A History of Impact | University of Notre Dame

A place of big ideas, then and now.

Notre Dame asks the big questions, the important ones, and we act on the answers.

We were advancing flight research before the Wright brothers took off. We were experimenting with wireless communication before most Americans had electricity. Our researchers unlocked breakthroughs in nuclear physics, synthetic rubber, and vector biology.

That same spirit of discovery animates everything we do today, as we fight for a future where knowledge serves humanity and discovery becomes a force for good.

So ours is research that meets the moment, while anticipating the next. From exploring the moral boundaries of artificial intelligence to combating rare diseases, from supporting peace efforts abroad to confronting mental health crises at home, Notre Dame researchers are committed to solving real problems for real people, right now.

Rooted in purpose, shaped by faith, and powered by conviction, Notre Dame chooses hope, building on a history of impact to find solutions to today’s problems, today. Tomorrow’s, too.

Man in a dark suit and light-colored straw boater hat gestures with both hands raised near a partially visible aircraft wing. A vintage automobile is parked in the background.

Mach 6 wind tunnel in White Field research facility, Circular viewing window on a large cylindrical piece of equipment, revealing a rotating cylindrical object inside, bathed in blue light.

From the principles of flight to hypersonic systems.

In 1882, an ambitious Notre Dame student, Albert Zahm, constructed one of the nation's first wind tunnels to study the lift and drag of various wing shapes. Today, the University is at the forefront of aerospace research, operating advanced facilities, including the Large Mach 10 Quiet Wind Tunnel—the first and only wind tunnel of its kind in the nation.

Black and white photo of a man working inside a large corrugated metal cylinder. He wears a light-colored lab coat and adjusts equipment within the cylinder's framework.

Student in gray sweater adjusts equipment on a large, stainless steel vaccum chmaber in the Nuclear Science Laboratory in the Department of Physics.

From national defense to the forefront of nuclear physics.

Notre Dame was among the first U.S. universities to conduct nuclear physics research. In the 1930s, one of its particle accelerators was utilized by researchers contributing to the Manhattan Project during World War II. Today, the University is home to seven state-of-the-art accelerators, anchoring one of the nation’s most advanced programs in radiation chemistry and nuclear physics research.

A drawing depicts the first long-distance wireless signal sent in America. The center shows an induction coil on a wooden base with wires. On the left, a flag flies from Saint Mary's Basilica. On the right, a drawing of Notre Dame's campus is visible. The title reads, Experiments in Wireless Telegraphy at Notre Dame.

Close-up of a custom printed green circuit board with gold connectors, black components, and a wire with red, green, yellow, white, and blue strands to attach to other modular components to build a radio transmitter or reciever.

From the first wireless signal to envisioning the future of the wireless spectrum.

Notre Dame has been a pioneer in wireless technology since the late 1800s when faculty transmitted the first long-distance wireless signal in the U.S. using an antenna suspended from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to nearby Saint Mary’s College. Today, the University leads the future of wireless innovation through SpectrumX, the National Science Foundation’s Spectrum Innovation Center.

Painted portrait of Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau, C.S.C, a priest with graying hair, wearing a dark suit and a small gold cross.

Priest Rev. Greg Haake, C.S.C., a man in a blue blazer, and two students examine historical documents laid out on a table. One student points at a document while the priest uses a magnifying glass. The team is translating and digitizing founder's Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. original letters.

Timely answers to life’s timeless questions.

“The mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart,” wrote Rev. Basil Moreau, C.S.C., capturing the holistic vision of Notre Dame’s education. Since its founding, scholarship in the humanities has been central to the University and housed in the College of Arts & Letters, its oldest and largest college. In the 21st century, Notre Dame remains a leader in this field, securing more National Endowment for the Humanities awards than any other university in the U.S.

Rev. Julius A. Nieuwland, C.S.C., stands at a wooden lab table, observing glassware. Another person in a light smock works in the background of the botanical laboratory.

Close-up view of scientific equipment, featuring a circular, metallic chamber with a small, rectangular, light brown object resting on a fine metal mesh.

From synthetic rubber to advanced materials analysis.

In 1920, Rev. Julius Nieuwland, C.S.C., discovered the chemical process that led to neoprene, the world's first commercially successful synthetic rubber. Building on this legacy, Notre Dame now leads a cutting-edge materials science program that includes NAUTILUS—a-one-of-a-kind materials analysis system transferred from the U.S. Navy to the Notre Dame campus.

Black and white photo of Dr. George Craig, wearing glasses, a suit and tie, gestures towards a large drawing of a black and white image of a mosquito.

Small, off-white mosquito larvae contained within droplets of water on a gridded, clear plastic surface illuminated with blue light.

Understanding persistent and emerging threats to human health.

In 1957, renowned entomologist George Craig founded Notre Dame's Vector Biology Laboratory, initially focusing on mapping the morphological traits of the Aedes genus of mosquitoes. Today, the University remains a global leader in vector biology research, collaborating with the U.S. Army on REDI-NET—a cutting-edge system for detecting, predicting, and containing emerging vector-borne diseases.

Sepia-toned portrait of Rev. Edward Sorin C.S.C., an older man with a long white beard, wearing round eyeglasses and a dark robe, seated in a dark wooden chair.

Water cascades from the Clarke Memorial Fountain at the University of Notre Dame. The fountain's dark, polished base features an inscription dedicating it to the service of country and world peace.

A University for the nation and the world.

Notre Dame's founder, Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., envisioned the University as "one of the most powerful means for good in this country." Today, that vision extends globally, especially to communities facing poverty and conflict. The University plays a critical role in implementing Colombia's Peace Accords, advising on education and development programs worldwide, and serving as a trusted partner in global humanitarian efforts.