Strategic Areas of Focus
While Carnegie Mellon's research projects cover a wide breadth of fields, a special focus on four areas unites much of the work being done today.
Computing, IT & Security 
As the first university to officially form a computer science department, Carnegie Mellon helped define and is continually redefining the field. With an increased reliance on computers comes the need to make information systems more secure, trustworthy, sustainable, and available in the face of both intentional attacks and accidental faults. Carnegie Mellon's CyLab is a broad new IT security initiative that builds on our decades of leadership and expertise. Find out more.
Arts & Humanities
From pioneering the field of decision sciences to establishing the first-of-its-kind Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon has an international reputation for producing some of the nation's strongest and most creative minds. Faculty and students work across traditional departmental lines to create innovative solutions to complex problems. Find out more.
Energy & Environment
Home to places like the Electricity Industry Center, The Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research (SEER) and the Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace (IW), Carnegie Mellon's leadership in the field of sustainability is recognized around the globe. Researchers are creating a market for wind power, building energy-efficient dorms and labs and overcoming regional challenges, projects that will improve the environment for years to come. Find out more.
Life Sciences
While Carnegie Mellon may not have a medical school in the traditional sense, our highly specialized life sciences programs are having an impact everywhere. Collaborations between Carnegie Mellon and other institutions have already resulted in better modeling and dyes for studying cells and technologies that have the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of people. Find out more.
The Carnegie Mellon Research Briefing Books, published by the Office of Government Relations, offers a more in-depth look at these and other areas of study.
