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Volume 51 – Number 19 Wednesday – March 7, 2007 TechTalk S ERVING T HE M I T C OMMUNITY MacVicar Day celebrates variety among learning strategies Deborah Halber News Office Correspondent Some people learn better when they are being graded; some do worse. Some like to go over classroom material by saying it out loud to themselves; some like to teach it to others. Some said they learn best when they look, some when they listen and some when they draw pictures. If there’s one thing clear from the 2007 MacVicar Day event “I learn best when…,” it’s that learning is never a one-size-fits-all matter. On March 2, the MacVic- ar Faculty Fellows spon- sored MIT’s annual rec- ognition of undergraduate education with a roundtable discussion moderated by Duane S. Boning, professor and associate department head of electrical engineer- PHOTO / CHRISTOPHER CLEAVER ing and computer science, during which students, Environmental studies David Wallace faculty and alumni shared A program to teach environmental studies at the Hindu Girls School in Mauritius was one of many international proj- ects supported by MIT Public Service Center expedition grants. Story, page 5. See MacVICAR Page 3 ‘Just Jerusalem’ design competition AgeLab founder outlines technology’s focuses on peace, livability in 2050 new role in the lives of those over 50 Ruth Walker of the School of Architecture and Planning, Deborah Halber Contrary to prevailing notions, older News Office Correspondent is a director of Jerusalem 2050. As she News Office Correspondent adults are the leading adopters of new explained the Just Jerusalem competition technology. Wearable and implantable at its launch Friday, March 2, “The key devices that check blood chemistry and Can MIT help engineer a break with motivation was how to think about mak- The houses of the future will monitor pressure and dispense medications, robots history in Jerusalem? ing Jerusalem a more peaceful, sustain- our bodily functions through sensors in in nursing homes and refrigerators that The steering committee of Jerusalem able and just city, a place that’s welcoming the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens monitor what we eat are among new tech- 2050, a joint initiative of MIT’s Center for and satisfying for all its residents, no mat- and relay that data to drugstores that will nologies for the aging population. International Studies (CIS) ter their politics or religious, not only fill prescriptions and While some changes seem and the Department of Urban nationalist or ethnic identities. sell toothpaste but also connect like no-brainers—for instance, Studies and Planning, hopes Now that’s no small task.” us with health professionals. expanding originally assis- that the answer is yes. Richard J. Samuels, Ford The demographics of aging tive technologies like garage To that end, the commit- International Professor of are bringing about massive door openers—others raise tee has just launched a design Political Science and director changes in society in the indus- disturbing questions about competition called “Just Jeru- of CIS, introduced the com- trialized world, said Joseph F. privacy, dignity and personal salem: Visions for a Place of petition as an effort to “start Coughlin, founder and director responsibility. Peace.” thinking new thoughts” about of the MIT AgeLab. He spoke Soon, 80 percent of older The idea is to get purchase Jerusalem. at a Program in Science, Tech- adults will be living by them- on the problems of this frac- The light-bulb moment for nology and Society (STS) col- selves. Would you prefer to tious city by looking at them the group struggling to launch loquium, “A New Look at Old live independently even if as challenges in urban design the Jerusalem 2050 project Age: Science, Technology and it meant having a smart toi- rather than in international was this realization, Samuels Choosing How We Will Live let gather data on your body diplomacy. Richard J. Samuels explained: “Perhaps if the con- Tomorrow,” on Feb. 26. Joe Coughlin weight, glucose and fiber The name of the competi- flict could be taken out of its Coughlin predicts that, by content and upload it to your tion is a bit of wordplay, meant to suggest national context and put into a more quo- the time we’re 50, we’re not likely to move. doctor? Should insurance companies have not only Jerusalem as a city of justice, but tidian one—daily life in the city—perhaps Our houses will enable us to live indepen- the right to dictate how we live if they also “Jerusalem alone.” The competition then we could imagine a better time and dently for longer by providing a variety of believe that certain health choices will is based on the question, What if justice perhaps we could imagine a better way.” technologies designed to keep us healthy save money on medical care in the long and urban livability, instead of competing Samuels conceded that the Just Jerusa- and provide help if necessary. Modular run? nationalist projects, were the organizing lem competition turns on its head the con- houses, already fitted with grab bars in the Affordability is also a concern. How principles of Jerusalem? shower and wheelchair ramps, could be See AGELAB Diane E. Davis, professor of urban stud- See JERUSALEM dropped into the backyard to accommo- ies and planning as well as associate dean Page 7 date elderly relatives. Page 4 NEWS RESEARCH HUMANITIES TUITION ANNOUNCED STEM CELL ADVANCES HIP-HOP PLANET Financial aid increases nearly 12 percent. Bioengineer’s work widens horizon for adult stem Japanese hip-hop skips guns, goes for world peace. Page 2 cell research. Page 7 Page 4 FACULTY PROMOTED COCO FUSCO SPEAKS The MIT Corporation accepts 41 faculty promotions. POWER AID The Brooklyn-based video artist will visit MIT. Page 3 Simulation reveals how nanomaterials pump up. Page 7 Page 5 PAGE 2 March 7, 2007 NEWS MIT Tech Talk PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY Tamako Harrington, Judy Daniels, President Susan Hockfield, Jim Harrington, Elizabeth Pierre and Jamie Fabianski celebrated after Jim Harrington won an Excellence Award. Excellence Awards ceremony applauds MIT staff The annual MIT Excellence Awards Research Laboratory of Electronics; Anne ceremony was held Feb. 28 in Kresge Deveau, administrative assistant, history, Auditorium. Seventeen members of the theory and criticism of architecture and Institute staff were recognized. They are, art, School of Architecture and Planning; by category of award: Anne C. Maloney, senior stock clerk, Fostering Community: Janet E. Fisch- Laboratory for Nuclear Science; Cynthia er, special assistant, Office of the Provost, McLain, associate staff, Group 62, Informa- and Helen Rose, associate director, Office tion Systems Technology Group, Lincoln of Development Research and Systems. Laboratory; Dieter Willner, senior staff, Creating Connections: Edward Mori- Group 34, Intelligence, Test and Evalua- arty, technical instructor, Edgerton Cen- tion Group, Lincoln Laboratory. ter; Christopher Resto, administrative Innovative Solutions: Sabin Dang, director, Undergraduate Practice Opportu- technical assistant, McGovern Institute nities Program (UPOP); Daniel A. Trujillo, for Brain Research; Christine L. Moulen, associate dean, Community Development library systems manager, MIT Libraries. and Substance Abuse Program. Unsung Heroes: Gary Pascucci, driver Bringing out the Best: Jim Har- procurement and travel services, Lincoln rington, facilities manager, School of Archi- Laboratory; George V. Petrowsky, systems PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY tecture and Planning; Ronald Hasseltine, administrator, Information Services & assistant dean, School of Science. Technology; Patricia Shea, administrative Janet Fischer of the provost’s office, center, and her parents Jack (S.B. 1959) and Margaret Serving the Client: Joseph F. Con- staff, Group 61, Net-centric Integration at the reception held for honorees Feb. 28 at Kresge Auditorium. nolly, assistant director for administration, Group, Lincoln Laboratory. MIT announces 2007-2008 tuition; financial aid to increase almost 12 percent MIT has set tuition and fees for 2007- making MIT affordable for all who qualify the Institute’s Undergraduate Research In December, Hockfield announced 2008 and has budgeted an additional $7 for admission has been unfaltering. This Opportunities Program (UROP) for all MIT’s intention to launch a major fundrais- million for financial aid enhancements, year, as in seven previous years, MIT has upperclassmen who receive financial aid. ing effort to support undergraduate and bringing its total undergraduate financial increased funds available for financial aid About 85 percent of MIT undergraduates graduate education and student life. Over aid budget to $68 million, President Susan by a factor greater than the increase in participate in UROP over the course of the next five years, MIT plans to raise sig- Hockfield announced. tuition. The result: The net price an aver- their studies at the Institute. nificant funds to support undergraduate “The world needs the kind of leaders age student or family pays for an under- One of the earliest programs of its kind scholarships, graduate fellowships, initia- and thinkers who graduate from MIT. By graduate MIT education has actually in the United States, MIT’s UROP invites tives growing out of the report of the Task finding innovative ways to enhance our dropped,” Hastings said. undergraduates to participate in research Force on the Undergraduate Educational strong, entirely need-based financial aid Overall, the average MIT scholar- as the junior colleagues of Institute facul- Commons and programmatic and capital program, we are ensuring that an MIT ship is more than $28,000, supported by ty. The UROP program has given genera- investments in student life. undergraduate education is affordable endowed funds, gifts from alumni and tions of undergraduates their first hands- MIT took a leadership role in the to all of our admitted students, without general Institute funds. Sixty-four percent on experiences with research and has national debate on financial aid just one regard to their economic circumstances,” of undergraduates qualify for need-based opened the doors to ongoing relationships year ago, when it became the first private Hockfield said.