane takes on Tulsa. Reconnect with familiar faces, meet new members of the SSE community, and get ready to cheer on the Green Wave.
