Homecoming always is a cause for celebration, but this year’s event held even more significance for the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). During the 2007-2008 academic year, the school is commemorating 50 years of engineering education and research. The golden anniversary is a significant milestone for the state of Arizona, ASU and the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, which is ranked among the top 15 percent of all accredited engineering programs in the nation by U.S.News & World Report and has five academic programs ranked in the top 30.

More than 300 people – a record Homecoming turnout for the school of engineering -- joined in the celebration on Saturday, Oct. 27, on the Alumni Lawn in front of Old Main. Food was just 50 cents in honor of the 50th anniversary, and there were displays and presentations on biomedical informatics, the Biomedical Engineering Design Studio, sustainable high-performance cementitious composites, a new approach to fuel cells, polymer for advanced applications, identifying biomarkers for early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, asset decommissioning and investment recovery, the environmental fluid dynamics program and 50 years of engineering at ASU.