April 27, 2005
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Volume 49 – Number 25 Wednesday – April 27, 2005 TechTalk S ERVING T HE M I T C OMMUNITY Stem cell research guidelines announced Elizabeth Thomson Hynes is the Daniel K Ludwig Professor for deriving, storing, distributing and three to five days from a blastocyst—an News Office of Cancer Research at MIT. The Acade- using embryonic stem cell lines—one to early stage of development before implan- mies are urging all institutions conducting which the entire U.S. scientific community tation in the uterus. The ESCRO commit- human embryonic stem cell research to adheres—is the best way for this research tees should review proposals for research In a report released today through establish oversight committees to ensure to move forward.” that takes stem cells from excess blasto- the National Academies, 10 scientists, that the new guidelines are followed. Hynes’ co-chair on the committee is cysts at in vitro fertilization clinics or from including two from MIT, offer guidelines “These guidelines are important Jonathan D. Moreno, a professor of bio- blastocysts created expressly for stem cell for research involving human embryonic because stem cell research is potentially medical ethics and director of the Center research. stem cells, the cells taken from a five-day- a very valuable way of treating people for for Biomedical Ethics at the University of • Nuclear transfer must not be used for old fertilized egg that may be tweaked to a variety of diseases, but the whole field of Virginia, Charlottesville. Nobel laureate reproductive cloning. become any organ within the body. stem cell research is surrounded by dispa- Robert H. Horvitz, an MIT professor of • Human embryos used for research The report comes at an opportune time rate ethical viewpoints,” said Hynes, who biology, is also on the committee. should not be grown in culture for longer for Massachusetts as House and Senate is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Guidelines from the report include: than 14 days, or until the point when the leaders come closer to passing a bill that Investigator. • Embryonic stem cell research over- body axis and central nervous system will promote human embryonic stem cell “The aim here is to try to get every- sight (ESCRO) committees should be begin to form. research in this state. body on the same page to do things prop- established. These committees should • Donor consent must be obtained Although compliance is voluntary, erly,” he said. “For example, if stem cell include legal and ethical experts, as well as before a blastocyst is used to generate some institutions have already agreed to research is to be allowed, then there has representatives of the public, and experts See STEM CELL abide by the guidelines, according to Rich- to be a very careful, informed consent in biology and stem cell research. ard O. Hynes, co-chair of the committee. process. A standard set of requirements • Stem cells usually are harvested after Page 4 Institute Prof. Inaugural Philip Morrison festivities dies; he was 89 Elizabeth Thomson feature art, News Office technology MIT Institute Professor Emeritus Phil- ip Morrison, a distinguished theoretical astrophysicist and interpreter of science Sarah H. Wright and technology for the general public, died News Office Friday, April 22, at his home in Cambridge. He was 89. A member of the Manhattan Project A display of light and sound will launch who went on to become a vocal critic of this week’s festivities to honor the inau- the nuclear arms race, Morrison was wide- guration of Susan Hockfield, MIT’s 16th ly known for his research and professional president, and symbolize the inaugural contributions in quantum electrodynamics, theme, “UnCommon/InCommon.” nuclear theory, “White Noise/White Light,” designed radiology, isotope by Meejin Yoon, assistant professor of geology and, since architecture at MIT, will open in Kresge the 1950s, in cos- Oval on May 2 at 7 p.m. with comments by mic-ray origins President Hockfield. “UnCommon” des- and propagation, serts—fried cheesecake, flavored creme gamma-ray astron- brulees, napoleon station, and s’mores fon- omy and other top- due—will be served. ics in high-energy Celebratory events throughout the astrophysics and week will include symposia on art and in cosmology. technology and on interdisciplinary “The world research, a K-12 Educational Outreach Midway, a video retrospective of 2.007, Philip Morrison has lost one of the major voices of MIT’s famed robot design contest, and social conscience in science. For more than concerts by the MIT Symphony Orchestra 50 years, since his involvement in the devel- and the MIT Concert Choir. opment of the first atomic bomb, Philip The inaugural ceremony will be held in Morrison has been a leading participant in Killian Court on Friday, May 6, at 2 p.m. the efforts to control and eliminate nuclear Originally commissioned by the city of weapons,” said Charles Weiner, MIT Pro- Athens, Greece, and sited at the base of fessor Emeritus of the History of Science. the Acropolis during the 2004 Olympics, “Phil was a great physicist. His field “White Noise/White Light” is an installa- was astrophysics, but he was interested in tion comprised of a 50-by-50-foot grid of lit- all of physics,” said Marc A. Kastner, head tle rods that look neutral by day and magi- of MIT’s Department of Physics. “In addi- cal by night, when they light up as people tion, he was deeply committed to educa- move among them. Yoon, 32, conceived “White Noise/ tion, both at the undergraduate level and PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY for younger students.” White Light” as a project at the intersec- “He was a dear, dear person whose Looks like smooth sailing tion of “architecture, landscape architec- impact was not just on MIT, but on the ture and environmental design” and an world,” said Weiner, who has been work- Freshman Abby Carey and Alicia diFrancesca take a boat out on the Charles in what experience of theater in which partici- sailing master Fran Charles described as very windy conditions—or “blowing the dog See MORRISON off the chain!”—on Thursday, April 14. It was the women’s third time out on the water. See UNCOMMON Page 6 Page 2 NEWS RESEARCH ARTS FACULTY HONORS BIRD BRAINS SACRED SOUNDS Two untenured faculty members received the annual Scientists begin to The MIT Wind Ensemble will showcase music Edgerton Award. understand how finches learn written for Pope John Paul II. Page 7 Page 4 to sing. Page 5 TRUMPETING JAZZ PRIZE INVENTIONS LIGHT FANTASTIC The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra plans The creator of HyperSonic Sound and the inventor An MIT engineer and his colleagues have created a little ‘Trumpet Madness’ for its spring of DRAM earn Lemelson-MIT awards. plastic that can be shaped by light. concert with Mark Harvey. Page 4 Page 5 Page 7 PAGE 2 April 27, 2005 INAUGURATION MIT Tech Talk Symposia explore INAUGURATION EVENTS reaches of science Monday, May 2 7 p.m. Opening of ‘White Noise, White MIT has seized the opportunity offered by the inaugu- Kresge Oval Light’ ration of Susan Hockfield to hold two symposia in which prominent members of the faculty will discuss interdisci- plinary research, and art and technology. Tuesday, May 3 On Tuesday, May 3, four panelists will speak on the Noon–2 p.m. Reception hosted by Working topic “Interdisciplinary Research at MIT: Making Uncom- Walker Memorial Group on Support Staff Issues mon Connections.” Penny Chisholm, the Lee and Geraldine Martin Profes- 4–6 p.m. Symposium, Interdisciplinary sor of Environmental Studies, will discuss her research on Kirsch Aud. Research: Making Uncommon microorganisms, the significant role they play in shaping Stata Center Connections our planet and the diverse fields that play key roles in studying them. Wednesday, May 4 “Only through interdisciplinary research that combines microbiology, ecology, genomics, oceanography, physiol- 11 a.m.–2 p.m. K–12 Midway ogy and applied mathematics can we understand these Stata Center complex microbial systems—upon which all life depends,” Student Street she said. Chisholm was part of the team that in 1985 discov- 4–6 p.m. Symposium, Art & Technology ered the smallest known photosynthetic cell and the most Kirsch Aud. abundant microbe in the sea. That microbe is now used as Stata Center a model system for understanding global processes from the genome to the ocean. Thursday, May 5 Chisholm, whose symposium talk is titled “Marine Microbes: Tiny Cells, Global Impact,” will be joined by 1–3 p.m. Learning by Design, 2.007—a three other panelists. Rosalind Williams, the Metcalfe Pro- Room 10-250 retrospective look at how the fessor of Writing, will describe “The Multidisciplinary For- contest and the machines have est of MIT: From Twigs to Canopy”; Moungi Bawendi, evolved, with a sneak preview of this year’s hopefuls professor of chemistry, will discuss “Tiny Crystals: The PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY Path From Science to Technology”; and Alex Slocum, pro- Known for such provocative works as this 1998 video 3:30–4:30 p.m. CSAIL Robots Competition fessor of mechanical engineering, will give a talk titled projection onto Bunker Hill Monument, Professor Krzysztof Room 35-303 “Big Iron to Little Silicon.” Wodiczko will be on the panel of Wednesday’s ‘Art and Alice P. Gast, vice president for research and associate Technology’ symposium. provost, will moderate. 8 p.m. Inaugural Concert, On Wednesday, May 4, “Art and Technology” will be the Sept. 11 attacks: “In the time which followed, Reality Kresge Aud. MIT Symphony Orchestra the topic of discussion. Associate Provost for the Arts Alan television ratings skyrocketed. Everywhere, thirst for the Brody will moderate a talk with director Jay Scheib, assis- Real, the cruelties inherent in our Real lives—hunger for Friday, May 6 tant professor of music and theater arts; artist Krzysz- something actual in the face of so much fiction masquerad- 2 p.m.