Volume 53, Number 7 TechTalk Wednesday, October 29, 2008 S e r v i n g Th e MIT Co mm u n i t y Diversity Leadership Congress to meet next FROM ‘SILENCE’ month Greg Frost News Office

More than 300 academic, administrative TO SCIENCE and student leaders will gather next month for the Diversity Leadership Congress, which represents an opportunity to acceler- MIT-rooted play to premiere next month in London ate MIT’s long-standing efforts at promot- ing diversity and inclusion by inspiring and supporting those most responsible for Stephanie Schorow ceived notions of what a “science play” is all creating such a culture. News Office correspondent about. “The Diversity “We’re trying to give the audience a Leadership Congress Was it coincidence? An era dubbed “the layered story that moves them on many is designed to time of silence” — the years between 1642 different levels, some of which includes acknowledge that and 1660 in England when Puritan rulers a bold ride through history and through progress on diversity shuttered theaters — was also a period of science, but more importantly, through this at the Institute occurs intense interest in experimental science. deep human reality that scientists are not locally,” said MIT Three years ago, MIT students began to exempt from,” said Sonenberg, the play’s President Susan Hock- take an in-depth look at this period during dramaturg. field, who originally a drama, science and performance seminar The play has characters representing proposed the congress taught by professors Janet Sonenberg and Hobbes (1588-1679), a philosopher and Alexis earlier this year. “We Diana Henderson. Research and other mate- scientist; Robert Hooke (1635-1703), a Herman want to support these rial developed by students have served as the scientist who coined the term “cell”; Robert leaders and give them basis for an unusual play, premiering Nov. 12 Boyle (1627-1691), a philosopher, chemist, the tools for leading their local efforts and in London, that examines themes of science, physicist and inventor; political leader Oliver inspire them to do even more.” philosophy, creativity and family relations. Cromwell (1599-1658); and King Charles II, All members of the MIT community The Royal Shakespeare Company’s as well other historical and fictitious figures. are invited to participate in the Nov. 18 production of “The Tragedy of Thomas The plot gives a sense of the era’s political congress in a number of ways, including Hobbes,” written by Adriano Shaplin and unrest and scientific excitement. attending one of the remote viewing loca- directed by Elizabeth Freestone, will run “This is a moment when the world is tions (the Mezzanine Lounge and West through Dec. 6 at Wilton’s Music Hall in turned completely upside down,” said Lounge, both in the Student Center, as what Sonenberg characterizes as a “wild and Sonenberg, professor of theater arts and well as Room E25-111). Facilitators will daring enterprise” that overturns precon- uPlease see PLAY, PAGE 6 lead group discussions at these locations, and notes from the talks will be added to the congress proceedings. Members of the community may also submit questions for the panelists in advance of the event ([email protected]). Individuals and groups will be able to watch video of the Congress once it is posted online following the event at the Congress’ web site, http:// web.mit.edu/diversityleaders/. Participants at the congress will also be uPlease see DIVERSITY, PAGE 7

A giant leap for MIT: 4 alumni- will simultaneously be in orbit Liv Gold On Nov. 14, mission specialists Heidemarie Alumni Association Stefanyshyn-Piper ’84 and Stephen Bowen ENG ’93 will also head to the ISS via Shuttle Mission In November, as more than 120,000 MIT STS-126. Piper, Bowen and the rest of the crew graduates roam the earth below, four of their plan to deliver equipment that will enable larger fellow alumni will, for the first time in history, be crews to reside aboard the complex. simultaneously traveling in space. Two MIT astronauts have been in space at the MIT alumnus Michael Fincke ’89 began his ascent into space same time on several other occasions — during six Gregory aboard the space capsule, which launched missions and one Apollo mission — Chamitoff PhD on Oct. 12. Fincke, commander of the Expedi- but this is the first time four have been gravity- ’92 floats aboard tion 18 mission to the International Space Station free at once. the International (ISS), will spend the next six months aboard the In fact, the alumni count could have been even Space Station ISS and meet up with colleague Gregory Cham- higher. recently. itoff PhD ’92, who has served as a flight engineer Michael Massimino SM ’88, ENG ’90, ME and science officer on the ISS since June. uPlease see SPACE, PAGE 3 PHOTO / NASA PEOPLE RESEARCH NEWS Picower, McGovern add on Methane rises Patent pending

New viral core facility for neuroscience Researchers find that the levels of the greenhouse gas Researchers are urged to contact MIT’s Technology attracts two new experts to MIT. methane are rising after years of stability. Licensing Office to protect their inventions.

PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 3 PAGE 2 October 29, 2008 u NEWS MIT Tech Talk

S M T WT Events F S � W1 renovations paused at MIT amid economic uncertainty Administrators working with housemasters of both W1 and NW35; still promises to become an outstanding Today W1’s founding students — the Phoenix feature of undergraduate residential life at • “Mathematics of Sea Ice to Help students on next steps Group — who have formed a community MIT. However, he noted that in the search Predict Climate Change.” Speaker: in the new Ashdown House (NW35); and for places to limit new commitments of Professor Kenneth M. Golden, Depart- Greg Frost members of the Ashdown House Executive capital, W1 presents an unusual oppor- ment of Mathematics, University of News Office Committee. tunity because of the stage of the project: Utah. 4-5 p.m. in 54-915. Part of the Administrators said they had particularly interior demolition is complete, but the EAPS Department Lecture Series. Construction on the W1 residence hall benefited from the advice and counsel of Institute has not yet signed the contracts to will be paused as a precautionary measure students who participated in the meetings. begin full construction. • “Street Songs in Paris, 1749: A amid general economic uncertainty. They added that they were committed MIT has no plans to reassess the timing Cabaret-Lecture” with Robert Darton Administrators said MIT remains to working with students on the future for campus development projects that have and Helene Delaveau. Killian Hall, with committed to completing the $90 million evolution of the Phoenix Group, and to already advanced into the construction a reception to follow. renovation of W1, formerly known as continuing to support and nurture a new phase, including the Media Lab extension, Ashdown House, but the economic residential community despite the delay. the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative • Pumpkin Carving. 9-10:30 p.m. environment calls for thoughtful delib- “In the context of the continuing Cancer Research, the MIT Sloan building W84-24th floor. Pumpkin carving is a eration around the project’s timing. The financial turmoil around the world, MIT and garage, and the Vassar Streetscape. popular event in Tang every year near building, which for many years served as a fortunately remains in a strong position Teams of students, housemasters and Halloween. Pumpkins, carving tools, graduate residence hall, had been sched- to support its teaching and research,” said professionals from the offices of the Dean patterns, and a brief lesson are provided. uled to become an undergraduate resi- Chancellor Phillip L. Clay. “Nevertheless, for Student Life and MIT Facilities have Interested residents enter a final contest dence beginning in 2010. since the future of the economy remains collaborated over the past year to develop where a prize is awarded. To explore the best course of action, unpredictable, this is a prudent moment to plans for W1. senior administrators have conducted a look for opportunities to preserve financial “We expect these productive collabora- • 2008 MIT Research and Develop- series of meetings with those groups and flexibility wherever possible.” tion to continue as we look forward to the ment Conference. 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in individuals most affected: the members of Vice Chancellor and Dean for Graduate future start of the work,” said Dean for W16, Kresge Auditorium. the Task for Student Engagement; Education Steve Lerman noted that W1 Student Life Chris Colombo. URL: http://ilp-www.mit.edu/events/ RD2008 MIT Furniture Exchange holding • “Innovation in Media Technol- ogy: How Big Companies Help Little open houses in early November Companies Grow.” Speaker: Michael The MIT Furniture Exchange is celebrating Dunn, VP of Hearst Interactive Media. its 50th anniversary this year, with three days of Noon-1 p.m. in E51-325. Come learn open houses on Saturday, Nov. 1 (from 10 a.m-1 about the dynamics of large and small p.m), Tuesday, Nov. 4 (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and companies in the media industry and Thursday, Nov. 6 (from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.). how the relationships can work for The exchange is a service project of the MIT everyone. Women’s League, and supplies MIT students, faculty, staff and alumni with reasonably priced • MIT FEMA Trailer Challenge household and office furnishings, while at the same Launch. 7:30-9:30 p.m. in 10-105. The time raising funds for scholarships with every dollar MIT FEMA Trailer Project is pleased of its proceeds. to announce the launch of the MIT Visitors should bring with them the postcard FEMA Trailer Challenge, a campus- recently sent out in order to receive an additional wide competition sponsored by the 10 percent discount on their purchases. MIT Visual Arts Program and the MIT Last year, the exchange contributed $60,000 to Public Service Center. MIT Students: the Women’s League Scholarship fund for under- What would you do with 94,000 surplus graduate women. For more information about the PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY FEMA Trailers? Join the MIT FEMA event, or how to volunteer/donate, please visit web. Trailer Challenge and propose alterna- mit.edu/womensleague/fx/ or contact Manager Judy Mirrors, sofas and chairs are just some of the items available at the Furniture tive uses for thousands of surplus FEMA Halloran at 617-253-4293 or [email protected]. Exchange for members of the MIT community. Trailers. URL: http://fematrailer.mit.edu/ Awards&Honors Obituaries Thursday, Oct. 30 • MIT Writers Series: Courtney Humphries ’04. 7-8 p.m. in 32-141. Leona K. Loughlin, Reading from her book, “Superdove: MIT students in running for drug into the bladder through osmosis; longtime Lincoln Lab How the Pigeon Took Manhattan ... and Timothy Lu, a graduate student in the the World.” inventors’ award Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences employee, 83 and Technology, who is working on an One recent MIT graduate and two Leona K. (Hanlon) Loughlin, who • Center for 21st Century Energy engineered bacteriophage — a virus that current MIT graduate students have been spent most of her 38 years of employ- Fall 2008 Seminar Series. Speaker: infects bacteria — that works in conjunc- named among 12 finalists in the National ment with MIT as a document librar- Amir Maria on “The Role of Fuel in tion with antibiotics, making them much Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation’s ian at Lincoln Laboratory, died on Determining the High Load Limit of more effective. Lu also won last year’s Collegiate Inventors Competition. The Monday, Oct. 20. She was 83. HCCI Engines.” 4-5 p.m. in 37-212. $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for award focuses on students whose inven- inventiveness. Born in Arlington on May 10, 1925, tions show practical applications to meet she was raised in Lincoln, attended • CMS Colloquium: “Tak Toyoshima: The grand prize winner, who will be pressing needs in our society. Lincoln public schools and gradu- Tracking Secret Asian Man.” 5-7 p.m. named on Nov. 19, will receive $25,000. The finalists from MIT are: ated from Concord High School in in 2-105. Tak Toyoshima’s comic strip Greg Schroll, who graduated in June 1943. During World War II, she “Secret Asian Man” has brought to light with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineer- Saxe named Packard fellow worked as a secretary at Raytheon the challenges of being Asian American ing, for his work on a spherical robot that MIT neuroscientist Rebecca Saxe is one Corporation in Waltham. She worked in America. uses a control moment gyroscope to store of 20 young scientists to be awarded a 2008 in the library at Lincoln Lab until her momentum for going up inclines and over David and Lucile Packard fellowships in retirement in 1995. • “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” obstacles; science and engineering. She was involved in sports and 8-10:30 p.m. in W20, Sala de Puerto Heejin Lee, a graduate student in the Saxe, an assistant professor of cognitive enjoyed horseback riding, baseball Rico. Directed by Ted Eaton. Show Department of Mechanical Engineering, neuroscience, will receive an $875,000 and hockey and played in a volleyball opened Oct 23-25. for work on a device that can be inserted grant over five years to study the circuits in league for Lincoln Lab. A longtime URL: http://www.mit.edu/activities/ nonsurgically into the bladder via the the human brain that give rise to the high- Lincoln resident, she enjoyed garden- ensemble/ urethra, releasing a controlled dosage of a level aspects of human thought. ing and loved to shop for clothes.

News Office Staff HOW TO REACH US Writer...... David Chandler Tech Talk is published by the News Office on Wednesdays during term time except for Assistant Director/Photojournalist ...... Donna Coveney most Monday holiday weeks. See Production Schedule at web.mit.edu/newsoffice/ News Office Operations/Financial Administrator ...... Myles Crowley techtalk-info.html. The News Office is in Room 11-400, Massachusetts Institute of Editor Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Telephone: 617-253-2700 Greg Frost Managing Editor, MIT home page...... Susan Curran Web Developer/Editor...... Lisa Damtoft Postmaster: Send address changes to Mail Services, Building WW15, Massachusetts E-mail: [email protected] Executive Director ...... Pamela Dumas Serfes Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Administrative Assistant II ...... Patti Foley web.mit.edu/newsoffice Photojournalist News Manager...... Greg Frost Subscribers may call 617-252-1550 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Donna Coveney Editorial & Production Asst...... Patrick Gillooly Administrative Assistant II ...... Mary Anne Hansen Tech Talk is distributed free to faculty and staff offices and residence halls. It is also avail- Office of the Arts Media Specialist...... Teresa Herbert able free in the News Office and the Information Center. Communications Assistant...... Jen Hirsch Production Domestic mail subscriptions are $25 per year, nonrefundable. Checks should be made Senior designer...... Rebecca Macri web.mit.edu/arts Patrick Gillooly payable to MIT and mailed to Business Manager, Room 11-400, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Director, Media Relations...... Patti Richards Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Senior Science & Printed on recycled paper Engineering Editor...... Elizabeth Thomson Periodical postage paid at Boston, MA. Writer...... Anne Trafton MIT Tech Talk u PEOPLE October 29, 2008 PAGE 3

S M T WT Events F S Researchers, protect your inventions � MIT’s Technology Licensing that the investment will not pay off. a postdoc or graduate student — to meet at MIT Strong patent protection is a company’s with the TLO’s search librarian to search Office is here to help best protection from later competitors for “prior art” (references, including if the product is successfully brought to patents, that may show prior invention by Publishing academic papers is a top market. others). A patent application will be filed priority for MIT researchers, but they In a global economy, worldwide patent if no damning prior art is found and if the Monday, Nov. 3 should also be aware of the need to protect protection is most valuable. But, except in invention is assessed as having potential • STS Program’s Fall 2008 Collo- their inventions with patents. That’s where the (and a few much smaller commercial applicability. quia on “Cold War Knowledges: A MIT’s Technology Licensing Office can countries), any public disclosure before a “We hope to get Technology Disclo- New Look.” How Shall We Compare help. priority patent is filed will bar filing for sures at least a couple of months prior to Cold War and Contemporary Military The movement of knowledge and patent protection. Public disclosure can the publication, but we will never ask the Instructional Technologies? Sharon discoveries from MIT to the general include written publications, Internet researchers to delay their publication; we Ghamari-Tabrizi, independent scholar, 5 public has had a major impact on econom- descriptions, poster sessions and even understand the academic priorities,” said p.m. in E51-095. ic development and job creation, both public talks. TLO Director Lita Nelsen. “If necessary, nationally and locally. Patent protection is Fortunately, only one priority patent we can file a ‘rush’ patent application — • City Design and Development critical to these activities. need be filed in the United States before but more time allows better quality.” Forum: Landscape + Urbanism. At any given time, more than 1,000 the public disclosure. This then preserves Speaker: Alan Berger, associate professor MIT researchers — faculty, postdocs, the possibility of later filing for interna- What to do if you have already published Urban Design and Landscape Architec- research staff and students — are inven- tional patents. All is not lost if you have published ture, P-Rex. 5-6:30 p.m. tors on patents being filed or prosecuted before filing a patent application. Unlike through the TLO. More than half of How to protect your invention in most foreign countries, U.S. patent law • Communicating Across Cultures. these patents will eventually be licensed to The TLO encourages researchers with allows filing within one year after publica- Speaker: Lori Breslow, director of MIT companies for development and commer- a potential invention to submit a Tech- tion. Clearly, it’s better to have worldwide Teaching and Learning Laboratory cialization with the hope of impacting the nology Disclosure form — available for patent protection, but a U.S. patent will and Senior Lecturer of Sloan School of “real world.” The TLO grants more than download at http://web.mit.edu/tlo/www/ cover any products made in the United Management. 12:15-2 p.m. in 7-338. 100 licenses a year, many involving a suite community/inv_disc.html — at the time States, wherever sold; or imported to the of patents; between 20 and 30 of these go a first rough draft is made of a potential United States, wherever made. to start-up companies. publication, poster session, or planned talk It is also possible that your publica- Tuesday, Nov. 4 to anything other than an all-MIT audi- tion was not “enabling” — that is, did not Why patents matter • Has The Sun Finally Risen on ence. The form will ask for the anticipated provide sufficient detail to enable others Photovoltaics? Speaker: Dr. Mark R. Companies’ investments in “university date of first public disclosure. to replicate your invention. In this circum- Pinto. 4-5 p.m. in 34-101. MTL Seminar stage” inventions are typically very risky, Upon receipt of the Technology Disclo- stance, worldwide patent protection may Series. The idea of solar generated elec- because neither the technical practicality sure, the TLO will evaluate whether the still be available. tricity dates to discovery of the photovol- nor the market potential of the technol- invention appears to have commercial taic (PV) effect in 1839 through to the ogy is established. Often very substantial potential. If time allows prior to public For further information, see the TLO web first silicon solar cell in 1954. But even financial investment is needed to bring disclosure, the TLO will also ask a site at web.mit.edu/tlo/www or contact the with concerns about oil and the environ- them to market — with substantial risk member of the inventing team — usually TLO at: [email protected]. ment, PV currently generates less than 0.1 percent of the world’s electricity.

• Emile Bustani Middle East Seminar: Who Speaks for Islam? Speaker: Dalia MIT neuroscience bolstered by Mogahed, executive director of Gallup Center for Muslim Studies. 4:30-6:30 new faculty, viral core facility p.m. in E51-095. Submit your events! Deborah Halber News Office correspondent Log on to events.mit.edu to add your events to MIT’s online A facility exploiting viruses’ ability to calendar. Select events will be inject DNA precisely and efficiently into selected from the online calendar brain cells and two new experts on the to be published in Tech Talk each molecular underpinnings of the brain’s Wednesday. ability to change in response to experience will bolster neuroscience at MIT, home to one of the largest brain sciences research centers in the world. SPACE: 4 alumni- With funding from an anonymous donor, the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and the McGovern Insti- astronauts in orbit tute for Brain Research are establishing a new core facility for viral vector research at the same time geared toward understanding the brain Continued from Page 1 through genetic manipulation of the Weifeng Xu Yingxi Lin ’90, PhD ’92, and John Grunsfeld ’80 nervous system. were scheduled to commence an 11-day Viral vectors — used to deliver genes McGovern and Picower institutes in Institute after serving as a postdoctoral Hubble servicing mission on the same directly into cells in living animals for molecular and cellular neuroscience, two associate in the psychiatry and behav- day as the STS-126 launch. However, basic research and for human clinical new faculty members are joining MIT ioral sciences laboratory of Rob Malenka a control system failure in the Hubble applications — have become an essential later this year and in early 2009. Both at Stanford University Medical Center. telescope has delayed the mission’s tool for manipulating gene expression in will hold joint appointments as assistant Xu studies the molecular mechanisms of launch to as late as February 2009. the nervous system. professors in the Department of Brain and synaptic plasticity, the brain’s ability to And, as though four alums in space Viruses are masters at infiltrating their Cognitive Sciences. change in response to experience. Synap- weren’t coincidence enough, the MIT own DNA into host cells. Viral vectors tic changes are believed to underlie many Alumni Travel Program trip, “Inside the exploit this ability, and are engineered to New faculty members appointed forms of learning and memory. Russian Space Program,” put even more make the viral particles safe and incapable Yingxi Lin comes to the McGovern Using state-of-the-art techniques to alumni on the scene on Oct. 12. The of replication. In addition to serving as a Institute from Harvard Medical School, knock out, over-express and replace genes, travelers, who hail from MIT as well as basic research tool, similar vectors are used where she was a postdoctoral associ- Xu manipulates synapses to see how those Princeton University, were on hand in for gene therapy and are being tested clini- ate with Michael E. Greenberg, director changes play out at the circuit level and to watch the launch of the cally for nervous system diseases including of neuroscience at Children’s Hospital ultimately determine how behavior is Soyuz space capsule transporting fellow Batten disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Boston. Lin has been studying the devel- modified by experience. She is particularly alums to the ISS. chronic pain. opment of inhibitory synaptic connections interested in PSD-95, a scaffolding protein “Because production of these viruses within the brain. believed to be a critical player in synaptic requires special expertise not often found In work recently published in Nature, plasticity, and its associated molecules. in neuroscience labs, the new facility will she has identified the transcription factor Xu also looks at how mechanisms Awards be an important enabling resource for the nPas4 as a key regulator of inhibitory underlying electrical signaling in the brain Picower and McGovern institutes. We synapse formation. nPas4 regulates many control information processing among expect that it will support a wide range of other genes in response to electrical activ- neurons. &Honors research programs in basic and transla- ity. One of these genes has recently been “If we know under normal conditions tional neuroscience,” said Mark F. Bear, identified as a possible autism risk factor. how synapses get stronger or weaker, we director of the Picower Institute and a Lin plans to continue studying these can relate that to deficits that affect our EECS associate professor driving force behind the facility. genes in her new laboratory at the cognitive abilities such as Alzheimer’s The viral core facility will be directed McGovern Institute, using a combination disease and schizophrenia, eventually wins early career award by Rachael Neve, a former faculty member of molecular genetic and electrophysiolog- fine-tuning synapses to enhance learning Electrical Engineering and Computer at Harvard Medical School and director of ical approaches to understand how activity or compensate for cognitive impairment,” Science Associate Professor Joel Vold- the Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory shapes the wiring of inhibitory brain she said. man was presented the Young Innova- at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., circuits. Lin received her bachelor’s degree Xu, a native of northeast China near tor’s Award — for exceptional technical and one of the world’s foremost experts on in physics and engineering from Tsinghua Harbin, majored in biophysics at Peking advancement and innovation in his or her gene delivery in the nervous system. The University, and her PhD in biophysics University and received a PhD in neuro- early career — at the 12th International facility will begin operation later this year. from Harvard University. science from Brown University. She will Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Building on the strengths of the Weifeng Xu comes to the Picower join Picower in January 2009. Chemistry and Life Sciences. PAGE 4 October 29, 2008 u RESEARCH MIT Tech Talk Levels of the greenhouse gas methane begin to increase again

New surge ends a decade of stability; cause still unknown

David Chandler News Office

The amount of methane in Earth’s atmosphere shot up in 2007, bringing to an end a period of about a decade in which atmospheric levels of the potent green- house gas were essentially stable, according to a team led by MIT researchers. Methane levels in the atmosphere have more than tripled since pre-industrial times, accounting for around one-fifth of the human contribution to greenhouse gas- driven global warming. Until recently, the leveling off of methane levels had suggested that the rate of its emission from the Earth’s surface was approximately balanced by the rate of its destruction in the atmosphere. However, since early 2007 the balance has been upset, according to a paper on the new findings being published this week in Geophysical Review Letters. The paper’s lead authors, postdoctoral researcher Matthew Rigby and Ronald Prinn, the TEPCO Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and , say this imbalance has resulted in several million metric tons of additional methane in the atmosphere. Methane is produced by wetlands, rice paddies, cattle, and the gas and coal indus- tries, and is destroyed by reaction with the hydroxyl free radical (OH), often referred to as the atmosphere’s PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY “cleanser.” Postdoctoral researcher Matthew Rigby and Ronald Prinn, the TEPCO Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry in One surprising feature of this recent growth is that MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science, stand in front of a gas chromatograph, a key it occurred almost simultaneously at all measurement component of the trace gas measurement system used in the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment locations across the globe. However, the majority of (AGAGE). methane emissions are in the Northern Hemisphere, and it takes more than one year for gases to be mixed from to the Northern Hemisphere. At present, however, it is each” is responsible for the overall increase. the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. uncertain whether such a drop in hydroxyl free radi- It is too early to tell whether this increase represents a Hence, theoretical analysis of the measurements shows cal did occur because of the inherent return to sustained methane growth, or the beginning of that if an increase in emissions is solely responsible, uncertainty in the current method for estimating global a relatively short-lived anomaly, according to Rigby and these emissions must have risen by a similar amount in OH levels. Prinn. Given that, pound for pound, methane is 25 times both hemispheres at the same time. To help pin down the cause of the methane increase, more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, A rise in Northern Hemispheric emissions may be Prinn said, “the next step will be to study this using a the situation will require careful monitoring in the near due to the very warm conditions that were observed over very high-resolution atmospheric circulation model and future. Siberia throughout 2007, potentially leading to increased additional measurements from other networks.” But In addition to Rigby and Prinn, the study was carried bacterial emissions from wetland areas. However, a doing that could take another year, he said, and because out by researchers at Commonwealth Scientific and potential cause for an increase in Southern Hemispheric the detection of increased methane has important conse- Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Geor- emissions is less clear. quences for global warming the team wanted to get these gia Institute of Technology, University of Bristol and An alternative explanation for the rise may lie, at least initial results out as quickly as possible. Scripps Institution of . These methane in part, with a drop in the concentrations of the meth- “The key thing is to better determine the relative measurements come from the Advanced Global Atmo- ane-destroying OH. Theoretical studies show that if this roles of increased methane emission versus an idecrease spheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) that is supported has happened, the required global methane emissions in the rate of removal,” Prinn said. “Apparently we have by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration rise would have been smaller, and more strongly biased a mix of the two, but we want to know how much of (NASA), and the Australian CSIRO network.

Tuning in to unconscious communication, MIT researchers discover revealing clues in conversations David Chandler stand intuitively. “All of this is sort of folk knowledge,” he a person’s movements, are a bit smaller than the name News Office said. “We all know it’s there, but we all ignore it.” badges typically worn at conferences. In future research, Pentland, who has a degree in psychology and expe- he says, the same functions could be monitored using What you say in a conversation — whether it’s on a rience in signal processing, zeroed in on “a few things specially programmed cellphones. first date, a job interview or pitching an idea — may be that seem to come up again and again” in deciding what The data gathered from the devices can be used not less important than how you say it. But the cues that may aspects of human communication to monitor only to predict the outcomes of specific inter- decide the outcome can be so subtle that neither person in with the new devices. actions between people, but even the relative the conversation is consciously aware of them. The features he found that are highly predic- productivity of different teams within a compa- Whether or not you get the job, or the other person’s tive of outcomes, he says, “match the literature ny. “This information is not in the organiza- phone number, is very strongly influenced by unconscious in biology about signaling in animals.” In fact, tional charts,” Pentland says. “This human side factors such as the way one person’s speech patterns match Pentland suggests, the nonlinguistic chan- is missing from all traditional measures” of how the other’s, the level of physical activity as people talk, and nels of communication that are measured by groups of people work together. the degree to which one person sets the tone — literally the sociometers may have started among our The strong correlations between unconscious — of the conversation. These subtle cues provide “honest ancestors long before the evolution of language forms of communication and the decisions that signals” about what’s really going on and strongly predict itself, forming a deeper, more primal way of result strongly undermine people’s perception the outcome, according to research by the MIT Media understanding intentions, coordinating activities Sandy that they are making choices based on ratio- Lab’s Alex “Sandy” Pentland and his colleagues. and establishing power relationships within the Pentland nal, conscious factors, Pentland says. “My data “Honest Signals” is also the title of Pentland’s new group. shows that’s simply not true.” By understanding book about the research, being published this month by “Half of our decision-making seems to be predicted and measuring factors that people are usually unaware of, MIT Press. The research was based on tens of thousands by this unconscious channel,” says Pentland, the Toshiba he believes he is, “putting human nature back into our of hours of data from devices about the size of a credit Professor of Media Arts and Sciences. “That’s exactly social fabric.” card that record movements and voices, which Pentland the channel that you see in apes” as they coordinate their It may even help to predict the outcome of elections, has dubbed “sociometers.” Using just this data, with no activities without the use of language. he says. For example, by watching for the movements that knowledge of what was said, Pentland could predict the Pentland’s research on these nonlinguistic signaling signal the factor Pentland calls “influence” — the setting outcome — whether a job offer, a second date, or invest- channels has been based on getting groups of people, such by one person of the tone and pace of a conversation — in ment in a business plan — more accurately than by using as attendees at a conference or employees of a company, to a presidential debate, it is possible to see which person is any other single factor. wear the sociometers over periods ranging from a day to dominant, regardless of what is being said. “The person Pentland says that this technology is recording and a month or more. The devices, which include a micro- who sets the tone,” he says, “is the one who wins, in every quantifying something that most people already under- phone for recording voices and accelerometers to measure election since 1960.” MIT Tech Talk u RESEARCH October 29, 2008 PAGE 5 McGovern Institute funds collaborative neurotechnology projects

The McGovern Institute for Brain Research has These have potential applications for studies of learning, announced six new funding awards to develop technolo- and eventually for neuroprosthetic devices that could, gies aimed at accelerating neuroscience research and for example, allow a paralyzed patient to control developing new therapeutic approaches for brain a robotic arm or a computer through mental disorders. The new projects are on themes ranging activity. One of the new projects will explore from brain-machine interfaces to new genetic the use of carbon nanotubes as a biocom- tools and brain imaging methods. patible material for electrode fabrica- The awards are part of the McGov- tion. Another will develop biode- ern Institute Neurotechnology (MINT) gradable coatings for thin flexible program, established in 2006 to promote polymer electrodes to make them collaborations between neuroscientists easier to insert into the brain. and researchers from other disciplines Neuroscientists often face a within and beyond MIT. “Neurosci- challenge in analyzing the large ence has always been driven by new datasets produced by human technologies,” explained Charles brain imaging studies. Two Jennings, the MINT program MINT projects will apply new director. “We want to take advan- computational approaches to tage of the extraordinary range of fMRI data from visual recog- technological expertise at MIT to nition studies. If successful, develop new methods that could these methods could reveal transform the field.” new insights into the brain’s The MINT awards typically functional organization. They provide up to $100,000 for one could also advance the study of year of seed funding to test brain disorders, for example by innovative ideas that tradi- identifying relationships among tional funding sources rarely brain activity, genetics and clinical support, and to determine diagnostic categories. if they are worth pursuing A fifth project will use optical further. methods to manipulate cell signaling To date, MINT has pathways in vivo, with potential use in supported 11 projects, identifying targets for drug development. involving faculty members from In the sixth project, the collaborators will seven MIT departments as well as develop a 3-D laser-based method for dissect- a local startup company. “We’re ing single neurons from brain tissue. The ability on the lookout for new ideas and to analyze gene expression and other biochemical we’d be delighted to hear from processes in single cells is especially important in the anyone who wants to work with us,” brain, where cells of many different types are closely Jennings said. intermingled. Two of the newly funded projects Further details of these and previous MINT proj- involve developing electrodes for ects can be found at http://web.mit.edu/mcgovern/ long-term recordings in the brain. html/News_and_Publications/2008_seed.shtml.

Awards&Honors

PhD candidate wins R.V. Jones Memorial Scholarship Vijay Shilpiekandula, a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engi- neering, was awarded the 2008 R.V. Jones Memorial Scholarship by the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE) for his paper titled, “A Flexure-based Mechanism for Precision Angular Alignment at Large Loads,” co-authored with his academic advisor Professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi. The award, which includes a $1,000 honorarium, was presented at the Annual Meeting of ASPE and the 12th ICPE at Portland, Ore., in October. The paper, selected by the ASPE Educational Scholarship Committee from a pool of student applications, stems from Shilpiekandula’s doctoral thesis research on the design and control of flexure-based nanopositioning systems. The research was conducted at the MIT Mechatronics Research Laboratory and was supported by the Singapore-MIT Alliance and a research grant from Haythornthwaite Foun- dation, American Academy of Mechanics. Finkelstein wins prestigious women in economics awards The Elaine Bennett Prize, an award presented every other year by the Commit- tee on the Status of Women in the Economic Profession to “recognize, support and encourage outstanding contributions by young women in the economics profes- sion,” was recently awarded to Amy Finkelstein, a professor in the Department of Economics.

PHOTO / SHANTA DAR Haldeman novel rights acquired by director Ridley Scott Direct delivery Ridley Scott, director of films including “Blade Runner” and “Alien,” has acquired the rights to Joe Haldeman’s science fiction novel, “The Forever War.” MIT researchers have custom-designed nanoparticles that can deliver the cancer The book by Haldeman, an adjunct professor in the Program in Writing and drug cisplatin specifically to prostate cancer cells. In this image, the yellow areas Humanistic Studies, focuses on a soldier who spends a few months battling in indicate prostate cancer cells that have taken up nanoparticles encapsulated with a space, only to come home 20 years later to find a changed planet. platinum(IV) prodrug, which delivers a lethal dose of cisplatin — a drug commonly used to treat several types of cancer. VP Grochow named ACM Distinguished Engineer The new research was published online last week in the Proceedings of the Vice President for Information Services & Technology Jerrold Grochow has National Academy of Sciences. Authors of the paper are Shanta Dhar, postdoctoral been selected as an Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Distinguished fellow in chemistry; MIT affiliate Frank X. Gu; Institute Professor Robert Langer; Engineer. The honor is given to those who “have achieved a significant accom- Omid Farokhzad, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School; and Stephen plishment in, or made significant impact on, the computing field.” Lippard, the Arthur Amos Noyes Professor of Chemistry. PAGE 6 October 29, 2008 u NEWS MIT Tech Talk Conference weighs Electoral College pros and cons

Stephanie Schorow ing Systems Fundamentals, proposed that the president News Office correspondent on should be chosen by a majority of the nationwide popu- IT the lar vote and popular vote majorities in at least 26 states, In a lively, sometimes contentious, conference at MIT M even if his/her opponent wins the Electoral College. on the problems and merits of the Electoral College, a Alan Natapoff, research scientist in the Department group of scholars looked into what one called the “fun-  of Aeronautics and Astronautics, argued the advantages house mirror of electoral politics” and debated its reflec- ELECTION of a system that would use actual turnout instead of tions of federalism, states’ rights and equality. population as the basis for calculating a state’s electoral Some participants in the Oct. 17 event, “To Keep votes, but would maintain the other main features — or Not to Keep the Electoral College,” which was Akhil Reed Amar, Yale law professor, said the one- winner-take-all states and senatorial electoral votes — of co-sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation and the MIT person, one-vote rule is the very foundation of democ- the Electoral College. This would, he said, increase an Sloan School of Management, argued passionately that racy; all 50 states elect officials by simple majorities and individual’s voting power in poorly contested states like choosing a president by popular vote — rather than “it works just fine.” Vikram Amar, UC Davis associate Massachusetts. the current state-by-state, winner-take-all contests — dean for academic affairs, argued that the current push A chief discussion point was whether eliminating the would upset the balance of powers among the branches for a popular vote — the National Popular Vote Inter- Electoral College would create disruptions in close elec- of government, encourage disruptive third parties and state Compact, joined by Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland and tions, or as Best put it, “50 ,” a reference to that decrease the power of ethnic minorities. New Jersey — did not require a Constitutional amend- state’s recounts in the 2000 election. The presidency, The greatest fear of the Founding Fathers was major- ment to enact. she argued, is too important a position to be in doubt. ity tyranny,” said Judith Best, SUNY Cortland political Several MIT professors discussed ways of combin- “A swift, sure decision is more important than a decision science professor. “Our goal is not just majority rule, but ing features of both a popular vote and the Electoral that is 100 percent accurate, down to the last vote,” she majority rule with minority consent.” College. Arnold I. Barnett, the George Eastman Profes- said. Others argued choosing a president by popular vote sor of Management Science and one of the conference Akhil Amar, however, noted that huge states, with is fairer and would lead to greater voter participation. organizers, proposed a “weighted vote” system, which widely divergent populations and geography such as Currently, “There is an incentive to campaign hard in allows smaller states to retain their electoral clout. The , pick governors by popular vote without swing states and ignore the others,” said Northwestern chair of the conference’s steering committee, Alexander recount fiascoes. As for the problems of carefully count- Law Professor Robert W. Bennett. S. Belenky, visiting scholar in the Center for Engineer- ing to the last vote, “It’s called democracy,” he asserted.

PLAY: MIT rooted play premiering next month in London Continued from Page 1 MIT Sloan to partner section head of music and theater and founder of the Riot Group, to arts. help students hone their dramatic with world’s top The collaboration between skills. Soon students were writing MIT and the RSC began several scenes that imagined what it was business schools years ago when MIT Corpora- like to be a 17th-century actor or tion Chairman Dana Mead scientist. They recreated some introduced the two organiza- of the era’s experiments, as well in new degree program tions with an eye toward forg- as some of the debates between ing connections between them. Hobbes and Boyle. They imagined Joint global initiative creates master of Sonenberg began conducting her two out-of-work actors, whom imagination technique with the Shaplin turned into the characters science in management studies degree actors, directors and designers of Rotten and Black. “They really got With the current economic upheaval making even clearer the RSC, and during one of those to see how a play gets made,” said the links between global and national economies, the MIT productions she posed the idea Henderson, professor of literature Sloan School of Management is launching a collaboration with for the play to Michael Boyd, the and dean for curricula and faculty a select set of the world’s top business schools to offer highly RSC’s artistic director. support. talented management students a chance to supplement their Sonenberg, who has developed Then Shaplin took the material learning — and to earn a degree at MIT. new acting techniques and is the and began working on a contem- “The world needs more, not fewer, smart people who author of “The Actor Speaks” porary theater piece for the RSC; are trained to be leaders in management, especially now,” and “Dreamwork for Actors,” it opens in London in 1558 and its said David Schmittlein, the John C. Head III Dean of MIT became intrigued with the idea characters interact as if they were Sloan. The new program, which creates a master of science in of creating a play set during the PHOTOS / DONNA COVENEY part of a large dysfunctional family. management studies at MIT, “will enable students to supple- Puritan Revolution, appreciating ABOVE: Janet Sonenberg “Whose version of the truth is ment the broad-based management education they receive in the irony of a theater piece about BELOW: Diana Henderson right? Whose version of science is the outstanding MBA programs at the schools they already a time when public theater was right? And who gets to author it?” attend with the additional knowledge and management tools halted. After the project received These, Sonenberg said, are some they can acquire at MIT.” The degree program, Schmittlein a grant from the Ensemble of the questions raised by Shaplin’s added, is an important component of MIT Sloan’s ongoing Studio Theater and the Sloan drama. The work draws a “connec- efforts to build broad-based relationships with leading manage- Foundation, she and Henderson, tion between the closing of the ment schools, including the four participating in the program. an expert on Shakespeare, drama theater and the rise of experimen- The new MIT degree designation will begin in the 2009- and gender studies, developed tal science, which is where science 2010 academic year, with approximately 15 international a seminar in which students was being performed for a group students and an eventual enrollment of 50. delved into 17th-century history, of likeminded gentlemen,” Sonen- MIT already offers several master of science specifications. dug out original materials, and berg said. The new addition builds upon MIT Sloan’s deep and varied ties created dramatic scenes. “We Sonenberg and Henderson, who to leading educational institutions around the world. “We are wanted them to see the two-way continue to teach “Learning from pleased to partner with MIT Sloan in this new double-degree street between the past and the the Past: Drama, Science, Perfor- program, which will enhance the capacity of our institutions to present,” Henderson said. mance,” hope to see a version be the leading international players in educating truly global Henderson and Sonenberg of “The Tragedy of Thomas business leaders,” said Bernard Ramanantsoa, dean of HEC brought in Shaplin, a New York- Hobbes” brought to MIT after its Paris, a leading European business school. based contemporary playwright London run. The new degree program, said MIT Sloan Senior Associ- ate Dean Alan White, “supports our global collaborations, which are all about insuring our continued presence as a global university.” Robert C. Klemkosky, dean of the SKK Graduate School of Business at Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University, termed the new program “one of the most significant events in the develop- ment of management education, not only at SKK GSB, but CLASSIFIED ADS in Korea. It further strengthens the five-year collaboration between MIT Sloan and SKK GSB.” Members of the MIT community may submit one ad $5,300. Call Jen (617) 835-6479. MIT Sloan Deputy Dean Steven D. Eppinger said MIT each issue. Ads should be 30 words maximum; they will Sloan faculty and students will benefit as well. “With business be edited. Submit by e-mail to [email protected] or mail to FREE. Large wooden and aluminum desk, modern, with file more global than ever, we need to do all we can to encourage Classifieds, Rm 11-400. 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[email protected] MIT Tech Talk u NEWS October 29, 2008 PAGE 7 DIVERSITY: MIT’s Diversity Leadership Congress to meet in November Continued from Page 1 asked to continue the conversation in their Panelists scheduled to appear include Phil Undergraduate Association Senate; Wes affairs and secretary of the Corporation; local departments. Harlow, chief diversity officer at Xerox: Harris, the Charles Stark Draper Professor Oaz Nir, a graduate student and president “Our goal is a balanced and diverse Shirley Malcom, head of the Director- of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the of the Graduate Student Council; and workplace where there is a deeper under- ate for Education and Human Resources associate provost for faculty equity; Kirk Christine Ortiz, associate professor of standing of differences and the value these Programs of the American Association for Kolenbrander, vice president for Institute materials science and engineering. differences offer — resulting in better the Advancement of Science; and Michael problem solving,” said Vice President for Summers, a Howard Hughes Medical Human Resources Alison Alden. Investigator biologist at the University of The event, Maryland who has Snapshots of staff diversity efforts at MIT which marks the been honored for first time an MIT his contributions in Imagine a workplace where staff value differences, are committed to building a balanced president has mentoring students and diverse community, and are focused on making the culture inclusive and welcoming. convened academic, This is a great❞ opportunity to from underrepre- No need to imagine: Staff across campus are busy with efforts related to diversity and inclu- administrative and sented groups. sion. Below is a snapshot of some of the work. student leaders to hear fresh ideas from outside Small group discuss the topic, is discussions will Council on Staff Diversity not about unveil- MIT and then tailor them to our address how MIT’s The council, sponsored by Vice President for Human Resources Alison Alden, ing a new approach unique community. leaders can individ- consists of 16 employees from various schools, departments, labs and centers, who for diversity or ually and collec- meet regularly “to identify, encourage and celebrate diversity initiatives, programs prescribing goals Tom Kochan, tively apply what and practices for staff across the Institute” — as directed by President Susan Hock- field last spring. for individual professor of management they hear and begin groups or depart- shaping goals and The council has a full agenda, including addressing concerns related to equal ments. Rather, it is strategies. employment opportunity and a focus on creating synergy among faculty, staff and designed to provide “This is a great student diversity management efforts. Three subcommittees have evolved from a better understanding of how participants opportunity to hear fresh ideas from their meetings: communication and awareness, serving as a liaison to other MIT can foster an Institute-wide conversation outside MIT and then to tailor them to diversity-focused groups; data gathering; and benchmarking. Stay tuned for a web to accelerate progress at MIT. our unique community,” said Kochan. site that describes all the council’s activities; in the meantime, e-mail [email protected] Hockfield will open the congress by “Our goal is to help give people a better for more information. acknowledging the important ongoing understanding of what is possible in their efforts to address diversity challenges leadership roles and to discuss how we can A robust program at MIT Medical at MIT, and will invite participants to make those possibilities real at MIT.” At MIT Medical, the effort around diversity has been so great that it prompted further raise the bar on diversity leadership A planning committee has been work- the creation of a full-time position. Enter Diane Magnuson, MIT Medical’s diver- practices. ing since April to shape the event. In sity and inclusion manager. Much of the activity focuses on cultural and ethnic Speakers will then provide an opportu- addition to Alden and Kochan, commit- differences. A diversity newsletter is produced every month, and there’s also a nity to learn from others. Former Secre- tee members include: Robbin Chapman, monthly “Let’s Talk” session, where staff come together to discuss current events tary of Labor Alexis Herman, the first manager of diversity recruitment in the that relate to diversity. Training on cultural sensitivity is ongoing, with these train- African-American to lead the U.S. Depart- School of Architecture and Planning; ing sessions offering staff the opportunity to reflect on people’s backgrounds and ment of Labor, will deliver the keynote Chancellor Phillip Clay; Francine Crystal, how this affects their experiences. And, MIT Medical was one of the first groups at address. Tom Kochan, the George Maver- organization development consultant in the Institute to champion a diversity and inclusion award through the Rewards and ick Bunker Professor of Management, Human Resources; Michael Faber, advisor Recognition program. will moderate a panel discussion that will to the vice president for Institute affairs; share successful diversity leadership stories. Jason Forte, a senior and speaker of the Strength in differences: MIT Lincoln Laboratory Lincoln Laboratory has been a busy place as well. Early in his tenure, Direc- tor Eric Evans formed a laboratory diversity committee and charged that group with advancing the professional staff and establishing best practices. Bill Kindred, Lincoln Laboratory’s diversity and inclusion officer, is hard at work in this arena, focusing on many initiatives. His most important tasks include a focused recruiting effort and educating the community as to why diversity is a benefit in the work- place, observing that “a team isn’t a strong team unless there are differences in thought.” Lincoln Laboratory celebrates diversity months ranging from National Disability Month to Hispanic Heritage Month, and one of its big projects is about to take off: an intranet site on diversity and inclusion — a perfect communications vehicle for the Lincoln Laboratory community.

Joining for diversity Among the activities at MIT Libraries, a recent event, in collaboration with Harvard College Library, is an example of outreach efforts toward a more diverse workforce. MIT Libraries and Harvard hosted participants from the Association of Research Libraries Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce. The goal was to highlight the opportunities that exist for librarians in dynamic research and teach- ing communities. Thirty new librarians or library school students from all across North America attended this two-day program.

New in HR To build a more balanced and diverse workforce at MIT, HR provides support to departments, labs and centers by offering consulting advice, creating a pipeline for diverse candidates, and providing the opportunity to participate in diversity job fairs, among other things. With HR’s Diversity and Inclusion Specialist Genesia

PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY Eddins and a newly hired director of staff diversity, these efforts will be accelerated in the months to come. Nobels mark Legatum Center inauguration Celebrating the inauguration of MIT’s Legatum Center for Development & Entrepreneurship, a panel of five Nobel laureates in economics, including Institute Professor Paul Samuelson, spoke on the role of entrepreneurship in development as part of a daylong symposium on Oct. 7. The Nobel laureates Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation participating in the panel discussion are shown here in the front row, from Required by 39 US C.3685 15. Extent and nature of circulation: 1. Title of publication: Tech Talk Avg.# copies each issue Actual # copies of left to right: Edmund Phelps, Robert Merton, Samuelson, Eric Maskin and during preceding single issue nearest 2. Publication no.: 00-2157 12 months to filing date Lawrence Klein. Standing behind them are Michael Maltese, managing director 3. 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All concerns about animal care will be 13. Publication name: Tech Talk 16. This statement of ownership will be printed in the October 29 handled confidentially and will be investigated by the committee. The panel will 14. Issue date for circulation data below: June 11, 2008 issue of this publication. report its findings to anyone who has such concerns, as well as to the vice president 17. Signature and title of editor, publisher, business manager or owner for research and associate provost. PATRICIA FOLEY, Business Manager PAGE 8 October 29, 2008 u THE ELECTION MIT Tech Talk PICK YOUR PRESIDENT MIT experts hit on the Internet and voting technologies as the Nov. 4 election nears. Interviews by Stephanie Schorow Both sides of the Net Far from perfect: Stewart Hal Abelson, the Class of 1922 Professor of Computer Science and Engi- neering at MIT, and Harry R. Lewis, the Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at Harvard — co-authors of “Blown to Bits: Your Life, charts progress of U.S. Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion” — collabo- rated on answers to a series of questions about Internet policy and technology prior to the Nov. 4 election. voting security

Question: Having examined the Charles Stewart III, the Kenan Sahin “sleepovers” for the voting machines made candidates’ platforms as posted on their (1963) Distinguished Professor it easier for the poll workers to get the respective web sites, can you assess of Political Science and head of precincts opened for voting on Election Day, whether McCain and Obama differ MIT’s Department of Politi- but raised questions about opportunities for substantially on the issue of Net cal Science, examines issues of tampering. Sleepovers are going the way of neutrality (the idea that delivery voting security. the dodo. of content should be treated So, again, I think things are better now equally regardless of source)? Question: In light of than in 2000. However, we are much more Abelson/Lewis: Yes. concerns over voting aware of how informally elections are run McCain explicitly rejects in 2000 and 2004, in the United States, which continues to Net neutrality as a “prescrip- how secure are voting provide Election Day horror stories. tive” measure; Obama systems for 2008? explicitly supports it. Obama Stewart: The more Q: What innovations do you see coming speaks directly to the need experience we have in terms of voting systems? for competition in Internet with voting systems, Stewart: I continue to be amazed that services, an important plank the more we realize the major voting machine companies don’t missing from McCain’s tech- there’s a real distinction adopt an open-source model of voting nology picture. McCain would between security and machine software. Computer experts will regulate Internet Service Provid- reliability. There have tell you that open-source election software ers (ISPs) only to ensure consum- been some well-publicized won’t guarantee security, either, but it would er protection and child safety. He cases where teams of experts allay fears of the public and probably allow also offers that government may have exposed security vulner- the most egregious software errors to be have a role as a service provider of last abilities with electronic systems, caught. One of the barriers to the develop- resort, if incentives to private industry and there have been other cases ment of a robust electronic voting machine fail to achieve universal connectivity. where researchers have “hacked” into market is the lingering distrust that many systems. But there still isn’t any hard elements of the public have in the quality of Q: Obama’s online platform says he will evidence of major security problems the software. appoint the nation’s first chief technology emerging in actual elections. However, officer. What do you think of this plan? there continue to be an unnerving Q: Should the nation adopt a system of Abelson/Lewis: Most federal agencies number of cases where systems are shown voting identification cards to protect the already have CTOs. While simply creating titles to be unreliable. For instance, Premier election process? never solves problems, large organizations often suffer Election (formerly Diebold) Stewart: It’s pretty clear that voting iden- from inefficiencies that result from inconsistent technology solutions recently reported that a bug in the software tification has become highly politicized, with to related problems. For the U.S. government, there is a large oppor- that accepts and counts election results from Republicans believing that more stringent tunity to harmonize policies and practices in different agencies about individual voting machines has a flaw that voting identification will end high levels of such crosscutting issues as information privacy, transparent government can result in some ballots being dropped fraudulent voting, and Democrats believing operations, and modalities for citizen input. from the system before they are counted. that these ID laws will intimidate minor- It’s a stretch to call this a security problem, ity voters and disenfranchise the elderly. Q: McCain has said he would seek a perma- but it’s not a stretch to call it a reliability Republicans love these laws and Democrats nent ban on taxes on the Internet. What do problem. hate them. It’s pretty clear that both sides you think of this pledge? The reliability problems aren’t just have engaged in a great deal of hyper- Abelson/Lewis: The freedom of with electronic voting machines. bole in making their cases. Accusations of the Internet from taxation (while The Premier Election Solutions large-scale fraudulent voting almost always allowing the states to collect sales example applies to optically dissolve. And, while it is certainly true that taxes on Internet commerce) has scanned ballots as well as to certain types of people have a harder time stimulated the growth of the electronic machines. getting ID cards (such as the poor and the network to the great benefit I still am confident that elderly), I have a strong suspicion that the of the American economy. votes are counted better lack of identification is nowhere close to the We do not favor taxing the now than they were in main reasons these folks don’t vote. Internet immediately, but 2000, but we still have That said, I’ve always believed that there one should never use the a long way to go before is a compromise that would achieve what word “never” in a tech- anything close to perfec- both the left and the right want achieved. nology policy. The world tion is achieved. Have every state automatically register every simply moves too quickly. 18 year-old to vote and send them a vote ID Visible on the horizon are Q: Have any signifi- card. The left would get universal, automatic problems such as the devel- cant gains been made registration; the right would get a voter opment of Internet services in terms of security of ID card. But, that’s my own personal pipe toward regional monopolies. voting machine or paper dream. It is unwise to peremptorily ballots? declare a “correct” economic Stewart: I think that Q: If you suspect a problem while voting, model for such unknown future most computer scientists what should you do? business realities. would say that no real gains Stewart: It depends on what the prob- have been made with the elec- lem is, but in general, you should talk to Q: What others issues should the tronic systems because they are the poll worker who is in charge of the two candidates be addressing in terms of inherently insecure and unreliable. voting precinct right away. Don’t wait until Internet access and innovation? Even the addition of “paper backups” to you’ve checked out, because there’s no way Abelson/Lewis: Over the past decade, electronic machines hasn’t been a panacea. to undo a vote once you’ve checked out of executive decisions have challenged the (Again, the Premier example I mentioned the precinct. If there are registration issues, limits of First and Fourth Amendment before is a good example — it is possible voters may also insist that they be given a protections. Measures to protect children to compare the paper reports generated provisional ballot, allowing them to resolve on the Internet must be justified by data by the voting machines with the electronic the registration problem the next day at the about the prevalence of actual harm to children, versions that remain after the download. local election department (or town clerk) and balanced against the government’s obligation not to limit However, almost no one has been doing this office. I, myself, have observed one precinct the free flow of ideas and words among adults and children. Similarly, comparison — and these are the professional in Cambridge where people were just turned the effectiveness of data mining and dragnet surveillance techniques election administrators.) away from voting when there was a minor exploited in the war on terror must be assessed and balanced against the The physical security of paper ballots (and registration question, rather than even being right of Americans not to have their communications and stored data of electronic machines) is probably better told they could cast a provisional ballot (to be searched without probable cause. Those issues will require extensive because states are now more aware of the clear: these were people who were registered, collaboration with Congress. In contrast, something the new adminis- need to establish a “chain of custody” of or thought they should be on the registration tration can do largely on its own is to use the Internet to make govern- voting machines and ballots. For instance, list, but there was some question about the ment more transparent and accountable, by providing more open and in a lot of states, officials used to allow poll registration). When poll workers say there is consistent access to government data and creating more responsive workers to take the machines home the no way to clear up registration problems on mechanisms for citizen input. night before the election. These so-called Election Day, they aren’t following the rules.