MIT Alum Nominated to Head Fed

Volume 50 – Number 6 Wednesday – October 26, 2005 TechTalk S ERVING T HE M I T C OMMUNITY Engineering education workshop draws nat’l leaders

Elizabeth A. Thomson low number of domestic engineering students. News Office MIT President Susan Hockfield said that when she learned of the workshop, she was very excited because “MIT is committed to innovations in engineering educa- President Bush’s science advisor, the head of the tion, and that’s really what this workshop is about.” National Science Foundation and other top scientists and She noted fundamental challenges that must be engineers from around the country gathered at MIT last addressed, such as the “challenge of interest.” “Kids and Thursday, Oct. 20, to push forward a national conversation Americans today fail to be inspired by engineering, by on engineering education in the 21st century and the chal- science, and by mathematics,” she said, noting that only lenges, both here and abroad, that will affect it. 17 percent of U.S. bachelors’ degrees are in science and “One of the reasons I am here is to let you know that engineering compared to 68 percent in Singapore. we are listening — my office, and [that of] the president,” She also stressed that to move engineering forward we said John H. Marburger, science advisor to the president must “recruit aggressively” women and minorities in this and director of the Office of Science and Technology Pol- country. “Engineering can’t continue to be dominated pre- icy. dominantly by men — by white men.” PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY The one-day workshop at MIT grew from issues dis- The United States continues to lead the world in sci- MIT President Susan Hockfield chats with John Marburger, cussed in the recent National Academy of Engineering ence and technology. That said, “the redistribution of report, “The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering science advisor to President Bush, at a luncheon held See WORKSHOP Thursday, Oct. 20, as part of a daylong MIT workshop on in the New Century,” as well as National Science Board engineering education. (NSB) reports that identified troubling trends such as the Page 2 MIT alum nominated to head Fed

Sarah H. Wright News Office

MIT alumnus and macroeconomist Ben S. Bernanke (Ph.D. 1979), chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advis- ers, has been nominated to become chairman of the Federal Reserve. If approved by the Senate, Bernanke will replace Alan Greenspan, Fed chairman since 1987, early next year. President Bush announced Bernanke’s nomination for “Banker in Chief” at a press conference in Washington on Mon- day, Oct. 24. Bernanke has “earned a reputation for intellectual rigor and integrity. He com- mands deep respect in the global financial community,” Bush said. With the legendary Greenspan stand- ing beside him, Bernanke said that, if con- firmed, his “first priority will be to maintain continuity with the policies and strat- PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY egies established during the Greenspan A new ambulance bay and ready room in the loading dock and basement of the Stata Center were dedicated Oct. 19. Nicolas years.” Wyhs (S.B. 2005), left, and undergraduates Rachel Williams and William Baker are three of the students who run the service. Bernanke, 51, is known for his deliber- ate, even contemplative, analytic style, his dry sense of humor and his detachment from the political fray. His MIT colleagues were unsurprised at Bernanke’s emphasis MIT ambulance service a Class One act on continuity for the Fed. “He has always been thoughtful, atten- Sasha Brown Kirkbride, clinical director for campus The Student Emergency Medical tive, precise. He’s the kind of person you’d News Office life in the medical department. The Society (SEMS) started in the fall of want as a surgeon,” said lifelong friend bay provides shelter for the ambu- 2000 to train student EMTs. In the Kenneth Manning, MIT’s Thomas Meloy lance, which by law must be docked early spring of 2001, SEMS proposed Professor of Rhetoric and of the History MIT has the only Class One, stu- indoors. EMTs can sleep in the bunk taking over the MIT ambulance. of Science. dent-run ambulance service in the room when they are on call — and “Most of our EMTs and patients Manning and Bernanke grew up in Dil- state, and on Oct. 19, the Institute dedi- there are people on call every night. enjoy working with each other. For the lon, S.C., a then-segregated town of 6,300 cated a bay and bunk room in the load- The Class One designation means patients it’s a comfort to know that the where Bernanke’s father owned a drug- ing dock and basement of the Stata that the ambulance is certified to trans- person taking care of them is a fellow store. Both attended Harvard University, Center to house it. port patients to area hospitals as well as “This is a very important day in the to MIT Medical. All the EMTs receive See AMBULANCE See FED history of our service,” said Maryanne comprehensive first-aid training. Page 3 Page 2

NEWS RESEARCH ARTS

TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS BORROWED TOOLS BAYOU BASH An author, educator and filmmaker forced to leave Scientists find they can make designer proteins This year’s Fall Festival goes South with featured his home after Hurricane Katrina will begin an artist’s using a technique normally used to improve steel and acts from the New Orleans area. residency at MIT. other metal alloys. Page 7 Page 3 Page 4 BUILT FOR A CAUSE RAINBOW CONNECTION INFORMING THE DEBATE An exhibit at the Wolk Gallery explores the post- MIT now has its first program coordinator for LBGT Researchers create stem cells that cannot develop revolutionary architecture of Cuba. services, resources and outreach. into human beings. Page 7 Page 5 Page 4 PAGE 2 October 26, 2005 PEOPLE MIT Tech Talk Institute of Medicine elects 2 from MIT WORKSHOP Anne Trafton with the National Academy of Sciences, the design of information systems for health- Continued from Page 1 News Office National Academy of Engineering and the care institutions and patients. He is a pro- National Research Council. fessor of health sciences and technology engineering talent is going to be the bat- Bizzi, a principal investigator in the in the Harvard/MIT Division of Health tlefield of global competitiveness in the Emilio Bizzi, Institute Professor in the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Sciences and Technology and head of the future,” said Arden L. Bement, head of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sci- focuses his research on how the central Clinical Decision-Making Group in the National Science Foundation. “We have an ences, and Peter Szolovits, professor of nervous system translates brain messages MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intel- advantage. We just can’t become compla- computer science and electrical engineer- signaling motor intent into muscle activa- ligence Laboratory. cent.” ing, have been elected to the Institute of tion. He is a member of the National Acad- The Institute of Medicine was estab- He further noted that if U.S. industry Medicine. emy of Sciences and is currently serving lished in 1970 by the National Academy of can find engineering talent in the devel- Bizzi and Szolovits are among 64 new as secretary of the American Academy of Sciences to honor professional achievement oping world for 20 cents on the dollar, members of the Washington, D.C.-based Arts and Sciences. in the health sciences and to serve as a “they’re going to do so, and probably institute, which made the announcement on Szolovits’ research centers on the appli- national resource for independent analysis should.” Oct. 24. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is cation of artificial intelligence methods to and recommendations on issues related to So the challenge for U.S. engineering one of the four national academies, along problems of medical decision-making and medicine, biomedical sciences and health. schools is to “provide students who offer five times the value added,” he said. Commenting on the American public’s sometimes negative view of the discipline, he said, “more than anything else we need FED a Carl Sagan-quality spokesman for engi- Continued from Page 1 neering.” Rather than focus on federal science policy, Marburger, who’s been an engi- where Bernanke received the B.A. in eco- neer, physicist and academic, commented nomics in 1974, followed by the Ph.D. in on the issues involved from a personal per- economics from MIT. Bernanke was visit- spective. ing professor of economics at MIT in 1989, He stressed the importance of individu- an associate professor of economics at al faculty members and their influence on Stanford and a professor and department students. “The key to improving education chair of economics at Princeton from 1996 of any kind is [a professor’s] acceptance to 2002. of the responsibility [involved in] teaching He joined the Fed’s Board of Governors students.” in 2002. He noted that the “number one fact Olivier Blanchard, MIT professor of I’ll take away from this morning is that economics, said, “Ben combines a keen 98 percent of the students who drop out sense of how to translate theory into of engineering cite bad teaching as the actual policy, and an unusual ability to cause.” communicate. He will be a great chair- The workshop was sponsored by the man.” NSB and hosted by the Engineering Sys- Bernanke has already influenced the tems Division of MIT’s School of Engi- Fed as governor and in his speeches and neering. has developed a reputation for challenging conventional thinking. Bernanke and Greenspan differ on inflation targeting, a practice in which the PHOTO / CHRIS MILLIMAN, COURTESY OF HERTZ FOUNDATION central bank sets an explicit goal for infla- Faculty member tion. Bernanke favors targeting, which MIT Professor Daniel W. Stroock, right, meets Stroock-Hertz Fellowship recipi- would hold the Fed accountable for meet- ent Monika Schleier-Smith, center, an MIT graduate student working in quantum earns tenure ing its own goals and make it harder to optics, and Hertz Fellow John Holzrichter, president of the Fannie and John Hertz downplay economic risks. Foundation, in Cambridge on Friday, Oct. 21. David Darmofal is one of the The Fed’s decision this year to begin 25 professors granted tenure in providing two-year inflation forecasts has May. His profile and photograph been credited to Bernanke’s influence. were inadvertently omitted in In addition to inflation targeting, Ber- Stroock meets Stroock fellow last week’s issue of Tech Talk. nanke has expressed commitment to Tech Talk regrets the error. greater communicativeness and transpar- The MIT community is very Boston area on Friday, Oct. 21. ency for the Fed. Greenspan, while a giant familiar with endowed fellow- Institute Professor John M. Deut- of his time, was known for a certain opac- ships named for their donors. But ch and Hertz Fellow Alice Gast, who ity. when Ray Sidney ’95, an early soft- is MIT’s vice president for research “You want to release information that ware engineer at Google, decided and associate provost, were featured helps the market and the public achieve to make a gift, he established the speakers at the dinner, which fol- more accurate expectations of future pol- Stroock-Hertz Fellowship in honor lowed a meeting of the foundation’s icy and the future state of the economy,” of his MIT math professor, Daniel board of directors. Bernanke said in an interview published W. Stroock, the Simons Professor in Also attending were Brett Bethke by the Fed. Mathematics. and Stephen Samouhos, both Hertz Bernanke’s interest in helping the Stroock met the recipient of the Fellows studying for their doctorates public to understand and predict eco- Stroock-Hertz Fellowship, MIT phys- at MIT. nomic changes through Fed policies is ics graduate student Monika Schleier- Hertz Fellows receive up to reflected in his 2000 book, “Essays on Smith, at a dinner given by the Hertz $240,000 each for up to five years of the Great Depression,” which examines Foundation for Hertz Fellows in the study toward their doctorates. America’s devastating economic col- lapse of the 1930s. The lessons from that decade, Bernanke has said, include the urgent role of financial stability in main- taining social and political stability and the importance of international economic Chemists garner ACS awards David Darmofal cooperation. Young economists will be glad to learn The American Chemical Society Chemistry. Aeronautics and Astronau- Bernanke sees an important role for aca- recently announced that several MIT Stephen Buchwald, the Camille Drey- tics demic research in sharpening Fed poli- chemistry professors have won awards fus Professor of Chemistry, won the ACS Education: B.S.E.1989 (Uni- cies. for 2006. Award for Creative Work in Synthetic versity of Michigan); S.M. 1991 “Economics is like trying to learn how Richard Schrock, the Frederick G. Organic Chemistry, and Alan Davison, and Ph.D. 1993 (MIT) to repair a car with the engine running. It’s Keyes Professor of Chemistry, will be hon- chemistry professor emeritus, won the Joined MIT faculty: 1995 always changing. Having good economists ored with the F. Albert Cotton Award in ACS Award for Creative Invention. to interpret data and present policy alter- Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry. Schrock Alice Gast, vice president for research Darmofal is a world leader in natives has a beneficial effect on policy- this month shared the 2005 Nobel Prize in and associate provost, was selected as the the computation of aerodynam- making. And good economic policy makes chemistry. winner of the ACS Award in Colloid and ic flows for design and in the a very big difference to the welfare of the Barbara Imperiali, the Class of 1922 Surface Chemistry. robust aero-thermal design of jet average person,” he said. Professor of Chemistry and Professor of The awards will be presented at the engines. He is a national leader Bernanke and his wife, Anna, have two Biology, was chosen for the Ronald Bres- American Chemical Society meeting in in aerospace design. children. low Award for Achievement in Biomimetic March 2006 in Atlanta.

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“The destruction of New Orleans was the tip of an ice- berg,” Professor Anne Whiston Spirn asserted at a symposium held Oct. 18. Through her research, Spirn has found the poorest residents of many cities living on buried floodplains, suffering the effects of mold, frequent floods, subsidence and cave- ins. In many cases, people are forced to abandon their homes, Spirn said. Spirn, an author and MIT professor of architecture and urban studies and planning, penned an award-winning 1984 book about nature’s role in city planning called “The Granite Garden: Urban Nature and Human Design.” Spirn spoke during the third in a series of four symposia exploring the “Big Questions After Big Hurricanes.” Speakers at this symposium, titled “How Can We Plan for a Safe and Sustainable Region?,” focused heavily on the lack of planning evident following Hurricane Katrina. “It is unconscionable that there was no plan for this occasion,” said Spirn. “This is not a surprise. Why are we scrambling now?” Spirn is especially interest- ed in city planning that takes nature into account. “Cities are part of nature,” said Spirn. “If we saw them that way, we PHOTO COURTESY / KALAMU YA SALAAM would design them differently Author, educator and filmmaker Kalamu Ya Salaam of New Orleans will begin an artist’s residency at MIT tomorrow. … Every city is prone to some sort of natural hazard.” Professor Chiang Mei of civil and environmental engi- Louisiana filmmaker joins MIT neering drew parallels to other flood-plagued regions, includ- Sarah H. Wright People,” while residing at MIT, Mthembu said. Working ing Venice, Italy, and the Neth- News Office with a videographer, Salaam intends to interview anyone erlands. “They are very differ- Anne Whiston Spirn at the Institute or in the Cambridge/Boston area who was ent in nature and scope, but affected by Hurricane Katrina. they face a similar problem,” said Mei. The creator of an online project to document the lives “By continuing his work, he will show how artists and The current solution in Venice is a series of mobile of residents of New Orleans, who was himself displaced scholars rise to the occasion, when so much has been gates across the three inlets that lead to the islands, but by Hurricane Katrina, will begin a weeklong artist’s resi- taken away. His presence gives students a chance to see the political debates on a number of environmental and dency at MIT on Oct. 27. that art is relevant to this particular situation and how an other issues have slowed progress. In the Netherlands, Kalamu Ya Salaam — author, educator, filmmaker and artist can respond by asking, ‘How can I be helpful, using which lost 1,800 people in the North Sea Storm of 1953, creator of the narrative archive, “Listen to the People: The my skills?’’’ Mthembu said. the solution was to build a series of dikes or dams, which Neo-Griot New Orleans Project” — was forced to move to Salaam will participate in other events during the week. changed the ecology and morphology of the blocked Tennessee following the hurricane and subsequent flood- On Friday, Oct. 28, in Room 4-231 at 7 p.m., Salaam estuaries. In the more recent projects, movable gates were ing. will join Mthembu’s film-series seminar, “Topics in Pan- constructed instead, to allow tidal flow in and out of the A producer and disc jockey for WWOZ, 90.7FM in New African Studies,” speaking on issues of race and class in estuary and to preserve the natural balance. Orleans before the hurricane, Salaam, 58, whose name relation to Katrina, and showing video clips from “Listen Among the lessons Mei gleaned from his explorations? means “Pen of Peace,” will focus his activities at MIT on to the People.” It is “important to have the community and the engineers discussions of the social, political and cultural impact of On Wednesday, Nov. 2, in Room 4-163 at 7 p.m., Salaam work together,” Mei said. Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. will read from his own poetry and prose about Professor Michael Fischer of anthropology and the “New Orleans has been divided into wet and New Orleans culture and the impact of displace- Program in Science, Technology and Society discussed dry areas. The dry areas are predominantly white BAYOU ment. the social effects of disaster. and wealthy. The question of ‘rebuilding’ New BASH Salaam is a co-founder (with Kysha Brown) Although there has been talk of mega projects in New Orleans is a question of how many ‘wet’ citizens Orleans, such as super sea walls or “floating city” recon- Page 7 of Runagate Multimedia, a publishing company, will be brought back into the city,” Salaam said. and he is the moderator of e-drum, a listserv of struction, Fischer argued that the role of the local commu- Salaam will also share his experience with more than 1,600 black writers. His latest movies nities in any reconstruction needs to be fostered if there is how digital technologies can support and enhance com- include “On His Way,” a documentary about jazz funerals. not to be mere gentrification or a nostalgic rebuilding. munity development and intercommunity relations. The recipient of a 1999 Senior Literature Fellowship Fischer called for New Orleans reconstruction to Ayida S. Mthembu, associate dean for student support from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Salaam become an experimental urban space for deliberative dem- services, organized Salaam’s visit to MIT. has published the anthology “From a Bend in the River: ocratic planning, drawing upon the black churches, black “With his visit to MIT, we will have someone on cam- 100 New Orleans Poets” (Runagate Press, 1998). universities, civil rights organizations, burial and second pus who will make sure we as a community can talk about To participate in Salaam’s “Listen to the People” proj- line societies and neighborhood organizations. At stake, the whole effect of Katrina. He will raise awareness of the ect, please contact Mthembu at [email protected]. he said, is the Creole, African-American, Cajun and South- deeper issues,” Mthembu said. Salaam’s residency at MIT is sponsored in part by the ern amalgam that has been a distinctive source of U.S. Salaam will continue work on his project, “Listen to the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies. culture. AMBULANCE Continued from Page 1 It is a great opportunity though, he said. “The orga- nizational management skills are real-life skills that are MIT student, who understands the pain and struggle of transferable in the future,” McDonough said. going through MIT,” said Nicolas Wyhs (S.B. 2005), who, Although there are universities with Class One ambu- along with Mike Folkert (S.B. and S.M. 1998; Ph.D. 2005) lances and also schools that have student-run services, and Sam Schweighart (S.B. 2005), founded the program. MIT is the only school in Massachusetts that has both, Most of the calls are related to sports: sprains, knee said McDonough. “I’ll admit I was skeptical at first,” he injuries, etc., said Whys. Other calls are for flulike symp- said. “But once I was aware of the adult leadership and toms and chest pains. The MIT EMTs are trained to deal help they have had, my apprehension was allayed.” with a variety of medical emergencies. The project has support from the Division of Student The student ambulance can often respond faster than Life, MIT Facilities, MIT Police, MIT Environmental a traditional call to 911 since the EMTs know the campus. Health and Safety, the Medical Department, the Office of Additionally, many students feel more comfortable calling the Provost and the Executive Vice President as well as MIT EMTs as opposed to the city’s first responders. “It the MIT Insurance Office. Former MIT President Paul lowers their barrier for calling when they need help,” said Gray and his wife, Priscilla Gray, have also been support- Whys. ive, donating both funds and time. The Grays attended last The EMTs can be summoned by calling 100 or x3-1212 week’s dedication. from a campus phone or 617-253-1212 off campus. “It has been a real group effort,” said Kirkbride. According to their website, an MIT EMT is responsible PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY The service has been very important to the staff and for “issues in pre-hospital emergency medicine, including Priscilla Gray gets a tour of the new bunk house for ambu- student community, said Wyhs. “The service provides patient assessment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bleed- lance workers from Nicolas Wyhs ‘05 on Oct. 19. MIT with a group of medically knowledgeable people, ing control, bandaging, splinting, shock management, poi- which helps to promote better health throughout the com- son control and extrication techniques.” munity,” said Wyhs. “Even while off duty, our EMTs get The responsibility is huge. Last year, the roughly 60 senior inspector with the Department of Health. consulted regarding sick and injured people. These con- volunteers logged 10,000 hours of service and responded The students are expected to be there, said sultations help students and staff make decisions about to roughly 700 calls. “It really is a system in which the McDonough. “This is very hard volunteering,” he said. their health and well-being, which absolutely makes MIT a students are a vital component,” said Bud McDonough, “Part of the system depends on you.” safer, healthier place to live.” PAGE 4 October 26, 2005 RESEARCH MIT Tech Talk Protein scientists borrow tool from metal research Elizabeth A. Thomson acids occupying various sites in the pro- News Office tein backbone.” The trick is determining exactly how to reshuffle these components to enhance the properties of the larger Scientists have discovered that a tool structure, whether it’s a metal or a bio- normally used to improve stainless steel logical molecule. and other metal alloys can be applied to a Each protein’s function depends on decidedly nonmetallic substance: protein. its unique three-dimensional structure, Researchers from MIT, the Universi- which, in turn, rests on the molecule’s ty of Wisconsin at Madison and DuPont specific linear chain, or sequence, of 20 reported their findings in the Sept. 30 different amino acids. In protein design, issue of Physical Review Letters. scientists start with a protein of known Scientists work with proteins just as sequence, structure and function — such they work with metals and other inorganic as an industrial enzyme that breaks up materials, designing new substances with grime. They then hunt for modified amino enhanced properties, such as the ability to acid arrangements that augment the mole- survive at high temperatures. But doing so cule’s natural function. involves sorting through the nearly end- Beginning with an existing protein less possible ways to rearrange a protein’s structure does reduce the number of pos- components, called amino acids — an sible ways to rearrange the amino acids, extremely time-consuming and computer- but the numbers are still mind-boggling. intensive task. “For a sequence of just 100 different By applying a computational technique amino acids, you have 20100 possible com- for alloy design called cluster expansion, binations,” Morgan said. “My guess is this the MIT researchers and their colleagues is more than the number of atoms in the were able to search through potential amino universe.” acid configurations up to 100 million times “Cluster expansion breaks the design faster than with conventional techniques. problem into meaningful pieces that you The work could prove useful in many fields, can get your brain and your computer including medicine and biotechnology, around,” Morgan said. which stand to benefit from the revamped To demonstrate the ability of cluster proteins with superior properties. expansion to manage this complexity, the Authors are UW-Madison Assistant Pro- team focused on protein stability. Highly fessor Dane Morgan, who initiated and led stable proteins fold into tight three-dimen- the project as a postdoctoral researcher in sional structures; less stable ones tend materials science and engineering at MIT; to fall apart. Because a protein’s stabil- PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY MIT Professor Gerbrand Ceder of materi- ity relates to its energy in the folded, 3- From left, Brian Shieh, James Labuz and Andrew Greenhut prepare their banana- als science and engineering; MIT Assistant D state, scientists can calculate an energy harvesting device for a mockup review in 2.009. Professor Amy Keating of biology; MIT term to predict whether a particular amino graduate students Fei Zhou (physics) and acid sequence will adopt a robust struc- Gevorg Grigoryan (biology); and Dupont ture. scientist Steve Lustig. Cluster expansion breaks an amino Seniors prepare for harvest Commenting on the interdisciplinary acid sequence into small subclusters, con- Sarah H. Wright easier to pick bananas and carry the nature of the work, Ceder noted that “as sisting of one, two, three or more amino News Office bunches across the plantation for a researcher used to dealing with crystal- acids. An effective energy term is then processing. Our idea is to have a cut- line matter such as metals and oxides, the determined for every possible amino acid ting mechanism drop the 120-pound world of biology is pretty intimidating. But sequence within each subcluster. Once the Seniors in mechanical engineering bunches into the bag, then use a pul- piece after piece you start to see that many energies of each subcluster are known, Brian Shieh, James Labuz and Andrew ley system to lower it,” said Nelson. of the scientific problems in biology have they can be quickly added to give the ener- Greenhut, all students in course 2.009, The banana harvesting group is parallels in other fields.” gy of the entire sequence. Product Engineering Processes, had one-half of a team working on a har- Keating said, “It was fun and excit- When the team applied the method everything they needed to make their vesting products theme for 2.009. The ing to work together. We encountered to two well-known proteins, they found it banana harvester work, right down to other half is developing a citrus fruit the usual barriers that come up in joint calculated amino acid sequence energies 25 pounds of green banana stalks. harvesting system. After the mockup work between different fields — unfamil- that matched well with those computed by But just hours before their mockup review, the students will pick the most iar vocabulary and different conventions an established technique. The difference? review for faculty and fellow students promising of the two designs for devel- — but we learned a lot from one another The traditional technique needed more on Oct. 20, their PVC-pipe prototype opment into a fully functional alpha through the process.” than three minutes to make each energy was still wobbling in the Building 3 prototype. The gala annual 2.009 final The similarities between alloy and calculation while cluster expansion took stairwell. presentations will be held on Monday, protein design first struck Morgan as he just a microsecond. Team member Alex Nelson, also Dec. 12. attended an MIT computational biology Keating is excited about the potential a senior in mechanical engineering, The 2.009 banana harvesting team course taught by Keating and others. contribution of cluster expansion to biol- described the 2.009 assignment and members are Shieh, Labuz, Greenhut, “In an alloyed material, there are a ogy. “It may make some genomic studies outlined the banana team’s plan. Nelson, Kim Straub, Jason Atkins, number of different elements — such as that we have been dreaming about feasible “We’re supposed to build a har- Becky Romatoski and Adam Kacz- nickel, chromium and iron in stainless whereas they really weren’t before.” vester to be used in agriculture. We marak. All are seniors in mechanical steel — which are arranged on a lattice of The work was funded by the National designed a mechanism to make it engineering. sites,” Morgan said. “It’s the same thing Institutes of Health and the Dupont-MIT with a protein: You have different amino Alliance. Whitehead research opens door to new stem cell work David Cameron study to show that altered nuclear transfer not destroyed once stem cells have been ecule by transferring a plasmid into each Whitehead Institute not only works but is extremely efficient.” extracted. cell. (A plasmid is a unit of DNA that can First proposed by William Hurlbut, a Jaenisch -- a firm supporter of all forms replicate in a cell apart from the nucleus. Stanford University professor and mem- of human embryonic stem cell research Plasmids are usually found in bacteria, and Scientists at MIT and the Whitehead ber of the President’s Council on Bioeth- -- has shown that technical concerns about they are a staple for recombinant DNA Institute for Biomedical Research have ics, ANT has been described as an ethical this approach can be overcome. techniques.) The stem cells resulting from successfully demonstrated that a theo- alternative to somatic cell nuclear transfer Jaenisch and Alexander Meissner, a this procedure proved to be just as robust retical -- and controversial -- technique for (SCNT), also known as therapeutic clon- graduate student in his lab, focused on and versatile as stem cells procured in the generating embryonic stem cells is indeed ing. a gene called Cdx2, which enables an more traditional fashion. possible, at least in mice. For SCNT, a donor nucleus, for exam- embryo to grow a placenta. In order to “The success of this procedure in no The theory, called altered nuclear ple one taken from a skin cell, is implanted create a blastocyst that cannot implant in way precludes the need to pursue all forms transfer (ANT), proposes that researchers into a donor egg cell from which the nucle- a uterus, the researchers disabled Cdx2 in of human embryonic stem cell research,” first create genetically altered embryos us had been removed. This egg cell is then mouse cells. Jaenisch said. “Human embryonic stem that are unable to implant in a uterus, and tricked into thinking it has been fertilized. They accomplished this with a tech- cells are extraordinarily complicated. If then extract stem cells from these embry- That causes it to grow into a blastocyst -- a nique called RNA interference, or RNAi. we are ever to realize their therapeutic os. Because the embryos cannot implant, mass of about 100 cells -- from which stem Here, short interfering RNA (siRNA) mol- potential, we must use all known tools and they are by definition not “potential” cells are removed. These embryonic stem ecules are designed to target an individual techniques in order to explore the mecha- human lives. Some suggest that this would cells can divide and replicate themselves gene and disrupt its ability to produce pro- nisms that give these cells such startling quell the protests of critics who claim that indefinitely, and they can also form any tein. In effect, the gene is shut off. Jae- characteristics.” embryonic stem cell research necessitates type of tissue in the human body. Howev- nisch and Meissner designed a particular ANT, Jaenisch emphasized, is a modi- the destruction of human life. Scientists er, to cull these stem cells, the blastocyst form of siRNA that shut off this gene in the fication, but not an alternative, to nuclear and ethicists have debated the merits of must be destroyed, which some critics donor nucleus and then incorporated itself transfer, since the approach requires addi- this approach although it had not been insist is tantamount to destroying a human into all the cells comprising the blastocyst. tional manipulations of the donor cells. He proved possible. life. As a result, all of the resulting mouse blas- said he hopes that this modification may “The purpose of our study was to The procedure theorized by Hurlbut tocysts were incapable of implantation. help resolve some of the issues surround- provide a scientific basis for the ethical is similar to SCNT, but with one crucial However, once the stem cells had been ing work with embryonic stem cells and debate,” said MIT Biology Professor and twist: Before the donor nucleus is trans- extracted from the blastocysts, Cdx2 was aid the effort to secure federal funding for Whitehead member Rudolf Jaenisch, lead ferred into the egg cell, its DNA is altered still disabled in each of these new cells, such work. author on the paper, which was published so that the resulting blastocyst has no something that needed to be repaired in This research was supported by the in the Oct. 16 online edition of Nature. chance of ever becoming a viable embryo. order for these cells to be useful. To cor- National Institutes of Health/National Can- “Our work is the first proof-of-principle As a result, a “potential human being” is rect this, Meissner deleted the siRNA mol- cer Institute. MIT Tech Talk NEWS October 26, 2005 PAGE 5 Hire opens new chapter for LBGT community

Sarah H. Wright Step one in her twofold resources or just stop by for In addition to posting the “Welcome” News Office strategy is to establish a a break,” she said. cards, “Be a good ally! Take a moment to microcosm of the safe and The second aspect of visit our website, come see the Rainbow welcoming environment Francis’ strategy is preven- Lounge, or, better yet, join us for one of our Suppose they posted a support group she envisions for the wider tion, a process that includes events. It is so important to have a faculty meeting for lesbian, bisexual, gay and community. With its buttery facilitating tolerance and and staff presence at LBGT events on cam- transgendered students and nobody came. yellow walls, funny rainbow- diversity training programs, pus, because LBGT students are already Abigail Francis, MIT’s first program striped disco-mirror ball, empowering student leader- at a loss for positive adult role models and coordinator for LBGT services, resources kitchen full of snacks, com- ship and supporting LBGT supportive allies as mentors,” Francis said. and outreach, had that experience when fortable upholstered couch- groups. They are also at higher risk for depression she was a college sophomore, and it’s one es and chairs in matching “I help build bridges and drug use, so the involvement and sup- she hopes no one seeking support in the barn-red fabric, the Rainbow with other student organi- port of others can make a real difference Institute community will ever encounter. Lounge in Walker Memorial zations and departments in their lives, she said. “I still remember drawing up the cour- (W50-005) projects just that Abigail Francis at MIT, such as the Black Upcoming LBGT events include: age to attend that meeting. When no one atmosphere. Student Union, the Latino Women’s Week “True Diversity” Work- showed up, I was devastated. How much Connected to the lounge Cultural Center, the Office shop: Exploring Race, Gender, Sexuality easier it would have been to face the world are two private offices (one for Francis, of Minority Education, Student Support and Programming on Sunday, Nov. 6, 11 with the resources already offered at one for a graduate assistant) and a small- Services and Women’s Studies. I also help a.m. to 1 p.m., Room 10-105. Workshop MIT,” she said. er library/screening room. The area has monitor the campus climate, as reflected (with brunch) is free and open to all stu- Francis’ role at MIT is a pioneering one phone and Internet access so students can in reported incidents of anti-LBGT graf- dents. RSVP to: [email protected]. in the academic community — there are work there easily. fiti,” she said. The 24-Hour Multicultural Movie Mara- only 193 LBGT coordinators nationwide Francis, who received the M.A. in social The recent Institute mailing — includ- thon, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in Lobdell. — and her goal is to expand the Institute’s work and urban leadership from Simmons ing a letter from Chancellor Philip Clay Queer and Faithful: LBGT@MIT is current resources to “create an environ- College, says the lounge is part of her and a “You are welcome here!” postcard partnering with the Lutheran Episcopal ment where LBGT students and faculty intervention strategy. “I offer one-on-one — offers anyone on campus an easy way Ministry to present a dinner and panel dis- can have a more positive living and learn- support for students in need and maintain to have a positive effect on the climate cussion. The event is free and open to all ing environment,” she said. the lounge space for students to meet, find here, Francis said. MIT affiliates. Series examining ‘Future of Water’ Sarah H. Wright News Office

The Technology and Culture Forum at MIT is exploring the crucial global challenge of water resource management in a four-part series titled “The Future of Water.” The series will explore social, environmental and political aspects of how water is appropriated and regulated internationally and how access to drinking water and sanitation produces inequitable patterns of consumption, health and development. On Thursday, Oct. 27, Vandana Shiva, author of “Water Wars: Privatization, Pol- lution, and Profit” and “Earth Democra- cy: Justice, Sustainability and Peace,” will present a talk on “Hydro-politics and Earth Democracy,” in Room 10-250 at 7 p.m. Shiva will discuss the politics of water consumption, focusing on the victims of water scarcity and presenting the social and political landscape that frames the debate around water resources in developing countries. On Nov. 3, Marcia Brewster, U.N. task leader on gender and water, and Shauna Currey, director of international opera- PHOTO / DAN BERSAK tions and advisor at the Centre for Afford- able Water & Sanitation Technology, Magic eights will discuss “Women and Water” and the health, educational and economic implica- MIT’s men’s eight crew, wearing red and black, compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, Oct. 23, as women’s tions of the burden on women and chil- crews from other schools line up for their start. dren of collecting water, in Room 6-120 at 7 p.m. On Nov. 10, Susan Murcott, research engineer in civil and environmental engineering, will discuss the U.N. millennium goals for clean water and how to achieve Reif gives finance report to faculty them with current and future technologies. Murcott’s talk, “Innovating for Clean At the October faculty meeting, Pro- graphs of how MIT’s operating budget Budget. This is money that could be used and Abundant Water,” will be held in Room vost L. Rafael Reif reported on the state of continued to rise in recent years as its for other purposes if there were sufficient 6-120 at 7 p.m. the Institute’s finances, noting that MIT’s endowment took a dip. The goal, he said, endowed funds to meet MIT’s financial aid “Water” began Tuesday, Oct. 25, with endowment increased to $6.7 billion last is to reduce the draw on the endowment commitments. a world premier of “Water Please No,” a year, surpassing the peak achieved in fis- to a level that is sustainable over the long In other business, Hockfield announced documentary on the arsenic crisis in Ban- cal 2000. term. that a review panel has been formed to gladesh and Nepal. Speaking at the Oct. 19 meeting, which The administration and faculty will explore why a particular case of alleged Rob Kramer, filmmaker and co-founder was held in Room 141 in the Stata Center, have to work together to identify future research misconduct at the Lincoln Labo- of the Global Water Trust, discussed his the provost said that in fiscal year 2004, the academic investments and priorities, and ratory has been so difficult to resolve. She work with Charles Harvey, associate pro- value of the endowment had been $5.87 work around such present challenges as commented that MIT’s policies and professor of civil and environmental engineer- billion. The endowment value increased the bleak outlook for sponsored research cedures have, time and again, effectively ing. by 14.4 percent during fiscal 2005, up to and the increased cost of faculty startup dealt with such allegations. “Water Please No” includes a segment $6.71 billion. The $842 million growth in packages, he said. The particular case in this instance has on the Kanchan Arsenic Filter, an afford- the value of the endowment was the result In addition to the good news that the been more difficult to resolve, and “it is able water filtration system developed by of a 17.6 percent market return, combined Institute’s financial position continued to important to look at the process to deter- MIT researchers including Murcott. The with additional contributions from gifts strengthen in the 2005 fiscal year, Presi- mine where it has not worked well in this Kanchan Filter recently won a 2005 Wall and after netting out distributions to sup- dent Susan Hockfield announced that an case,” she said. The panel will “make rec- Street Journal Innovation Technology port the Institute’s operations. According anonymous alumnus recently pledged $25 ommendations about factors that might Award. to a 2004 report by the National Associa- million to endow financial aid. have complicated the resolution of the This series is free and open to the pub- tion of College and University Business “One of my very serious goals is to case, and how we might extract ‘lessons lic; seating is first come, first served. Officers, MIT’s endowment is sixth among increase our endowments for financial learned’ about our processes, to help avoid For more information, please visit web. American universities, trailing Harvard, aid,” Hockfield said. MIT currently spends similar problems going forward,” Hock- mit.edu/tac or call x3-0108. whose endowment recently surpassed the more than $50 million each year provid- field said. This series is co-sponsored by the $25 billion mark, Yale, the University of ing need-blind financial aid to its students. The panel’s work will be limited to a Department of Civil and Environmental Texas system, Princeton and Stanford. Of that amount, last year $34 million was review of procedures and will not exam- Engineering, the Office of the Dean of “Despite our relative financial strength, provided by funds distributed from schol- Graduate Students, the Program in Wom- the Institute uses the endowment to bal- arship endowments. The remaining $16 See FACULTY en’s Studies and MIT Sangam. ance its expenses,” Reif said, showing million came from the Institute’s General Page 6 PAGE 6 October 26, 2005 NEWS MIT Tech Talk MIT cancer program granted $3.2 million OBITUARIES DANIEL H. HAMILTON JR. Elizabeth A. Thomson with a five-year, $3.2 million grant. It will Partnerships are part of a $144.3 million, News Office develop microfluidic devices whose nano- five-year NCI initiative for nanotechnol- Daniel H. Hamilton Jr., who helped channels are capable of concentrating rare ogy in cancer research. Earlier this month build the nation’s first air attack warning proteins that may serve as early signs of the NCI announced that MIT and Harvard system in the Arctic in the 1950s, died An MIT program designed to identify cancer. Together with another chip-based will receive a five-year, $20 million grant to June 8 in Hyannis. He was 87. early signs of cancer using nanotechnolo- device, they will detect and quantify the form the MIT-Harvard Center of Cancer Hamilton, who joined MIT’s Lincoln gies has been named one of 12 national proteins. Nanotechnology Excellence. Laboratory upon its formation, helped Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partner- The initial focus of the program will be The center is one of seven multi-insti- design a chain of 63 radar and commu- ships through the National Cancer Insti- prostate cancer. tutional hubs across the nation that will nications systems stretching 3,000 miles tute. “The timing for this award couldn’t be integrate nanotechnology across the can- from the northwest coast of Alaska to the The partnerships, announced Oct. 17, better because we are ready to go with cer research continuum and provide new eastern shore of Baffin Island during the are tightly focused programs to develop our technology. We are ready to solve the solutions for the diagnosis and treatment 1950s. He was also a World War II vet- the technologies to underpin new products hard problems that remain for us to cre- of cancer. It will be led by Institute Pro- eran. in the war against cancer. ate a clinically useful fluidics device that fessor Robert Langer and Professor Ralph Hamilton retired from Lincoln Labora- MIT’s program, led by Associate Pro- will impact medicine in a real way,” said Weissleder, M.D., of Harvard Medical tory in 1984. fessor Scott Manalis of biological and Manalis. School and Massachusetts General Hos- He is survived by his wife, Jane (Evans) mechanical engineering, will be funded The Cancer Nanotechnology Platform pital. Hamilton of Charleston, S.C.; two sons, Daniel Heyward Hamilton III of Harwich and Thomas Heyward Motte Hamilton of Charleston, S.C.; two daughters, Margot Hamilton of Orlando, Fla. and Ann Hollis- FACULTY ter Hamilton Moore of Richmond, Va.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchil- Continued from Page 5 dren. ine the specific allegations in the case. DOROTHY GIDDINGS STAKNIS Hockfield further said that, in addition to the review panel, resolving the manner in Dorothy Giddings Staknis, retired liai- which an investigation of the allegations son editor for the MIT registrar’s office, in the case will be conducted is being died Oct. 1 in Great Barrington, R.I. She pursued at a very high level with the U.S. was 86. Department of Defense (DOD). Staknis worked in the registrar’s office Associate Provost Claude Canizares for 15 years and also taught at MIT for will chair the panel. The charge to the three years. panel is to (i) identify the factors that have The wife of the late Victor Staknis, she complicated and delayed the satisfactory is survived by a brother, Edwin S. Giddings resolution of this particular allegation of of Las Vegas and of Charleston, Ore.; a sis- research misconduct, (ii) determine their ter, Maryanna Macy of Great Barrington, implications, if any, for how the Institute R.I.; and several nieces, nephews, great- should conduct itself in the future, and (iii) nieces and great-nephews. recommend any changes in policy and/ or practice that would help avoid a recur- MEMORIAL SERVICE rence. A memorial service for Nathan H. The panel has been requested to pres- Cook, MIT professor emeritus of mechani- ent its findings by the middle of January. cal engineering and former MacGregor In addition to Canizares, panel members housemaster, will be held today at 1:30 are Institute Professor Mildred Dressel- p.m. in the MIT Chapel. Cook died July haus; physics Professor David Litster, for- 13. For his full obituary, visit web.mit.edu/ mer vice president for research; and Dr. newsoffice/2005/obit-cook.html. Gerald Dinneen. Dinnen was director of Lincoln Laboratory from 1970-77 and was a professor of electrical engineering at MIT from 1971-1981. He has held senior Apply now for Siegel Prize positions in industry, the DOD and the Submissions are now being accepted National Academy of Engineering. for the Benjamin Siegel Prize, a $2,500 The faculty also heard a report on prize offered to the MIT student who sub- planned changes to the Institute’s disci- mits the best written work on issues in sci- plinary system. ence, technology and society. The prize is Chair of the Faculty Lorna Gibson, open to undergraduate and graduate stu- Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Mate- dents from any MIT school or department. rials Science and Engineering, chaired a Students should submit one hard copy of a committee that reviewed MIT’s disciplin- PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY single-authored work that is no more than ary procedures for fairness and consis- 50 pages long and was written within the tency. Storm brooding last two academic years. Submit entries to Currently, cases of alleged misconduct Fierce winds and lashing rains seem to have whipped up a little resentment judging the Siegel Prize Committee, Program in filed with the Office of Student Conflict by the body language of these two, who were watching the wild weather from the Science, Technology and Society, E51-185, Resolution and Discipline (OSCRD) are entrance to 77 Mass. Ave. on Tuesday, Oct. 25. by Nov. 15. For more information, e-mail sometimes pursued through Dean’s panels [email protected], call x3-3452, or visit and sometimes through the Committee on web.mit.edu/sts. Discipline (COD). Gibson said the committee recom- CLASSIFIED ADS mends a “single pathway” that funnels all NEWS YOU CAN USE cases through the COD. The chair would Members of the MIT community may submit Medford apartment, 6 rooms, 3BR, second floor decide if an alleged infraction should be one classified ad each issue. Ads can be resub- of 2-family. Newly renovated. $1,900 plus util. handled by a full COD hearing, a smaller IAP travel fellowships mitted, but not two weeks in a row. Ads should Washer/dryer. Near Tufts, Davis and Medford be 30 words maximum; they will be edited. Squares. Avail. now. First & last months’ rent. COD panel or, in cases where the stu- The Kelly-Douglas Fund, which Submit by e-mail to [email protected] or mail Call Tom at (617) 605-6630. dent admits culpability, an administrative offers traveling fellowships to under- to Classifieds, Rm 11-400. Deadline is noon review. graduates, is accepting applications Wednesday the week before publication. In addition, complainants and respon- for its fall term competition. The VEHICLES dents appearing before the COD would, competition is open to all juniors and FOR SALE 1991 Buick Roadmaster wagon. Well main- upon request, be provided with outside seniors whose Independent Activi- tained, Michelin tires. Low mileage. Automatic, faculty or senior staff advisors who would ties Period plans include a research Maple rolltop desk w/ matching chair $350. power windows & locks, sunroof. Great student help them investigate and present their project that requires travel. The maxi- Round kitchen table $50, 4wrought iron chairs or family car. Asking $2000/bst. Contact Nancy case. mum award is $1,000. $80. Call (781) 861-9472. Taylor at 253-9440 or [email protected]. Another significant change recom- The deadline for applications is Artwork by Raoul Dufy. Professionally framed & mended is that appeals of COD deci- Wednesday, Nov. 16. An application matted prints: “La vie en rose” (12” x 16”), $15; oceanside scene in blues & purples (22” x 28”), STUDENT EMPLOYMENT sions involving suspension, expulsion or must include two letters: (1) the appli- $25. Contact [email protected] or 253-9411. revoking a degree should be made to the cant’s description of his or her goals Positions for students with work study eligibility chancellor, rather than to the president. and their relation to a field in the KSM150 ARTISAN series stand mixer, 5-quart Directed project work at Asian Community capacity, tilt-head mixer, w/ accessories. Brand Development Corp., in one of four program The chancellor would decide whether to School of Humanities, Arts and Social new. $150. Image available via e-mail. Contact hear an appeal, and his decision would areas: urban/community planning, economic Sciences (SHASS) or to a humanitar- Bart at (781) 981-2994 or [email protected]. development, physical development & commu- be final. The committee found that at ian project, including a clear estimate Antique Columbia phonograph. Tabletop nity organizing. Students who make a one-year Brown, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford of the cost of transportation, lodging model, mahogany case, works. $90. E-mail commitment can develop & implement their and Yale, the president does not handle and other expenses; and (2) an evalu- [email protected]. own program, w/ needs of the community in appeals. “The chancellor is the person ation of the applicant’s goals and proj- mind. Must have interest in learning more about Bicycle, made by Jetter, Reactor & the Asian Community in Boston. Students who who oversees the lives and education of ect by an MIT instructor. Manufacturing. Double hand breaks, adjustable speak Cantonese, Toisanese, and Mandarin high- students and is better informed about These letters should be sent to reflectors. Lug frame, high ten tubing. Asking ly encouraged to apply. 10 hrs/wk. $8-$10/hr. issues that may come to bear on them,” Kristin Blank, administrative assis- $30. Quick sale. Hurry won’t last. Call (781) 893- Contact Daniel Stolkowski (617) 482-2380 x206, Hockfield said. tant in music and theater arts, Room 3377 or e-mail [email protected]. [email protected]. The proposed change in the appeal pro- 4-246. Questions may be addressed Like to work w/ teens? Want an easy, fun way cess will be put to a vote at the November to Professor Lowell Lindgren, to make a few dollars? Hang out w/ teens at faculty meeting. HOUSING the Common Ground Teen Center. Center has [email protected], director of the pool table, air hockey, ping pong, foosball, big Charlestown. Sunny 1BR/1BA condo in row- Following the formal business of the Kelly-Douglas Fund. For further infor- screen TV, computers & places to just hang out. house. Hrdwd flrs, crown molding, basement meeting, there was opportunity for faculty Need two students to help chaperone the cen- mation, visit web.mit.edu/mta/www/ storage & laundry, roofdeck. Low condo fee. ter on Wednesdays from 2:30-5 p.m. $18/hr. to informally raise issues or ask questions music/resources/kellytraveling.html. Close to I-93, Storrow Drive and T. $315,000. Contact Jocelyn Dautel (781) 324-7680 x219, of the president, provost and chancellor. Call Jonathan at (617) 276-4629. [email protected]. MIT Tech Talk ARTS October 26, 2005 PAGE 7 MIT fetes New Orleans with ‘Bayou Bash’ ties. Past performers Fall Festival concert planned include Margaret Cho and Lewis Black. to benefit victims of hurricane “We were going to bring in some comedians from ‘The Daily Show,’ Paul Crocetti but after the hurricane Office of the Arts hit, we were contacted by Barbara and thought, let’s make more of a differ- MIT’s annual Fall Festival will take on a different flavor ence,” Robinson said. this year. Titled “Bayou Bash,” the weekend will culminate Proceeds from Sun- in a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina on day’s concert will go Sunday, Oct. 30, in Kresge Auditorium. The event will fea- to the performers and ture numerous acts from the New Orleans area, including other charities, including blues and gospel singer Marva Wright, alto saxophonist the Pass Christian High Donald Harrison and special guests the Wild Magnolias, a School in Mississippi, group of “Mardi Gras Indians.” Robinson said. The school Known for elaborate costumes designed to resemble was heavily damaged Native American dress, the Wild Magnolias are actually, in the storm and asked according to their web site, “black working-class groups for money to support its that are part secret and spiritual society and part neigh- music program, he said. borhood social club.” The fund-raising goal During Mardi Gras, the group parades in costume for the event is between while chanting, singing and playing percussion. Folk, funk $6,000 and $8,000. and jazz are some of the many different styles that make “The whole effort is to up the Magnolias’ sound. help the culture and show While the group was able to escape New Orleans the culture by bringing it before Hurricane Katrina hit, its members lost nearly to MIT,” he said. everything in the flooding. The “Bayou Bash” “They were able to save their current suits,” said Bar- weekend will feature bara Louviere, a residential scholar at Simmons Hall. numerous other events, Louviere, a New Orleans jazz expert who spearheaded including other trib- the Bayou Bash weekend, has connections with many utes to the New Orleans musicians from the hurricane-ravaged city. “But the old music scene. On Friday, costumes from previous years were lost. They live in the Oct. 28, there will be a Ninth Ward. I don’t know of one who didn’t lose his home PHOTO COURTESY/ WILD MAGNOLIAS parade through the MIT and everything in it.” The Wild Magnolias, a New Orleans-based musical group that chants, sings and plays percus- campus that ends with a Many musicians, including pianist Davell Crawford, sion, will perform at MIT’s annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 30, in Kresge Auditorium. jazz concert in the Stata who will perform at Sunday’s concert, lost equipment and Amphitheater featuring instruments. “They’re looking forward to this,” she said. “It’s really the Wild Magnolias and the Stooges Brass Band. On “Crawford is the musical director at a church,” said important to them. It’s really emotional for them. It’s an Saturday in the Kresge Pit, there will be a barbecue and Louviere. “Someone from the church called him and said effort to give them work.” concert featuring the Christian Scott Sextet and junior he saw his piano floating down the street.” The big event to end the Fall Festival, which runs from chemical engineering major and saxophonist Louis This concert will help these New Orleans musicians Oct. 28 to 30, was originally planned to be a comedy show, Fouche, who was forced to evacuate his home in New not only financially but also psychologically, Louviere said. said Thomas Robinson, assistant director of student activi- Orleans. Cuban architecture on view Revolution brought a new social order lowing the revolution. This new genera- to Cuba and with it a new way of looking tion of architects including such figures at buildings. as Ricardo Porro, Mario Girona, Walter Following the overthrow of Fulgencio Betancourt, Hugo D’Acosta and Mer- Batista’s regime in January 1959, the new cedes Álvarez, experimented with forms Cuban government, led by Fidel Castro, and materials to extend the tradition of launched an ambitious national building modernism beyond the prerevolutionary program designed to support the socialist domain of private development and the agenda of the new regime. single-family house. The results can be seen in “Architec- “Many of the designs for schools, hos- ture and Revolution in Cuba: 1959-1969,” pitals, office blocks and other structures an exhibition of digitally restored period expanded a modernist vocabulary with photographs and drawings focusing on new forms and materials and still appear these state building projects, on view at amazingly fresh to us today, like a circular PHOTO / CHRIS FRAZER SMITH the Wolk Gallery (Room 7-338) through housing complex or a pinwheel plan for Dec. 22. the National Ice Cream Parlor in Havana,” Members of the Endellion String Quartet enjoy fish and chips. They will perform a Cuba’s building campaign during said Gary van Zante, MIT Museum’s cura- Mozart quintet at MIT this Friday with Professor Marcus Thompson. the 1960s was part of a national effort to tor of architecture and design. reapportion resources across a tradition- Architecture and Revolution was curat- ally stratified society. Focusing on the con- ed by Eduardo Luis Rodríguez, a prac- Thompson, quartet to celebrate Mozart struction of housing, educational facilities ticing architect, critic and historian who The Endellion Quartet makes its series scheduled for this year and and public works, new federal agencies was born in Havana, and organized by the third appearance at MIT this Friday, next in which Thompson will perform were created to translate the revolutionary Storefront for Art and Architecture, New Oct. 28, at 8 p.m. in Kresge Audito- all six viola quintets composed by mission into the built environment. York. The Wolk is open weekdays from 9 rium, this time with internationally Mozart with visiting string quartets. The task fell to a younger generation of a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call acclaimed violist Marcus Thompson, The concerts are being held in com- architects, since many of the more estab- x8-9106 or visit web.mit.edu/sap/www/ the Robert R. Taylor Professor of memoration of the 250th anniversary lished architects had gone into exile fol- wolk. Music at MIT. Thompson will perform of Mozart’s birth. Mozart’s Viola Quintet in G Minor Friday’s program also includes Sir with the acclaimed British ensemble, Michael Tippett’s Quartet No. 2 and which is now in its 25th year. Haydn’s Quartet Op. 20, No. 2. The concert is the second in a For more information, call x3-2826.

ARTS NEWS Office of the Arts listservs OA-announce The Office of the Arts at MIT now has Receive announcements of events and two e-mail listservs for information about deadlines for programs sponsored by the upcoming MIT arts events and activities, MIT Office of the Arts (OA), including Arts-announce and OA-announce. Both visiting artist events, Council for the Arts are available, by subscription, to the MIT Grants deadlines, and announcements and community and the public: deadlines related to OA Student Programs. Subscribers will receive, but may not send, Arts-announce announcements to this list. Subscribe to Receive general announcements related OA-announce by e-mailing oa-announce- to the arts at MIT, including selected event [email protected] with “Subscribe” listings, special announcements, audition as the subject. announcements, and ticket offers. Sub- For information on these and other mail- scribers may send announcements to this ing lists and listservs overseen by the Office of the Arts at MIT, go to the arts@MIT list. Subscribe to Arts-announce by e-mail- PHOTO COURTESY / STOREFRONT FOR ART AND ARCHITECTURE/COLLECTION OF EDUARDO LUIS RODRÍGUEZ ing [email protected] home page (web.mit.edu/arts) and click on with “Subscribe” as the subject. the Mailing List link in the footer. Coppelia Ice Cream Parlour in Havana, designed by Mario Girona in the mid-1960s. PAGE 8 October 26, 2005 CALENDAR MIT Tech Talk

MIT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 26–30

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY October 26 October 27 October 28 October 29 October 30

Science/ Performance Architecture/ Humanities “Close-Up MIT Chapel “Finding “Four Tables: Varsity Sailing Technology Planning (Nama-ye Concert Form: The Art Projects - Erwin Schell Nazdik)” Triton Brass of Richard by Lira Trophy Film presented Quintet. Noon. Filipowski” Nikolovska” 9 a.m. Charles in conjunction with MIT Chapel. 253-2826. Exhibit by Filipowski, an Exhibit of works by River. 258-5265. “Christian Jankowski: internationally acclaimed Nikolovska, a Ph.D. Music Exhibit Reading Special Everything Fell Together.” “Adjusting to sculptor. Opening candidate at the Design Brunch Interest All day. Bartos Theater. life in the US” reception 4-6 p.m. MIT and Computation pro- Sunday morn- 253-4680. A welcome Museum. 253-4444. gram at the School of ing brunch. 11 reception for Architecture. Room 7- a.m.–1 p.m. Object Lesson: new international schol- “Do You 238. All day. Green Hall. 642-8272. “RoboTuna II” ars at MIT with a presen- Remember Business/ Film Sports Featured Gallery talk tation by Anne Copeland Dolly Bell? AKPIA Annual Money Event by Kurt of the Interchange (Sjecas li se Workshop: Halloween Hasselbach, curator, Institute. 4–6 p.m. Room Dolly Bell?)” “The Mamluk Potluck Party Hart Nautical Collection. W20-306. 253-2851. Film from Yugoslavia, Domes of Halloween Noon. MIT Museum. 1981. Directed by Emir Cairo” party and potluck dinner 253-4444. “Close-Up Kusturica. 6 p.m. Room Architecture workshop. with pumpkin carving (Nama-ye 3-133. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Room 5- and games for children. Gallery Talk Nazdik)” 216. 253-1400. Costumes are encour- Bill Arning, List Visual Gallery Talk aged. 6–8 p.m. Room curator of the Arts Center Film Night, Talk by Bayou Bash 10-105. 253-1614. List Visual Arts presented in conjunc- Nicholas BBQ Jazz Center, speaks on the tion with “Christian Baume. 6 p.m. Lunch exhibition “Christian Jankowski: Everything List Visual Arts Center Jazz music Jankowski: Everything Fell Together.” 7 p.m. (E15). 253-4680. during the Bayou Bash Fell Together.” 12:30 p.m. Bartos Theater. 253- BBQ. 1–3 p.m. Kresge List Visual Arts Center 4680. Endellion BBQ area. 253-6777. (E15). 253-4680. String Quartet Mozart’s Viola “The Israeli Dancing Quintet with Amityville 8–11 p.m. Marcus Thompson, Horror” (1979) PHOTO COURTESY / WWW.TRITONBRASS.ORG/INDEX.HTML Lobby 13. 484- viola. 8 p.m. Kresge LSC Fall 2005 3267. Auditorium. 253-2826. Classic Film Series. $3. Bold and brassy 7 p.m. Room 26-100. The Triton Brass Quintet will perform at the MIT 253-3791. Chapel on Thursday, Oct. 27, at noon. The concert is free and open to the public.

Go Online! For complete events listings, see the MIT Events Calendar at: http://events.mit.edu. Go Online! Ofﬁce of the Arts website at: http://web.mit.edu/arts/ofﬁce.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

“MACBETH” HALLOWMIT FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 27 Oct. 30 BAYOU BASH Oct. 30 Shakespeare Ensemble fall Halloween party for the Concert to support New production. $8, $6 students. Kresge Little entire MIT community, with Student Center Orleans musicans and Gulf Kresge Auditorium Theater parade, face painters, jug- Lobby Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5. Coast charities. $5 MIT 7-10:30 p.m. glers, clowns, candy, crafts 8 p.m. 3:30-5:30 p.m. students, $10 MIT staff, $15 and fun. faculty and all others.

MIT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 31–NOVEMBER 6

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY October 31 November 1 November 2 November 3 November 4 November 5 November 6 Halloween “iSPOTS: Living Terrorism MIT Chapel “Now Playing: Diwali Puja True Diversity Costumes, Candy and and Working in Talk by Jessica Concert Photographs Celebration of Diversity work- Scares, oh my! MIT’s Wireless Stern of the Alan Jabbour, by Joe Diwali, the fes- shop with talk Campus” Kennedy School Appalachian Seaward” tival of lights. by Magdalen “What Does The installation, produced of Government. Noon. folklorist and fiddler. Exhibit through Nov. 30. 6–7 p.m. MIT Chapel. Hsu-Li. RSVP required. Current by MIT’s SENSEable Room E38-615. 253- Noon. MIT Chapel. 253- 24 hours a day. Wiesner 225-8814. 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Room Scientific City Lab, documents the 7529. 2826. Student Art Gallery. 253- 10-105. 253-5440. Research wireless campus in real 7019. “Star Wars Have to Say About the time using log informa- “Listen to the “Now Playing: Episode III: Gallery Talk Present and Future tion from MIT’s wireless People: The Photographs McGovern Revenge of the Talk by Jane Risks Associated with network. $5 adults, $2 Neo-Griot by Joe Institute Sith” Farver in con- Hurricanes?” students. Free with MIT New Orleans Seaward” Opening & LSC movie. $3. 7 and 10 junction with The fourth installment of ID. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. MIT Project” Reception. 6 p.m. Dedication p.m. showings. Room 26- “Christian Jankowski: the “Big Questions after Museum. 253-4444. Talk by New Orleans Wiesner Student Art Opening and Dedication 100. 253-3791. Everything Fell Together.” Big Hurricanes” sympo- poet, filmmaker and critic Gallery. 253-7019. of the McGovern Institute 2 p.m. List Visual Arts sium, talk by Professor Architecture Kalamu ya Salaam. 7 for Brain Research with Smashing the Center (E15). 253-4680. Kerry Emanuel. Noon. Lecture p.m. Room 4-163. 253- Writer’s Series: speeches by Eric Kandel, Ceiling Bartos Theatre. “Luyeyuan 7894. Jonathan Robert Metcalfe and Jane Concert featur- Intercollegiate Sculpture Lethem Pauley. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. ing Magdalen Benefit Biology Museum” lecture by “Emerging Talk by Lethem, Room 46-3201. 452- Hsu-Li. Raquel Evita Concert for Colloquium Jiakun Liu, China. 6:30 Muslim author of many books 2507. Sidel, a local slam poet, Katrina and Talk by Ihor p.m. Room 10-250. 253- Identities in including “Motherless will be opening. $5 stu- Earthquake Victims Lemischka of 7791. Diasporic Brooklyn,” which won “Urga: Close dent, $10 non-student. Performers from MIT, Princeton University. 4–5 Communities” the National Book Critics to Eden (Urga: 8–10 p.m. Room 10-250. Harvard, Wellesley, p.m. Room 32-123. Chicks Make Film: “A Fond Kiss” (Ken Circle Award for Fiction. 7 Territoriya 253-5440. Berklee, and Brandeis. All Flicks: Gayle Loach, UK, 2004). 7 p.m. p.m. Room 10-250. 253- Lubvi)” proceeds go to Hurricane Trivia Night at Ferraro with Room 2-105. 253-4771. 7894. Part of the Suburbia Katrina and Pakistan the Thirsty Ear “Anonymously Goes Global film series. 6 earthquake relief. $5 min- Hosted by Tim Yours” Israeli Dancing American p.m. Room 3-133. imum donation. 3–5 p.m. Graves. Must Discussion follows 8–11 p.m. Folk Fiddle Walker Memorial. be over 21. ID required. screening of the Lobby 13. 484- Workshop Gallery Talk 9–11:30 p.m. The Thirsty film chronicling the 3267. Alan Jabbour, Bill Arning, Ear Pub. merchandising of women American folk fiddler. curator of the in Southeastern Asia. 7 7:30 p.m. Killian Hall. List Visual Arts p.m. Room 6-120. 253- 258-5629. Center, speaks on the 8844. List exhibition “Christian Jankowski: Everything Fell Together.” 6 p.m. List Visual Arts Center (E15). 253-4680.