Volume 52, Number 9 Wednesday, November 14, 2007 TechTalk S e r v i n g Th e MIT Co mm u n i t y

Study sees potential for acceleration in U.S. emissions Sarah H. Wright technology has the potential for reducing results. News Office energy use while meeting the tests of eco- The researchers studied the periods nomics. It’s politically unappetizing in the 1958 to 1996 and 1980 to 1996 and project- U.S., but in Europe, gas costs six dollars ed from 2000 to 2050. Based on their find- U.S. greenhouse gas emissions could a gallon. Make energy more expensive: ings from the past 50 years and adjusted grow more quickly in the next 50 years People will use less of it,” Eckaus says. for a more realistic expectation for techno- than in the previous half-century, even In their paper, “The Implications of the logical changes, they found that the rates with technological advances and current Historical Decline in U.S. Energy Inten- of growth for energy use and emissions energy-saving efforts, according to a new sity for Long-Run CO2 Emission Projec- may accelerate from the historical rates of study by Richard Eckaus, the Ford Inter- tions,” published in the November issue of 2.2 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. national Professor of Economics, emeritus, Energy Policy, Eckaus and Wing portray “The rates of growth could be higher and his co-author, Ian Sue Wing (Ph.D. the changing interplay among technology, by a half percent or more, which becomes 2001). energy use and CO2 emissions, based on a significant when compounded over 50 What’s more, technology itself may be simulation of the U.S. economy. years,” Eckaus says. more the stuff that dreams are made on “We found that, in spite of increasing He acknowledges it has become coun- than the most available tool for reducing energy prices, technological change has terintuitive to question technology’s poten- CO emissions or solving the global ener- not been responsible for much reduction PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY 2 gy crisis, cautions Eckaus. in energy use, and that it may have had See ECKAUS Richard Eckaus “There is no a priori reason to think the reverse effect,” Eckaus says of their Page 6 Reporting now from the future Sarah H. Wright News Office

A producer of the megahit computer game, “The Sims,” an MIT-alumnus-turned-social-media-guru at Yahoo! and a folklorist who specializes in Harry Potter fan-fiction will join industry and academic leaders in a two-day conference, Futures of Entertainment 2, to be held Nov. 16-17 at the MIT Media Lab’s Bartos Theater. Futures of Entertainment 2 (FoE2) will “get right to the nuts and bolts of developments in the media space,” said Josh- ua Green, research manager of the Convergence Culture Con- sortium (C3), organizer and host of the event. Henry Jenkins, director of the Comparative Media Studies Program and the Peter de Flo- rez Professor of Humanities, PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY will open FoE2 with an over- view of media convergence. Building bridges in the brain Jesse Alexander Jenkins’ books on media and From left, Picower Center professor Morgan Sheng, Menicon Professor of Neuroscience, joins research scientist popular culture include “From Myung Jong Kim in the lab. They have shown how manipulating a brain scaffolding protein called PSD-95 could Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gen- boost cognitive function. See story on page 7. der and Computer Games” and “Fans, Bloggers and Gamers: Exploring Participatory Cul- ture.” Jonathan Gray, author of “Watching the Simpsons,” C. Team analyzes genomes of 12 fly species Lee Harrington, co-author of “Soap Fans,” and Jason Mittell, Approach could unlock secrets of human genome author of “Genre and Televi- sion,” will open the Nov. 17 ses- Leah Eisenstadt shaped the fruit fly’s fam- sion. Broad Institute ily tree, and to discover FoE2 will offer five in-depth the working parts of the Tina Wells panels during the two-day fly genome in a system- event. The panel on Cult Media In work that reveals important clues in the evolution of atic way,” said Manolis includes Danny Bilson, co-producer of “The Sims” for genes, an international consortium of MIT scientists and Kellis, associate member Electronic Arts, and Jesse Alexander, of “Heroes” (NBC), colleagues has analyzed the genomes of twelve species of of the Broad Institute of who will discuss how to stay true to the few while build- the fruit fly Drosophila in one of the first large-scale com- MIT and Harvard and PHOTO COURTESY / SCOTT BAUER, USDA ing properties attractive to the many and the role of fans parisons of multiple animal genomes. one of the project leaders. in mainstreaming cult media. The Mediterranean fruit fly, a The researchers’ approach may also help unlock the Kellis is also the Karl Van ­species of Drosophila. Advertising and Convergence Culture is a discus- secrets of other genomes, including our own. Tassel Career Develop- sion of the implications of breaking down the distinc- The work appears in the Nov. 8 issue of Nature and in ment Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and tion between content and advertising. Tina Wells, CEO more than 40 accompanying papers in Genome Research Computer Science at MIT, and is affiliated with the Insti- and other journals. See FUTURE “Having the sequences of many closely related spe- See FLY Page 2 cies allows us to study the evolutionary forces that have Page 2 NEWS PEOPLE RESEARCH

BREATHING SPACE FACULTY PROMOTIONS GOING FOR THE BURN MIT will host its first Great American Smokeout. The Corporation approves faculty for tenure. Civil engineering students build a pedal-powered Page 2 Page 4 laptop. Page 7 JUST IN TIME PASSAGE TO INDIA Six MIT projects named best inventions of the year President Hockfield will visit New Delhi, Mumbai and NEW HOPE WITH YEAST by Time magazine. Bangalore. Susan Lindquist speaks on yeast’s role in Page 8 Page 3 neurobiology. Page 7 PAGE 2 November 14, 2007 NEWS MIT Tech Talk MIT Tech Talk NEWS November 14, 2007 PAGE 3 MIT will host first Great American Smokeout DIGITALK: Where IT’s at Forum on MIT VoIP Sloan students ready for leading roles Thirty percent of all cancer deaths are planning and preparation.” counseling and FDA-approved stop-smok- On Monday, Nov. 26, attributable to smoking, so helping friends Setting a quit date, preferably at least ing medications, including nicotine patch- Stephanie Schorow “Henry V.” Slobodnik, a co-founder of Options for “We are so caught into what we want the and family to stop will be the focus of es, gum and nasal spray than by quitting Information Services and Technology (IS&T) will News Office Correspondent These two SIP classes, held during the Change and a co-teacher in the improvisa- other person to think or feel, we plow over the first ever cross-campus Great Ameri- cold turkey. October 2007 session, may seem more tion class. She and Giardella challenged the clues” offered by the other person, can Smokeout event at MIT on Nov. 15. Information on these methods, along host a community forum on the new MIT Voice over suited for Broadway than the boardroom their students through skits and exercises Giardella said. In conjunction with the American Cancer with quit kits, will be available across cam- The head surgeon (played by Vic but both underscore the message that to examine their own style of influence— In an intense exercise, students were Society’s annual event, MIT’s Community pus on Nov. 15. Look for tables in Lobby IP (VoIP) telephone service. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Malla) hands a scalpel to a first-year medi- leadership requires multiple skills—skills their “default” setting—and adopt new asked to describe their “inner critic” and Health Working Group will provide infor- 10, the E25 Atrium and the Wolk Lobby cal student with a startling command: that can be taught and practiced. styles: “You need to be able to pivot,” pretend to kick it around. After first hold- mation and “quit kits” in three campus in Sloan. There will also be a cold turkey W20-306 (Twenty Chimneys). MIT VoIP provides telephone and voice-mail services Start cutting on the patient. The student In Kelly’s class, for example, partici- Giardella said. ing back, Alejandra Santamaria smashed locations. sandwich giveaway, courtesy of Subway. (played by Jean Ng) decides this isn’t a pants improved their speaking and pre- Some of the exercises seemed silly at her inner naysayer with improvised karate The Smokeout aims to inform the MIT Other resources include a seven-week over MITnet rather than over traditional telephone wires. Key advantages include good idea and snaps out a response to sentation styles while considering the first: Emi Fong had to sing a ditty about moves. We never really lose that internal community about the many resources quit-smoking class that the Center for deflect the direct order: “You want me to management techniques of the boy king of her shirt, while Alex Prieux had to play critic, Giardella said, but we can use the available to smokers through the Center Health Promotion offers. The next class, the ability to set rules for handling calls and to receive voice-mail messages via operate on George Clooney?” The surgeon, England. In the play, Henry V uses threats, an alien journalist describing a human inner demon to our advantage. “You can for Health Promotion and Wellness at MIT which meets weekly, begins Jan. 9. just as quickly, replies: “George Clooney guile, charm and inspiration to get what house. But the humor, quick response master its energy and use it for your own Medical. “In conjunction with the Smoke- Tobacco use is the first challenge that e-mail as audio file attachments. The forum will consist of a presenta- would want you to operate.” he wants—whether victory on the battle- and actions helped students “straddle the purposes,” she said. out, we’re launching brand-new tobacco the Community Health Working Group As the MBA students dissolved into field or the heart of a French princess. A moment.” “Leadership is an emotional expres- treatment services,” says health educator has tackled. According to facilitator Mary- tion on MIT VoIP today, a brief demo and a Q&A session with representatives from laughter while watching the improvised number of students played his role, giving Other exercises forced students to sion,” said Taariq Lewis, who enthusiasti- Lauren Mayhew. anne Kirkbride, the new group is charged scene—an exercise in the Sloan Innova- each a taste of being the king. Putting on improvise on what others said or did: cally dove into the nuances of playing the Any member of the MIT community with selecting “high-priority, cross-cutting IS&T’s VoIP Core Team. To learn more, visit web.mit.edu/ist/topics/voip. tion Period workshop “Improvisation and the play is not just a chance to be on stage, Prieux and Trip Bellard argued heatedly young commander in “Henry V.” “In this can make an appointment for a quit- health issues for systematic campuswide Influence: An Experiential Leadership it’s “more what you learn about yourselves about imaginary owed money; David Gold class, we remember how to be open and smoking consultation with an MIT Medi- improvement.” The group includes staff Don’t leap to Leopard Lab”—a valuable lesson is highlighted. as leaders,” Kelly said. played a calming therapist to a distraught honest and emotional. I’m trying to be a cal health educator trained in tobacco from the Center for Health Promotion and Quick thinking, a grasp of details and sub- In one scene, for example, Henry Prieux; Kabir Goyal convinced a skepti- better leader by learning how to be emo- treatment. The health educator can sup- Wellness at MIT Medical, the Z Center, IS&T strongly recommends that Macin- tosh users wait to upgrade to Apple’s tle manipulation of status can be invaluable threatens a French mayor with hideous cal Catherine Ma to climb into a sewer. tionally charged but still corporate.” port in creating a quit plan and help to DAPER, Environmental Health and Safety, tools in the business world. mayhem if he doesn’t capitulate. “It’s an develop strategies for coping with trig- Facilities and Human Resources. Group newest operating system, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). “Virtually every discipline has within example of a leader using fierce words to gers and cravings. Also, matters such as membership is open; if interested, e-mail it improvisation,” actress and consultant get what he wants,” Kelly noted. In anoth- sleep, fitness, nutrition and stress man- [email protected]. With any new operating system, there are going to be incompatibilities and Daena Giardella told the SIP class. “Great er scene, Henry is reflective, somber and agement can be addressed during this Visit these links for more informa- leaders are master improvisers; they worried; in another he is flirtatious, using consultation. a week in advance, and stopping com- tion: web.mit.edu/medical/quitsmoking, bugs. Some applications that are impor- tant to productive and safe computing at respond to the situation.” his rough and plain style to his wooing “On average, it takes several attempts pletely on that date, is one effective tool American Cancer Society: www.­cancer. Meanwhile, across campus, other Sloan advantage. for someone to quit smoking,” adds May- for quitting tobacco. Evidence shows that org, Mass. Dept. of Public Health: ­ MIT do not work with Leopard, including TSM and SAPgui. IS&T expects that ven- students are wielding swords and calling Indeed, influence has become a key hew. “It’s important that people prepare to the chance of successfully quitting is also www.trytostop.org, MGH Quit Smoking on “We few, we happy few, we band of skill in the global marketplace, where quit—it really is something that requires much higher with the use of behavioral Service: www.massgeneral.org/tts/. dors will release updates to address these incompatibilities. brothers” for the SIP class, “Leadership top-down, my-way-or-the-highway relation- IS&T’s Computing Help Desk offers as Acting,” in which Sloan senior lecturer ships are in flux and leaders need to subtly limited support on basic configuration Christine Kelly leads students through shift language, tone and body stance with issues for new machines arriving with a shortened version of Shakespeare’s subordinates or partners, noted Deborah Leopard installed. As critical application FUTURE issues are resolved, IS&T will offer more Continued from Page 1 ible labor include Mark Deuze, author of (Ph.D. 1995), Social Media Guru at Yahoo! in-depth support. “Media Work” (2007); Catherine Tosen- Inc., and Alice Kim, Senior Vice President For details, see the Mac OS X 10.5 of Buzz Marketing group and winner berger, specialist in Harry Potter online of Digital Distribution and Partner Rela- Release Notebook at web.mit.edu/swrt/ of AOL’s Black Female Entrepreneur’s fanfiction and contributor to NPR’s tions for MTV Networks. releases/macosx. Send your questions Award, Mike Rubenstein, art director at “Recess!” and Raph Koster, president of Media companies are developing new about Leopard to the Mac OS X Release the Barbarian Group, and Faris Yakob, Areae and author of “A Theory of Fun for ways to measure audiences. The panel on Team at [email protected]. senior strategist and digital ninja at Naked Game Design.” Metrics and Measurement will discuss Communications, among others, will lead. Beyond the launch of shiny new devic- how these new models account for the Order goods online with eCAT3 What kinds of revenue sharing should es, the mobile market has been dominated impact of DVRs, video-on-demand and eCAT3 (pronounced “eCAT cubed”) or could exist when companies turn a by data services and reformatted content, online video. provides MIT with an easy-to-use, web- profit based on the unpaid labor of their and mobile’s “killer app” has yet to materi- For more information on FoE2, go to based solution for ordering goods from consumers? Fan Labor panelists discuss- alize. Mobile Media panelists on the future www.convergenceculture.org/futures several suppliers, including Office Depot. ing the future of compensation for invis- of mobile services will include Marc Davis ofentertainment/2007/. To get started, you need an MIT certifi- cate, SAP authorizations and permissions, and a few minutes to set up your eCAT3 profile. When creating your profile, set up at least one “Ship to” and “Bill to” location, F LY complete with building, room and e-mail address. You can then search for products, Continued from Page 1 functional roles they play.” tify the functional elements of a genome place orders and create “favorites” lists. Indeed, at the level of DNA, several in a comprehensive way. “By comparing When you submit an order, eCAT3 tute’s Computer Science and Artificial combinations of letters, or nucleotides, many closely related genomes, we were brings you to the SAP requisition page Intelligence Laboratory. may encode the same function, in the way able to discover things we never thought where you provide your GL account, cost On the one hand, the researchers stud- that a storyteller can use different combi- were possible using one genome sequence object and material group information. ied the differences across species to help nations of words to tell the same tale. For alone,” said Kellis. Completing the requisition starts the SAP elucidate how evolution has shaped fly example, four different nucleotide com- One intriguing possibility is that evolu- workflow. Purchase orders are sent elec- biology over millions of years. Their analy- binations—GTT, GTC, GTA and GTG— tionary signatures may even identify novel, 3 tronically to eCAT for disbursement to the PHOTO / STEPHANIE SCHOROW PHOTO / STEPHANIE SCHOROW sis revealed that while many attributes of encode the same protein building block, or yet-unknown classes of functions. For vendor. The vendor will ship your order Drosophila genomes are in fact conserved amino acid. Thus, a change in the third let- example, although the fruit fly has been and send an electronic invoice to SAP. Sloan senior lecturer Christine Kelly, left, explains the finer points of Shakespeare to Vadim Taariq Lewis, in front, gives enthusiastic voice to Shakespeare’s “Henry V” along with, from across multiple species, each species has ter would leave the amino acid unchanged, intensely studied for more than a century, For links to eCAT3 suppliers and training Skaletsky as fellow students Taariq Lewis, John Angelos and Gregor Hanuschak look on. left, Robin Lamb, Ben Frenkel and Ignacio Diaz. All are MIT Sloan students. novel features not seen in any other. For one example of how DNA changes can be microRNAs were only discovered in the resources, visit web.mit.edu/ecat/ecat3. example, the genes involved in interactions tolerated while preserving the function of last decade and are now known to play a with the environment and in reproduction the corresponding protein. central role in development. Many other Support for Windows Mobile devices Hockfield to lead MIT India trip; AWARDS AND HONORS showed signs of adaptive evolution, mean- Through these kinds of random muta- classes of yet-unknown functional ele- IS&T now offers support for Windows ing that they likely provided some survival tions, evolution explores the possible ments may be hidden in the fly genome, Mobile 5 Pocket PC/smartphone and advantage to the organism. nucleotide combinations that preserve and recognition of their common evolu- Windows Mobile 6 Professional/Standard will focus on fostering collaboration Former students honor Stephen Ross, On the other hand, the researchers function. This exploration produces unique tionary properties may help lead to their devices. This includes support for the federation of Indian Industries in Mumbai. studied the similarities of the different spe- patterns of genomic change, described by discovery. Windows Mobile operating system, e-mail Anne Trafton cies to help define the functional parts of the researchers as “evolutionary signa- The study of the 12 flies has immediate on these devices, the SyncML application News Office While in Bangalore, Hockfield will visit mentor and teacher, with $100K prize the fly genome. The parts of a genome that tures” that are specific to the function of implications for the discovery of function- for wireless synchronization with MIT’s the leaders of John F. Welch Technology are unchanged (conserved) are those that that region of DNA. al elements in the human genome. “We TechTime calendar and Wi-Fi connection Centre, Infosys, Wipro and Biocon. She Linked by the “transforming influence” mer Ross students, who now teach at such have been kept by evolution and are thus Kellis and colleagues identified evolu- are now using similar methods to analyze to MITnet. On Nov. 16, MIT President Susan Hock- also plans to meet with groups of alumni he has had on their lives and careers, more institutions as MIT, Yale, the University likely to play crucial roles. Thus, genome tionary signatures associated with a vari- 32 mammalian genomes, in order to help In addition, IS&T continues to test field will lead a delegation on a weeklong in India and with dignitaries from the Indi- than 50 former students recently surprised of Chicago, Stanford and the University comparison can reveal which regions of ety of roles in the genome such as protein- understand the human genome,” Kellis Apple’s iPhone and Research In Motion’s trip to India that will highlight MIT Sloan School of Manage- of Pennsylvania, together the genome are functional, based on the coding genes. The researchers then used explained. “We should be able to apply the an government, academia and BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smart- ment Professor of Financial donated more than $617,000 degree to which evolution has conserved these evolutionary signatures to system- methodology of evolutionary signatures to MIT’s history with India and industry. phone. IS&T plans to provide limited sup- Economics Stephen A. Ross toward endowing the prize. them. atically identify the functional elements any group of closely related species.” the potential for future collabo- MIT faculty who will port for these devices within a few months. by unveiling a major new prize After a second phase of fund- “Focusing on the conserved part of the encoded in the fly genome, leading to The Broad Institute of MIT and Har- rations. accompany Hockfield to India For details on IS&T’s support for in his name to honor outstand- raising within the academic genome is a great way to discover what hundreds of novel functional elements and vard was one of several sequencing cen- During the past few years, are Subra Suresh, dean of mobile devices, visit itinfo.mit.edu/article. ing papers in his field. and investment communi- has been maintained by evolution,” said many new insights on animal biology. ters to participate in the work, in addition faculty and student interest in php?id=8663. the School of Engineering; In more than 35 years of ties, the foundation expects Kellis. “Moreover, by looking more closely The team’s analysis is the first time to Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, the India has grown significantly, Charles Cooney, the Robert T. research and teaching, Ross to be able to award a prize of at the subtle patterns of mutation within that such a diverse range of evolution- Washington University Genome Sequenc- Digitalk is compiled by Information and there are currently a dozen Haslam Professor of Chemi- has had a major impact on the at least $100,000 every two conserved regions, we can predict the ary signatures has been applied to iden- ing Center and the J. Craig Venter Institute. ­Services and Technology. formal collaborations between cal Engineering; Esther Duflo, field of finance. Among other years. In keeping with the MIT and India. There are now the Abdul Latif Jameel Profes- things, he is the inventor of foundational nature of Ross’ 229 Indian students at the Insti- News Office Staff sor of Poverty Alleviation and the Arbitrage Pricing Theory research, the prize-winning HOW TO REACH US Tech Talk is published by the News Office on Wednesdays during term time except for tute, and more than 40 faculty Development; Arvind, the and a pioneer in the area of publication will either devel- Writer...... David Chandler most Monday holiday weeks. See Production Schedule at web.mit.edu/newsoffice/ members have collaborations financial derivatives and inter- op or rigorously test a the- News Office Assistant Director/Photojournalist ...... Donna Coveney techtalk-info.html. The News Office is in Room 11-400, Massachusetts Institute of Susan Hockfield Johnson Professor of Com- Editor Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. with colleagues in India. puter Science and Engineer- est rate models. He is the co- Stephen Ross ory pertaining to financial Telephone: 617-253-2700 Operations/Financial Administrator ...... Myles Crowley Greg Frost Hockfield, who is the first sitting MIT ing; Steven Lerman, dean for graduate author of “Corporate Finance,” economics. Web Developer/Editor...... Lisa Damtoft Postmaster: Send address changes to Mail Services, Building WW15, Massachusetts now in its eighth edition. In addition to the Ross E-mail: [email protected] Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. president to go to India, will visit New Photojournalist Executive Director ...... Pamela Dumas Serfes students; Ram Sasisekharan, professor of After a fundraising drive among for- prize, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, the publisher web.mit.edu/newsoffice Donna Coveney Administrative Assistant II ...... Patti Foley Subscribers may call 617-252-1550 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In New biological engineering and health sciences mer Ross students that far exceeded the of Ross’ hugely popular textbook, is hon- News Manager...... Greg Frost Delhi, she will lead the symposium, Tech Talk is distributed free to faculty and staff offices and residence halls. It is also avail- and technology; Martha Gray, co-director organizers’ goals, the first Stephen A. oring Ross with the publication of “Ste- Administrative Assistant II ...... Mary Anne Hansen “India and MIT: A Conversation About Office of the Arts Production able free in the News Office and the Information Center. of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Ross Prize in Financial Economics will be phen A. Ross, Mentor: Influence through Carol Demers Director, Media Relations...... Patti Richards the Future,” at which several MIT faculty Sciences and Technology; Philip Khoury, awarded by the end of 2008 by the newly Generations,” a collection of papers by Senior Science & Domestic mail subscriptions are $25 per year, nonrefundable. Checks should be made web.mit.edu/arts payable to MIT and mailed to Business Manager, Room 11-400, MIT, 77 Massachusetts members will speak. She will also deliver associate provost; O’Neil Outar, director of created nonprofit Foundation for Advance- Ross’ students. The volume is edited by Engineering Editor...... Elizabeth Thomson Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. ment of Research in Financial Economics. Mark Grinblatt, another former Ross Writer...... Anne Trafton a public lecture on “Universities and the institutional initiatives; and Tuli Banerjee, In only about a year of fundraising, 50 for- ­s t u d e n t . Printed on recycled paper Senior Writer...... Sarah Wright Periodical postage paid at Boston, MA. Global Knowledge Economy” to the Con- director of the MIT-India Program. PAGE 4 November 14, 2007 PEOPLE MIT Tech Talk PEOPLE November 14, 2007 PAGE 5 MIT Corporation grants tenure, makes tenured appointments to faculty The Corporation’s Executive Committee has approved 50 faculty for tenure, effective July 1, 2007. Unless otherwise noted, all promotions are from associate professor without tenure to associate professor with tenure. Faculty appointments with tenure

George-Marios Angeletos Martin Z. Bazant Adam Berinsky Vladimir Bulovic Erik Demaine Michael Ernst John Fernandez Amy Finkelstein Piotr Indyk Dennis Frenchman Ju-Lee Kim Rahul Mehrotra Economics Mathematics Political Science Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Architecture (from assistant professor) Electrical Engineering Full professor Associate professor Associate professor Education: B.A. 1996, M.S. Education: B.S. 1992, M.S. Education: B.A. 1992 and Computer Science and Computer Science and Computer Science Education: S.B. 1985 Economics and Computer Science Urban Studies and Mathematics Architecture 1997 (both from Athens 1993 (both from University (Wesleyan University), Education: B.S.E. 1991, Education: B.Sc. 1995 Education: S.B. 1989, S.M. (MIT), M.Arch. 1989 Education: A.B. 1995 Education: Magister 1995 Planning Education: B.S. 1991 Education: Diploma 1985 University), M.A. 2000, of Arizona), Ph.D. 1997 Ph.D. 2000 (University of M.A. 1995, Ph.D. 1998 (Dalhousie University), 1992 (both from MIT), (Princeton University) (Harvard University), M.Phil. (Warsaw University), Education: B.Arch. 1972 (Korean Advanced (School of Architecture Ph.D. 2001 (both from (Harvard University) Michigan) (all from Princeton M.Math. 1996, Ph.D. 2001 M.S. 1997, Ph.D. 2000 Joined MIT faculty: 1998 1997 (University of Oxford), Ph.D. 2001 (Stanford (University of Cincinnati), Institute of Science & at Ahmedabad, India), Harvard University) Joined MIT faculty: 2000 Joined MIT faculty: 2003 University), M.S. 1993 (both from University of (both from University of Ph.D. 2001 (MIT) University) M.Arch.A.S, M.C.P. 1976 Technology), Ph.D. 1997 M.Arch. 1987 (Harvard Joined MIT faculty: 2001 (Columbia University) Waterloo) Washington) A leader in the field of sus- Joined MIT faculty: 2005 Joined MIT faculty: 2000 (both from MIT) (Yale University) University) Bazant is an expert in Berinsky is a scholar of Joined MIT faculty: 2000 Joined MIT faculty: 2001 Joined MIT faculty: 2000 tainable and resource-effi- Joined MIT faculty: 1983 Joined MIT faculty: 2007 Joined MIT faculty: 2007 Angeletos is an economic physical applied mathemat- American politics who cient buildings, Fernandez An applied economist A pioneer in the area of theorist whose most recent ics. His current research specializes in public opin- Bulovic is a leading A pioneer in the field of Ernst works in the field of is a practicing architect working in the fields high-dimensional compu- Frenchman, an urban Kim is a leading represen- Mehrotra has developed research has examined focuses on microfluidics, ion. His research focuses researcher in the field of computational origami, software engineering and and published author of public economies tational geometry and in designer and educator, is tation theorist working an interwoven approach economic environments in electrochemical systems on how politically relevant molecular, nanostructured Demaine has made many has made major contribu- whose research focuses on and health economics, the development of algo- an international leader in on the natural symmetry to design practice and which agents have limited and granular flow. groups are represented in and organic semiconduc- contributions to computa- tions to program analysis, the intersection of archi- Finkelstein has studied the rithms for massive data the redevelopment of his- groups that arise in num- research that reflects the and dispersed information the American political pro- tor electronics. tional geometry and geo- programming language tectural design and materi- role of government insur- sets, Indyk works broadly toric cities and sites, the ber theory. specifics of local conditions about aggregate economic cess. metric folding. design, and software test- als technology. ance programs in affecting in the area of algorithms. transformation of down- in Asia as well as critical conditions. ing. the rate of medical prog- town districts, and the inte- global issues such as rapid ress and the health of the gration of new-media tech- urbanization. target population nology with city design.

David Kaiser J. Troy Littleton Nicola Marzari Joseph Paradiso David Perreault Gunther Roland Deb Kumar Roy Christopher A. Schuh Joshua B. Tenenbaum Dianne K. Newman Jonas C. Peters Sara Seager Science, Technology Biology Materials Science and Media Arts and Electrical Engineering Physics Media Arts and Materials Science and (from assistant professor) Full professor Full professor Associate professor and Society (STS) Education: B.S. 1989 Engineering Sciences and Computer Science Education: Diploma 1989 Sciences Engineering Brain and Cognitive Biology Chemistry Earth, Atmosphere and Education: A.B. 1993 (Dart- (Louisiana State University), Education: Laurea 1992 Education: B.S. 1977 Education: B.S.E.E. 1989 (Frankfurt University), Education: B.A.S. 1992 Education: B.S. 1997 Sciences Education: B.A. 1993 Education: B.S. 1993 Planetary Sciences mouth College), Ph.D. 2000 Ph.D. 1994, M.D. 1997 (Università di Trieste, (Tufts University), Ph.D. (Boston University), S.M. Ph.D. 1993 (Institute (University of Waterloo), (University of Illinois Education: B.S. 1993 (Yale (Stanford University), (University of Chicago), Education: B.Sc. 1994 (Harvard University) (both from Baylor College Italy), Ph.D. 1996 1981 (MIT) 1991, Ph.D. 1997 (both for Theoretical Physics, M.S. 1995, Ph.D. 1999 at Urbana-Champaign), University), Ph.D. 1999 (MIT) Ph.D. 1997 (MIT) Ph.D. 1998 (MIT) (University of Toronto), Joined MIT faculty: 2000 of Medicine) (University of Cambridge) Joined MIT faculty: 1994 from MIT) Frankfurt University) (both from MIT) Ph.D. 2001 (Northwestern Joined MIT faculty: 2002 Joined MIT faculty: 2007 Joined MIT faculty: 2006 Ph.D. 1999 (Harvard Joined MIT faculty: 2000 Joined MIT faculty: 2001 Joined MIT faculty: 2001 Joined MIT faculty: 2000 Joined MIT faculty: 2000 University) University) As a historian of science Paradiso, a pioneer in the Joined MIT faculty: 2002 Tenenbaum is a cogni- Newman is a world leader Peters’ research group is Joined MIT faculty: 2007 with an active research Littleton, a specialist in Marzari’s research is dedi- field of sensor networks, A specialist in power elec- Roland’s research studies Roy studies language tive scientist who studies in geobiology, a field that involved in the design of career in physics, Kaiser molecular neurobiology, cated to understanding, is responsible for such tronics, Perreault is lead- the fundamental interac- acquisition and use by Schuh has contributed learning and inference in seeks to understand the new inorganic and orga- Seager’s research goals is leading a move to bet- focuses on understanding predicting and designing conceptual and technical ing the way to power con- tions of nature at very high machines and children. significantly to materials humans and machines. He co-evolution of life and nometallic transformations include determining the ter integrate the history how neuronal synapses the properties of complex innovations as power har- version solutions for the energies. He is particularly He has built the most research in three main builds computational mod- Earth. and the synthesis of novel bulk composition and of physics with physics form and function, and has materials and devices vesting, parasitic mobility next generation of engi- interested in the strong advanced embodied lan- areas: understanding of els with the twin aims of ligands and transition atmospheric character- itself and with mainstream recently developed models using first-principles simu- and body sensor networks. neering systems. interaction and nature of guage-learning machines grain boundary inter- reverse-engineering core metal complexes. istics of exoplanets of American history of the to study neurodegenera- lations. His research has impacted matter under extreme con- to date and has put forth face networks, design of human cognitive capaci- all masses and ages and Cold War. tive disease. applications in art, sports, ditions of density and tem- a compelling theoretical nanocrystalline alloys and ties, such as concept learn- understanding the poten- medicine and human-com- perature. framework for the founda- mechanisms of deforma- ing, causal reasoning or tial for and signatures of puter interaction. tions of symbolic commu- tion at the nanoscale. language acquisition, and habitability and life on exo- nication. engineering more-human- planets. like artificial systems with these same capacities.

Not pictured Senthil Todadri Kai von Fintel Vladan Vuletic Joseph Weber Ivan Werning Moe Z. Win Muhamet Yildiz Alexander Postnikov Paul A. Seidel Nader Tehrani Roger White (from assistant professor) Linguistics and Physics Economics, Finance (from assistant professor) Aeronautics and Economics Mathematics Full professor Associate professor Associate professor Physics Philosophy Education: Diploma 1992, and Accounting Economics Astronautics Education: B.S. 1992, M.S. Education: M.S. 1993 Mathematics Architecture Linguistics and Education: M.Sc. 1992 Education: B.A. 1983 Ph.D. 1997 (both from Education: B.S. 1990 Education: B.A. 1996 Education: B.S.E.E. 1987 1994 (both from Bogazici (Moscow State University), Education: Diploma 1994 Education: B.F.A. 1985, Philosophy (Indian Institute of (University of Münster), Ludwig-Maximilians- (Bucknell University), (Universidad de San (Texas A&M University), University), Ph.D. 2000 Ph.D. 1997 (MIT) (Heidelberg University), B.Arch. 1986 (both from Education: B.A. 1993 Technology), Ph.D. 1997 B.A. 1986 (University of Universität Munich) Ph.D. 2000 (Pennsylvania Andres), M.A. 1997 M.S.E.E. 1989, M.S. 1998, (Stanford University) Joined MIT faculty: 2001 Ph.D. 1998 (University of Rhode Island School of (University of New South (Yale University) Köln), M.A. 1992, Ph.D. Joined MIT faculty: 2003 State University) (Universidad Torcuato Ph.D. 1998 (all from Joined MIT faculty: 2000 Oxford) Design), M.A.U.D. 1991 Wales), Ph.D. 2000 (MIT) Joined MIT faculty: 2001 1994 (both from University Joined MIT faculty: 2000 di Tella), Ph.D. 2002 University of Southern Postnikov is a leader in Joined MIT faculty: 2006 (Harvard University) Joined MIT faculty: 2006 of Massachusetts at Vuletic’s research focuses (University of Chicago) California) An economic theorist, enumerative and algebra- Joined MIT faculty: 2007 Senthil’s research inter- Amherst) on the coherent and con- Weber, an accounting Joined MIT faculty: 2002 Joined MIT faculty: 2002 Yildiz is a leader in bar- ic combinatorics whose Seidel is a leading figure A specialist in the theory ests are in understanding Joined MIT faculty: 1994 trolled interaction of ultra- researcher, has three gaining theory, particu- research introduces new in symplectic geometry, an Tehrani, founder and prin- of knowledge and the phi- theoretically materials cold atoms with light. streams of research— A leader in the field of A world leader in ultrawide larly the study of the role methods to solve combina- increasingly central field in cipal of the award-winning losophy of science, White Von Fintel’s research accounting choice, audit of excessive optimism in whose electronic proper- macroeconomics, Werning bandwidth (UWB) com- torial problems that apply Faculty named mathematics with links to firm Office dA, focuses has written widely on epis- ties do not seem to fit with interests are in semantics, quality and disclosure— has made important con- munications and networks, delaying efficient agree- to algebra, geometry, rep- theoretical physics, analy- his research on materials, temology and significantly conventional theories of pragmatics and philosophy and is best known for his tributions to several sub- Win has made important ments, and in research resentation theory, theo- full professors sis and low-dimensional computer-aided manufac- on the apparent fact that of language, and the inter- work on how accounting on higher-order beliefs in the physics of solids, such fields, including the design contributions to multiple- retical physics and other Page 6 topology. turing and sustainability. the universe is “fine-tuned” as high-temperature super- sections among them. choices impact debt con- of optimal unemployment antenna systems, diversity games. fields. to make possible the emer- conductors. tracts and capital markets. insurance, work on optimal techniques and satellite gence of life. taxation and the design of communications. fiscal policies. PAGE 6 November 14, 2007 PEOPLE MIT Tech Talk MIT Tech Talk RESEARCH November 14, 2007 PAGE 7 16 faculty are named full professors with tenure Student engineers go for the burn with pedal-powered laptop Nancy Stauffer veyed through a flywheel, belt and gears MIT Energy Initiative to a generator in the back, which charges a conventional 12-volt battery like that in a car. A charge controller regulates the MIT students have come up with a way electricity coming to the battery to prevent to recharge your laptop without plugging overcharging. With the aid of a 12-volt cig- it in. Rather than consuming electricity, arette-lighter adaptor, the battery supplies you’ll be burning calories—your own. electricity to the laptop, which rests on a The students designed and built an tray atop a swiveling arm in place of the exercise bicycle that uses “pedaling handlebars. power” to charge a laptop computer. As The bike seat is adjustable and the the bike’s instructions note, if you have laptop easily moved, so a person of any trouble “squeezing in that daily exercise,” height can produce an arrangement that’s you can now “multitask with no problem— comfortable and ergonomic for both pedal- ing and computing. A cover over the wheel Angelika Amon Daniel Fox William H. Green Jr. Jonathan P. How Hiroshi Ishii [you can] bike while you work!” Thomas F. DeFrantz The pedal-powered laptop began as a ensures that the rider’s clothing won’t get Chemical Engineering Biology Music and Theater Arts Linguistics and Aeronautics and Media Arts and class assignment for Course 1.102, Intro- caught, and a clear plastic box encloses Education: B.A. 1983 Education: B.A. 1989, Education: B.A. 1988 Philosophy Astronautics Sciences duction to Civil and Environmental Engi- the electrical components but leaves them (Swarthmore College), Ph.D. 1993 (both from (Yale University), M.A. Education: M.A. 1993 (Tel Education: B.A.Sc. 1987 Education: B.E. 1978, M.E. neering (CEE) Design (Spring 2007), visible to curious observers. Ph.D. 1988 (University of University of Vienna at 1989 (City College of New Aviv University), Ph.D. (University of Toronto), 1980, Ph.D. 1992 (all from when students were instructed to design In preliminary calculations, the stu- California at Berkeley) Austria). York), Ph.D. 1997 (New 1998 (MIT) S.M. 1989, Ph.D. 1993 Hokkaido University) and build a device that converts mechani- dents predicted that a bicyclist should be Joined MIT faculty: 1997 Joined MIT faculty: 1999 York University) Joined MIT faculty: 2001 (both from MIT) Joined MIT faculty: 1995 cal power into electrical power. able to produce up to 75 watts continuous- Joined MIT faculty: 1997 Joined MIT faculty: 2000 Class members Piotr Fidkowski, Sebas- ly—far more than the 30 watts needed to A leader in the com- A leader in the field of Fox’s main research spe- Ishii is head of the tian Figari, Sara John, Kendra Johnson, power the laptop. Indeed, in an initial test puter simulation of reac- mitotic cell cycle regula- DeFrantz, a choreogra- cialty is the interface An internationally recog- Tangible Media Group and Julia Kiberd, Tina Lai and Devon McCorkle drive, team member Figari easily gener- tive chemical processes, tion, Amon has discovered pher, director and dancer, between syntax, semantics nized scholar and engi- co-director of the Things teamed up to work on connecting an exer- ated 50 watts while checking his e-mail. Green applies chemistry, regulatory networks that is a historian of dance and pragmatics, including neer, How has contributed That Think consortium at cise bike to one of the computers in a The pedal-powered laptop was on dis- quantum mechanics and govern and ensure the and an expert on African- the modular organization to theoretical and practical the MIT Media Lab. His dorm’s Athena cluster (grouped worksta- play last summer in N42, the building that numerical methods to fidelity of chromosome American dance. He has of the linguistic system advances in navigation and research focuses upon the tions for student use). Encouraged by their houses IS&T. While the students originally engineering. segregation during mitosis directed or performed in and the limits imposed on control of complex aero- design of seamless inter- instructors—CEE senior research associ- intended to place it in an Athena cluster, and meiosis. dozens of productions at the information flow rel- space-relevant systems. faces between humans, ate John Germaine, lecturer Jessica Banks, they are now hoping to install it in the fit- MIT and internationally. evant for the application of digital information and the technical instructor Stephen Rudolph and ness center at the Stata Center. In moving optimization principles. physical environment. teaching assistant Matthew DeJong—team their project from the lab to the campus, leader Johnson contacted Oliver Thomas they will encounter some of the real-world and Laxmi Rao of Information Services and challenges of taking a product to the pub- Technology (IS&T), the MIT office that lic, from ensuring its safety and reliability oversees the Athena computers. to negotiating with facilities that may use “We were very excited when the stu- it—a valuable extension of their classroom dents came to us for guidance,” said Rao, education. who is MIT’s first IT energy coordinator For more information on the pedal-pow- and a member of the MIT Energy Initia- ered laptop project, go to web.mit.edu/ist/ PHOTO / LAXMI RAO tive’s (MITEI) Campus Energy Task services/it-energy/projects.html. Force. “It’s the kind of collaboration that This project is part of the IT Energy@ Julia Kiberd ’08 pedals the specially adapted exercise bike, generating power for the laptop Not pictured Not pictured the task force would like to encourage, MIT Initiative. Begun in March 2007 under she’s using to check her e-mail. At the Student Center display of the bike are, from left, technical instructor Stephen Rudolph, Kendra Johnson ’09, IT energy coordinator Laxmi Nasser O. Rabbat John G. Brisson II Rajeev J. Ram where MIT service providers partner with the direction of Rao, this initiative aims to creative students to take innovative ener- support the campus energy-saving goals of Rao and civil and environmental engineering senior research associate John Germaine. Architecture and Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering gy-saving projects built in the lab and try MITEI by reducing energy use for informa- Planning Education: B.E. 1981 and Computer Science them out on the MIT campus.” tion technology across campus. Among the Education: B.Arch 1979 (Stevens School of Education: B.S. 1991 After many hours in the lab, the stu- planned projects: an energy audit of Build- Caroline A. Jones John J. Leonard Thomas Levenson (Damascus University), Technology), M.S. 1983, (California Institute of dents coupled a laptop donated by Dell ing N42 by a team of faculty members, Architecture M.Arch II, 1984 (UCLA), Mechanical Engineering Writing and Humanistic Ph.D. 1990 (both from Technology), Ph.D. 1997 to a much-altered exercise bike. In their graduate and undergraduate students, and MIT IDs enzymes key to brainpower Education: A.B. 1977 Education: B.S.E.E. Studies Ph.D. 1991 (MIT) Harvard University) (University of California at design, the motion of the wheel is con- personnel from MIT Facilities. Bolstering disintegrating neural con- adding a phosphate group to a specific (Harvard-Radcliffe 1987 (University of Education: B.A. 1980 Joined MIT faculty: 1991 Joined MIT faculty: 1993 Santa Barbara) nections may help boost brainpower in amino acid in the PSD-95 protein. This College), M.A. 1988, Ph.D. Pennsylvania), D.Phil. 1994 (Harvard University) Joined MIT faculty: 1997 Alzheimer’s disease patients, according to process—called phosphorylation—is criti- 1992 (both from Stanford (University of Oxford) Joined MIT faculty: 2004 Rabbat is an architectural Brisson has focused his MIT neuroscientists and their colleagues cal for PSD-95 to do its job in supporting University) Joined MIT faculty: 1994 historian who focuses on recent research on energy Director of the Center in work reported in the Nov. 8 issue of synapses. Joined MIT faculty: 2002 Levenson, a professor the history and historiog- engineering, with proj- for Integrated Photonics Neuron. “Adding a phosphate group to a single Leonard and his students of science writing, is the raphy of Islamic art and ects focusing on carbon and Associate Director The researchers zeroed in on the amino acid allows PSD-95 to promote Jones studies modern and have made substantial con- author of three books architecture, urban history sequestration, a compact of the Research Lab for enzymes that manipulate a key scaffold- synapse size and strength,” said Sheng, contemporary art, with tributions to autonomous and producer/director/ and postcolonial criticism. cryocooler for use in space Electronics, Ram has con- ing protein for synapses, the connections who also holds an appointment in MIT’s a particular focus on its mobile robotics, in par- writer of nine nationally and new methods of mak- tributed to photonic sys- through which brain cells communicate. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sci- technological modes of ticular the development broadcast science docu- ing ice and ice cream. tems ranging from fiber- Synapses are weakened and lost in neuro- ences and is a Howard Hughes Medical production, distribution of robust methods for mentaries, and has writ- to-the-home to alternative degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Institute investigator. “Therefore, promot- and reception. Simultaneous Localization ten articles on science for energy. and Parkinson’s disease. ing this process could help improve cogni- and Mapping. national and international “We identified a major underlying tive function.” publications. mechanism through which synapses are Sheng believes manipulating PSD-95 strengthened and maintained,” said Mor- through phosphorylation could lead to gan H. Sheng, Menicon Professor of Neu- bigger and more robust synapses, which roscience at MIT’s Picower Institute for would boost brainpower in both normal ECKAUS Learning and Memory. “The enzymes and diseased brains. “It’s possible that Continued from Page 1 ed social problem that requires a social involved could be good targets for poten- promoting PSD-95 phosphorylation could response,” Eckaus says. tial drug treatments.” also help neuropsychiatric illnesses in tial to solve the energy problem. But U.S. According to Eckaus and Babiker, A protein called postsynaptic density-95 which synapse function goes awry, such steelmaking illustrates how fossil fuel emissions restrictions policies gener- (PSD-95) is a key building block of syn- as schizophrenia, depression and autism,” consumption can increase along with tech- ate the social problem of unemployment apses. Like the steel girders in a building, Sheng said. nological change: Steelmakers’ furnaces by reducing the demand in some indus- it acts as a scaffold around which other In addition to Sheng and Kim, authors are now electrical, reducing coal use at tries for workers. The lowered output, in components are assembled. “The more include Picower research scientist Ken- the plant. But coal generates some of the turn, would lead to reductions in the GNP PSD-95 molecules, the bigger and stron- suke Futai; Yasunori Hayashi, MIT assis- electricity that powers the factory furnace, by as much as 4 percent in the coming ger the synapse,” said co-author Myung tant professor of neurobiology and RIK- resulting in more CO2 emissions. decades—a depressing effect on the U.S. AgeLab co-develops course for caretakers Jong Kim, a Picower research scientist. EN-MIT investigator; and Jihoon Yu and “The net savings in this case comes “If there were two policies, instead of Previous research had shown that mice Kwangwook Cho of the University of Bris- from the use of scrap steel instead of iron just one—a counteracting labor market Patti Richards implications,” said Joseph F. Coughlin, genetically altered to have less PSD-95 expe- tol in England. Seth Teller Andrei Tokmakoff Brian C. Williams ore, not from new furnace technology,” policy, as well as the emissions restric- News Office founder and director of the MIT AgeLab. rienced learning and memory problems. This research is supported by the Electrical Engineering Chemistry Aeronautics and Eckaus says. tions—the negative direct economic “Our goal is to help families and caregiv- In the current study, the researchers National Institutes of Health. and Computer Science Education: B.Sc. 1988 Astronautics A former consultant to the World Bank, effects could be completely eliminated,” ers manage the transition from driver to identified for the first time the enzymes Education: B.A. 1985 (California State University Education: S.B. 1981, S.M. Eckaus has been an advisor on economic they write. An estimated five million Americans passenger.” that work behind the scenes on PSD-95, –Deborah Halber (Wesleyan University), at Sacramento), M.Sc. 1984, Ph.D. 1989 (MIT) policy to Egypt, India, Mexico and Portu- In conversation, Eckaus suggests suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or Key organizations, including the M.S. 1990, Ph.D. 1992 1991, Ph.D. 1995 (both Joined MIT faculty: 1999 gal, among other countries; he advocates a labor market policy—a wage subsidy other forms of dementia are driving an Alzheimer’s Association and the American (both from University of from Stanford University) policies to control both energy use and such as reduced labor taxes—to aid average of nine months longer than their Occupational Therapy Association, will Lindquist researches new role for yeast California at Berkeley) Joined MIT faculty: 1998 Williams is a leading inter- CO2 emissions. workers displaced from such industries caregivers think is safe, according to a make the tool available to their caregiver Joined MIT faculty: 1994 national scholar, research- “Technological change will not neces- as petroleum refining, automobile-mak- two-year study by the MIT AgeLab, The support groups, and it can also be ordered Yeast has gone from being a workhorse son’s disease in humans. Using yeast as a Tokmakoff’s research er and educator in the sarily reduce dependence on fossil fuels. ing, metal fabricating and some chemical Hartford Financial Services Group and the online free of charge at www.thehartford. of the brewing and baking industries to a model organism, Lindquist’s lab found 60 Teller’s research focuses group studies the time-evo- design, development and Energy taxes or a system of caps on ener- industries. Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease com/alzheimers. discovery platform for neurobiology, profes- genes that influence the lethal, neurode- on machine vision, sensor lution of molecular struc- deployment of complex gy use and trade in emissions permits are “Most studies assume labor and wages Center. “Our goal is to help caregivers develop sor of biology Susan Lindquist told an MIT generative disease. networks and fine-grained ture in chemical reactions aerospace autonomous sys- necessary,” he says. will adjust; some assume these will adjust To address the problem, researchers a plan to gradually move the person from audience in an Oct. 24 lecture sponsored by Furthermore, assays on yeast allowed localization and situation- and biophysical processes. tems. These reason intel- In a new paper on a related topic, quickly. But our study shows unemploy- from those organizations have developed driver to passenger and identify alterna- the Molecular Frontiers Foundation. her and her researchers to screen 150,000 al awareness for mobile ligently and act responsi- “Unemployment Effects of Climate Policy,” ment will go up, and adjustments won’t a first-of-its-kind guide, “At the Crossroads: tive transportation,” said Jodi Olshevski, Lindquist, a former Whitehead Institute chemicals for their ability to prevent the robotics and assistive bly thanks to model-based Eckaus and co-author Mustafa H. Babik- necessarily follow quickly. We need an eco- The Support Group Kit on Alzheimer’s Dis- corporate gerontologist for The Hartford. director, said that her lab has turned to aggregation of alpha-synuclein. Seven devices. programming. er of Aramco model the negative effects nomic policy to address that,” he says. ease, Dementia and Driving,” to help care- “We help them find ways to get their loved yeast in its search for ways to prevent Par- compounds proved promising and might on labor employment of policies to limit “We might expand and subsidize public givers decide when and how individuals one to stop driving, but not stop living.” kinson’s disease in humans. some day help to fight Parkinson’s dis- greenhouse gas emissions. They then pro- transportation systems. We could launch a with dementia should limit or stop driving. The guide is one of several research “Yeast is by far the best understood ease, she said. pose economic policies to counteract these transportation-stamp program, to operate The researchers released materials and public education products produced organism on the planet, and they just do The Molecular Frontiers Foundation effects. like food stamps: ‘Get a stamp and get on a this month at a major conference at MIT by the nearly 10-year partnership between things in a lot of the ways that [humans] promotes the understanding and appre- “Climate change is a social and eco- bus!’” he says. in conjunction with the start of National the MIT AgeLab and The Hartford, do,” Lindquist said.” ciation of molecular science in society. nomic problem. If society wants to do Eckaus, Babiker and Wing are affiliated Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. addressing critical issues facing older peo- Specifically, she showed that yeast cells Launched in 2006, the foundation’s scien- something about it, it will have to bear the with the MIT Joint Program on the Sci- “Decisions about driving are intensely ple including transportation, care-giving, are vulnerable to the aggregation of alpha- tific advisory board consists of 26 leading cost. It won’t be free. It’s an unprecedent- ence and Policy of Climate Change. personal, yet they have profound public retirement and catastrophe planning. synuclein, a process that causes Parkin- scientists, including eight Nobel laureates.­ PAGE 8 November 14, 2007 NEWS MIT Tech Talk Time magazine honors MIT for inventions, inventors Six MIT inventions and two MIT inventors were cel- ebrated as the best of 2007 in Time magazine’s annual survey of the world’s most promising—and sometimes startling—visions of the future, as seen by scientists, engi- neers, educators and designers. The two inventors chosen by Time are Tim ­Berners-Lee and Vannevar Bush. Berners-Lee, senior researcher and holder of the 3Com Founders Chair at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, is known as the father of the web. He proposed it in 1989, launched it on the Internet in 1991 and continues to guide its evolution in his role as founder and director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international forum. Tim Berners-Lee Vannevar Bush MIT’s first dean of engineering, Bush developed a mod- ern analog computer to solve complex equations during the 1930s. Bush envisioned what he called a “mechanized private file and library of exceeding speed and flexibility,” opening the door to breakthroughs in computer and Inter- net technology. Time singled out MIT inventions that may improve life for people living in cities, in space, in remote or disadvan- taged areas, or with disabilities.

PHOTO / WEBB CHAPPELL PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY IMAGE COURTESY / FUSE-PROJECT MIT Media Lab Professor Hugh Herr and his team of Domo, a robot designed by Aaron Edsinger and Jeff Weber, The MIT Media Lab developed the low-cost XO Laptop to researchers have developed the world’s first robotic ankle, shows promise as an assistant for the elderly or wheelchair- provide the world’s poorest children with a means for learn- an important advance for lower-limb amputees. bound. ing, self-expression and exploration.

GRAPHIC COURTESY / CARLORATTIASSOCIATI—WALTER NICOLINO, CARLO RATTI, CLAUDIO BONICCO AND MATTEO LAI

Above, the SENSEable City Laboratory’s fluid building imagines programmable water walls that sense a visitor and automatically part, like curtains.

PHOTO / FRANCO VAIRANI/SMART CITIES GROUP PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY The Smart Cities group at the MIT Media Lab is working on the foldable, electric City Car, Dava Newman’s prototype BioSuit is designed to allow superior mobility when humans which it hopes will revolutionize mass transit and help alleviate pollution. eventually reach Mars or return to the moon.