MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2019 Activities by Category - Energy, Environment, and Sustainability

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Carbon Ideologies: Reading Climate through Media

James Paradis

Enrollment: advanced sign-up preferred
Limited to 18 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

This 4-session IAP series will examine some of the ways in which contemporary media filters matters of climate change.  Starting with selections from William T. Vollmann's recent award-winning exploration of world energy uses and abuses, Carbon Ideologies, we will review and discuss a selection of film, government reports, photography, graphic fiction and journalism in order to gain a better understanding of how contemporary views of climate change are shaped and received. 

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: James Paradis, jparadis@mit.edu


Add to Calendar Jan/10 Thu 04:00PM-05:30PM E15-335
Add to Calendar Jan/15 Tue 04:00PM-05:30PM E15-335
Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 04:00PM-05:30PM E15-335
Add to Calendar Jan/28 Mon 04:00PM-05:30PM E15-335

James Paradis


Ceres Site Visit

Add to Calendar Jan/29 Tue 11:00AM-12:30PM Ceres

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/28

Are you interested in learning about how to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges, climate change, water scarcity, pollution, and human rights abuses? Come to the Ceres Site Visit to learn about how MIT students can engage with Cere’s mission of transforming the economy to build a sustainable future. Open to Undergrads and Grads from all Courses. RSVP Requested in CareerBridge (Under Events> Fairs & Events> Ceres Site Visit).

Sponsor(s): Career, Advising and Professional Development CAPD
Contact: IAP Site Visits, capd@mit.edu


Decision Support Models for Low-Carbon Electric Power Systems

Karen Tapia-Ahumada, Research Scientist

Enrollment: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11
Limited to 30 participants
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

This 8-session intensive activity presents power system analysis techniques that will help in modeling and understanding the role of electric power systems in a carbon-constrained economy. The massive deployment of intermittent renewables, the anticipated surge of active demand response or the development of smart grids are among the challenges that have to be faced by the mathematical models for optimization, analysis and simulation of the complex decision making processes in power systems. Apart from a theoretical description of the models, the instructors will provide the students with a collection of prototypes that will allow them to run study cases and to understand the effect of the different mathematical formulations on the outcomes. The use of these models in some real-world applications will also be presented.

Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Initiative, Institute for Data, Systems and Society (IDSS)
Contact: Karen Tapia-Ahumada, 617 715-5367, KATAPIA@MIT.EDU


I: Models for the short term

Add to Calendar Jan/15 Tue 09:00AM-01:00PM E51-372, Bring your laptop
Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 09:00AM-01:00PM E51-372, Bring your laptop

Andres Ramos - Professor, Karen Tapia-Ahumada - Research Scientist, Javier Garcia Gonzalez - Professor


II: Models for the medium term

Add to Calendar Jan/17 Thu 09:00AM-01:00PM E51-372, Bring your laptop
Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 09:00AM-01:00PM E51-372, Bring your laptop

Andres Ramos - Professor, Karen Tapia-Ahumada - Research Scientist, Javier Garcia Gonzalez - Professor


III: Stochastic short & mid-term models

Add to Calendar Jan/22 Tue 09:00AM-01:00PM E51-372, Bring your laptop
Add to Calendar Jan/23 Wed 09:00AM-01:00PM E51-372, Bring your laptop

Andres Ramos - Professor, Karen Tapia-Ahumada - Research Scientist, Javier Garcia Gonzalez - Professor


IV: Models for the long term

Add to Calendar Jan/24 Thu 09:00AM-01:00PM E51-372, Bring your laptop
Add to Calendar Jan/25 Fri 09:00AM-01:00PM 66-168, Bring your laptop

Karen Tapia-Ahumada - Research Scientist, Andres Ramos - Professor, Javier Garcia Gonzalez - Professor


Getting Beyond Eggs: Plants you can scramble, bake, and whip

Thea Keith-Lucas, Chaplain

Add to Calendar Jan/14 Mon 05:30PM-07:00PM New House kitchen

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

In this hands-on class, we will cook up savory scrambles and fluffy desserts with all vegan ingredients. You will get recipes and skills for including plant-based foods in your diet - a good choice for your health, your budget, and our environment. Plus, we'll have a hearty and delicious dinner to eat when we're done. The class is taught by Thea Keith-Lucas, a committed amateur vegan chef and one of the chaplains in the Office of Religious, Ethical and Spiritual Life. 

This class is full. To be added to a wait list, email Thea at theakl@mit.edu.

Sponsor(s): Lutheran Ministry at MIT
Contact: Thea Keith-Lucas, W11-007, 617-458-1253, THEAKL@MIT.EDU


How to write an SOP (aka the Standard Operating Procedure)

Fabiola Hernandez, Assistant IHP Officer

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants should attend all sessions.

Have you ever been asked to write an SOP and have you gone “an-S-O-what?”?

Well, we are going to get together and sort it out:

 There will be two segments to this experiment, and it would be best if you can attend both.

Target Audience:This IAP is tailored to student work, but all community members are welcome to join!

Requirements: It is best if you have a project in mind: a personal or school project you do in shop, a fun event you are planning, a hack, or work we do in lab. Please take the less than 5 minute assessment to help the facilitator understand your needs around SOPs.

 NOTE: An SOP and a safety plan are different, but the thought process and skills acquired in SOP writing are transferrable. If you have ever been asked to submit a safety plan and you did not know where to start this IAP can help!

Sponsor(s): Environment, Health and Safety Office
Contact: Fabiola Hernandez, 617-452-3477, fabiolah@mit.edu


How to write an SOP - Day 1

Add to Calendar Jan/30 Wed 05:00PM-07:00PM 66-168

Day 1: Wednesday, 30th 5:00 to 7:00

Fabiola Hernandez - Assistant IHP Officer


How to write an SOP - Day 2

Add to Calendar Jan/31 Thu 05:00PM-07:00PM 66-168

Day 2: Thursday January 31st 5:00 to 7:00

Fabiola Hernandez - Assistant IHP Officer


Indigo Agriculture Site Visit

Add to Calendar Jan/30 Wed 12:00PM-01:30PM Indigo Agriculture

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/29

Indigo is using sophisticated genomic sequencing and computational bioinformatics to assemble the world’s largest database of genomic plant information. They apply algorithms and machine learning to this dataset to predict which microbes are most beneficial to the plant’s health towards the goal of increasing yields of cotton, wheat, corn, and other crops. Attend this visit to meet with scientists, engineers, and staff at Indigo including a panel and tour. Open to Undergrads and Grads from all Courses.RSVP Requested in CareerBridge (Under Events> Fairs & Events> Indigo Site Visit).

Sponsor(s): Career, Advising and Professional Development CAPD
Contact: IAP Site Visit, capd@mit.edu


Net Zero Carbon Design Thinking Workshop

Antje Danielson, Director of Education

Add to Calendar Jan/22 Tue 08:30AM-05:30PM W20 Stratton
Add to Calendar Jan/23 Wed 08:30AM-05:30PM W20 Stratton
Add to Calendar Jan/24 Thu 08:30AM-05:30PM W20 Stratton
Add to Calendar Jan/25 Fri 08:30AM-05:30PM W20 Stratton
Add to Calendar Jan/26 Sat 09:00AM-01:00PM W20 Stratton

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Repeating event, participants welcome at any session
Prereq: https://mit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Kyg7nRApW8eAW9

This workshop is for graduate students from any discipline. During the workshop, an interdisciplinary group of faculty, professionals, and graduate students will work to map out the processes involved in transforming a model island community with a conventional energy profile to an island community with a resilient net zero carbon energy system supplying its permanent residents. Model-Based Reasoning and Design Thinking were chosen as tools to facilitate collaborative work during the process of creating the outline of a draft master plan for the model community.

Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Initiative
Contact: Antje Danielson, E19-370N, 617 253-3895, ANTJED@MIT.EDU


Plasma Science and Fusion Center IAP Series

Martin Greenwald, Deputy Director, PSFC, Paul Rivenberg, Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Dennis Whyte, Director, PSFC; Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Anne White, Associate Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

This series introduces plasma physics research and areas of related interest at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. See URL below. http://www.psfc.mit.edu/

Sponsor(s): Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, 617 253-8101, RIVENBERG@PSFC.MIT.EDU


Intro to Magnetic Fusion and SPARC

Add to Calendar Jan/15 Tue 11:00AM-12:00PM NW17-218

This introduction to the science and technology underlying magnetic fusion energy will review the current state of research and provide an overview of MIT's SPARC project, designed to demonstrate net fusion energy. The talk will highlight the contributions of MIT students to plasma physics research and fusion engineering.

Libby Tolman - Graduate Student


Alcator C-Mod tour

Add to Calendar Jan/15 Tue 01:00PM-02:00PM NW17-218

Visit the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a major fusion energy experiment that completed its final run with breakthrough results. Alcator C- Mod is the third in a series of tokamak devices at MIT that use very high magnetic fields to confine plasmas operating near 100,000,000 degrees.

Session Leaders TBD


Design your own fusion plant with Excel

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 10:00AM-12:00PM NW17-218

Assigned to a team, you will be provided with rules and parameters for designing your own fusion power plant. After an allotted time, each team will submit their figures, to be entered into an Excel spread sheet that will show how successful the design is. The best result will win a prize.

Dennis Whyte - Director, PSFC; Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering


ICF and HEDP at NIF, OMEGA & Z

Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 11:00AM-12:00PM NW17-218

Learn how the largest laser facilities - the National Ignition Facility (NIF), the OMEGA laser, and the Z Pulsed Power Facility - are used to conduct Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) and laboratory astrophysics experiments. This presentation will be followed by a tour of the High-Energy-Density Physics (HEDP) Laboratory at MIT.

Graeme Sutcliffe - Graduate Student, Neel Kabadi - Graduate Student


High-Energy Density Physics Lab Tour

Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 12:00PM-01:00PM NW17-218, Meet in NW17-218, then go to NW21

Following the HEDP talk, join members of the PSFC's High-Energy Density Physics Lab to see how MIT supports research into inertial confinement fusion, collaborating with LLNL's National Ignition Facility and the University of Rochester's OMEGA laser.

Session Leaders TBD


The MIT Fusion Landscape

Add to Calendar Jan/22 Tue 01:00PM-03:00PM 34-101

In a series of lightning talks seven experts will discuss the current MIT Fusion Landscape. Topics will range from engineering and scientific underpinnings to finance, entrepreneurship and social impact. Join us to learn about MITs smarter, faster path to fusion energy.

For more information:http://www.psfc.mit.edu/events/2019/the-mit-fusion-landscape

Dennis Whyte - Director, PSFC; Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering


The new Divertor Tokamak Test Facility

Add to Calendar Jan/23 Wed 11:00AM-12:00PM NW17-218

The Divertor Tokamak Test Facility (DTT) is a new high-field tokamak whose construction has recently been approved by the Italian government.

This talk will briefly discuss the path which lead to the DTT approval, give an overview of the DTT interim design and illustrate the present main physics and technical choices, the overall status of the project and the plan for the short and medium-term future.

Piero Martin - Professor


A Machine Learning Hackathon

Add to Calendar Jan/26 Sat 10:00AM-10:00PM NW17-218, Hours listed are available, not mandatory
Add to Calendar Jan/27 Sun 10:00AM-10:00PM NW17-218, Hours listed are available, not mandatory

Teams of up to four will seek machine learning solutions to a set of control, optimization, and data mining problems relevant to modern fusion research. Submissions will be judged and prizes awarded. Advance sign-up encouraged. Contact: rivenberg@psfc.mit.edu

Learn more & register at event website.http://www.psfc.mit.edu/events/2019/hack-for-fusion-a-machine-learning-hackathon-at-mits-plasma-science-and-fusion-center

Cristina Rea - Research Scientist, DIII-D, Ted Golfinopoulos - Research Scientist


Machine learning guided discovery/design

Add to Calendar Jan/29 Tue 11:00AM-12:00PM NW17-218

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments and their corresponding computer simulations produce an immense amount of rich data. However, quantitatively interpreting that data remains a grand challenge. Learn more: http://www.psfc.mit.edu/events/2019/machine-learning-guided-discovery-and-design-for-inertial-confinement-fusion

Kelli Humbird - PhD Candidate


Probabilistic Risk Assessment Workshop, offered by the NRC

Michael Golay, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nathan Siu, Senior Technical Advisor, NRC

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None.

Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), a structured analysis approach for characterizing system risk, is being increasingly used by the nuclear industry to support risk-informed decision making (RIDM).  This 5-day intensive course, which is composed of lectures, classroom workshops, and open discussion sessions, will cover basic PRA and RIDM concepts and the use environment, simple PRA mechanics, recent developments and controversies, and future challenges.

The course is aimed at future nuclear engineering professionals who may not necessarily be considering careers in PRA but nevertheless are likely to be involved in some aspects of RIDM. There are no formal prerequisites. However, students with knowledge of basic probability and statistics, multivariate calculus, and reactor systems and safety will find some of the material easier to follow.

Sponsor(s): Nuclear Science and Engineering
Contact: Brandy Baker, 24-104, 617 253-3814, BRANDYB@MIT.EDU


Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 09:00AM-06:00PM 34-302
Add to Calendar Jan/17 Thu 09:00AM-06:00PM 34-302
Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 09:00AM-06:00PM 34-302
Add to Calendar Jan/22 Tue 09:00AM-06:00PM 34-302
Add to Calendar Jan/23 Wed 09:00AM-06:00PM 34-302

Michael Golay - Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nathan Siu - Senior Technical Advisor, NRC


RMG (Reaction Mechanism Generator) Workshop

William H. Green, Professor of Chemical Engineering

Add to Calendar Jan/14 Mon 10:00AM-05:30PM E17-517, Bring your laptop

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required

This workshop is to introduce an automatic reaction mechanism generator software to people who might be interested in kinetics research area. RMG is developed by Green research group at MIT. It can generate detailed reaction mechanism network just with initial input conditions ( feed composition, reacting conditions such as temperature and pressure). The topics which will be covered in the IAP session are : 1) Overall RMG introduction 2) Molecular representation 3) How to install RMG on your computer 4) How RMG estimates the rate constant and thermo parameters 5) How to run a RMG job & use libraries and seed reactions. If you want to learn more about RMG, the workshop will be continued on Jan 15th - Jan 17 th.  

Sponsor(s): Chemical Engineering
Contact: Yen-Ting Wang, E18-509, (413) 362-6636, YENTINGW@MIT.EDU


The UN Sustainable Development Goals and challenges

Xiaoyu Wu, Postdoctoral Associate

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/09
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

This workshop is to introduce the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and bring together students in different disciplines to develop a path for fostering the successful implementation of these goals. 

The workshop has the following learning outcomes:

1. Summarize the UN SDGs

2. Use SDGs to evaluate existing and proposed engineering projects

 

Sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/PFShzenLhpmK8yDF2

Contact: Xiaoyu Wu, 3-339N, 617 324-9014, XYWU@MIT.EDU


Add to Calendar Jan/10 Thu 01:00PM-02:30PM 5-217

We will discuss the 1-9 UN SDGs.

1: No poverty

2: Zero hunger

3: Good health and well-being

4: Quality education

5: Gender equality

6: Clean water and sanitation

7: Affordable and clean energy

8. Decent work and economic growth

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Xiaoyu Wu - Postdoctoral Associate


Add to Calendar Jan/11 Fri 01:00PM-02:30PM 5-217

We will discuss the 10-17 UN SDGs.

10. Reduced inequalities

11. Sustainable cities and communities

12. Responsible production and consumption

13. Climate action

14: Life below water

15: Life on Land

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

17. Partnerships for the goals

Xiaoyu Wu - Postdoctoral Associate


Ultralow Temperature Freezers

Kristin Walker

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 12:00PM-01:00PM 76-359

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11
Limited to 40 participants

Come and learn about your ultralow temapture freezers from a representative from Fisher Scientific.

During the session we will cover:

 

Registration required: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mit-ehs-2027921775

Sponsor(s): Environment, Health and Safety Office
Contact: Katie Blass, 617-452-3477, kblass@mit.edu


Unconventional photovoltaic effects

Bruno Lorenzi, PhD

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 20 participants
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: Basic semiconductors physics

Most of the university courses on photovoltaics, only discuss the standard photovoltaic effect based on p-n junctions. This is understandable considering that the major part of nowadays technologies, converting light into electricity, are based on this systems.

However, there are several other effects that can generate a current/voltage in semiconductors under illumination. Examples are the Dember effect, the bulk photovoltaic effect, the thermal photoelectric effect, and the photoelectromagnetic effect. These phenomena, and many other solutions was proposed, and are still proposed, as viable options to overcome some limitations of p-n junctions.

In this activity the most relevant unconventional photovoltaic effects will be presented and analyzed.

The aim of this mini-class is to provide a wider understanding of the photovoltaic effect, in all its multiple aspects and limitations, with an overview of the most recent advancements of non p-n photovoltaics and its most likely future perspectives. 

Pre-requisite for the understanding of the class contents is the knowledge of basic semiconductors physics (band model, statistic distributions, light-matter interaction, etc.).  

Contact: Bruno Lorenzi, 7-034, 328 543-8976, BLORENZI@MIT.EDU


Introduction to photovoltaics

Add to Calendar Jan/17 Thu 10:00AM-11:30PM 2-146

Introduction to photovoltaics and the limits of p-n junctions.

Bruno Lorenzi - PhD


Unconventional PV effects - first part

Add to Calendar Jan/22 Tue 10:00AM-11:30AM 2-146

Introduction to unconventional photovoltaic, and analysis of Dember effect, thermal photoelectric effect, and photoelectromagnetic effect.

Bruno Lorenzi - PhD


Unconventional PV effects - second part

Add to Calendar Jan/24 Thu 10:00AM-11:30AM 2-146

Description and analysis of bulk photovoltaic effects.

Bruno Lorenzi - PhD


Perspectives of non p-n photovoltaics

Add to Calendar Jan/29 Tue 10:00AM-11:30AM 2-146

Discussion on the recent advancements and the future perspectives of non p-n photovoltaic systems.

Bruno Lorenzi - PhD


Vegan Comfort Food: Creamy casseroles without dairy

Thea Keith-Lucas, Chaplain

Add to Calendar Jan/24 Thu 05:30PM-07:00PM New House kitchen

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

This class is full. To be added to a wait list, email Thea at theakl@mit.edu.

In this hands-on class, we will cook up vegan versions of two classic comfort foods: macaroni and cheese and green bean casserole. We'll also make a creamy vegan dessert. You will get recipes and skills for including plant-based foods in your diet - a good choice for your health, your budget, and our environment. Plus, we'll have a hearty and delicious dinner to eat when we're done. Allergy information: Our ingredients will include almonds and cashews. The class is taught by Thea Keith-Lucas, a committed amateur vegan chef and one of the chaplains in the Office of Religious, Ethical and Spiritual Life. To register, email Thea at theakl@mit.edu.

Sponsor(s): Lutheran Ministry at MIT
Contact: Thea Keith-Lucas, W11-007, 617-458-1253, THEAKL@MIT.EDU


Waste Management 101

Hugo Uvegi, Sakiko Isomichi

Add to Calendar Jan/29 Tue 09:00AM-01:00PM TBD

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/21
Prereq: None

This 1-day session, brought to you by MIT's Waste Alliance, will run through the end-of-life treatment of all types of waste--trash, recycling, and compost--following their path from the trash receptacle to their ultimate end.

By the end, you will walk away with a greater awareness and understanding of materials as they run through the disposal and recycling parts of their lifecycle.

Contact: Sakiko Isomichi, sisomichi1212@gmail.com


Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

Henry Lieberman, Research Scientist, CSAIL, Christopher Fry

Add to Calendar Jan/10 Thu 03:00PM-05:00PM 24-615

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Prereq: none

Indeed, why can't we? Why do we have war? Poverty? What can we do
about it? Will technological progress result in robots destroying
humanity? Will automation take all our jobs? Will there be ecological
disaster?  What's the future of government, industry, education,
transportation, justice?

We'll show you a simple mathematical, psychological, and evolutionary
model that explains why people get sometimes sucked into doing bad
stuff, even if they're not bad people. We'll also explain how new
technology, especially AI and 3D printing, can enable a more just,
prosperous, and more cooperative society. Young people now have an
opportunity to rethink government, the economy, education, and all of
our institutions. Let's do it!

Feeling frustrated about your new President and the process that got
him there? Can technology help? Yes.

Sponsor(s): Experimental Study Group
Contact: Henry Lieberman, 32G-475, (617) 500-5267, lieber@MEDIA.MIT.EDU