Volume 53, Number 16 TechTalk Wednesday, February 25, 2009 S ERVING THE MIT COMMUNITY

Enlisting Turning bricks microbes and mortar green to solve global problems Researchers harness bacteria to produce energy, clean up environment

Anne Trafton News Office

In the search for answers to the planet’s biggest challenges, some MIT researchers are turning to its tiniest organisms: bacteria. The idea of exploiting microbial products is not new: Humans have long enlisted bacteria and yeast to make bread, wine and cheese, and more recently discovered antibiotics that help fight disease. Now, researchers in the growing field of meta- IMAGE / SHIMAHARA ILLUSTRATION bolic engineer- Once it is completed in 2010, the new MIT Sloan building (E62, pictured in this artist rendering) should be the greenest building ing are trying on campus. The six-story structure will incorporate a number of environmentally friendly features including daylighting, chilled to manipulate beams and radiant ceiling panels. Catherine bacteria’s unique Drennan abilities in order Deborah Halber ence research, BCSC opened in 2005. Its leader in green campus buildings. to help gener- MITEI correspondent high-performance building envelope, gray “Sustainable buildings pay for them- ate energy and water reuse, exhaust-fan heat recovery, and selves. Sustainable buildings please their clean up Earth’s GreeningMIT is daylight-balanced lighting have earned occupants,” says Leon R. Glicksman, atmosphere. an occasional series it a coveted ranking by the U.S. Green professor of building technology and MIT chemical focusing on the broad Building Council (USGBC), making it mechanical engineering and co-chair of the engineer Kristala efforts to improve one of the greenest buildings so far on the Campus Energy Task Force of the MIT Jones Prather energy efficiency on MIT campus. And newer buildings under Energy Initiative (MITEI). “We are work- sees bacteria campus. construction could do even better. ing hard to make them more widespread as diverse and Environmental imperatives such as at MIT and use this as an example to other complex “chemi- global warming are spurring a renewed organizations.” Kristala Jones cal factories” The limestone and glass walls of MIT’s interest in sustainable architecture, and Through use of targeted technology and Prather that can poten- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Complex MIT is increasingly applying its own archi- a system called integrated design, MIT’s tially build better (BCSC) glint white and silver in the sun. tectural and engineering expertise, in areas newest buildings could end up using a third biofuels as well But the complex, also known as Building such as virtual building design and energy- less energy than conventional counterparts as biodegrad- 46, is really quite green. saving technologies, to its own infrastruc- do. And because buildings are responsible able plastics and The world’s largest center for neurosci- ture, making the Institute an emerging uPlease see GREEN, PAGE 7 textiles. “We’re trying to ask what kinds of things should we be trying to Alternative-energy enthusiast wins Gates scholarship make, and look- Gregory ing for potential Alternative-energy enthusiast Orian by phone. He learned that he had been won the MIT IDEAS Competition Yunus Stephanopoulos routes in nature Welling, a senior in mechanical engi- selected a few days later, while he was Challenge Award for a portable solar to make them,” neering, has been awarded a full scholar- riding near the border between South cooker intended to withstand the high says Prather, the Joseph R. Mares ship for graduate study at the University Africa and Botswana. winds on the plateau of western China. (1924) Assistant Professor of Chemi- of Cambridge, England, by the Gates The current trek is actually Welling’s The dish and reflector are formed by cal Engineering. Cambridge Trust. second major international pedal-powered Mylar sewn onto a yak-wool canvas base. She and Gregory Stephanopoulos, The 24-year-old Wisconsin native heard journey. He and a friend made an earlier Welling’s passion for alternative energy the W.H. Dow Professor of Chemi- the news a long way from home: He is trip from Alaska to Argentina — a 15,000- was kindled at a young age: His parents cal Engineering at MIT, are trying to currently riding his bicycle from South mile journey that occupied an entire year long ago founded the Midwest Renew- create bacteria that make biofuels and Africa to England, though he plans a brief between his transfer from the University able Energy Fair, and his father managed other compounds more efficiently, visit back to MIT before resuming his trek. of Wisconsin to MIT — which inspired a solar and wood stove shop. He envisions while chemistry professor Catherine Welling, who is making the trip with Welling to create a bike-powered laptop starting a business dedicated to developing Drennan hopes bacteria can one day his wife, Karen Noiva Welling ’08, took a that could be made available to developing sustainable shipping and transportation countries. technologies. To accomplish this goal, he uPlease see MICROBES, PAGE 5 break from cycling to conduct his inter- view for the Gates scholarship program Last year, Welling and five teammates uPlease see WELLING, PAGE 7

PEOPLE RESEARCH NEWS Faculty named Sloan fellows Stuck in the middle Piece of cake

Six junior faculty members have been named 2009 Alfred Research explains how thin layers of tiny organisms form ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ class at MIT looks at the science P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellows. at sea; could help predict harmful algal blooms. behind chocolate, cookies and more.

PAGE 2 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 2 February 25, 2009 u NEWS MIT Tech Talk Six junior S M T WT Events F S � faculty named at MIT Sloan Research Today Fellows • “New Opportunities for the Inter- Six junior MIT faculty, including three actions of Mathematics and Other from the Department of Physics, have Disciplines.” Speaker: Larry Abbott won 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (). 5-6 p.m. in Research Fellowships, intended to enhance 6-120. the careers of the very best young faculty members in specified fields of science. • MIT Energy Club Lecture Series: MIT faculty among this year’s Sloan Strategies for Enabling Deep Energy Research Fellows are Scott Aaronson of the Efficiency in Buildings. Speaker: MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Energy Efficiency Research Director Science; Pablo Jarillo-Herrero and MIT Lecturer Harvey Michaels. of the Department of Physics; Guido 6-7 p.m. in 4-153. How do we realize Lorenzoni of the Department of Econom- massive-scale efficiency that may reduce ics; John McGreevy of the Department of the energy use of homes, buildings and Physics; Ramesh Raskar of the MIT Media communities by 50 percent or more over Lab; and Robert Simcoe of the Depart- the next 20 years without sacrificing ment of Physics. comfort or function? The fellowships were established in 1955 to provide support and recognition to early • “Is’khathi.” Talk by South African career scientists and scholars, often in their photographer and video artist Zanele first appointments to university faculties, Muholi. 7-8:30 p.m. in NE30, Broad who were endeavoring to set up labora- Institute auditorium. tories and establish their independent research projects with little or no outside support. Financial assistance at this crucial Thursday, Feb. 26 point, even in modest amounts, often pays handsome dividends later to society. • “Will China Run Out of Water?” “The Sloan Research Fellowships Speaker: Prof. Chunmiao Zheng support the work of exceptional young (University of Alabama). 4-5 p.m. in researchers early in their academic careers, 48-308. and often at pivotal stages in their work,” said Paul L. Joskow, president of the Alfred • The Center for 21st Century P. Sloan Foundation and the Elizabeth Energy Spring 2009 Seminar Series. and James Killian (1926) Professor of Speaker: Haijie Chen, on “Deterministic Economics and Management at MIT. “I Method on Piston Ring Packs Lubrica- am proud of the Foundation’s rich history tion.” 4:15-5:30 p.m. in 37-212. in providing the resources and flexibility PHOTO / JUSTIN KNIGHT necessary for young researchers to enhance • Communications Forum: Popular their scholarship, and I look forward to Distinguished words Culture and the Political Imagination. the future achievements of the 2009 Sloan Irwin Jacobs MS ‘57, ScD ‘59, co-founder and chairman of Qualcomm 5-7 p.m. in E15. Johanna Blakley, deputy Research Fellows.” director of the Norman Lear Center at MIT tied with Harvard for second place Incorporated, delivers the inaugural lecture of the School of Engineering USC; David Carr, media and culture in the list of institutions whose faculty Distinguished Lecture Series, which will be a regular opportunity for members writer for the New York Times; and received the most fellowships this year. of the engineering community at MIT to hear from leaders and pioneers in the Stephen Duncombe, associate professor The University of California at Berkeley engineering disciplines. at NYU will speak. had seven fellows.

Lermusiaux chosen for News in brief Doherty Professorship The MIT Sea Grant College Program Kauffman study finds MIT alumni companies New faculty task force to examine tenure has selected Pierre Lermusiaux, associate A new MIT faculty task force has been formed to examine professor in the Department of Mechan- generate billions for regional economies the process of promotion and tenure at the Institute. ical Engineering’s Center for Ocean A Kauffman Foundation study released recently demon- Co-chaired by Chemistry Professor Robert Silbey, former Engineering, as the recipient of the 2009 strates the critical role universities play not only in fostering dean of the School of Science, and Thomas Kochan, the Doherty Professorship in Ocean Utiliza- innovation and entrepreneurial growth, but in stimulating the George Maverick Bunker Professor of Management at the tion. He will receive a supplemental much-needed recovery in regional and global economies. MIT Sloan School of Management and the incoming chair award of $25,000 per year for two years. According to the study, “Entrepreneurial Impact: The Role of the faculty, the new ad hoc committee will review existing Lermusiaux’s interdisciplinary of MIT,” which analyzes the economic effect of MIT alumni- policies, procedures, norms and practices that guide promo- research focuses on physical ocean founded companies and its entrepreneurial ecosystem, if the tion and tenure decisions, including the process of considering dynamics and methods of estimating and active companies founded by MIT graduates formed an inde- complaints and grievances. assimilating data. His research group pendent nation, their revenues would make that nation at least “MIT is firmly committed to rigorous, comprehensive and creates and utilizes the fundamental the 17th-largest economy in the world. Within the U.S., these fair review for promotion and granting of tenure to faculty,” mathematical models and computa- companies currently generate hundreds of billions of dollars Silbey and Kochan said in a statement. “As an integral part of tional schemes for ocean prediction, for and hundreds of thousands of jobs to regional economies, fair practices in conducting such reviews, the Institute needs to dynamical diagnostics, optimization and particularly those in and California. Globally, consider seriously any complaints about procedures involved control of autonomous ocean observa- a less conservative estimate of their annual world sales would in promotion and tenure and to do so in a manner outlined in tion systems, and for data assimilation equal $2 trillion, producing the equivalent of the 11th-largest MIT’s Policies and Procedures.” and data-model comparisons. The PhD economy in the world. The task force, created by the Faculty Officers in consulta- students in his group develop novel “MIT’s significant economic impact is of particular interest tion with Provost L. Rafael Reif, will review promotion prac- adaptive sampling methodologies, derive because it provides an important model for universities inter- tices among the Institute’s five schools and consider such issues new prognostic equations for stochastic ested in helping their students become more effective entre- as mentoring, feedback, fairness and impartiality. ocean fields of large dimensions, incu- preneurs,” said Lesa Mitchell, a vice president of the Kauffman bate the next generation of computation- Foundation. For more information on the faculty task force, see web.mit.edu/ al ocean models, and explore fundamen- For more information on this study, see www.kauffman.org/mit. newsoffice/2009/faculty-taskforce-0218.html. tal biogeochemical fluid dynamics in straits.

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 Editor Operations/Financial Administrator ...... Myles Crowley techtalk-info.html. The News Office is in Room 11-400, Massachusetts Institute of Administrative Assistant II ...... Patti Foley Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Telephone: 617-253-2700 Greg Frost News Manager...... Greg Frost Editorial & Production Asst...... Patrick Gillooly Postmaster: Send address changes to Mail Services, Building WW15, Massachusetts E-mail: [email protected] Web editor...... Melanie Gonick Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Administrative Assistant II ...... Mary Anne Hansen web.mit.edu/newsoffice Photojournalist Subscribers may call 617-252-1550 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Donna Coveney Communications Assistant...... Jen Hirsch Senior designer...... Rebecca Macri Tech Talk is distributed free to faculty and staff offices and residence halls. It is also avail- Editorial Director...... Nate Nickerson able free in the News Office and the Information Center. Office of the Arts Director of Communications, Production Advisor to the President...... Jason Pontin Domestic mail subscriptions are $25 per year, nonrefundable. Checks should be made web.mit.edu/arts Patrick Gillooly Director, Media Relations...... Patti Richards payable to MIT and mailed to Business Manager, Room 11-400, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Senior Writer...... Stephanie Schorow Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Senior Media Relations Printed on recycled paper Officer, Research News...... Elizabeth Thomson Periodical postage paid at Boston, MA. Writer...... Anne Trafton MIT Tech Talk u PEOPLE February 25, 2009 PAGE 3

Obituaries MIT to increase Margaret (Peg) Warner, received an MBA from Boston University She will be fondly remembered for her financial aid to in 1984. A tireless volunteer for the causes delightful spirit, her sincerity and her special assistant to the in which she believed, Peg served on loyalty to her many friends at MIT. She numerous nonprofit arts, civic and cultural will be tremendously missed by all. middle-income EVP and treasurer, 67 boards in the Boston area, including the A memorial service celebrating Peg’s Margaret (Peg) Warner, special assistant Museum of Science (where she served on life will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, to the executive vice president and treasur- the Finance Committee), the Massachu- March 24, in the MIT Chapel, followed by families er, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 7, at her setts Cultural Council, the MIT Museum a reception. MIT has set tuition and fees for 2009- Lexington home after a courageous battle Advisory Board, the Friends of the Public 2010 and has budgeted an additional with cancer. She was 67. Garden, Light Boston (an organization Alan Jay Simmons, $7.6 million for financial aid enhance- Peg began her career at MIT in 1998 as dedicated to illuminating Boston’s historic former Lincoln Laboratory ments, including an expansion in aid to associate director of the Office of Budget buildings), Arts in Education “Think middle-income families that will ensure and Financial Planning, responsible for Tank”, the Credit group leader, 84 even more students have access to an Institute financial planning and budget Union and the Five Fields Neighborhood affordable education. Alan Jay Simmons SM ’48, who worked development, submission and reporting. Association in Lexington. She was active in While tuition and fees will increase at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory for more Appointed as special assistant to the EVP several animal welfare groups around the 3.8 percent to $37,782, the smallest than 15 years, died peacefully on Monday, and treasurer in 2007, Peg used her deep country including the Feline increase in eight years, the total under- Feb. 9, of complications from Parkinson’s knowledge of MIT, particularly of campus/ Association and the Somerville Alley Cats. graduate financial aid budget will rise disease. He was 84. capital-planning activities, to provide Friends fondly remember Peg’s whimsi- more than 10 percent to $81.6 million. Simmons began his invaluable and outstanding service. cal, off-beat sense of humor; her voracious That marks the 10th straight year in connection with MIT She began her love of all things edible, especially sweets; which MIT’s financial aid enhancements in the late 1940s, when financial career 39 her interesting tales of MIT, Harvard and have outpaced rising tuition. This year, he received his SM in years ago at the California; and, of course, her delight- understanding that college costs can also electrical engineer- Harvard University ful stories about and love for her three present challenges for middle-income ing and computer Smithsonian Astro- cats, Thomas, Lucy and Ida. Peg enjoyed families, MIT’s financial aid budget science. In 1971, physical Observa- gardening, hiking, horseback riding, travel- includes an additional $1.4 million to Simmons began work- tory, where she was ing and spending time in her log cabin in help families earning more than $75,000 ing at MIT’s Lincoln division administra- the New Hampshire woods. She loved to a year. Laboratory, eventually tor for the Radio attend theater, dance, and music concerts The latest initiatives build on MIT’s Alan Jay becoming one of the and Geoastronomy and especially enjoyed having lunch with long tradition of ensuring that it remains lab’s group leaders. Division. In 1984, friends and colleagues around the Institute. Simmons affordable to talented students from a Margaret (Peg) Besides working as a she joined Raytheon “Peg was a very truly special person and full range of economic backgrounds. The Warner manager and administrator, he continued Company, where friend,” said Vice President for Finance Institute’s student population is already his work solving engineering problems she served first as Israel Ruiz. “Everyone in the MIT among the most economically diverse related to satellite antenna systems for business and program manager for several community that got to meet Peg knows of America’s top-ranked universities, defense communications. profit centers and later as marketing that, beyond her passion for budgets and partly as a result of MIT’s commit- In 1976, two satellites that Simmons manager and director of competitive intel- watching MIT’s financial ‘bottom line,’ she ment to “need-blind” admissions and to worked on at Lincoln Lab, LES 8 and 9, ligence for Raytheon Service Company. had a myriad of wonderful interests and meeting the full need of all undergradu- were launched into geosynchronous orbit, While managing professional, technical talents. ates it admits. Moreover, MIT doubled where they remain today still functioning. and field personnel in the “Personally, I always looked forward its undergraduate financial aid budget and Egypt, Peg also established a computer to having an enriching end-of-the-day In 1987, Simmons retired from full-time between 2001 and 2008. system to manage finances and logistics for conversation with her. She embraced me work at Lincoln Lab and began consult- “In these tough financial times, MIT critical air shipment of parts and assem- and counseled me since my first day at ing. In 1991, he was named a life fellow of recognizes that students and their fami- blies to Cairo. MIT and always made sure to look after the Institute of Electrical and Electronics lies need our help more than ever. That’s A native Californian, Peg graduated me from a distance,” Ruiz added. “Despite Engineers (IEEE). Throughout his career, why we are pleased to be able to not only from Stanford University with a BA in my great sorrow at her passing away, I he also published more than a dozen scien- maintain our commitment to need- French Literature and from Harvard find comfort in remembering our shared tific papers and was a frequent speaker at based aid but to be able to allot more University with an MA in Romance moments and great memories of our many professional meetings here and abroad. funds to financial aid overall,” said Dean Languages and Literature; she was fluent years working together with shared passion A memorial was held on Saturday, Feb. for Undergraduate Education Daniel in French, Italian and Spanish. She for MIT.” 14, in Sandwich, Mass. Hastings. “We want all students to be able to afford to attend and not worry about finances,” Hastings added, “so they can Awards&Honors get the maximum educational benefit from their time at MIT.”

Six receive Martin Luther King Jr. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was founded Community Giving at in 1917 and honors civilians and service personnel for public leadership awards service or other distinctions. It is widely used by the queen to MIT: now more than ever Six members of the MIT community have received Dr. Martin honor non-British subjects who have given outstanding service to Local nonprofits that we care about Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards for 2009 in recognition of the United Kingdom. need financial help now more than ever. service that reflects the late civil rights leader’s ideals Please join generous MIT employees and vision. and retirees in supporting Community In presenting the awards on Feb. 5 during the 35th DeLong wins ASM award Giving at MIT, the easiest and most Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebra- The 2009 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) effective way to make your charitable tion, MIT Chancellor Phillip L. Clay reflected on the D.C. White Research and Mentoring Award has been contribution. meaning of the word “leadership.” awarded to Edward F. DeLong, professor in the Depart- Donate to the MIT Commu- “Those who are anointed as our leaders are first our ment of Civil and Environmental Engineering and nity Service Fund, the United Way of servants,” he said. “Dr. King, in several of his sermons, Department of Biological Engineering. Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley, underscored that point. Leadership is not purchased … DeLong was cited as one of the first marine micro- or your favorite local charity through but it is earned through service.” biologists to apply novel molecular genetic methods to payroll deduction, check, credit card or The 2009 leadership recipients are divided into three securities by Feb. 27, the official close of Lita address fundamental ecological questions. The award groups: faculty, staff and students. Staff award recipients will be presented in May during the 109th General the campaign. Nelsen comprise Barry Reckley, MIT Sloan School of Manage- Meeting of the ASM in Philadelphia. Every gift, modest or large, counts ment assistant director in minority recruitment and and is appreciated. Donate online at web. retention; and Deborah Liverman, assistant director in mit.edu/community-giving or request the Global Education and Career Development Center. Ketterle wins award for a donation packet from the Commu- Christine Ortiz, associate professor in the Department nity Services Office (617-253-7914 or of Materials Science and Engineering, and John Essig- lifetime achievements [email protected]). mann, toxicology and chemistry professor, won the Wolfgang Ketterle, a professor in the Department of faculty awards, while the student awards went to seniors Physics, has been elected the recipient of a Humboldt Aisha Bobb-Semple and Jason Forte. Research Award after having been nominated by the WIN AN IPHONE! German scientist Theodor W. Hänsch. The award is conferred in recognition of lifetime achievements in Don’t forget, the first-ever Sustain- A royal honor for TLO’s Nelsen Edward research. In addition, the awardee is invited to carry out ability at MIT Photo Contest is going on through March 31, so there’s still time to Lita Nelsen, director of the Technology Licensing DeLong research projects of his own choice in cooperation with specialist colleagues in Germany. submit your photos. Show us what you Office at MIT, has been named a Member of the Most see and what your aspirations are as MIT Excellent Order of the British Empire for her work in innovation launches its greeningMIT campaign to and technology transfer in the United Kingdom. Buchanan wins Benjamin Siegel prize help the Institute walk the talk on energy Nelsen was cited for her talents as an internationally recognized and the environment. authority in technology licensing and technology transfer, and The 2008/2009 Benjamin Siegel prize — offered to the MIT The grand-prize winner will receive for contributing significantly to the development of a network of student submitting the best written work on issues in science, an iPhone and have his or her winning trained Technology Licensing Offices in the United Kingdom. technology and society — has been awarded to graduate student entry published on the MIT home page In 2002, Nelsen co-founded Praxis Courses Ltd., a nonprofit Nicholas Buchanan, in the Program in Science, Technology, and and in MIT’s official newspaper, Tech U.K. technology transfer program, with Professor David Secher, Society, for his paper “Narrating Nature: Scientific Legality, Indi- Talk. Prizes will also be awarded to the then director of research services at Cambridge University. Praxis geneity, and Environmental Authority.” first- and second-place finishers. has played a key role in shifting the culture of U.K. universities For complete rules, including how to toward commercialization. enter, please visit web.mit.edu/newsof- fice/2009/photo-contest-rules.html. PAGE 4 February 25, 2009 u RESEARCH & INNOVATION MIT Tech Talk Putting heads (and ) together to solve global problems

Anne Trafton Such “argument maps” help eliminate the repetitive, unhelpful comments and tangents News Office that render most online discussion forums unhelpful. The researchers are also connecting their deliberation tool with computer-based magine if the planet’s collective brainpower and computing power could be brought climate models, so users’ suggestions about different parts of the problem can be more together to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems, including global climate easily combined and tested. Ichange and cancer. Klein, who initially developed online deliberation tools to help engineers share ideas It may sound like science fiction, but researchers at MIT’s Center for Collective Intel- about projects they’re working on, believes such tools could one day prove useful in tack- ligence (CCI) are trying to make it reality. ling other large, complex problems, such as poverty or terrorism. Popular applications such as Wikipedia, Linux and YouTube already take advantage of “Because these are such big problems, it’s essentially impossible for any one person or collective intelligence — the harness- small group to be cognizant of all of the ing of human knowledge and intel- issues, ideas and trade-offs,” Klein says. ligence that allows groups of people The CCI has also proposed a project to act together in ways that seem to be to consolidate patient data, clinical intelligent. But those applications only practices and medical research into scratch the surface of what is possible a worldwide network. The network with collective intelligence, says could use that information to precisely Thomas Malone, director of the CCI pinpoint the type of cancer and predict and professor at the MIT Sloan School the treatment best suited to individ- of Management. ual patients, depending on the tumor He envisions that pooled brain- characteristics. power, enabled by computing advances, could allow doctors to make better Wisdom of the crowds cancer diagnoses and help experts and others brainstorm solutions to climate CCI researchers are also exploring change. collective prediction, building on the The CCI’s goal is nothing less than success of popular Internet sites where figuring out “how can people and people can buy and sell predictions computers be connected so that collec- about the outcome of elections, sport- tively they act more intelligently than ing events, etc. Such web sites, based any person, group or computer has ever on the collective wisdom of their users, done before,” says Malone. “That’s a have proven remarkably accurate, says kind of intelligence that’s never existed Malone. on the planet before.” The MIT team plans to expand on

GRAPHIC / REBECCA MACRI that concept by bringing computers Beyond YouTube into the mix and programming them to make predictions, along with humans. One ambitious CCI project aims to This maximizes collective intelligence tackle one of the most pressing and by taking advantage of the strengths complicated issues now facing the of each group: Computers are good at world: global climate change. predicting things based on historical “If ever a problem required the best intelligence from our whole species and all of our data, and people are good at predicting how an unexpected event will throw things off. computer power, many people would say this is it,” says Malone. “Certainly people are In an early version of this system, the CCI is developing a model to predict what plays working on the problem in various ways, but so far the results leave a lot to be desired.” are most likely to be called next in a football game, depending on the game situation and Global climate change involves so many variables — pollution, transportation, the team’s historical tendencies. The same approach may someday be useful for predict- economics, etc. — that it’s impossible for any one expert to have all of the solutions, or ing the actions of a business competitor or a military enemy. even understand all of the issues. While developing these projects, the CCI is also taking a scientific look at ways to In one part of the Climate Collaboratorium project, led by Mark Klein, CCI principal measure collective intelligence, similar to the way a psychologist measures an individual research associate, the center is developing an online deliberation tool that allows experts person’s IQ. This research could allow them to figure out ways to improve intelligence, in a wide range of fields to get together to share ideas. possibly by adding or subtracting members of the group, or using different processes. Unlike existing online discussion forums, the Climate Collaboratorium requires users “These early examples we’re seeing around us today are not the end of the story,” says to catalog their contributions and connect them to points that have already been made. Malone. “They’re just the beginning.”

To study the possible effects of these chronic infec- Chronic infection may tions, Schauer and his team used laboratory mice infected first with a strain of bacteria that causes a chronic condi- tion but produces no symptoms, and then with a second add to developing- infectious agent that causes acute diarrhea. They found that even though the underlying chronic infection did world deaths not cause disease on its own, it did make the acute infec- tion much worse than in a control group that was only exposed to the second agent. MIT study points to hidden threat Schauer and his team say as far as they know this is stalking many diarrhea patients the first time, for any kind of disease, that an underly- ing “subclinical” infection has been shown to make a later bacterial infection more severe. And in the case of David Chandler diarrhea, this may play a significant role, since about 50 News Office percent of the world population carries a chronic infec- tion with Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach- Worldwide, nearly 2 million people per year die from lining inflammation but usually no clinical symptoms, diarrhea, the vast majority of them in poor countries in and which is closely related to the initial infectious agent Africa and Asia. The disease accounts for 18 percent of used in the mouse experiments. all deaths among children — and yet is almost always “It may be that an individual’s infection status with preventable with proper treatment. Now, new research these or other agents is important in determining from MIT indicates that underlying, low-level undi- outcome of infection, immune-mediated disease or even agnosed infection may greatly add to the severity of a immunization,” Schauer says. number of these cases. This realization could lead to The work may also be significant in terms of under- changes in health-care strategies to address the problem. standing the results of much clinical research using The findings, reported by MIT Professor of Biological rodent models. Infections similar to the chronic H. pylori Engineering and Comparative Medicine David Schauer, “are now known to be widespread in many rodent facili- show that these undiagnosed gastrointestinal infections ties, and infection with these Helicobacter species does increase the severity of and delay recovery from acute not cause clinical disease, except in certain genetically diarrhea, and the analysis provides a model that could engineered lines of mice,” Schauer says, so “it is impor- allow public health officials to evaluate new preventive tant to be aware of infection status with these agents strategies or therapeutic treatments. when conducting research with laboratory rodents.” The work grew out of the increasing recognition of A report on the research was published last November the relationship between persistent, chronic infections in the journal Infection and Immunity, and was high- many people carry and the outcomes of later infection. lighted in December in Microbe magazine, both from “It seemed likely that persistent enteric infection with the American Society for Microbiology. The work was PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY bacterial agents would also elicit immune responses that carried out by Schauer and his students Megan E. McBee could have similar effects. However, this had not been Professor of Biological Engineering and Comparative and Patricia Z. Zheng in the Department of Biological previously studied,” Schauer says. “We wanted to provide Medicine David Schauer and postdoctoral student Engineering, and Arlin B. Rogers and James G. Fox in the proof of principle and begin to define the mechanism for Megan McBee do work on the effects of underlying Division of Comparative Medicine, all at MIT. The work such an interaction.” infections on deaths caused by diarrhea. was supported by a U.S. Public Health Service grant. MIT Tech Talk u RESEARCH & INNOVATION February 25, 2009 PAGE 5

MICROBES: Using bacteria for energy Continued from Page 1 help soak up pollutants such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere. Stuck ‘Chemical factories’

Found in nearly every habitat on Earth, bacte- ria are chemical powerhouses. Some synthesize in the compounds useful to humans, such as biofuels, plastics and drugs, while others break down atmospheric pollutants. Most rely on carbon compounds as an energy source, but species differ widely in their exact metabolic processes. middle Metabolic engineers are learning to take advan- tage of those processes, and one area of intense focus is biofuel production. At MIT, Prather is developing bacteria that can manufacture fuels such as butanol and pentanol from agricultural byproducts, and Stephanopoulos is trying to make better microbial producers of biofuels by improv- ing their tolerance to the toxicity of the feed- stocks they ferment and products they make. The recent spike in oil prices and growing greenhouse-gas emissions have catalyzed the push to find better pathways to produce biofuels and other chemicals such as bioplastics. “You see a visible boost when you have a crisis linked to energy problems,” says Stephanopoulos. Manufacturing plastics and textiles using bacte- ria can be far less energy intensive than traditional industrial processes, because most industrial chemical reactions require high temperatures and pressures (which require a great deal of energy to create). Bacteria, on the other hand, normally thrive at around 30 degrees Celsius and at atmo- spheric pressure. Metabolic engineering involves not only creating new products but also developing more- efficient ways of making existing compounds. Recently, Prather’s laboratory reported a new way to synthesize glucaric acid, a compound with multiple uses, ranging from the synthesis of nylons to water treatment, by combining genes IMAGE / GLYNN GORICK; WILLIAM DURHAM AND ROMAN STOCKER from plants, yeast and bacteria. Researchers discovered that thin layers of phytoplankton form where strong variations in flow velocity cause the Prather is also working on bacteria that trans- cells to overturn. These flow conditions form a watery trap: Phytoplankton can swim in but not out. form glucose and other simple starting materi- als into compounds that can be used to make biodegradable plastics such as PHA (polyhy- MIT research explains how thin layers of of the ocean and can be anywhere from a few centimeters to droxyalkanoate). In Stephanopoulos’ laboratory, a couple of meters thick, span several kilometers horizon- researchers are developing new ways to produce tiny organisms form at sea; work could help tally and last hours, days or weeks. biodiesel, plus other compounds, including the predict harmful algal blooms like red tide “Our research pinpoints a mechanism for the formation amino acid tyrosine, a building block for drugs of these thin layers of phytoplankton, which are analo- and food additives, biopolymers and hyaluronic gous to watering holes in a savanna — localized areas of acid, a natural joint lubricant that can be used to Denise Brehm concentrated resources that draw a wide range of organ- treat arthritis. Civil and Environmental Engineering isms and thus play a disproportionate role in the ecological Both labs collaborate in a project to engineer landscape,” said Stocker, the Doherty Assistant Professor of the isoprenoid pathway in yeast and bacteria, Not far beneath the ocean’s surface, tiny phytoplankton Ocean Utilization at MIT. which is responsible for the biosynthesis of many swimming upward in a daily commute toward morning Because motile phytoplankton have different morpholo- important pharmaceutical compounds. The two light sometimes encounter the watery equivalent of Rod gies and swimming abilities, one species may be able to labs are investigating methods to make different Serling’s Twilight Zone: a sharp variation in marine currents swim through a layer of shear that will capture another. compounds with higher activity as well as improv- that traps billions of these single-celled organisms and This means that each species could be trapped in a different ing productivity. sends them tumbling until a shift in wind or tide alters the level of shear, creating a sort of oceanic layered-cake effect, Microbes express a huge range of metabolic currents and sets them free. a boon for zooplankton or young fish that feed on specific pathways, offering great opportunities but also Scientists are aware of these thin layers of single-celled species. challenges. “Biology has a lot of diversity that’s creatures and their enormous ecological ramifications, And when a toxic species of phytoplankton gets trapped untapped and undiscovered, but the flip side but until now, they knew little about in a thin layer, that layer can spawn a is that it’s hard to engineer in precise ways,” the mechanisms responsible for their harmful algal bloom — an explosion in says Prather. “Nature has evolved to do what it formation. the population of toxic phytoplankton does, and to get it to do something different is a The explanation by researchers that sickens or kills the larger animals nontrivial task.” in MIT’s Department of Civil and that ingest the cells. Harmful algal Environmental Engineering of how blooms are a major source of social and Bacterial clean-up crew these common, startlingly dense layers economic concern, particularly near of photosynthetic phytoplankton form, coastal areas, because they are becom- Drennan is also looking to bacteria, but with a moves the scientific community a step ing more frequent and cause billions of different goal in mind. Instead of using bacteria to closer to being able to predict harmful dollars in annual losses to fishing and build things, she’s studying how they break things algal blooms, a well-known example of recreational industries worldwide. down — specifically, carbon dioxide, carbon which is red tide. The work also opens In a perspective piece accompanying monoxide and other atmospheric pollutants. new perspectives on other phenomena, the paper in Science, scientist Daniel Her microbes, found in a range of habitats like predatory feeding by larger organ- Grünbaum of the University of Wash- including freshwater hot springs, absorb carbon isms at these ecological hotspots. ington writes: “The authors demon- dioxide and/or carbon monoxide and use them to “Phytoplankton are incredibly strate a sort of Peter Principle for algae produce energy. Such microbes remove an esti- small. You would have to stack about migrating in shear: cells swim up until mated one billion tons of carbon monoxide from 10 back to back to equal the width they reach their level of instability. At Earth and its lower atmosphere every year. of a single human hair,” said PhD PHOTO / WIKIPEDIA/NASA this critical shear level, cells can swim “These bacteria are responsible for removing student William Durham, co-author A satellite image showing a in, but they cannot swim out. The a lot of CO and CO2 from the environment,” on a paper that appeared in the Feb. coccolithophore bloom in the resulting aggregation, in what is argu- says Drennan, who is a Howard Hughes Medical 20 issue of Science. “But despite their Bering Sea. ably an unfavorable microenvironment, Institute investigator. “Can we use this chemistry small size, they play an outsized role in may have widespread consequences, as to do the same thing?” the environment: they form the base harmful blooms of toxic algae often take To answer that question, Drennan and her of the marine food web and cumulatively produce half the the form of thin layers.” students are using X-ray crystallography to deci- world’s oxygen. Many species can swim, but this fact is often Using video-microscopy, Durham and Stocker were pher the structures of the metal-protein enzymes neglected by researchers because phytoplankton are slow able to track the movements of individual cells as they involved in the reactions, which they believe will compared to ocean currents. However, we have shown that become trapped in the layers of shear. They also modeled allow them to figure out how the enzymes work. their motility can play a crucial role by concentrating them the movements of the swimming cells mathematically and That understanding could lead to development of into dense assemblages, known as thin layers.” proved that they cannot escape these layers. Once trapped, catalysts to lower carbon monoxide levels. In the Science paper, Durham, Professor Roman Stocker they’re at the mercy of the flow and must wait for the shear “If you’re going to borrow ideas from nature, and University of Arizona physics Professor John Kessler to decrease before they can swim out and exit the Twilight the first step is to understand how nature works,” explain how adjacent layers of water moving at different Zone. she says. speeds produce a “shear” flow that traps the phytoplankton This research was supported by grants from the National as they swim into it. These layers form in the top 50 meters Science Foundation and the MIT Earth Systems Initiative. PAGE 6 February 25, 2009 u NEWS MIT Tech Talk

News in brief

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. The sale offers a selection of material including architecture, art, chemistry, children’s books, engineer- ing, fiction, history, linguistics, math, movies, music and physics. Proceeds will benefit the Libraries’ Preservation Fund. The sale is open to the MIT community only; dealers and their representatives by appointment only. For more information, contact the MIT Libraries’ Gifts Office at 617-253-5693 or [email protected]. ‘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 commu- nity members’ well being, health and relaxation. PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY “Stressful times require deliberate Senior Angie Chiang, foreground, and junior Taylor Williamson fi nish up a chemistry experiment — making ‘Death by Chocolate’ measures, and we’ll present some of cookies — during Patricia Christie’s ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ course. the most effective stress-reduction skills,” said Susanna Barry, a program manager in MIT Medical’s Center for Health Promotion and Wellness. Cooking up a new approach to chemistry “Participants will come away with concrete tools to manage their stress and tap into their natural relaxation Anne Trafton mechanical engineering major. response.” News Office The course is limited to 18 students, and Some of the events currently sched- ❞ is so popular that it fills up within minutes The fun thing is they uled as part of Mind-Body Month It’s Tuesday afternoon, and the smell of the opening of class registration. Anoth- include meditation classes, sleep and of chocolate wafts from a lounge kitchen don’t even realize they’re er 30 students were waitlisted this year. mindful-eating workshops, chair through the hallways of MIT’s Building 24. The class is part of the Experimental learning about chemistry. massages, yoga and more. Inside the sixth-floor kitchen, students Study Group, an alternative academic Most workshops are free of are busy measuring flour, melting choco- But they’re learning a lot. program at MIT that offers small, hands- charge, but some (including the chair late and beating eggs. But they’re not just on seminars for all undergraduates, as well massage) do require a fee. Workshops trying to satisfy a sweet tooth — they’re Patricia Christie as a small group-learning program in the can be scheduled to be held in your doing science. lecturer, ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ instructor freshman core subjects. area, at lunchtime or otherwise. This is “Kitchen Chemistry,” a course In the case of the Kitchen Chemistry For more information on Mind- in which students learn principles of food class, the hands-on approach gives students Body Month, visit http://medweb. chemistry through experiments involving for baking soda and others require baking a chance to figure out culinary mysteries mit.edu/about/news/article/mind- chocolate chip cookies, hot sauce, chili, powder, and why chopping an onion such as why you need to add vinegar to body-090126.html, or contact Susanna coffee and ice cream, among other tasty makes you cry. And this is undoubtedly the milk when baking scones (the batter needs Barry at 617-253-1316 or bars@med. treats. only chemistry class at MIT in which the an acid to combine with baking soda, a mit.edu. Patricia Christie, a lecturer in MIT’s students get to eat their experiments. base, to produce carbon dioxide that causes The program is co-sponsored by Experimental Study Group, has been “That’s the biggest perk,” says junior the dough to rise). MIT Medical, the Department of teaching “Kitchen Chemistry” every spring Jenna Houston, a chemical engineering “The fun thing is they don’t even realize Physical Education, Athletics and since 2000. major. they’re learning about chemistry,” says Recreation (DAPER), the Board of “I’m a chemist who likes to cook,” she “My roommate has already put in a Christie, “but they’re learning a lot.” Chaplains, Student Life Programs, the says. “In this class, we apply chemical request” for some of the “Death by Choco- Student Activities Office and lgbt@ principles to food to get students to think late” cookies the class whipped up during To see a video interview with Christie, and MIT. about food in a different way.” a recent session, said Houston’s baking the baking in action, visit http://web.mit.edu/ Students learn why certain recipes call partner, Sarah Cooper-Davis, a senior newsoffice/2009/kitchen-chemistry-0220.html.

here. They show how very diverse topics can

benefit from what is recognizably the same holton Big ideas richard Holton provides a unified account of the will, pulling together Richard Holton is Professor of Philosophy approach.a diverse rangeIt is of phenomenaa feature that have of typically philosophy been treated separately: that, 2 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. unlikeintention, most resolution, disciplines choice, weakness nowadays, and strength of will,we temptation, remain addiction, and freedom of the will. drawing on recent psychological research, In unusual coincidence, MIT generalists.”he argues that rather than being the pinnacle of rationality, these components also published by Holton’swork to compensate own forbook, our inability “Willing, to make and maintain Wanting, sound judgments. OxfOrd UnIversITy Press philosophers release eight books Choice is the capacity to form intentions even in the absence of judgment Waiting,”of which actionwill is bebest. Weaknesspublished of will is thein failure July to maintainby the resolutions Reasons and the Good Oxfordin the University face of temptation—where Press. temptation The typically other involves books a shift in by W illing, anting, aiting roger Crisp judgment as to what is best, or, in cases of addiction, a disconnection between

Stephanie Schorow illing, W philosophywhat is judged faculty best and what are: is desired. “Our strength Knowledge of will is the corresponding of Weakness of Will and Practical Irrationality News Office the Internalability to maintain World,” a resolution by in the Professor face of temptation, Robert an ability that Stal- W W W edited by sarah stroud and Christine Tappolet requires the employment of a particular faculty or skill. finally, the experience nakerof (Oxford freedom of the Universitywill is traced to the experiences Press, of September forming intentions, Normativity and the Will It’s unusual for philosophers to publish 2008);and “Normativity,” of maintaining resolutions, bothby of Professor which require effortful Emerita activity Selected Essays on Moral Psychology and Practical Reason from the agent. r. Jay Wallace many books these days, which is why the Judith Jarvis Thomson (Open Court, Decem- anting, W publication of eight books by eight of the 12 ber 2008); “Cinematic Mythmaking: Philoso- Jacket illustration: Martin schongauer, The Temptation of st Anthony, a copperplate engraving MIT philosophy faculty in the span of a year phy in© TheFilm,” Trustees of theby British Professor Museum. (MIT marks a noteworthy chapter for the Institute’s Press, September 2008); “Thoughts: Papers philosophy section. on Mind, Meaning, and Modality” by Profes-

“Philosophers, especially analytic philoso- sor Stephen Yablo (Oxford University Press, aiting phers, tend to publish articles rather than January 2009); “Sexual Solipsism: Philosophi- books,” says Richard Holton, professor and cal Essays on Pornography and Objectifica- head of the philosophy section in the Depart- tion,” by Professor Rae Langton (Oxford ment of Linguistics and Philosophy. So, he University Press, January 2009); “Disjunctiv- IMAGE COURTESY OF says, it is very unusual to have so many philos- ism: Contemporary Readings,” by Professor OXFORD PRESS ophy books — both published and upcoming Alex Byrne and graduate student Heather AND RICHARD — from MIT at one time. Logue (MIT Press, March 2009); “On Myself HOLTON The themes of the eight books differ widely and Other Less Important Subjects,” by The cover — ranging from the philosophy of Fellini to Associate Professor Caspar Hare (Princeton of Richard 2 free will to the epistemology of pornography University Press, September 2009).ISBN 978-0-19-921457-0 Holton’s — but “they are all careful, analytic works,” Holton1 cautions against reading too much book, says Holton. “In that sense they are all very into the timing: “I wish there were9 78 0some199 21 4570 ‘Willing, much MIT products, and they have all bene- intriguing explanation, but I think it’s basically richard holton Wanting, fited from much discussion in the department coincidence.” Waiting’ MIT Tech Talk u NEWS February 25, 2009 PAGE 7 GREEN: MIT buildings MISTI selects first winners utilizing green technology Continued from Page 1 of Global Seed Funds for more than a third of our national energy consump- tion, says Glicksman, that is a significant number. A project to develop a networked underwater “By enabling MIT students to participate in faculty- Early adopter energy-harvesting robot and a study of stem cell-based led international projects, we hope to increase oppor- engineered tissues are among the international faculty tunities for hands-on, global learning and connection In 2001, MIT’s Green Building Task Force set Insti- research collaborations that will receive nearly half a to innovation around the world,” said Richard Samuels, tute-wide goals and standards aimed at conserving energy million dollars in funding as part of a new program by director of the Center for International Studies. and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. “MIT was an the MIT International Science and Technology Initia- MISTI Global Seed Funds includes a general pool early adopter of a policy and goals, and tives (MISTI). for projects in any location and several country-specific our expertise has evolved and strengthened over time,” Of the 104 proposals received for the inaugural funds supported by outside donors. says Steven M. Lanou, deputy director for environmental 2008-2009 MISTI Global MIT’s largest international sustainability and a member of the Campus Energy Task Seed Funds, 27 were awarded program, MISTI is a pioneer Force. “Our newest buildings — the MIT Sloan School funding. Faculty and research in applied international stud- of Management, NW35 [the new Ashdown House], scientists from 26 departments ies. Since 1994, the program and the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer across the Institute submit- has placed more than 3,000 Research — are expected to be the greenest to date.” ted proposals for projects in MIT students in profes- For the new Koch building, Walter E. Henry, direc- 42 countries. All awardees sional internships and research tor of Facilities’ Systems Engineering Group, and others include undergraduate, gradu- positions with its network of modeled and tested airflow in laboratory fume hoods, ate or postdoctoral student leading companies, universities, which suck out noxious chemical fumes, to determine participation. research institutes and NGOs whether a drop in the velocity of the air entering the Teams will collectively use around the world. MISTI hoods would maintain their effectiveness. They found the $457,400 in grant money to jump-start international currently operates in nine countries: China, France, that a 20 percent reduction would keep the fume hoods research projects and collaboration with faculty and Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Spain. safe while drastically reducing energy use. student counterparts abroad. Funds will be used to cover The program is a part of the Center for International Another significant marker of change is MIT’s commit- international travel, meeting and workshop costs to Studies. ment to hold new construction and renovation up to scru- facilitate the projects. MISTI will provide cultural prepa- MISTI will launch the next MISTI Global Seed Funds tiny by the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environ- ration for participating students before their departure. call for proposals in May 2009, with a deadline in early mental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System. The MISTI Global Seed Funds program was initi- fall. LEED certifications of platinum, gold and silver aim to ated through funding from the Office of the Provost to encourage and accelerate global adoption of sustainable enhance the internationalization of MIT research and Visit web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/misti-seedfund-0224. green building. All new construction and major renova- education. html for a complete list of the seed fund winners. tions undertaken by MIT since 2001 have or are expected to meet or exceed the LEED silver standard, Lanou says. The MIT Sloan project is unlike any building proj- WELLING: Alternative- ect at MIT. From the start, a high level of green design South African activist photographer was set as a goal; and in order to achieve that goal, the energy enthusiast wins team adopted a version of the integrated design process, visiting MIT through March 10 according to Henry. In the typical design process, work is Gates scholarship Zanele Muholi, an award-winning South African photographer linear, so that the different disciplines work one after the and video artist, will be on the MIT campus through March 10 as other. The integrated process includes all of the archi- Continued from Page 1 the 2009 Ida Ely Rubin Artist-in-Residence. tects and engineers from the beginning so they can more will now pursue a doctorate in mechanical Muholi, who is known for her evocative portraits of black effectively work as a team. From this new process, the engineering at Cambridge as one of 100 lesbians and transgender people in South African townships, will designers for the MIT Sloan project were able to develop Gates Cambridge Scholarship recipients present a public program today, teach a hands-on photography what will probably be the greenest building at MIT. (out of more than 700 applicants). workshop, and meet with students and faculty. The design team of the Koch Institute, under construc- In addition to his studies and work on Muholi says of her work, “My aim is not to make nice pictures tion on Main Street, also incorporated aspects of integrat- alternative energy, Welling is a teacher. He but to crack open the issues.” She received the 2005 Tollman ed design. In addition to the low-flow fume hoods, the has participated in MIT’s CETI (China Award for the Visual Arts, which led to her photography exhibit building will filter its stormwater en route to the Charles Educational Technology Initiative), teach- and book, “Only Half the Picture.” Her film, “Enraged by a River, use reflective roof material, recover heat in the ing mechanical engineering in English Picture,” which was screened at the Out in Africa gay and lesbian HVAC system, and recycle or salvage at least 75 percent through the hands-on bicycle design work. film festival in 2005, documents responses to her photography. of construction waste. As a lab assistant for the Department of Muholi will present a program titled “Is’khathi” (which roughly Among the features of NW35, the new graduate Mechanical Engineering, Welling has translates from the Zulu as “period in time” or “time of the student housing at Pacific and Albany streets, are a storm- taught basic machining and assembly tech- month”) at 7 p.m., today, in the auditorium. It is water management system, use of recycled materials, a niques as well as Matlab and Solidworks. free and open to public. reflective roof with provisions for future solar panels, and MIT students have won 15 of the presti- Muholi will explore the idea of creating community through low-VOC paints and adhesives. MIT Sloan, the Koch gious Gates scholarships since the program visual imagery in a photography workshop on two consecutive Institute and the graduate dorm are expected to receive was established in 2000 by the Bill & Fridays, Feb. 27 and March 6, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Cost is $20 for gold or silver LEED designations. Melinda Gates Foundation. The scholar- students, $40 for MIT affiliates. Register through the Student Art “As an institute built around innovation,” says Lanou, ships cover tuition, room, board, travel and Association web site at saa.mit.edu/classes. “MIT has an obligation to demand and uphold the high- stipend for study at Cambridge. est standards in environmentally friendly infrastructure.”

for stock options and other complex securities. With Scholes, Merton won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1997 for CLASSIFIED ADS Economist Robert this work. Merton also made path-breaking contributions to the theory of portfolio selection and consumer behavior that have Members of the MIT community may submit provided a starting point for voluminous economic research on one ad each issue. Ads should be 30 words C. Merton to receive financial markets. maximum; they will be edited. Submit by e- Merton has applied his theoretical insights mail to [email protected] or mail to Classifi eds, about securities markets in practical settings. Rm 11-400. Deadline is noon Wednesday the Muh Award He was a founding principal of Long Term week before publication. Capital Management, and is currently the Robert C. Merton, a Nobel Prize- developer of SmartNest, a pension manage- FOR SALE winning economist whose work revolution- ment system that addresses deficiencies Not just for travel and fl owers … please browse ized financial markets and helped launch the associated with traditional defined-benefit our virtual one-stop shopping mall! Click the “EX- growth of the risk-management industry, and defined-contribution plans. TRAS” tab. http://www.marciatraveldeals.com will receive the 2009 Robert A. Muh Alumni Merton will present the 2009 Muh Award Award presented by the School of Humani- lecture, titled “Observations on the Science Bathroom faucet - polished brass with j-spout ties, Arts, and Social Sciences. of Finance in the Practice of Finance,” at 5 drain. Brand: American Standard. Style: Wil- The award, given every two years, honors p.m. on March 5 in the Wong Auditorium, liamsburg. Model # 2904.222.099. See website: an MIT graduate for noteworthy achieve- Building E51-115, 2 Amherst St. The event www.americanstandard-us.com. Excellent condi- ments in the humanities, arts or social is free and open to the public. tion. $50 (paid $130). Call Cheryl 617-258-5673 sciences. The ceremonies include a public The Robert A. Muh Alumni Award was or [email protected] lecture by the recipient. first announced in October 2000 at the For Sale. A comfortable Kawasaki motorcycle “The Muh Award is a singular opportu- 50th anniversary celebration of the School seat, Model: KZ 750 brand new condition for nity for us to recognize MIT graduates who of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences $60.00. Contact [email protected] or 617-258- have made extraordinary contributions, and (SHASS). 5673. whose life work calls on deep knowledge in Muh ’59, a life member of the MIT the disciplines of our School,” said Debo- Corporation and past chair of the Humani- rah Fitzgerald, the Kenan Sahin Dean of ties Visiting Committee, endowed the award WANTED the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social to honor an MIT graduate who has made A small team of entrepreneurs is seeking a ca- Sciences. “We are delighted to present Bob significant contributions to education, schol- pable, independent individual with programming Merton with this year’s award.” arship or performance, academic administra- experience (e.g. VB, Perl) to join an exciting Currently the John and Natty McAr- tion or arts management in the humanities, healthcare venture. If interested, please email thur University Professor at the Harvard Robert C. Merton arts or social sciences. The award rotates [email protected] Business School, Merton received a PhD among the three major areas in SHASS. Typist wanted to help fi nish book in mathematical in economics from MIT in 1970. Along An interview with Merton appeared in physics. Knowledge of LaTeX required. 100 hand- with MIT faculty members Fischer Black and Myron Scholes, Technology Review in April 2008. www.technologyreview.com/ written pages left to type! Rate of pay is negotia- he developed the conceptual foundation for determining prices business/20501/. ble. Please contact N. Prakash at 617-492-8797. PAGE 8 February 25, 2009 u RESEARCH MIT Tech Talk

MIT in the world SPIN CYCLE a new kind of washer

PHOTOS / GWYNDAF JONES Children try out the bicilavadora at an orphanage in Ventanilla, Peru.

David Chandler oped by mechanical engineering graduate student Radu and very inexpensive bearings used for the shaft were News Office Raduta, won first prize in the MIT IDEAS competi- too stiff. But the basic design was well proven out, and tion in 2005. That resulted in some funding for further with a few small changes an updated version should be In many developing countries, electricity is unreli- development, which led Raduta to improve the design able to handle the intensive workload. Further tests able or unavailable and water must be carried by hand, of the machine’s inner drum so that it could be more will be carried out this spring by other students. so conventional modern washing machines are not easily manufactured and transported. While crucial pieces such as the inner drum an option. Washing clothes can take up a significant The machine’s outer housing is made from a stan- segments were brought from MIT, others, includ- amount of time, and doing laundry in open streams or dard oil drum cut apart and welded back together to ing the outer drum and its supporting structure, were lakes can add to water pollution, so the availability of make a much shorter barrel, because “a full 55-gallon built on-site. “We improvised for whatever we didn’t a human-powered washing machine could make a big barrel is more laundry than any human can pedal,” have and often learned how from locals like Wilbur difference to the quality of life. explains Gwyndaf Jones, a D-Lab instructor who and Gennard,” two of the older orphanage residents, A pedal-powered washing machine that MIT worked on the earlier version and who led this year’s Tacoronte says. “For example, we were unable to cut students and staff built mostly from bicycle parts and Peru field trip. The inner, rotating drum is made from the two sides for the door on the outer drum that were empty barrels could solve many of these problems, a set of identical plastic pieces bolted together, which parallel to the curved surface. Wilbur took up a chisel and at the same time could be built locally and thereby can be taken apart and stored flat for easy transporta- and went at it with a hammer. The door was done in create jobs. tion. That was the key part of Raduta’s design. seconds.” Under development for almost four years, the new “The hardest part to build is the inner drum,” She found the experience very inspiring. “The more machine — dubbed “bicilavadora,” combining the Raduta explains, “because it’s submerged in water, and time I spent there and the more amazing people I met, Spanish words for bicycle and washing machine — got full of clothing that can have metal buttons, which the more passionate and determined I became about its most rigorous workout last month when a team of abrades the inner walls. It has to be stiff enough to finishing the lavadora and making sure it worked,” she MIT students took the latest prototype to an orphan- keep its shape, but if it’s bare steel it will rust, and paint says. After the first test run, with the high-gear spin age in the slums called Ventanilla outside Lima, Peru. will peel off.” The key part of his thesis research was cycle successfully eliminating most of the water from With 670 resident children, the home generates figuring out how to make the drum strong enough, the drum, she says, “The moment they pulled out the enough laundry to keep the washer perpetually busy. cheap enough and easy and inexpensive to ship. His merely damp sheets was exhilarating.” “The orphanage was like an oasis in the slums of latest version is made from molded plastic panels, and Ventanilla,” says Lisa Tacoronte, a junior in mechanical when disassembled it is compact enough to fit in a In The World is a series that explores how people from engineering who worked on the project. As the MIT suitcase — which is how the students took it to Peru MIT are using technology — from the appropriately simple team worked to set up the machine, “many of the chil- for the January trip. to the cutting-edge — to help meet the needs of local popula- dren would watch us work, ask us questions at the same The “motor” of the machine consists of a bicycle tions around the planet. If you know of a good example and time or try to help us by holding things, or handing us frame, minus its wheels, with the chain running would like the News Office to write about it, please e-mail tools while we built it.” forward to a gear at the end of the washer drum’s shaft. [email protected]. The machine was designed to be easy and inexpen- “It uses a standard mountain bike gear range,” Jones sive to manufacture, mostly using parts and tools that says. “The highest gear is the spin cycle, and the lowest See video of the bicilavadora in are readily available almost everywhere in the develop- gear is the wash cycle.” ing world. The test was not a total success: Some water leaked action in Peru at: An earlier version of the washing machine, devel- around the edges of the barrel, which could cause rust, web.mit.edu/newsoffice