2009 campus news archive

Task Force report to be shared with community this summer - The Institute-wide Planning Task Force, which has been studying ways to reduce costs, boost revenues and increase MIT's effectiveness, will describe the recommendations of its various working groups in a report that will be made available to the MIT community later this summer. July 1

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. June 26

MIT-Portugal at the halfway point - The MIT director of the MIT Portugal Program, Daniel Roos, has been a driving force in the emergence of engineering systems as a field of study. The News Office recently sat down with him to talk about the program at its midway point. June 25

Nanotechnology expert wins Lemelson-MIT Prize - Professor Chad Mirkin, director of Northwestern University's International Institute for Nanotechnology, has been awarded the 2009 $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize. June 24

Exploring journalism's future - More than 250 students and professionals in the media business attended a conference hosted by MIT's Center for Future Civic Media and the Knight News Challenge, featuring in-depth discussions and presentations on an imaginative array of new media projects. June 23

3 Questions: Evan Ziporyn on his new opera - In this installment of '3 Questions,' Evan Ziporyn, the Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Music, talks about his new opera, 'A House in Bali,' which is based on a true-life story and combines Balinese and Western musical forms. June 22

Koch Institute symposium targets tumor metastasis - Researchers from around the world discussed some of the latest developments at the June 19 annual symposium of the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, held in Kresge Auditorium. June 22

Thomas Lyons, longtime LNS employee, 70 - Thomas F. Lyons, a longtime employee of the MIT Laboratory for Nuclear Science (LNS), died on Sunday, May 3, in Flagler Beach, Fla. He was 70. June 19

Lester to head nuclear science and engineering - Professor Richard Lester has been named the next head of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, effective Sept. 1, 2009, Dean of Engineering Subra Suresh announced this week. June 19

MIT, Arab Republic of Egypt announce new program - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Arab Republic of Egypt announced the creation of a new fellowship program to provide financial support to students from Egypt to study engineering and other subjects at MIT. June 18

Newly formed Ragon Institute hosts symposium on computational immunology - Scientists recently gathered at MIT for a Ragon Institute symposium to discuss how to harness computational immunology to develop treatments for some of today's deadliest infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS. June 18

International Engineering Systems Symposium addresses complex, large-scale challenges - A capacity audience from academia, industry and government from around the world filled MIT's Wong Auditorium for the International Engineering Systems Symposium on Monday, June 15, the first day of the three-day event. June 17

3 Questions: William S. Swelbar on his aviation blog - In this installment of '3 Questions,' William S. Swelbar, research engineer in MIT's International Center for Air Transportation, discusses the airline industry and his blog, 'Swelblog: Swelbar on Airlines.' June 16

MIT Medical: Summer changes for Urgent Care and Inpatient Unit - From June 19 to Aug. 17, MIT Medical's Urgent Care Service in Building E23 will be closed during the late-night hours of 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., though care will continue around the clock. Urgent Care will resume 24-hour-a-day operation in Building E23 on Aug. 18. June 12

In space, past is prologue - This week's Giant Leaps celebration at MIT honored those who made the Apollo Program a success and applied the lessons of their experience to the greatest challenges and opportunities of our future. June 12

Legatum Center awards 2009 seed grants to 8 teams - The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT has awarded summer seed grants to eight teams of students, giving them the necessary means to bolster innovative solutions to development challenges in low-income countries. June 11

Wodiczko brings immigrant stories to life - This week, MIT Visual Arts Professor Krzysztof Wodiczko opened a solo video installation at the 53rd Venice Biennale -- considered by many the world's most important venue for contemporary art -- about the plight of immigrants in Europe. June 10

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. June 10

MIT community mourns loss of Professor David Schauer, 48 - David Schauer, a professor of biological engineering and comparative medicine at MIT, died Sunday, June 7, two weeks after suddenly falling ill. He was 48. June 9

IS&T launches service for interactive text messaging - MIT's Information Services & Technology (IS&T) recently launched an interactive text messaging service that provides a new way for community members to access information on the go. June 9

Leonard Sudenfield, former member of CMSE staff, 83 - Leonard Sudenfield, who worked at MIT for nearly half a century, died April 25 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 83. June 8

Alumni reunion gifts top $152 million - More than 3,100 alumni and guests gathered last weekend to celebrate their MIT connections and give back to the Institute. Alumni reunion gifts to MIT, reported at the annual Tech Day luncheon at the Johnson Athletic Center on Saturday, June 6, totaled more than $152 million. June 8

Louis Smullin, former electrical engineering department head, 93 - Louis D. Smullin, former head of the electrical engineering department who helped to create MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), died peacefully at his residence at Lasell House on Thursday, June 4. He was 93. June 8

Corporation names new members - The MIT Corporation, the Institute's board of trustees, elected nine term members and three life members at its quarterly meeting on Friday morning, June 5, before the Commencement exercises. Dana G. Mead, chair of the Corporation, announced the election results. June 5

Commencement 2009 photo gallery - A photo gallery chronicling the hooding of doctoral students on June 4 and Commencement on June 5, 2009. June 5

Palacios named ONR Young Investigator - The Navy's Department of Naval Research (ONR) has named Tomás Palacios, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, as one of its 15 new Young Investigators. June 5

'Write the next chapter' - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick advised graduates at MIT's 143rd Commencement to take advantage of the skills they have learned at MIT to "write the next chapter of the American story." June 5

13 from MIT receive Fulbright scholarships - Two recent MIT graduates and 11 current students have been awarded Fulbright scholarships to study abroad for the 2009-2010 academic year. June 4

Smoot in stone - On Thursday, June 4, a plaque was unveiled on the MIT side of the Massachusetts Avenue bridge to commemorate the night in October 1958 when Oliver Smoot '62, was used to measure and mark the span from Boston to Cambridge. June 4

Thousands of alumni expected for Tech Reunions - More than 3,000 alumni and guests are expected to visit campus June 4-7 for Tech Reunions 2009. The reunions offer alumni an opportunity to see old friends, learn about MIT today and engage in special events. June 4

Institute Awards 2008-2009 - Awards and recognition of MIT students, faculty and staff for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Awards Convocation - Awards presented at the MIT Awards Convocation on May 5, 2009. June 3

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics awards - Awards given in MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Architecture awards - Awards given in MIT Architecture for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Arts awards - Awards given in MIT Arts for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Biology awards - Awards given in MIT Biology for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Brain & Cognitive Sciences awards - Awards given in MIT Brain & Cognitive Sciences for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Chemical Engineering awards - Awards given in MIT Chemical Engineering for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Chemistry awards - Awards given in MIT Chemistry for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Civil & Environmental Engineering awards - Awards given in MIT Civil & Environmental Engineering for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Center for International Studies awards - Awards given in the MIT Center for International Studies for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences awards - Awards given in MIT Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science awards - Awards given in MIT Electrical Engineering & Computer Science for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

School of Engineering awards - Awards given in the MIT School of Engineering for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

MIT gears up for 143rd Commencement - Deval Patrick, governor of Massachusetts, will deliver the principal address at MIT's 143rd Commencement exercises Friday morning, June 5, in Killian Court. June 3

Physics awards - Awards given in the MIT Physics for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

MIT's youngest graduates - When the Technology Children's Center opened in the Stata Center in the summer of 2004, it was the first center to offer infant care on campus -- and these four children were among its first enrollees. June 3

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. June 3

To the moon, by way of MIT - MIT is hosting a celebration June 10-12 to honor those who made the Apollo Program a success, and to apply the lessons of their experience to the greatest challenges and opportunities of our future. June 3

Engineering Systems Division awards - Awards given in the MIT Engineering Systems Division for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Experimental Study Group awards - Awards given in the MIT Experimental Study Group for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Foreign Languages & Literatures awards - Awards given in MIT Foreign Languages & Literatures for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Department of Materials Science and Engineering awards - Awards given in MIT Materials Science and Engineering for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Mathematics awards - Awards given in MIT Mathematics for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Mechanical Engineering awards - Awards given in MIT Mechanical Engineering for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Nuclear Science & Engineering awards - Awards given in MIT Nuclear Science & Engineering for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Phi Beta Kappa awards - MIT Phi Beta Kappa Chapter Xi 2009 Electees June 3

MIT Public Service Center awards - Awards given in the MIT Public Service Center for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

MIT Sloan School of Business & Management awards - Awards given in the MIT Sloan School of Business & Management for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Student Activities Office awards - Awards given in the MIT Students Activities Office for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Department of Urban Studies and Planning awards - Awards given in MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Fraternitites, Sororities and Independent Living Groups awards - Awards given in MIT Fraternities, Sororities and Independent Living Groups for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

Health Sciences and Technology awards - Awards given in the Harvard/MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology for the academic year 2008-2009. June 3

CEHS awards annual research prizes - The Center for Environmental Health Sciences (CEHS) at MIT held its annual poster session on May 27 in Morss Hall in Walker Memorial. The session highlighted the work of 18 of the center's affiliated labs from eight MIT departments and featured more than 50 posters. June 2

MIT announces Leaders for Global Operations program - The MIT Leaders for Manufacturing (LFM) program is being renamed the Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program, reflecting an expansion from its historically broad understanding of manufacturing to encompass all aspects of operations. June 1

Alumni Association new executive vice president - Judith M. Cole, associate vice president for university advancement and director of alumni relations at Carnegie Mellon University, is set to become the next executive vice president and chief executive officer of the MIT Alumni Association. June 1

Preliminary reports submitted to Task Force - The nine working groups that comprise MIT's Institute-wide Planning Task Force have submitted their preliminary reports outlining the best ways to reduce costs, boost revenues and increase MIT's effectiveness in performing its mission. June 1

MIT teams win U.S. Department of Defense grants - A pair of major grants from the U.S. Department of Defense will support MIT research on building ultra-fast microchips for computation and communications, as well as research on new electronic surveillance systems. May 28

MIT worker injured after accident - An accident in the Stata Center Thursday morning sent an MIT Department of Facilities worker to Massachusetts General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. May 28

Chilled beams hit the roof - Several MIT buildings are using cooling devices called chilled beams, which use water, not air, to remove heat from a room. The potential energy reduction of using these beams instead of a traditional air-conditioning system ranges from 20 to 50 percent. May 28

Quarter Century Club welcomes new members for 2009 - With MIT President Susan Hockfield as the featured speaker, the Quarter Century Club (QCC) inducted 125 new members during an April 16 luncheon at the MIT Faculty Club. May 27

Jaenisch wins faculty's Killian Award - Rudolf Jaenisch, professor of biology and a founding member of the Whitehead Institute, is MIT's James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award winner for 2009-2010. May 22

Project Whirlwind comes home - The Project Whirlwind Computer collection -- a compilation of pioneering computing research conducted at MIT in the 1940s and 1950s -- has been transferred back to the Institute, and its contents are being opened to the public for the first time. May 22

Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program kicks off - More than 100 guests attended a kick-off breakfast on Wednesday, May 20, for the Bernard M. Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program. May 21

Swami Sarvagatananda, former chaplain for MIT Hindu students, 96 - Swami Sarvagatananda, a former chaplain for Hindu students at MIT who touched the lives of thousands of community members during his 45 years at the Institute, died on May 4. He was 96. May 21

Deadline approaching to submit awards for inclusion in the Institute Awards issue - The deadline to submit awards for the 2009 Institute Awards issue, which will be printed in MIT's Tech Talk on June 3, is approaching. Please send your departmental awards to gillooly@mit.edu by this Friday, May 22. May 20

Faculty meeting agenda for May 20 - A regular meeting of the faculty will begin at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, in Room 10-250. May 19

Armed with caulk, they walk the talk - Showing that they can "walk the talk" on reducing the Institute's carbon footprint, students, faculty and staff from the MIT Sloan School of Management spent May 8 caulking windows in E52 in a bid to help conserve energy. May 18

Solar-powered art - Last week marked the opening at the MIT List Visual Arts Center of "The Immeasurable Distance," a solo exhibition that includes works based on artist Matthew Day Jackson's residency at MIT. May 14

Ksplice software update project wins $100K - Top honors this year in the 20th annual MIT $100k Entrepreneurship Competition went to Ksplice, a system that promises to end the annoyance and delays of having to reboot a computer every time a new update is installed. May 14

DOE to establish two Energy Frontier Research Centers at MIT - MIT will be home to two of 46 new multimillion-dollar Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), the White House announced this week. May 13

Annual support staff 'toolkit' and luncheon set for June 11 - MIT will host the third annual Support Staff Professional Development Toolkit event on Thursday, June 11. The event features a series of workshops that give support staff an opportunity to focus on their professional development. May 13

Phokion Karas, 88, RLE staff photographer - A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 16, for Phokion Karas, a noted architectural photographer and a staff photographer who spent 18 years at the Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT. May 13

Husk Insulation wins $200k MIT Clean Energy Prize - The MIT Clean Energy Prize has announced that Husk Insulation was selected from more than 100 student entries to receive the $200,000 MIT Clean Energy Grand Prize sponsored by NSTAR and the U.S. Department of Energy. May 13

Sharon Trohon, AO in mechanical engineering, 62 - H. Sharon Trohon, administrative officer of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, died May 11 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 62. May 13

Energy research is the key, Chu says - Steven Chu, the secretary of the Department of Energy, said in a talk on Tuesday at MIT that a major increase in basic research is necessary in the United States in order to provide the new energy technologies needed to avert catastrophic climate change. May 13

Endicott House, gardeners' group holding plant sale May 20-21 - The annual Endicott House spring plant sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, in McDermott Court, and on Thursday, May 21, on the Student Center lawn.  May 13

Scratch Day goes global - On May 16, two years from the day of its initial launch, the Media Lab-developed programming language Scratch is being celebrated with events in more than 100 locations in 41 countries around the world, says its creator, Mitchel Resnick. May 12

MIT helps smokers quit - "Quitting smoking is easy -- I've done it hundreds of times," said a rueful Mark Twain. Like many would-be ex-smokers, he had trouble "staying quit," but MIT Medical is helping smokers stop for good with a program that's free to the MIT community. May 12

MIT student project wins coveted EPA award - MIT students working to bring affordable, eco-friendly energy to off-the-grid areas of the world have received one of six Environmental Protection Agency grants for programs that protect the environment and are economically sustainable. May 12

Alumnus adds to support of J-PAL - MIT alumnus Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel has committed a substantial gift to support the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in its mission to reduce poverty worldwide by ensuring that policy is based on scientific evidence. May 12

Blood drive this week in student center - MIT's American Red Cross Team and Network will be sponsoring a blood drive this week (May 11 through May 15) in La Sala de Puerto Rico on the second floor of the MIT Student Center. May 11

Committee on Animal Care solicits feedback - The Committee on Animal Care is soliciting information that would aid MIT's effort to maintain the humane care of animals used in research. May 11

'Bother bots' win the day - Each of the 150 students in the 2.007 Design and Manufacturing class had to build one or more robots from a kit of provided parts, and the bots battled it out in a series of elimination matches that concluded Thursday night before a cheering crowd. May 8

'Babylon 5' creator visiting MIT on May 22 - J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of the cult science fiction series "Babylon 5," will deliver this year's Julius Schwartz Lecture, an annual event held to honor an individual who has made significant contributions to the culture, creativity and community of comics and popular entertainment. May 7

UK's Wellcome Trust launches postdoc fellows program at MIT - The Wellcome Trust announced on May 7 the establishment of a new program at MIT that will fund postdoctoral fellows to do research at the interfaces between biology/medicine, computation, the physical sciences and engineering. May 7

Energy Secretary Chu to speak May 12 at MIT - Nobel Laureate and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu will visit MIT on May 12 and deliver the Compton Lecture. May 6

Bike awareness event planned for May 13 - MIT's Office of Parking and Transportation will hold a bike awareness event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, outside the Stratton Student Center. Join in and learn how to commute to work safely by bike. Register your bike during the event and get a free T-shirt with your bike permit. May 6

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. May 6

Natural inspiration - Media Lab student Neri Oxman creates art and structural designs that draw from the way nature works. That approach has already earned several of her works a place in the permenant collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. May 6

Searching for roots of compassion - Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, exhorted a packed audience at Kresge Auditorium on Thursday, April 30, to work toward a more compassionate world, emphasizing that a loving and ethical life can be based on any religion, or on no religion. May 5

3 Questions: Jeffrey Hoffman - In this installment of "3 Questions," Jeffrey Hoffman, professor of the practice in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and former shuttle astronaut, offers thoughts on what the next repair crew can expect during the final Hubble servicing mission. May 5

Italian students' group in quake relief drive - MITaly, the Italian student association at MIT, has begun raising money to support reconstruction at the University of L'Aquila, which was severely damaged during the earthquake that hit Italy's Abruzzo region in April. May 5

12 journalists named Knight Fellows - The Knight Science Journalism Fellowship program at MIT has selected 12 journalists from seven countries for its 27th class of Fellows. May 5

Community Spring Break event canceled - In light of ongoing concerns about the H1N1 influenza ("swine flu") virus, the Spring Break event originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, in Killian Court has been canceled. May 5

MITEI awards third round of seed grants - The MIT Energy Initiative's third round of seed grants for energy research will support innovative work on solar power, nuclear power, fuel cells, biofuels, and more. Several projects are inspired by natural systems such as gecko feet and bacterial antennas. May 5

Task Force assessing ideas on efficiencies, expenses - MIT's Institute-wide Planning Task Force is now evaluating ideas from the MIT community on how to handle budget reductions and is working toward its preliminary recommendations, due in June. May 5

Processing time - Teams of programmers gathered May 2 for 'Processing Time,' a coding jam and competition organized by Assistant Professor of Digital Media Nick Montfort as part of the Boston Cyberarts Festival. May 5

Eight teams win IDEAS awards - At an awards ceremony Monday night for MIT's annual IDEAS contest, eight teams were awarded prizes of up to $7,500 each for their efforts to create business ventures that could address pressing needs in the world's developing countries. May 5

MIT senior wins on Jeopardy - Jiaqi "Jean" Cui, an MIT senior from Garden City, N.Y., won an episode of the popular TV quiz show "Jeopardy" that was broadcast on Thursday, April 30. May 4

Sloan's Lo to discuss quantitative analysis and the current financial crisis in Sigma Xi lecture - Andrew Lo will deliver the 2009 Sigma Xi lecture titled, "Models vs. Mania: The Role of Quantitative Analysis Research in the Current Financial Crisis," at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, in the MIT Faculty Club, E26, 50 Memorial Drive. May 4

MISTI seeks proposals for seed grants - MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) has launched a call for proposals for its second round of Global Seed Funds grants. May 4

MISTI awards fellowships for 2009 - Five MIT students have received a 2009 Anthony Sun Fellowship Award to pursue international internships this summer through the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI). May 1

Robots on a recycling rampage - More than 150 robots, in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and capabilities, will battle it out on May 6 and 7 in a contest to see which can collect the most soda cans and simulated bales of trash and return then to a recycling facility all in under a minute. May 1

Dalai Lama visits MIT - The Dalai Lama today visits MIT to dedicate a new center aimed at promoting ethical behavior and leadership. April 30

MIT's preparations for H1N1 influenza ("swine flu") - A letter to the MIT community on the H1N1 influenza ("swine flu") cases reported in Mexico and other countries, as well as in several U.S. states including Massachusetts. April 30

Kenneth Vincent Donaghey, MIT plumber, 77 - Kenneth Vincent Donaghey, who worked as a plumber at MIT for more than three decades, died on April 24 after a long illness. He was 77. April 29

MIT, Portuguese government strengthen joint research agenda - The MIT-Portugal Program is a major initiative undertaken by the Portuguese government to strengthen the country's knowledge base at an international level through a strategic investment in people, knowledge and ideas. April 29

A life of research and service - Institute Professor John Deutch was honored with a symposium Thursday, April 16, which featured tributes from some noted figures who were friends and colleagues during his work in government as well as teaching, research and administration at MIT. April 28

Innovator Selanikio Wins $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability - The Lemelson-MIT Program today named Dr. Joel Selanikio as the recipient of the 2009 $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability in recognition of his accomplishments in public health and international development. April 28

MIT's new faculty work/life web site - MIT faculty members looking for support in the area of work/life balance now have a new resource at their disposal: a single MIT web site that pulls together much of the information that was previously scattered across multiple sites. April 28

Summit explores global sustainability - MIT's Sustainability Summit was held last week and garnered a full-house turnout for a series of talks, panel discussions and breakout sessions. The summit capped four days of Earth Week activities on campus, and was the lead achievement of the new student organization called Sustainability@MIT. April 28

MIT awarded Aragon International Prize - The government of Aragon in Spain has presented the 2009 Aragon International Prize to MIT for its role in developing innovation and enhancing economic growth in the region. April 27

Moniz named to Obama's science and technology advisory council - MIT Energy Initiative Director Ernest J. Moniz is among the 20 leading U.S. scientists and engineers selected to serve on President Barack Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). April 27

Back to (basics for) the future? - Regulation of carbon emissions could pose a significant challenge to the way engineers design products, cities and more, but a solution may be as simple as using archaic building materials such as soil, says MIT Associate Professor John Ochsendorf. April 24

Music at MIT hitting all the right notes - Later this month, the MIT community will celebrate the 70th birthday of one of America's most prominent and prolific composers, Pulitzer Prize-winning musician John Harbison, with a special tribute concert and symposium. April 23

Engineering first in U.S. News graduate tally - MIT's School of Engineering was again ranked No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report's annual evaluation of American graduate school programs, which hits newsstands next week. April 23

MIT to reduce the number of varsity sports offered - Today, MIT announces that the following eight varsity sports will no longer be offered at the Institute: Alpine Skiing, Golf, Men's Ice Hockey, Women's Ice Hockey, Men's Gymnastics, Women's Gymnastics, Pistol, and Wrestling. These changes are effective at the conclusion of this academic year. April 23

An urban planner's dream - An interview on sustainability with Judith Layzer, the Edward H. (1962) and Joyce Linde Career Development Associate Professor of Environmental Policy in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. April 23

MIT Arab Students Organization honors El-Sayed - The MIT Arab Students' Organization held its sixth annual Science and Technology Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 11, this year honoring Mostafa El-Sayed, Regents Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and director of the Laser Dynamics Laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology. April 23

Postdoc wins Sustainability at MIT Photo Contest - Postdoctoral associate Luiz Godoy has won the Sustainability at MIT Photo Contest for his image of compact fluorescent light bulbs "growing" in Killian Court. April 22

Summit to explore global sustainability - As the capstone of its first year as a campus-wide student organization, Sustainability@MIT will be holding the first annual Sustainability Summit. The daylong event, which will include invited talks and panel discussions, will take place Friday in Walker Memorial. April 21

Eight from MIT elected to AAAS - Eight members of the MIT community are among the 210 new Fellows and 19 new Foreign Honorary Members recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. April 20

Your guide to Earth Week 2009 events at MIT - MIT will celebrate Earth Week 2009 with four days of exhibitions, fairs and a film screening. A variety of MIT groups and vendors will be featured, with five major themes: energy conservation, food, green purchasing, recycling and transportation. April 17

Cambridge Science Festival keeps on growing - The organizers of the rapidly growing Cambridge Science Festival - which will kick off its third year on April 25 - have ambitious plans for the future that include expanding the festival's outreach beyond just nine days each spring. April 16

LEES to be merged into RLE - The Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems (LEES) will be merged into the Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE) effective July 1, 2009, as part of a growing emphasis on energy-related research in RLE. April 16

Laszlo Tisza, physics professor emeritus, 101 - Laszlo Tisza, physics professor emeritus and an expert in quantum mechanics and thermodynamics, died Wednesday. He was 101. April 16

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. April 15

MIT ballroom dance competition set for April 25-26 - The 2009 MIT Open Ballroom Dance Competition, one of the best-attended competitions of its kind in the country, will take place April 25-26 at the Rockwell Gym. April 15

'Slice of MIT' blogs on Institute culture - Slice of MIT, a blog hosted by the MIT Alumni Association, presents daily doses of MIT culture gathered by staff, students, faculty and, soon, by guest alumni contributors such as photojournalist Owen Franken '68. April 15

High-flying films and facts - On three Wednesdays in April, MIT Aero-Astro faculty -- including a former fighter pilot, a former space shuttle astronaut and a designer of future space suits -- will take part in a special film and lecture series cosponsored by the Lecture Series Committee and Giant Leaps. April 14

'Diversity Dialogues' to focus on unconscious bias - This spring, MIT is offering faculty, staff and students the chance to participate in Diversity Dialogues, a series of conversations on unconscious bias and its unintended consequences. April 14

Submit awards for the 2009 commencement issue - The MIT News Office will publish the 2009 Institute Awards issue in print (MIT Tech Talk) and online on June 3 this year. The annual special section lists winners of annual awards, by department, along with photographs where available. April 14

John Deutch to be honored - On the occasion of his 70th birthday, Institute Professor John Deutch is being honored with a symposium this Thursday in 10-250, featuring talks by leading figures from academia and government who have worked with him through the years. April 13

Faculty meeting agenda for April 15 - A regular meeting of the faculty will take place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in Room 10-250. April 13

At MIT, Markey announces energy bill hearings - At a policy forum hosted by MIT on Monday Rep. Edward Markey announced that he and Rep. Henry Waxman will begin a series of high-level hearings next week in Washington to help refine the details of a clean energy bill they introduced two weeks ago. April 13

Enge memorial to be held April 14 - A memorial service for Harald Enge will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in the MIT Chapel. April 9

Gardeners on the roof - This summer, vegetables, flowers and herbs will take the place of some of the cars and trucks atop MIT's West Garage as part of MIT's first-ever community garden. April 8

Minding their ps and qs about kwhs - In the third annual Dorm Electricity Competition, this year graduate dorms will be joining the undergrads in vying to see which dorm can reduce its electricity use the most during an 8-week period. Winners will divide $10,000 for dorm improvements. April 8

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. April 8

Conrad, Doyle named Guggenheim fellows - Professor Janet Conrad of physics and Associate Professor Patrick Doyle of chemical engineering are among the 180 artists, scientists and scholars awarded fellowships by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. April 8

Mysteries of science theater - The Catalyst Collaborative @ MIT and Underground Railway Theater are staging a production of "The Life of Galileo," the classic play by Bertolt Brecht, translated by David Hare, April 10 through May 17 at the Central Square Theater. April 7

Mr. Magnet to end his traveling roadshows - For almost two decades, Paul Thomas, a technical supervisor at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, has brought his truckload of magnetic demonstrations to area schools to excite students about science. After 17 years MIT's Mr. Magnet is taking his show off the road. April 7

MIT to host clean energy policy forum - Proposed federal rules aimed at promoting clean energy, combating climate change and creating new "green-collar" jobs will be the focus of a policy forum on April 13 at MIT featuring several of the key Washington players who are working to get them approved. April 7

SA+P team wins major urban design competition - A School of Architecture and Planning team's plan to redevelop a 75-acre parcel of land within the city of Denver has won the Urban Land Institute's seventh annual Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition. April 7

MIT Police review panel members named - MIT has selected eight people to serve on a review panel that will determine whether MIT Police have the policies, governance and disciplinary systems needed to promote police practice at the highest level. April 7

Ishii makes the virtual tangible - At a time when ever more aspects of our lives are moving toward the virtual, online world Hiroshi Ishii seems to be swimming against that current: His aim is to bring the world of computers into more real and tangible form, seamlessly integrated with our daily lives. April 6

BAMIT event highlights black achievement in arts and sciences - Honoring what Chancellor Phil Clay PhD '75 called "a deep and relevant history," members of Black Alumni at MIT (BAMIT) held a semi-formal dinner in the Picower Institute Atrium on Saturday to celebrate its 30th anniversary as an organization. April 6

Acumen Fund founder to give Legatum Lecture April 9 - The MIT Legatum Lecture series continues on April 9 with Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO and founder of Acumen Fund, a nonprofit global venture fund supporting market-based solutions to poverty. April 3

Resolve to revolve - Interested in saving the Institute money while lessening our carbon footprint? Research from MIT students indicates that if everyone were to use the revolving doors MIT would save almost $7,500 in natural gas a year. April 3

Joining the Quarter Century Club - The MIT Quarter Century Club Induction Ceremony and Luncheon for new members will be held this year on Thursday, April 16. April 2

Two from MIT in top 5 at Putnam math contest - Two MIT students placed in the top five in the prestigious William Lowell Putnam intercollegiate mathematics competition for 2008. April 2

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. April 1

MIT economists see a few bright spots - Six months after a panel of five MIT faculty experts in economics and business warned that the then just-emerging financial crises would get much worse, the same panel re-convened and found bright spots on the economic horizon. April 1

From high school to the laboratory - More than 160 area high school students and their teachers spent a day at MIT during spring break as part of a science outreach program hosted by the Department of Biology. March 31

Bras eyes 'intertwined dance' of land, water, plants - If the lesson of this year's Killian Award lecture could be told as a folk proverb, it might be this: Water changes land, land changes plant, plant changes land, land changes water. March 31

Task Force working groups move from information to planning - MIT's Institute-wide Planning Task Force, created to find ways to reduce costs and increase efficiencies in the Institute's operations over the next three years, is completing the first phase of its work -- gathering data and suggestions from the Institute's students, faculty and staff. March 31

New vanpools forming now; seats available on existing routes - A new vanpool between Westborough/Framingham and Kendall Square will begin in April, offering members of the community another money-saving commuting option. March 30

When will it end? - Several MIT financial experts will discuss the current economic climate and how it has changed in the last six months during a talk titled "The U.S. Financial Crisis … Is There an End in Sight?" March 27

Junior named Truman scholar - An MIT junior who is working to make it easier for physically challenged individuals in Africa to move around has been awarded a 2009 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. March 27

Students, DSL team up to bring produce stand to campus - A cooperative effort between students and Division of Student Life is bearing fruit in the form of a campus produce stand that will open for business beginning Tuesday, March 31. March 27

Bras to deliver Killian Award lecture on March 30 - Professor Rafael Bras will deliver the 37th annual Killian Award lecture at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30, in Kirsch Auditorium. March 25

Obama calls alums in space - Astronauts Dominic "Tony" Antonelli '89 and his former Aero-Astro classmate Michael Fincke '89 took part in a long-distance phone call on Tuesday morning from President Barack Obama. March 24

Missing something? Check MIT's lost and found - Several items of significant value have been turned in to the MIT lost and found recently, and the police department is looking for the rightful owners. March 23

Understanding Our Blind Spots - Andrew W. Lo, the Harris & Harris Group Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities presented by the economic crisis. March 23

Hockfield speaks at the White House - At a press briefing at the White House on Monday, MIT President Susan Hockfield joined U.S. President Barack Obama in calling for a "truly historic" new level of federal funding for clean energy research. March 23

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. March 20

MIT review panel to evaluate police policies - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is appointing a special review panel to determine whether MIT Police have the policies, governance and disciplinary systems needed to promote police practice at the highest level. March 20

15 students named MIT Arts Scholars - Fifteen undergraduate students have been selected to the MIT Arts Scholars program for the 2009-10 academic year. They will join the 15 Arts Scholars currently in the program. March 20

MIT faculty open access to their scholarly articles - In a move aimed at broadening access to MIT's research and scholarship, faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have unanimously voted to make their scholarly articles available to the public for free and open access on the Web. March 20

Back to school - Video artist Bill Viola, winner of the Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts, sampled new technologies during a weeklong residency at MIT. March 19

MIT-trained economists bring pragmatic approach to Obama administration - American presidents have famously raided universities to build their policy teams. President Barack Obama has tapped a number of MIT-trained economists to craft a response to the worst economic downturn in generations. March 17

MITAC turns 25 - The MIT Activities Committee (MITAC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this week with open houses on both MIT's main campus and at Lincoln Laboratory. March 17

MIT alum lifts off - Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from Kennedy Space Center on March 15 with pilot Dominic Antonelli '89 at the controls. Discovery's crew will deliver and assemble the final solar array to the International Space Station. March 16

Dalai Lama's ideals fuel new ethics center at MIT - A new center will promote the Dalai Lama's vision of a better world by sponsoring interdisciplinary programs and deliberations on ethics. The center will be formally launched by the Dalai Lama during a visit to MIT on April 30. March 13

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. March 12

A reminder on international travel - As spring break approaches and members of the MIT community make plans for international travel, MIT recommends that they review the MIT Travel Risk Policy. March 12

Margaret Warner memorial service to be held March 24 - A memorial service for Margaret (Peg) Warner will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, in the MIT Chapel. March 12

Edward O. Vetter, Corporation life member emeritus, 88 - Edward Oswald Vetter '42, a former commerce undersecretary in President Ford's administration and an energetic life member emeritus of the MIT Corporation, died March 9 at the age of 88. March 12

Power down - IS&T has made recommendations about energy-efficient computers, enabling energy-saving settings and consolidating underused servers by using virtualization. With community adoption of these guidelines, MIT would save about 8m kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. March 10

Q&A with Institute Professor Barbara Liskov - On the occasion of her winning the Turing Award, Institute Professor Barbara Liskov participated in an interview with the MIT News Office in which she discussed her role in shaping the past, present and future of computer science. March 10

Children's book illuminates photosynthesis - An MIT ocean microbiologist and a Caldecott Award-winning author and illustrator have teamed up to produce a lavishly illustrated children's book that explains how the sun creates life on Earth through photosynthesis. March 10

MIT hosts diversity roundtable - Ways to enhance diversity were explored in the March 9 HERC 2009 Diversity Roundtable at MIT. Human resource professionals brainstormed goals for making work places welcoming to all races, ages, genders and work styles. March 10

26,000 miles later, alumnus completes solo sail - Rich Wilson SM '76 piloted his 60-foot racing yacht, Great American III, across the finish line at Les Sables d'Olonne in France on Tuesday, March 10, after sailing nonstop for four months -- and 26,000 miles -- around the world. March 10

Historic season ends for MIT men's basketball team - After an upset win over Rhode Island College Friday night, the MIT men's basketball team again looked to do something it never had: advance to the sectional round of the NCAA Division III tournament. But standing in MIT's way Saturday was Farmingdale State. March 9

Energy opportunities seen amid crisis - Speakers at MIT's Energy Conference on Saturday emphasized the historic opportunity now open to proponents of clean energy: a global economic crisis that can be directly addressed by sweeping changes to the way we produce and use energy. March 9

Dresselhaus wins Vannevar Bush award - The National Science Board has named Institute Professor Mildred Dresselhaus as the 2009 recipient of the Vannevar Bush award, which annually recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding "contribution toward the welfare of mankind and the nation." March 9

To find new worlds… - This Friday night, NASA will launch Kepler, a satellite designed to discover Earth-sized planets -- potential homes for alien life forms -- that may orbit nearby stars. But that's only part of what the new orbiting telescope can do, says MIT planetary scientist Sara Seager (inset), one of the members of the Kepler team. March 6

Let the nominating begin: Awards Convocation deadline is March 20 - Nominations for MIT's annual Awards Convocation are being accepted now through Friday, March 20. March 6

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. March 5

Four professors named MacVicar fellows - Two professors from the School of Engineering and two from the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences were named MacVicar Faculty Fellows this year in recognition of their innovative teaching practices and accomplishments. March 5

3-D day - An upcoming two-day forum at the MIT Museum will take holography back to the future with presentations on its potential when matched with digital technology. March 4

Legatum lectures and poster session on March 6 - The MIT Legatum Lecture series continues on March 6 with Michael Chu and Karim Khoja, who will discuss bottom-up development in emerging markets. March 4

Energy-filled days - MIT's annual student-run Energy Conference, now in its fourth year, continues to grow and has added some new features this year. The theme of this year's conference is "Accelerating Change in Global Energy." March 4

MIT takes on global transportation challenge - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology today launched Transportation@MIT, a coordinated effort to address one of civilization's most pressing challenges: the environmental impact of the world's ever-increasing demand for transportation. March 4

2009 MIT Excellence Awards - Fifteen individuals and three teams were recipients of MIT Excellence Awards this year, and were presented with their honors during a ceremony held on Wednesday, March 4. March 4

MIT Men's Basketball nets first NEWMAC championship - With a 76-50 victory over Springfield College in the 2009 NEWMAC Tournament Championship final on Sunday, the Engineers continued their historic season by earning an entry into the NCAA tournament for the first time ever. The victory also resulted in MIT's second 20-win season in four years. March 3

SMART Centre launches new program to attract talented young researchers to Singapore - The Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre (SMART Centre) announced today that is has launched three new programs to attract highly talented doctoral students, undergraduate students and postdoctoral researchers to work on exciting research projects at SMART Centre. March 3

MIT team unveils new solar car - MIT's Solar Electric Vehicle Team, the oldest such student team in the country, unveiled its latest high-tech car on Friday, Feb. 27 in Lobby 13. March 2

Video artist Bill Viola to receive McDermott award - Internationally renowned video artist Bill Viola has been selected by MIT's Council for the Arts as the recipient of the Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts, which recognizes the highest standard of creative achievement on a national level. February 27

Bartolotta named to Academic All-America team - MIT senior and men's basketball guard Jimmy Bartolotta was honored again this week by being named to this year's ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America men's basketball team. February 27

MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation Joins the Engineering Systems Division - The MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation is joining the Engineering Systems Division as one of its numerous research initiatives, allowing ESD and CBI to more closely align their efforts in tackling large-scale challenges in the healthcare industry. February 27

'Connections' explores new social communication technologies - A collection of images from 'Connections,' the new exhibition at the MIT Museum. February 27

Jacobs gives inaugural School of Engineering lecture - Images of Irwin Jacobs giving the inaugural address in the School of Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. February 26

Sustainability at MIT Photo Contest OFFICIAL RULES - What does sustainability at MIT look like to you? The MIT News Office invites the MIT community to participate in its first Sustainability at MIT Photo Contest to explore what a sustainable MIT campus means. February 25

Lee Anne Coffey memorial service to be held March 6 - A memorial service for Lee Anne Coffey will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 6, in the MIT Chapel. February 25

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. February 25

Former Professor Mollo-Christensen, concentration camp survivor, 86 - Former professor and NASA scientist Erik L. Mollo-Christensen '48, SM '49, ScD '54 who resisted Nazi occupation of his native Norway and survived the Buchenwald concentration camp, died on Feb. 20. He was 86. February 25

Senior wins Gates scholarship - Alternative-energy enthusiast Orian Welling, a senior in mechanical engineering, has been awarded a full scholarship for graduate study at the University of Cambridge, England, by the Gates Cambridge Trust. February 24

Library book sale Feb. 26 - MIT Libraries' book sale will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Feb. 26 in the Bush Room, 10-105. February 24

Women's track and field wins first New England title - Powered by six individual wins, the MIT women's track and field team captured the NCAA Division III New England Championship for the first time in program history on Saturday, Feb. 21. February 24

Warning about possible check fraud - Several individuals and institutions have recently reported receiving fraudulent checks from various large academic institutions, including MIT. These fraudulent checks appear to have been issued in a check overpayment scam. February 23

Economist Robert C. Merton to receive Muh Award - Robert C. Merton, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, will receive the 2009 Robert A. Muh Alumni Award presented by the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. February 23

Community Giving at MIT: now more than ever - Local nonprofits that we care about need financial help now more than ever. Please join generous MIT employees and retirees in supporting Community Giving at MIT, the easiest and most effective way to make your charitable contribution. February 23

Turning bricks and mortar green - Environmental imperatives are spurring a renewed interest in sustainable architecture, and MIT is increasingly applying its own architectural and engineering expertise, making it an emerging leader in green campus buildings. February 23

Cooking up a new approach to chemistry - This is "Kitchen Chemistry," a course in which students learn principles of food chemistry through experiments involving chocolate chip cookies, hot sauce, chili, coffee and ice cream, among other tasty treats. February 20

South African activist photographer to visit MIT - Zanele Muholi, an award-winning South African photographer and video artist, will be on the MIT campus from Feb. 23 to March 10 as the 2009 Ida Ely Rubin Artist-in-Residence. February 20

Highlights of the Koch Institute Topping-Off Ceremony - Video highlights of the Topping-Off Ceremony for The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT on Feb. 19, 2009. February 20

Letter to the Community from President Hockfield - In a letter to the MIT community, MIT President Susan Hockfield provides updates on Institute finances and planning. February 19

Lermusiaux chosen for Doherty Professorship - The MIT Sea Grant College Program has selected Pierre Lermusiaux, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering's Center for Ocean Engineering, as the recipient of the 2009 Doherty Professorship in Ocean Utilization. February 19

Big ideas - It's unusual for philosophers to publish many books these days, which is why the publication of eight books by eight of the 12 MIT philosophy faculty in the span of a year marks a noteworthy chapter for the Institute's philosophy section. February 19

A cappella group Logarhythms celebrating 60 years - The MIT Logarhythms, MIT's oldest all-male a cappella singing group, is celebrating its 60th anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 21, with a reunion and free concert featuring current group members and alumni from decades past. February 19

New faculty task force to examine tenure issues - A new MIT faculty task force has been formed to examine the process of promotion and tenure at the Institute. February 18

MIT to increase financial aid to middle-income families - MIT has set tuition and fees for 2009-2010 and has budgeted an additional $7.6 million for financial aid enhancements, including an expansion in aid to middle-income families that will ensure even more students have access to an affordable education. February 18

'Mind-Body Month' offers self-care, stress relief tips - With economic issues constantly in the news and other seasonal stresses taking their toll, MIT's "Mind-Body Month" -- being held now through March -- aims to enhance community members' well being, health and relaxation. February 18

MLK celebration speech by MIT senior Matt Gethers - Transcript of speech given by MIT senior Matt Gethers at MIT's 35th annual celebration of the 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration breakfast. February 18

MLK celebration speech by MIT graduate student Joy Johnson - Transcript of speech given by MIT graduate student Joy Johnson at MIT's 35th annual celebration of the 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration breakfast. February 18

Study measures MIT's economic clout - A Kauffman Foundation study released today demonstrates the critical role universities play not only in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial growth, but in stimulating the much-needed recovery in regional and global economies. February 17

Alan Jay Simmons, former Lincoln Laboratory group leader, 84 - Alan Jay Simmons SM '48, who worked at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory for more than 15 years, died peacefully on Monday, Feb. 9, of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 84. February 17

Six junior faculty named Sloan Research Fellows - Six junior MIT faculty have won 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellows, intended to enhance the careers of the very best young faculty members in specified fields of science. February 17

Chinese ambassador visits MIT - China's ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong, called for increased global cooperation on a host of international issues during a visit to MIT on Tuesday, Feb. 10. February 13

Jacobs to give inaugural SOE lecture - Irwin Jacobs MS '57 ScD '59, co-founder and chairman of Qualcomm Incorporated, will give the inaugural lecture of the School of Engineering's new Distinguished Lecture Series at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, in 10-250. February 13

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community. February 12

Choose the artifacts that tell the MIT story - To create an innovative exhibit that will help mark MIT's 150th anniversary in 2011, the MIT Museum is asking the greater MIT community to decide what best illustrates the Institute's 150 years of history, culture and contributions to society. February 12

Sustainability at MIT Photo Contest - What does sustainability at MIT look like to you? The MIT News Office invites all members of the MIT community to participate in its first-ever Sustainability at MIT Photo Contest to explore what a sustainable MIT campus means. February 11

Simons gift to fund autism research at MIT - Jim '58 and Marilyn Simons, along with the Simons Foundation, recently made a gift of $4.5 million to establish the Simons Initiative on Autism and the Brain at MIT. February 11

Rewarding excellence - The 15 individuals and three teams who won MIT Excellence Awards this year went to extraordinary lengths to improve the lives of others, whether those were colleagues deployed in distant lands or working right on campus. February 11

Margaret (Peg) Warner, special assistant to the EVP & treasurer, 67 - Margaret (Peg) Warner, special assistant to the executive vice president and treasurer, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 7, at her Lexington home after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 67. February 11

Six receive Martin Luther King Jr. leadership awards - Six members of the MIT community have received Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards for 2009 in recognition of service that reflects the late civil rights leader's ideals and vision. February 11

New staff site gathers wealth of resources - Using the framework of a website first created by Anne Deveau, a member of the Working Group on Support Staff issues, the site was developed by a project team that included Deveau, Human Resources, the News Office, and Publishing Services Bureau. February 10

Patrick to deliver Commencement address - Deval Patrick, governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will deliver the MIT Commencement address on June 5, 2009. February 10

Letter to the community on Institute-wide planning - Provost L. Rafael Reif, Chancellor Phillip L. Clay and Executive Vice President & Treasurer Theresa M. Stone update the MIT community about the Institute-wide planning process. February 9

MIT to host Chinese ambassador - MIT is honored to host a visit by Zhou Wenzhong, the Chinese ambassador to the United States. As a featured speaker at the MIT China Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 10, Zhou will lecture on "China's Development and China-U.S. Relations." February 9

Resource Development, Alumni Association win awards - MIT's Office of Resource Development and the MIT Alumni Association recently won top prizes in the 2009 District 1 awards competition sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). February 6

Speakers pledge to carry on King's dream - At MIT's 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Celebration on Feb. 5, educator and humanitarian Johnnetta Cole urged all members of the MIT community to take responsibility for achieving a diverse and inclusive campus. February 6

Four MIT engineers named to the NAE - The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced the names of 65 new members and nine foreign associates on Feb. 6, which included three current MIT researchers and one emeritus professor -- Yet-Ming Chiang, Jack B. Dennis, Mark Drela and Edwin L. Thomas. February 6

Independent Activities Period 2009 image gallery - During the past month, students at MIT took part in dozens of activities ranging from woodworking to academic lectures and even hummus making -- all part of the annual Independent Activities Period. Here's a look at a sample of the activities offered this winter. February 6

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community February 4

Commercial property price index posts record drop - Transaction sale prices of commercial property sold by major institutional investors fell by more than 10 percent -- a record -- in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to an index developed and published at the MIT Center for Real Estate. February 4

2009 Burchard scholars selected - Twenty-seven sophomores and juniors have been selected as Burchard scholars in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences for 2009. February 4

Institute employees honored for work through diversity programs - Three MIT community members will be honored through two programs designed to recognize excellence in work performance and enhance leadership capabilities of high-performing minority employees. February 4

Blue Lobster Bowl at MIT - Sixteen teams of the region's top science students will answer questions in areas such as biology, marine science, chemistry and ocean engineering at the annual Blue Lobster Bowl on Feb. 7 at MIT. February 3

Sloan to partner with SKOLKOVO - The MIT Sloan School of Management and the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO are launching a series of joint programs. February 3

'Chameleon Guitar' blends old-world and high-tech - Built by a student at MIT's Media Lab the Chameleon Guitar -- so named for its ability to mimic different instruments -- is an electric guitar whose body has a separate central section that is removable. February 3

3 Questions: Kosta Tsipis on nuclear proliferation - In this installment of "3 Questions" Kosta Tsipis, former director of MIT's Program in Science and Technology for International Security, discusses the threats posed by nuclear proliferation. February 3

J-PAL captures major new international award - MIT's Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, which uses scientific methods to assess the effectiveness of poverty relief and development programs, has been given a major new international award in recognition of its contributions and innovations. February 2

Johnnetta Cole to address MLK breakfast - Educator and humanitarian Johnnetta B. Cole, the first African-American woman to serve as president of Spelman College, will be the keynote speaker at MIT's 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Celebration on Thursday. February 2

Road-worthy plane? Or sky-worthy car? - What began as an MIT student project has evolved into a working prototype of a two-seater airplane that can be quickly converted into a road-worthy car. The car-plane will soon begin test flights and is expected to go on sale next year. February 2

Surviving without growing - Jay Forrester, the father of system dynamics, now 90 and a professor emeritus of the MIT Sloan School of Management, took the time to speak with us about sustainability and organizational decision making. January 30

Lee Anne Coffey, EHS business manager, 41 - Lee Anne (Hardiman) Coffey, business manager of the Environmental Health and Safety Headquarters Office, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was 41. January 30

Who's the best recycler of all? - The entire MIT community will have a chance to compete this year as the campus squares off against others around the country for a national recycling competition. January 30

Darwin lives - Many of the mysteries from Charles Darwin's theories on evolution were explored this month as part of a three-day MIT conference that celebrated the 200th birthday of the famed naturalist and examined his continuing impact on geology, biology and culture. January 28

Who Lives Here? - Nishima Chudasama held open the shop door for the man with the haunted eyes and bird's nest beard and wondered about his life. Then she stopped wondering and started finding out. January 28

Select W1 improvements to proceed this spring - Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of an anonymous donor, MIT will proceed with limited improvements to the W1 residence hall this spring.  January 27

Berger receives French Legion of Honor medal - MIT political science professor Suzanne Berger was presented with a French Legion of Honor medal Monday in recognition of both her research and her efforts to strength ties between MIT and French researchers. January 27

Sloan site to share teaching resources, knowledge - In an effort to share its knowledge with the world for free, MIT's Sloan School of Management launched a web site Monday that will offer case studies, teaching videos and other innovative instructional resources to anyone with access to the Internet. January 26

Bhatia among tech paper's 10 'Women to Watch' - Sangeeta Bhatia, a professor of electrical engineering and health sciences and technology, was named one of the 10 "Women to Watch" on Jan. 23 by the newspaper Mass High Tech. January 26

Lincoln Laboratory is on a 'ROLL' - In response to the growing popularity of robotics programs in high schools and elementary schools, several Lincoln Laboratory staff members have joined together to mentor students in robotics competitions. January 22

Waves of tranquility - Hackers recently turned Killian Court into a zone of tranquility and calm, in part thanks to the blanket of fresh snow that fell this past week. January 21

LaMay memorial service being held Jan. 28 - A memorial service for Doug LaMay, an officer with the Office of Environment, Health & Safety, will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m. in the MIT Chapel. January 21

DUSP's Briggs joins Obama administration - Xavier de Souza Briggs, has been named associate director of the White House Office of Management and Budget and will be on a two-year professional leave effective Inauguration Day. January 20

Kaufmann memorial service scheduled for Jan. 31 - A memorial service for William W. Kaufmann, an MIT professor emeritus of political science who was one of the country's leading experts on defense planning in the nuclear age, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, in the MIT Chapel. January 20

Masdar Institute joins MIT Energy Initiative - The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is becoming the inaugural founding public member of MITEI. The collaboration will support ongoing research and development of alternative and renewable energy technologies and solutions. January 19

MIT to launch diversity and inclusion site this month - Building on the momentum established at the Diversity Leadership Congress in November, MIT will launch a new web site dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion at the Institute. January 16

MIT conference celebrates Darwin bicentennial - Featuring some of the nation's most prominent researchers in a variety of disciplines, the Jan. 22-24 Charles Darwin Bicentennial Symposium will highlight recent discoveries on how evolution works and how it continues to alter our lives. January 16

Nyhart memorial service scheduled for March 7 - A memorial service for John Daniel Nyhart, the former dean for student affairs who served MIT for 41 years in a variety of roles, will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, in the MIT chapel. January 15

Awards and Honors - Recent achievements by members of the MIT community January 14

CIS scholars offer advice, new ideas to Obama - In response to the immense global challenges facing President-elect Barack Obama, scholars affiliated with MIT's Center for International Studies (CIS) have produced a document of succinctly stated fresh ideas and suggestions for the new president's consideration. January 14

Four win NSF CAREER awards - Four MIT researchers are among the latest recipients of CAREER awards, the highly selective grants that the National Science Foundation awards to junior faculty members who are likely to become academic leaders of the future. January 14

Going green saves MIT green - When it comes to changing the ways energy is produced and used, MIT has long been at the forefront of research. Now, in addition, students, faculty and staff are working hard to put improvements in energy efficiency into practice on campus. January 13

MIT scientists to be key Lunar Institute members - MIT faculty and students will play substantial roles on two of the seven teams that NASA selected to be part of its virtual Lunar Science Institute, in preparation for the resumption of human visits to the moon about a decade from now. January 12

Emergency text-message service being tested this month - Be on the lookout this month for a test of the MIT Alert text-messaging service, a key component of the Institute's emergency notification program. January 12

Get ready to getfit@mit - Did you resolve to get into better shape in 2009? If so, you're in luck, because registration for the fifth annual getfit@mit team fitness challenge is now open. January 8

Three from MIT among world's top economists - Three MIT economists - Esther Duflo, Amy Finkelstein and Iván Werning - have been singled out by The Economist magazine as among the world's eight best young economists, who are "making a big splash in their discipline and beyond." January 8

Zuber urges Congress to fund research - Funding for research and education in science and technology should be a major priority in the economic recovery package, said MIT geophysics professor Maria T. Zuber testified before the Steering and Policy Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. January 7

MIT named one of 100 best values among private schools - MIT was ranked number eight among the nation's top 50 private universities in Kiplinger's Personal Finance's annual assessment of schools that combine outstanding academic excellence and exceptional economic value. January 7

The legacy of Larry Vale - As he steps down from what he good-naturedly calls "year seven of my four-year term as department head," Larry Vale takes satisfaction in what everyone in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning agrees has been a most productive term of office. January 5

Douglas LaMay, EHS officer, 38 - Douglas LaMay, an officer with the Office of Environment, Health & Safety, died on Sunday, Jan. 4. He was 38. January 5