The birth of consciousness

Fledgling Owls looking to earn engineering degrees packed into Duncan Hall Aug. 19 for the Brown School of Engineering’s two O-Week orientation sessions. “It appears to be the largest Rice Engineering class ever,” wrote Dean of Engineering Reginald DesRoches in a caption to a photo he posted on Twitter taken from one of Duncan’s many balconies, a colorful sea of students below. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)