Edgerton Center
The Edgerton Center, located in Strobe Alley, is dedicated to fostering hands-on, project-oriented educational opportunities for undergraduates in any discipline. The staff maintains expertise and activities in high-speed imaging, design for the developing world, K-12 outreach, digital imaging, electronics, robotics, and underwater instrumentation. Often, the Center offers UROPs in many of these areas.
The Center sponsors a wide variety of freshman and undergraduate seminars and subjects. Our offerings include international development, introductory courses in electronics, public-service seminars, and digital imaging. We are especially interested in promoting student-initiated projects often as UROPs, and in many cases the Center acts as a facilitator, providing access to expertise and equipment.
The Edgerton Center operates a fully equipped machine shop dedicated to students. Students interested in using--or learning to use--the shop should contact the shop manager Mark Belanger (x8-7728, mdbelang@mit.edu) for access to machine tools and training in their operation.
The shop is located in Building 44-023 on Vassar Street, across from EECS, and is open on weekdays and some evenings and weekends. Students with UROPs or independent projects requiring shop support are particularly welcome.
The Edgerton Center sponsors a number of UROP projects during the academic year and the summer. The topics vary across the research interests of our staff, but typically include K-12 outreach, international development, robotics, and advanced imaging. We also assist students who are carrying out UROP projects elsewhere in the Institute by providing access to facilities that might not otherwise be available.
The Center has an active and growing K-12 Outreach Program which gives area school students an opportunity to come to the center and engage in science and engineering projects. The Outreach Program offers UROP opportunities (for volunteer, credit or pay) to MIT students who are interested in working with young students, encouraging them to investigate science and engineering.
Further Information
Call x3-4629, email Dr. Jim Bales (bales@mit.edu) or see the Edgerton Center UROP page. Edgerton Center Credit UROPs can be for Edgerton credit (P/D/F: EC.UR or Letter Grade: EC.URG), or arranged through the faculty supervisor's primary academic department (e.g. 2.UR/2.URG, 6.UR, etc.).
