School of Science and Engineering
News
From groundbreaking research and major funding wins to new leadership and student milestones, the Tulane School of Science and Engineering community is driving discovery at every level. Explore the latest news highlighting the faculty, students, and researchers shaping the future of science and engineering — in the lab, in the classroom, and across the Gulf Coast and beyond.
A Farewell to Dr. Beth Wee: Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership, Mentorship, and Heart at Tulane SSE
After 37 years at Tulane University, Dr. Beth Wee is officially retiring, though “retiring” might be too final a word for someone whose commitment to her students, colleagues, and community is so deeply ingrained. Over nearly four decades of service, including her role as Associate Dean in the School of Science and Engineering, Dr. Wee has left a legacy that will resonate in the halls of Tulane for years to come.
Tulane to Host First-Ever Science Olympiad Invitational, Seeks Volunteers and Judges
Tulane University will host its first-ever Science Olympiad Invitational Tournament on January 24, 2026, bringing together middle and high school students from across Louisiana and the broader region to compete in one of the nation’s largest and most rigorous STEM competitions. The event, led by the newly established Tulane Science Olympiad student organization, will showcase the university’s commitment to expanding science education access and mentorship opportunities for youth.
Welcome Home: Dr. Joan Bennett Returns to Tulane
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Joan Wennstrom Bennett is rejoining our team! Dr. Bennett’s illustrious career spans decades, marked by groundbreaking research and transformative leadership. She is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers University. Before Rutgers, Dr. Bennett spent over three decades at Tulane University, where she rose to become a Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology.
Tulane’s Nicholas Mattei Elected Chair of ACM SIGAI
We’re thrilled to announce that Nicholas Mattei, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Tulane University and longtime SIGAI volunteer, has been re-elected Chair of the ACM Special Interest Group on Artificial Intelligence (SIGAI) for the 2025–2028 term beginning on July 1.
SIGAI, the Association for Computing Machinery’s special interest group dedicated to AI research and outreach since 1966, recently concluded its election. Serving alongside Mattei are:
Dr. Laurie O’Brien Appointed Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
The School of Science and Engineering (SSE) at Tulane University is pleased to announce that Dr. Laurie O’Brien has been appointed Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. Dr. O’Brien, a distinguished Professor of Psychology at Tulane University, brings a wealth of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership to her new role. As Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Dr.
Global mercury levels in rivers have doubled since Industrial Revolution
Mercury levels in the world's rivers have more than doubled since the pre-industrial era, according to new research from Tulane University that establishes the first known global baseline for riverine mercury pollution.
The study, published in Science Advances, developed a process-based model to simulate mercury transport in rivers and found that global rivers carried approximately 390 metric tons of mercury to oceans annually before 1850. Today, that figure has jumped to about 1,000 metric tons per year.
