MIT Reports to the President 1997-98
The areas that report to the Vice President for Research and Dean for Graduate Education include the Graduate Education Office, the Whitaker College, and the interdisciplinary laboratories, centers, and programs. At the end of this year, the Division of Toxicology will leave the Whitaker College to join the Division of Bioengineering in the School of Engineering.
During the year, the Center for Environmental Initiatives was established with Professor David H. Marks as Director. The Center's mission is to educate a new generation of leaders in business and public service who are knowledgeable about issues on the environment and sustainability that impact development and worldwide welfare. The Center aims to forge new relationships between industry, governments, academia and the public though an active communications and outreach program.
Since 1995, the Office of the Vice President for Research has sponsored annual seminars on research practice aimed at clarifying the range of acceptable practices in conducting research. These seminars bring together faculty, professional research staff, posdoctoral fellows and associates, and graduate students to discuss topics such as mentorship, authorship, and secrecy in science. They are moderated by Dr. Stephanie Bird, Special Assistant to the Provost and participation is Institute-wide.
Professor Mark Kastner stepped down as Director of the Center for Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE). Professor Robert Silbey has been appointed Director of the CMSE. Dr. John Bernard was appointed Acting Director of the Nuclear Reactor. Dr. Walter Jones retired as Chairman of the Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects (COUHES). Dr. Leigh Firn has been appointed Chairman of COUHES. Professor James Orlin is serving as codirector of the Operations Research Center while Professor Robert Freund enjoys a well-deserved sabbatical. Professor Douglas Lauffenberger, director of the Center for Biomedical Engineering (CBE), has become the head of the Engineering School's new Division of Bioengineering, and Professor Alan Grodzinsky is serving as acting director of the CBE.
J. David Litster