Announcements to the
MIT School of Engineering Community
Spring UROP
Department: Dean's Office, School of Engineering
Faculty Supervisor: Dedric Carter
Project Title: Experiencing Invention and Innovation Project (EIIP)
Project Description: The School of Engineering, office of the dean, is looking for two students to do research on the history and the process of invention. The goal of this project is to capture the experience of the process of invention and relate it to the general public. Taking as the starting point one well developed invention or technology, students will research the history of the particular invention back to its bedrock scientific principles and foundations. The research findings will be used as content to create an interactive, web-based experience devoted to the exploration of the idea of invention. As important as answering the questions How? Why? Who Where? and When? will be the collection of documents, lab notebooks, photographs and artifacts for use as visual content for the site. Students will assist in the design and concept development of the site.
Responsibilities include: library, archive and online research; organization and occasional presentation of research results; creation of innovative ways to engage and interest the public in the in process invention.
Prerequisites: The ideal candidates will be self-starters possessed of the ability to work independently, solve problems and ask questions when necessary. Organizational skills are required to track the provenance of and obtain the necessary permissions associated with the images, artifacts, etc. Although both positions will encompass the core research, at least one candidate (and preferably both) will have experience with programming languages and web-based design, coupled with the ability and desire to devise creative technological ways to showcase and capture the invention lifecycle. Previous research experience is preferred, but not essential. Expected commitment is 10 hours per week. Two (2) paid, not for credit positions are available immediately. Range $12 - $15 per hour.
Please contact Stephen Desaulniers to set up an interview
sfd@mit.edu, 617-324-8400, Rm. 1-211.
