Volume 53, Number 5 TechTalk Wednesday, October 8, 2008 S e r v i n g Th e MIT Co mm u n i t y MIT creates Campaign for Environmental Students launched Research Campaign highlights MIT students’ creativity, passion Council Sets stage for Institute environment initiative

MIT has announced the launch of the Envi- ronmental Research Council to elevate and expand the Institute’s leadership in this critical area of study. MIT President Susan Hockfield told the community at the recent State of the Institute Forum that the council will draw together the significant environmental work already under way in many different labs and departments to Tom Witkowski greatly enhance our ability to offer an enhance their combined efforts. The goal is Resource Development MIT education to the most qualified Campaign web site to create a robust Institute-wide collaboration students regardless of their families’ showcases the comparable to the MIT Energy Initiative. MIT publicly launched its Campaign ability to pay,” Hockfield said. “The world faces increasingly urgent envi- for Students on Oct. 3 with a goal Recently, MIT increased financial ‘Human Factor’ ronmental challenges, deeply intertwined with of raising $500 million or more for aid to cover tuition and fees for a larger equally complex and pressing problems in energy. undergraduate scholarships, graduate fraction of students. Under the new The Campaign for Students Given the caliber and depth of MIT’s intellectual fellowships, curriculum innovation and plan, families earning less than $75,000 connects alumni and friends with resources on these topics, we have an obligation student life. The campaign highlights a year will have all tuition covered. compelling, diverse student stories to lead the way in developing solutions,” Hock- MIT students’ brilliance, creativity, Edward Linde ’62 and his wife Joyce through web, print and video. field said. drive and passion — human factors that announced last week that the Linde Student narratives showcase personal will power solutions to the Family Foundation will make passions — the Human Factors world’s most-challenging a $25 million gift, one of the — that combine to create leaders who problems. See photos largest pledges to under- exemplify MIT’s unique approach to “The Campaign for from the graduate financial aid in the problem-solving. Students will help sustain Institute’s history. The Linde Prior to the campaign’s public the excellence of MIT’s launch Family Foundation supports unveiling, student videos were shared living and learning experi- celebration. educational opportunities, with small groups of alumni and ence and increase our abil- particularly in the areas of friends via e-mail and at regional ity to attract and challenge Page 3 and science, and events. More than 25 video vignettes the young innovators who the arts. The foundation has are now available at http://thehuman- will be crucial to this coun- benefited MIT students in the factor.mit.edu. try’s global competitiveness,” said MIT past by supporting graduate students in As the videos illustrate, students President Susan Hockfield. various departments who are members contribute energy, passion, inspira- The campaign also addresses the of the prestigious Society of Presi- tion, creativity, ambition and intel- dual strains of rising costs and declin- dential Fellows program, as well as ligence to academics, research and ing federal support for students in students in the Department of Civil discovery. Students build more higher education. Approximately 17 and Environmental who efficient and alternatively fueled cars, percent of MIT undergraduates come are also members of that program. research spinal-cord injuries, study from families with incomes below “The trustees of the Linde Family asteroids to learn the origin of the The council emerges directly from the recom- $45,000, and about 90 percent of Foundation believe very deeply in universe, design life-saving devices for mendations of a special committee chaired by undergraduates receive aid in some MIT’s dual policy of need-blind admis- the soldiers, and examine the effect of Maria Zuber, the E. A. Griswold Professor of form, with 60 percent receiving schol- sions and need-based financial aid,” music on memory. Geophysics and head of the Department of arship aid from MIT. U.S. News & said Edward Linde. “We want to help These are just a handful of the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. The World Report recently ranked MIT as worthy students receive the rigorous thousands of stories that show MIT committee assessed the Institute’s research and one of the top five most economically educational experience MIT offers students and alumni working to solve teaching activities related to the environment diverse universities in America. the world’s complex problems. and recommended that MIT launch a research “The Campaign for Students will uPlease see CAMPAIGN, PAGE 3 initiative focused on the development of new insights into Earth’s natural systems to support science, technology, design, policy and manage- ment of interventions that advance environmen- on tal sustainability. MIT the Dara Entekhabi, the Bacardi and Stockholm Polling questions Water Foundations Professor in the Depart- ELECTION ment of Civil and Environmental Engineer- MIT’s Adam Berinsky breaks down the surveys ing (CEE) and director of the Earth Systems In the run-up to the Nov. 4 presidential election, the News A: Polling has been around in one form or another Initiative (ESI), will serve as chair of the council. Office has asked MIT experts to weigh in on the presidential since the 19th century. In the 1930s, a number of firms The council will engage faculty in all of MIT’s candidates, their policy ideas and aspects of the campaign. In this started conducting the random sample polls we see today. five schools, particularly those in departmental installment in the series, Adam Berinsky, associate professor in Over time, the technology has changed. In the 1930s, all programs focused on environmental research the Department of Political Science, looks at the issue of polling. polls were conducted through face-to-face methods. In and education, and will consult with the MIT the 1970s, telephone polling emerged as the dominant Energy Initiative on important areas of interface, Q: Has the election process become too dominated method. And today we see polls. One thing that including educational programs. The council’s first task will be to develop a proposal, expected by polling? uPlease see POLLING, PAGE 7 uPlease see COUNCIL, PAGE 2 EVENTS RESEARCH NEWS Financial crisis forum tonight Finding a better route Campaigns debate energy

MIT economics and business professors will Researchers’ new technology tracks traffic patterns and Representatives of the McCain and Obama debate what has caused the recent market strain. uses WiFi to collect data on the road. presidential campaigns discussed power at MIT.

PAGE 2 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 2 October 8, 2008 u PEOPLE MIT Tech Talk

Obituaries FOCUS on Kenneth Hoffman, former FINANCE math department head, 77

Former Department of Mathematics Head Kenneth Hoffman, who spent more than 40 years on MIT’s faculty and made signifi- As the financial crunch takes new cant contributions to U.S. education and science policy, died Sept. turns, MIT will be holding several 29 following a heart attack. He was 77. events to discuss the issues surround- Hoffman, who led the math department from 1971 to 1979, ing the crisis and possible solutions. was instrumental in addressing mathematics in U.S. public policy. Currently scheduled events include: After stepping down as head of the mathematics department, he moved to Washington, where he directed the David Committee • Today, “The U.S. Financial on federal support of mathematical research from 1981 to 1984. Crisis: What Happened? What’s He established and ran the math community’s first Washington Next?” A forum including profes- Office of Governmental and Public Affairs from 1984 to 1989. sors Ricardo Caballero (Econom- During that time, media coverage of mathematics increased ics), Bengt Holmstrom (Econom- dramatically, according to the American Mathematical Society. ics), Andrew Lo (MIT Sloan), Born in Long Beach, Calif., Hoffman earned a bachelor’s James Poterba (Economics) and degree in mathematics from Occidental College in 1952. He later William Wheaton (Center for received an MA and PhD in mathematics from UCLA. Real Estate). From 4:30-6 p.m. in Hoffman joined the MIT Department of Mathematics as an 10-250, Huntington Hall. instructor in 1956. He became a full professor in 1964 and served as chair of the Pure Mathematics Committee from 1968 to 1969. • Oct. 15, subprime mortgage From 1969 to 1971, he directed the Commission on MIT Educa- lecture. Speaker: Rachel Bratt. tion, appointed by MIT President Howard Johnson to conduct a 12:30-2 p.m. in 3-401/403. MIT comprehensive review of education, research and governance at alumna Rachel Bratt will show MIT. He retired in 1996. how the subprime crisis takes us Hoffman’s area of research specialization was functional several steps away from positive analysis. Along with Richard Arens and , he made movement toward a “Right to fundamental contributions to both complex and abstract analysis. Housing.” Among them was a paper (with Singer) that answered many of the questions on commutative Banach algebras raised by I. M. • Oct. 28, “A Conversation with Gelfand. George Soros: The New Para- In 1986, the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics awarded Hoff- PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS digm for Financial Markets” with man its first Public Service Award “for his farsighted and effective Kenneth Hoffman Ricardo Caballero, head of MIT’s initiation of the planning and the implementation of a national Department of Economics. 3:30 mathematical science policy.” decades and became a classic in the field. p.m. in Kresge Auditorium. In 1990, Hoffman also received the first Award for Distin- He is survived by his wife, Alicia Hoffman; former wife Patti guished Public Service of the American Mathematical Society. Hoffman; a son, Robert Hoffman; two daughters, Laura Lasa and • Ongoing, Simon Johnson, Its citation reads in part, “Through his efforts, the awareness of Donna Ullah; a sister, Barbara Hollis; and 14 grandchildren. Ronald A. Kurtz (1954) Professor the importance of mathematics and the support of mathematical A memorial service will be held at the Curran-Bromwell of Entrepreneurship, has launched research has been significantly heightened in the general public, Funeral Home in Cambridge, Md., on Friday, Oct. 3. Another a new weekly series on the global among makers of science policy in the government, and among service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Math- crisis. Tentatively entitled, “Real university administrators.” ematical Association of America Carriage House, 1781 Church St. Time Deep Dive into the Global Hoffman was also a leader in national K-12 education. At NW, Washington, D.C. Crisis as it Evolves,” the class will the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to MIT for the Kenneth kick off in October and will draw he launched a series of initiatives with national impact. These Hoffman Memorial Fund. Checks should be mailed to the atten- on Johnson’s experience at the included creation of both the Mathematical Sciences Education tion of Bonny Kellermann, MIT Office of Memorial Gifts, 600 IMF and his considerable contacts Board and the National Science Education Standards project. Memorial Drive, Room W98-500, Cambridge, MA 02139. Please in Washington. He will also have In 1961, Hoffman wrote an undergraduate linear algebra include a note stating that your gift is in memory of Kenneth a blog at http://baselinescenario. textbook, co-authored with Ray Kunze, that was used for many Hoffman. com/.

• For alumni, the Alumni Association has posted a career transition link at http://alum.mit. COUNCIL: MIT creates Environmental Research Council edu/news/AlumniNews/Archive/ Continued from Page 1 Departments of Biology and EAPS; Daniel considerable momentum. The Environ- career_transitions.jsp with advice by February 15, 2009, for an Institute-wide G. Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor mental Research Council is charged with on how to whether the economic Environmental Initiative. of Energy in the Department of Chem- consulting and engaging faculty in all storm. “The main goal of such an initiative istry; Martin F. Polz, associate professor complementary areas so synergies can be would be to understand how the Earth of civil and environmental engineering; achieved, duplication avoided and environ- More events may be scheduled system works, so that we can approach Ronald G. Prinn, TEPCO Professor of mental goals maximized. as the semester progresses, and sustaining life on Earth in a rational way,” Atmospheric Chemistry in EAPS; Daniel Chancellor Phillip Clay said the council current dates and times are subject Entekhabi said. He compared such a H. Rothman, professor of geophysics in includes faculty from more than a half to change. strategy to the way the development of EAPS; John Sterman, the Jay W. Forrester dozen departments, highlighting the Check the events calendar at pharmaceuticals has evolved from trial- Professor of Management Science in the tremendous impact MIT research can have web.mit.edu/events for more and-error to a rational design system that MIT-Sloan School of Management and on addressing a wide array of environ- details. begins by targeting the exact biochemical director of the System Dynamics Group; mental problems — and engaging a broad pathway to be treated. J. Phillip Thompson, associate professor segment of students. “We need to treat the Earth system in of urban politics and community develop- The council will also engage various the same way,” he said. ment in DUSP; and James Wescoat, the student organizations interested in the In addition to Entekhabi, the council Aga Khan Professor of Architecture. environment, both from the point of view is comprised of Sallie (Penny) Chisholm, “The recommendations in the Zuber of education and research. “The research the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor committee report point out the breadth generated by this initiative will greatly of Environmental Studies and Biology in of interdisciplinary activities that already reinforce our educational programs,” Clay CEE; Michael Greenstone, the 3M Profes- exist across all five schools,” said MIT said. “Students in every department are sor of Environmental Economics; Judith Provost L. Rafael Reif. “The council will interested in the environment, and will Layzer, the Edward H. and Joyce Linde help frame and advance a focused research welcome a robust research program that Career Development Associate Professor program that builds on the core strengths connects their passions to their education.” of Environmental Policy, in the Depart- identified by the Zuber report and that will The Zuber committee report, “Creating ment of Urban Studies and Planning; John lead us to the frontier of important new a Sustainable Earth: An MIT Research, C. Marshall, professor of atmospheric and opportunities for discovery.” Teaching, and Public Service Initiative for oceanic sciences in EAPS and director of MIT has robust research programs Understanding, Restoring and Manag- the Climate Modeling Initiative; Dianne in a number of interrelated areas — for ing the Environment,” can be found K. Newman, the John & Dorothy Wilson example, water, climate change and energy at http://web.mit.edu/provost/letters/ Professor of Biology and Geobiology, — each with compelling leadership and letter05052008.html.

News Office Staff HOW TO REACH US Writer...... David Chandler Tech Talk is published by the News Office on Wednesdays during term time except for Assistant Director/Photojournalist ...... Donna Coveney most Monday holiday weeks. See Production Schedule at web.mit.edu/newsoffice/ News Office Operations/Financial Administrator ...... Myles Crowley techtalk-info.html. The News Office is in Room 11-400, Institute of Editor Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Telephone: 617-253-2700 Greg Frost Managing Editor, MIT home page...... Susan Curran Web Developer/Editor...... Lisa Damtoft Postmaster: Send address changes to Mail Services, Building WW15, Massachusetts E-mail: [email protected] Executive Director ...... Pamela Dumas Serfes Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Administrative Assistant II ...... Patti Foley web.mit.edu/newsoffice Photojournalist News Manager...... Greg Frost Subscribers may call 617-252-1550 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Donna Coveney Editorial & Production Asst...... Patrick Gillooly Administrative Assistant II ...... Mary Anne Hansen Tech Talk is distributed free to faculty and staff offices and residence halls. It is also avail- Office of the Arts Media Specialist...... Teresa Herbert able free in the News Office and the Information Center. Communications Assistant...... Jen Hirsch Production Domestic mail subscriptions are $25 per year, nonrefundable. Checks should be made Senior designer...... Rebecca Macri web.mit.edu/arts Patrick Gillooly payable to MIT and mailed to Business Manager, Room 11-400, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Director, Media Relations...... Patti Richards Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Senior Science & Printed on recycled paper Engineering Editor...... Elizabeth Thomson Periodical postage paid at Boston, MA. Writer...... Anne Trafton MIT Tech Talk u NEWS October 8, 2008 PAGE 3

S M T WT Events F S Conference to take hard � look at Electoral College at MIT As election nears, experts to debate changing controversial system Today Stephanie Schorow may raise the issue anew, particularly if Electoral College objectively, in conversa- • The Fire Safety Investigation of News Office correspondent one candidate wins the popular vote while tion stripped of political ideology, Barnett the World Trade Center Disaster. the other gains more electoral votes (as said. Several participants will defend the Speaker: Dr. S. Shyam Sunder, Director MIT is well known for a “fix-it” occurred in 2000). And there is a real existing system, while several others will Building and Fire Research Labora- approach to problems, be it in engineering, possibility, Barnett said, that candidates call for moving to a national popular vote tory, National Institute of Standards and software or science. On Oct. 17, a group Barack Obama and John McCain could tie that, some will argue, could be achieved Technology, Department of experts will convene at MIT to examine with 269 electoral votes apiece, throwing without a constitutional amendment. of Commerce. 4-5:30 p.m. 3-270. what may be the most vexing issue in the the presidential election into the House of Still, “I think there will be very vigor- American election process — the Electoral Representatives, where each state delega- ous discussion,” Barnett said. “These are College. tion has one vote. people who have thought about the issues Thursday, Oct. 9 Some may argue for change; others may “As we get closer to the election, as a lot. They have reasons they believe one • MIT Libraries’ Booksale. 10 conclude that this is one “problem” that people start working the numbers, then thing and not the other.” Barnett himself a.m.-3 p.m. in 10-105. Selection of needs no fixing. there might really be much more hunger has co-authored a paper outlining a materials including biology, computer The day-long conference “To Keep or to think, ‘What’s going on? What’s this proposed change in the Electoral College, science, economics, earth science, engi- Not to Keep the Electoral College” will be mechanism? Can we do something differ- which would use weighted averages of each neering, history, philosophy, miscella- chaired by Arnold I. Barnett, the George ently?’” Barnett said. candidate’s election showing. neous science, political science and social Eastman Professor of Management Science While many voters — and even many Ample time will be set for audience science. Proceeds benefit the Libraries’ in the MIT Sloan School of Management. in the media — lack an understanding of participation and give-and-take. Barnett Preservation Fund. Open to the MIT The chair of the conference’s Steering exactly how the Electoral College actually said the conference would be in keeping community only; dealers and their repre- Committee is Alexander S. Belenky, visit- works, efforts to change it can set up fierce with the MIT spirit of “Let’s fix it — if it’s sentatives by appointment only. ing scholar in the Center for Engineering opposition, Barnett said. Many argue that broken.” Systems Fundamentals. A group of 11 the Electoral College should be replaced “It may be good to have MIT people in • MIT Sloan Dean’s Innovative experts will present their views, debate the by nationwide majority rule. But smaller the audience looking at the issue, because Leader Series. Speaker: Ron Williams issue and engage in extended dialogue with states argue they would lose influence if they may be able to shape the compro- SM ’84, Chairman and CEO, Aetna. the audience. presidents were chosen by popular vote. mises” in future debates, Barnett said. He Noon-1 p.m. in E51-Wong Auditorium. “Since its creation in 1787, the Electoral “The small states don’t want the end of noted that three of the MIT participants College has remained the most mysteri- the Electoral College because they fear in the conference — himself, Belenky and • Lecture on Honda’s FCX Clarity ous mechanism for electing a president of oblivion,” Barnett said. “However, the Alexander Natapoff, research scientist in Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Speaker: a country,” Belenky wrote on the confer- present arrangements also make most of the Department of Aeronautics and Astro- Ryan Harty and David Cun from Honda ence’s web site. “There is no consensus the large states irrelevant. California is nautics — will each propose a new set of R&D America. 7-8 p.m. E51-315. among mathematicians, systems scientists viewed as a done deal, for example. The election rules that might largely meet the and political scientists studying the Elec- Democrats are going to carry it so neither concerns of both the “preservationists” and toral College on whether it can satisfac- candidate is spending much time there.” the advocates of a “one person/one vote” Friday, Oct. 10 torily serve the United States in the 21st In a series of panel discussions, the MIT election rule. century, especially after two close elections conference, which is organized by Sloan For more information, visit the confer- • MIT Energy Night 2008. 5:30- in 2000 and in 2004.” and the Center for Engineering Systems ence’s web site at http://cesf.mit.edu/elec- 8:30 p.m. N51, MIT Museum. The MIT Indeed, the 2008 presidential election Fundamentals, will try to examine the toral/conference.html. Energy Night is the MIT Energy Club’s flagship event for the fall and it seeks to showcase the most exciting energy research, education and entrepreneurship CAMPAIGN: MIT launches its $500 million Campaign for Students at MIT. The event will be held at the Continued from Page 1 MIT Museum and will include drinks, hors d’oeuvres and live music. producing leaders in math, science, engineering and business who will, quite literally, change the world.” The quiet phase of the Campaign for Students, which began in Three MIT scientists December 2006, has already raised more than half of the $500 million share Buckley prize goal. Major supporters of the Three MIT scientists from the Fran- campaign during the quiet phase cis Bitter Magnet Laboratory (FBML) have included Rebecca and Arthur have been awarded the 2009 Oliver E. Samberg ’62; Virginia and Richard Buckley Condensed Matter Prize from Simmons ’53; Sophia and Bernard the American Physical Society. Gordon ’48, SM ’49; Pamela and Jagadeesh Moodera, a senior research Arunas Chesonis ’84; Joan and scientist; Paul Tedrow, a retired scientist; Irwin M. Jacobs ’57, ScD ’59; and and Robert Meservey, a visiting scientist Muriel and Norman B. Leventhal at the FBML, will share the $10,000 ’38. prize with Terunobu Miyazaki from Friday’s launch brought hundreds Tohuku University in Japan. The four of MIT supporters to campus for were cited for “pioneering work in the a full day of symposia highlighting field of spin-dependent tunneling and the accomplishments of under- for the application of these phenomena graduate and graduate students for to the field of magnetoelectronics.” whom scholarships and fellowships PHOTOS / NOAH KUHN The prize was endowed in 1952 to have been crucial. A reception and recognize and encourage outstanding dinner capped the day’s events. A dinner following the launch of MIT’s Campaign for Students brought together theoretical or experimental contributions Chancellor Phillip L. Clay PhD alumni with those who would benefit from the initiative. ABOVE: Ned Brush ‘63, SM to condensed matter . It is named ’75 leads the campaign, working ‘65, ‘66, ScD ‘67 talks with senior Kathryn Schumacher. BELOW: Jonathan Borschow in memory of Oliver E. Buckley, an closely with Vice President for ’72 chats with senior Matt Gethers. influential president of Bell Labs. Resource Development Jeffrey L. Newton and Director of the Campaign for Students Philip Murphy. Campaign co-chairs are Lawrence Fish; Thomas Gerrity, ’63, SM ’64, PhD ’70; Mark Goren- berg ’76; Martin Tang SM ’72; and Barrie Zesiger HM. Institute leaders for the campaign are Dean for Student Life Costan- tino “Chris” Colombo; Dean for Robert Jagadeesh Undergraduate Education Daniel Meservey Moodera Hastings, SM ’78, PhD ’80; Associ- ate Provost Philip Khoury HM ’08; Vice Chancellor and Dean for Graduate Education Steven Lerman ’72, SM ’73, PhD ’75. The Campaign for Students will conclude in 2011, to coincide with celebration of the 150th anniversary of MIT’s founding. For more information about the Campaign for Students, visit http:// Paul thehumanfactor.mit.edu. Tedrow PAGE 4 October 8, 2008 u RESEARCH MIT Tech Talk CarTel personalizes commutes by using WiFi to network cars On-board sensors aim to reduce drive times, detect engine woes

Elizabeth Thomson News Office

Dozens of cars in the Boston area are testing the latest generation of an MIT mobile-sensor network for traffic analysis that could help drivers cut their commut- ing time, alert them to potential engine problems and more. In the CarTel project, Professor Hari Balakrishnan and Associate Professor Samuel Madden of MIT’s Department of and use automobiles to monitor their environment by sending data from an onboard computer — which is about the size of a cell phone — to a web server where the data can be visualized and browsed. They do so via pre-existing WiFi networks passed during a trip. The resulting data, accessible from the web or a cell phone, not only helps a driver track conditions specific to their own car, but when combined with everyone else’s can indicate historical and real-time traffic conditions at different times of the day. “Everybody’s data is contributing to collec- tive views of what congestion looks like,” Madden said. “Our goal,” Balakrishnan said, “is to make the data behind CarTel available to help you plan and organize your commute and drives. We want to minimize the amount of time spent in your car.” For example, the current system, deployed since January on 50 Boston-area cars — including 40 taxis — tracks traf- fic by monitoring each vehicle’s speed at different points during a trip. Unlike other route-planning systems, “CarTel under- stands where traffic delays are and recom- mends routes to avoid them,” Madden said. The majority of the work, however, is than 600 data points a second. So the team One such use is new algorithms for traf- The system has already cut Balakrish- focused on managing the huge amounts of has developed two generations of software fic-aware routing, or obtaining directions nan’s commute to MIT by 25 percent. It data key to the system. Depending on the “to synthesize all that data into interesting between two locations that take historical recommended a new route that, although sensors in use, CarTel can receive more uses,” Madden said. and current traffic conditions into account. a few miles longer than the approach Balakrishnan and Madden have developed suggested by some mapping web sites, is these algorithms with graduate student considerably faster in practice. Sejoon Lim and Professor Daniela Rus, CarTel is also linked to a vehicle’s both of the Department of Electrical Engi- onboard diagnostics system (available in all neering and Computer Science. cars sold since 1996), so a driver can check “CarTel makes it easy to collect, process, various parameters key to maintenance and deliver and visualize data from a collec- be alerted to potential problems. tion of remote, mobile and intermit- There are two principal research efforts tently connected nodes,” the researchers behind the system. First, Balakrishnan, concluded in one of several technical Madden and Jacob Eriksson (now at the articles and conference presentations on University of Illinois, Chicago) developed the work. Most recently, they described the a way to connect to WiFi networks that is research at the Association for Comput- 35 times faster than other systems. “It can ing Machinery’s Conference on Mobile take about 15 seconds to connect using a Computing and Networking (MobiCom) regular system, so in a car you are already in September 2008. past the WiFi location by the time you get IMAGE COURTESY OF THE This work is funded by the National the signal,” Madden explained. QuickWiFi BALAKRISHNAN/MADDEN LABS Science Foundation and the T-Party can connect in 360 milliseconds. “It’s the The CarTel web portal, Project, a joint research program between difference between whether you can use showing a trip taken MIT and Quanta Computer Inc. For more WiFi with a car or not.” by one driver and information visit cartel.csail.mit.edu. accompanying data.

including the MIT Electric Vehicle Team, Biodiesel@ MIT’s energy MIT and the Solar Decathlon will be on hand, as well as representatives for faculty-directed research on such topics as spinach-powered solar cells, advanced nuclear projects on display reactors, ultracapacitors based on nanotubes and alterna- tive fuels for transportation. Other presenters are from Museum event showcases companies that originated from MIT research, includ- ing A123 Systems (battery technology), C3 BioEnergy the cream of the energy crop (making propane from plants) and GreenFuel Technolo- gies (making fuel from algae). MIT Energy Night, to be held 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Energy Club co-president Lara Pierpoint says Energy Oct. 10, at the MIT Museum, will highlight more Night is “a chance for people from all over campus than 40 projects, groups and start-up businesses in and to look across disciplines and see what’s going on in around MIT at the cutting edge of energy research. research, in student organizations, and in emergent The annual event, organized by the MIT Energy MIT spinoff companies. It’s about talking, engaging and, Club and the Sloan Energy and Environment most importantly, it’s about partying and celebrating the Club, is an informal way to get a quick overview achievements we’ve made and the enthusiasm we have of the range of work going on around the for tackling the challenges ahead.” campus while munching on hors d’oeuvres The MIT Museum is in Building N52 at 265 Mass. and listening to live music. Ave. More details on Energy Night can be found at Representatives for student groups www.mitenergyclub.org/flagship-events/energy-night. MIT Tech Talk u RESEARCH October 8, 2008 PAGE 5 Team takes first atomic-scale compositional images of fuel-cell nanoparticles

Electron Microscopy, Shao-Horn’s team, in layers contained mixtures of the two. Work could lead to better collaboration with Professor Paulo Ferreira The team proposes that these particu- catalysts for eco-friendly of the University of Texas at Austin and lar nanoparticles are up to four times Larry Allard of Oak Ridge National Labo- more active than platinum alone because energy storage devices ratory, identified specific atomic structures the platinum atoms on the surface are near the surface of such a catalyst. That constrained by the cobalt atoms under- Elizabeth Thomson information in hand, neath. “This modi- News Office the researchers propose fies the interatomic a theory for why the distances between the In a step toward developing better fuel material is so active. ❞ platinum atoms on the cells for electric cars and more, engineers Perhaps most impor- Knowing the surface nanoparticle surface,” at MIT and two other institutions have tantly, “knowing the making them more taken the first images of individual atoms surface composition composition will help us effective in chemical PHOTO / BRIAN HEMOND on and near the surface of nanoparticles will help us design even design even better catalysts. reactions key to fuel Representatives from the two key to the eco-friendly energy storage better catalysts,” Shao- cells, Shao-Horn said. presidential campaigns, R. James devices. Horn said. Yang Shao-Horn She further noted Woolsey for Sen. John McCain, Nanoparticles made of platinum and The work was associate professor that “this work bridges and Jason Grumet for Sen. Barack cobalt are known to catalyze some of reported in the Sept. the gap between our Obama, face off in a debate on the chemical reactions behind fuel cells, 24 online issue of the understanding of energy policy held Monday night in making those reactions run up to four Journal of the American Chemical Society. electrocatalysis in bulk materials and at the Kresge Auditorium. times faster than if platinum alone is used The researchers analyzed platinum nanoscale.” as the catalyst. and cobalt nanoparticles that were either In addition to Shao-Horn, Allard, and No one, however, understands exactly treated with acid, or treated with acid Ferreira, who is also an MIT research affil- why. That’s because “little is known about then subjected to high heat. Nanoparticles iate, other members of the research team Debating the nanoparticles’ surface atomic struc- produced both ways are known to be more are Shuo Chen, first author of the paper ture and chemistry,” which are key to the active than platinum alone. Shao-Horn and and a postdoctoral associate in mechani- particles’ activity, said Yang Shao-Horn, an colleagues found that each, in turn, also cal engineering; Wenchao Sheng, a associate professor in the Department of had slightly different surface structures. graduate student in chemistry; and Naoaki the U.S. Mechanical Engineering and Department For example, in the nanoparticles Yabuuchi, a research affiliate in mechanical of Materials Science and Engineering and subjected to heat treatments, the platinum engineering. director of the Electrochemical Energy and cobalt atoms formed a “sandwich-like” The Department of Energy and the Laboratory at MIT. structure. Platinum atoms covered most of National Science Foundation, through its energy Using a new technique known as aber- the surface, while the next layer down was Materials Research Science and Engineer- future ration-corrected Scanning Transmission composed primarily of cobalt. Successive ing Center program, funded the work. McCain favors states’ Report debunks China energy myth control, Obama calls for The problem isn’t in operated. Officially available data tend to federal investment be collected haphazardly and often by local the technology, it’s the authorities who have a vested interest in the outcomes. The survey work conducted David Chandler operations by Steinfeld and his colleagues represents News Office a first-of-its-kind effort by outsiders to David Chandler collect unbiased, objective data of this sort In a spirited but friendly debate News Office at a national level. Monday night in a packed Kresge One of the most surprising findings was Auditorium, representatives of the A detailed analysis of power plants in that “the kinds of technology currently John McCain and Barack Obama China by MIT researchers debunks the being adopted in China are not cheap. presidential campaigns detailed the widespread notion that outmoded energy They’re not buying junk, and in some cases differences between their candidates’ technology or the utter absence of govern- the plants are employing state-of-the-art approaches to solving the nation’s ment regulation is to blame for that technology.” energy problems. country’s notorious air-pollution problems. The findings suggest that emissions Although they agreed on some key The real issue, the study found, involves levels from Chinese power plants, he said, points, the debaters delineated clear complicated interactions between new “depend almost entirely on the quality distinctions between the candidates’ market forces, new commercial pressures of the coal they use. When they’re hit by plans, most notably that McCain and new types of governmental regulation. price spikes, they buy low-grade coal.” favors leaving most decisions on China’s power sector has been expand- Lower-grade coal, which produces high energy choices up to the states, while ing at a rate roughly equivalent to three to levels of sulfur emissions, can be obtained Obama calls for significant regula- four new coal-fired, 500 megawatt plants locally, whereas the highest-grade anthra- tions and investment in research at the coming on line every week, said Edward cite comes mostly from China’s northwest federal level. S. Steinfeld, associate professor of political and must travel long distances to the The 90-minute debate, organized science at MIT. plants, adding greatly to its cost. Contrary by the student-run MIT Energy After detailed survey and field research to what many outsiders believe, the Club and the MIT Energy Initiative, involving dozens of managers at 85 power Chinese state has substantially improved its featured James Woolsey, former CIA plants across 14 Chinese provinces, Stein- ability to implement and enforce rules on director and an advisor on energy to feld and his co-authors, Richard Lester technology standards. It has been slower, Republican candidate McCain, and (professor, nuclear science and engineering however, to develop such abilities for Jason Grumet, head of the National and director of the MIT Industrial Perfor- monitoring the day-to-day operations of Commission on Energy Policy and an mance Center) and Edward Cunningham energy producers. energy advisor to Democratic candi- (doctoral candidate, political science) In some respects, the situation is more date Obama. Tom Ashbrook, host of found that in fact most of the new plants amenable to change than many people the NPR program, “On Point,” was have been built to very high technical had assumed, Steinfeld said. With expand- the moderator; questions were asked standards, using some of the most modern ing regulatory capacity and increasingly by two journalists and a panel of four technologies available. The problem has to sophisticated efforts to regulate through MIT students. do with the way that energy infrastructure market-friendly pricing mechanisms, The two campaign representatives is being operated and the types of coals reformers could achieve change relatively made it clear at the outset that they being burned. quickly, he said. “At least the technology have been longtime friends and have New market pressures encourage plant — the physical infrastructure of China’s worked together on energy projects, managers to buy the cheapest, lowest energy system — is not an impediment,” setting an amicable and often jocular quality and most-polluting coal available, he said. Indeed, it can ultimately prove a tone for the debate in which they while at the same time keep idle expensive- in China,” he and his two co-authors wrote key asset for achieving better environmen- clearly outlined their candidates’ to-operate smokestack scrubbers or other in a recent MIT Industrial Performance tal outcomes. views. cleanup technologies. The physical infra- Center working paper (available online Since coal quality is one important Woolsey stressed that McCain structure is advanced, but the emissions at http://web.mit.edu/ipc/publications/ leverage point, “some new regulatory favors an emphasis on local control performance ends up decidedly retrograde. papers.html). Findings from the research efforts probably need to be focused on over energy choices, rather than too Understanding the realities of China’s have also recently been published in The the mines and coal markets,” Steinfeld much federal control over “picking energy infrastructure and management is China Economic Quarterly and an addi- suggested. “That’s the kind of question and choosing” the winners and losers crucial, Steinfeld said, for gaining leverage tional paper is currently under review at that this research begins to allow you to among the many proposed energy over the whole gamut of global energy- Energy Policy. address.” alternatives. He also stressed McCain’s related challenges. China’s electric power Steinfeld, who has been working in The three co-authors of the study are “willingness to take the lead in open- sector is vast — second only to America’s China since the late 1980s and has been members of the Industrial Performance ing up offshore oil reserves.” in size — and globally unparalleled in carrying out this research project there Center’s China Energy Group. The Grumet said that Obama believes it terms of the speed of its growth. “To a since 2005, said that, at present, the research was supported by Shell, the MIT uPlease see DEBATE, PAGE 7 significant degree, our planet’s energy and Chinese government lacks reliable data on Energy Initiative, and the MIT Sloan environmental future is now being written how the nation’s power plants are built and School of Management China Program. PAGE 6 October 8, 2008 u NEWS MIT Tech Talk

News in brief

Bustani seminars focus on Mideast The Emile Bustani Middle East Seminar at MIT will celebrate its 23rd anniversary with two lectures this fall on contemporary Middle Eastern affairs. On Oct. 21, Dr. Nilüfer Göle, professor of sociology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, will give a lecture entitled “Islam and Europe: The Chang- ing Face of Public Culture.” On Nov. 4, Dalia Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, will lecture on “Who Speaks for Islam?” The seminar is funded by the Bustani family of Beirut, Leba- non, in memory of the late Emile M. Bustani ’33. The sessions will begin at 4:30 p.m. in E51-095 at 70 Memorial Drive. Both sessions are open to the public. For further informa- tion on the Bustani Middle East Seminar, contact Pardis Parsa at 617-252-1888. MITSO kicks off new season To kick off the 2008-2009 season, the MIT Symphony Orches- tra (MITSO), under the direction of Adam Boyles, will present “Celebrate!” a concert of celebratory works — two of which will PHOTO / MICHAEL CARPENTER showcase the talents of MIT students and faculty. Dean of Engineering Subra Suresh, alumnus Irwin Jacobs and Professors Robert Armstrong and Arvind The concert, which starts at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in Kresge at the NAE induction ceremony last Friday. Auditorium, will begin with Dvorak’s fiery Carnival Overture, a work that depicts the festive time prior to Lent in Roman Catholicism. National Academy of Engineering Carnival will set the stage for the celebration of two MIT musi- cians featured in this concert: Professor of Music Peter Child and senior Matthew Serna. welcomes two from MIT Just in time for October’s Halloween festivities, MITSO will perform Child’s Punkie Night, a work he says refers to a Two MIT faculty are among the 65 new members cant contributions to the engineering literature,” “hallowe’en-like custom in parts of .” According to Child, of the National Academy of Engineering. This year and to the “pioneering of new and developing the music is wrought with “‘goolies’ … wailing, cavorting and the NAE also installed alumnus Irwin Jacobs, ’57 fields of technology, making major advancements carrying on.” MS, ’59 ScD, as the new chairman of the academy. in traditional fields of engineering or developing/ Serna, a senior studying brain and cognitive science, will be the Charles Vest, MIT’s 15th president, has been implementing innovative approaches to engineering featured guest soloist for Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. president of the NAE since 2007. education.” The evening will culminate with a performance of Joaquin The new members are: MIT has had deep connections with the NAE Turina’s masterpiece Sinfonia Sevillana. The final movement of Arvind, the Johnson Professor of Computer since its inception in 1964. Of the Academy’s this important Spanish work from 1920 entitled Fiesta en San Science and Engineering and a member of the original 25 founding members, nearly a third Juan de Aznalfarache, is an explosion of colorful harmonies and Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Labo- were trained at the Institute. They include MIT’s rhythms that will usher in MITSO’s new season with a bang. ratory, who is being recognized for “contributions eleventh president, Julius Stratton, and Thomas The concert is open to the public, and admission is $5 at the to data flow and multi-thread computing and the Sherwood, dean of engineering from 1946 to 1952. door. development of tools for the high-level synthesis of The Institute’s relationship with the NAE has hardware.” persisted. In each of the last 36 consecutive years, at MIT conference on systems thinking Robert Armstrong, the Chevron Professor of least one member of the faculty or research staff has Chemical Engineering and the deputy director been elected to the NAE, and MIT has more NAE to be held Oct. 23-24 of the MIT Energy Initiative, for “conducting members among its faculty than any other institu- Global industry leaders and MIT faculty will speak on the outstanding research on non-Newtonian fluid tion in the world. Since 1964, MIT has seen 151 importance of using a systems approach to solving complex prob- mechanics, co-authoring landmark textbooks, of its faculty, researchers, instructors and associates lems, such as sustainability and the environment, product design and providing leadership in chemical engineering elected to the NAE’s ranks. Of those, 109 remain and technology strategy, at MIT’s Systems Thinking conference. education.” actively engaged in the intellectual life of MIT The event, sponsored by the System Design and Management “I am delighted to welcome Arvind and Bob to today. (SDM) program, will be held on the MIT campus Oct. 23-24. the highly accomplished cohort of MIT colleagues MIT has also had a strong presence among Senior executives will offer insights into best practices for who belong to the National Academy of Engineer- winners of the NAE’s Prize. applying systems thinking at their companies, which include ing,” said Subra Suresh, dean of engineering and an Named for one of MIT’s most prolific and cele- Microsoft, IDEO, Herman Miller, Agilent, eClinicalWorks, NAE member since 2002. The two were inducted brated engineers, and widely regarded as the most Capgemini and HubSpot. MIT experts Yossi Sheffi, Peter Senge, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5. distinguished award in engineering, the $500,000 Nancy Leveson, Olivier de Weck, Annalisa Weigel and Patrick Election to the NAE is among the high- prize has been awarded 14 times and had 31 recipi- Hale will provide information on the emerging field of engi- est distinctions accorded to engineers. Academy ents – seven of them with strong MIT connections, neering systems and how to apply several new methodologies to membership honors those who have made outstand- including Institute Professor Robert Langer, 3Com address complex challenges. ing contributions to “engineering research, practice Founders Professor of Engineering Tim Berners- This conference is open to all. Registration information is at or education, including, where appropriate, signifi- Lee, and , MIT PhD ’63. http://sdm.mit.edu/conf08. Preregistration is requested by Oct. 9. Sea Grant symposium to focus MIT Medical on endangered whales launches new, What can North Atlantic whales tell us about our oceans and climate? How can science, law, government and policy help protect these endangered mammals? upgraded web site A two-day symposium, co-hosted by the MIT Sea Grant Alice Waugh College Program and the Boston College Environmental Affairs MIT Medical Law Review, will address these questions on Oct. 15-16. “20-Ton Canaries: The Great Whales of the North Atlan- tic” begins with the 2008 MIT Sea Grant Lecture at 7 p.m. The MIT Medical Department has relaunched its on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at MIT’s Stata Center. The keynote web site with a new address — http://medweb.mit. speaker will be Eric Jay Dolin, author of “Leviathan: A History edu — as well as clearer navigation, patient-specific of Whaling in America.” The lecture will be followed by a panel guides and an improved clinician directory. discussion of experts on the causes of — and possible solutions to Research showed that users wanted clear steps for site” for MIT Medical’s Center for Health Promo- — whale endangerments, ship strikes and other present-day risks. completing specific tasks such as finding a clinician tion and Wellness (CHPW) and the Mental Health Those experts will include Michael Moore, Woods Hole or making an appointment, as well as easy-to-find Service. This area offers quick online access to Oceanographic Institution; Jeremy Firestone, University of Dela- information on the MIT health plans, billing and resources for mental health and stress management, ware; Robin Craig, Florida State University College of Law; Rich- health education topics. Accordingly, the new site nutrition and fitness, and sex and sexuality as well as ard Max Strahan, Whale Safe USA; Wil Burns, Journal of Interna- has a prominent section called “How Do I...?” and details on classes, workshops, lectures and consulta- tional Wildlife and Policy; and Don Anton, Australian National a clinician directory that can now be sorted and tions on a wide variety of health and wellness topics University. Doug Fraser, a writer for the Cape Cod Times who searched by name, clinical service and health topic. offered by MIT Medical’s health educators and has covered marine issues for more than a decade, will moderate. Although the old site had a clinician directory, “it mental-health clinicians. A Q&A session and reception will follow. was basically a list of names. Now it’s much more Another service offered on the MIT Medical web From 1-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, at Boston College Law interactive,” said William Kettyle, medical director site is Patient Online, which lets patients view their School, the expert panelists will discuss in greater depth the at MIT Medical. “Even the directory photos have medication records and some of their health history failures of current approaches to protecting whales and potential been updated, which has been a little disconcerting (immunizations, past appointments, allergies, insur- technological and legal solutions. This portion of the event will to those of us who looked 10 years younger on the ance, etc.), order prescription refills, make appoint- take place at Boston College Law School, Lecture Hall East Wing old site.” ment requests, and exchange secure e-mail with 120, 885 Centre St., Newton, MA. The redesigned site contains guides for specific their health care providers. For more information, contact Andrea Cohen, MIT Sea Grant, patient audiences, including international students, “It’s easier to find what you’re looking for on at 617-253-3461 or [email protected]. parents of students, retirees, undergraduates and our new web site, which is an important part of All events are free and open to the public. graduate students. The old site’s health and wellness our commitment to the health and wellness of all information has also been augmented with a “micro- members of the MIT community, “ Kettyle said. MIT Tech Talk u NEWS October 8, 2008 PAGE 7 DEBATE: Representatives from Obama, McCain camps lay out energy policies Continued from Page 5 is essential “to have comprehensive energy imported oil, but emphasized differences helping to pass the first increases in federal nuclear power. Woolsey said McCain policies,” and compared his candidate’s on how to achieve that goal. In addition to mileage standards in 30 years. supports a federal push to build 45 new very detailed proposals to what he called increasing domestic production, Woolsey Moving toward technology for captur- nuclear plants over the next 20 years, McCain’s “two-and-a-half-page memo” said, McCain favors strong development of ing and storing the carbon emissions from because in terms of baseload power on energy policy that is really just “an alternative fuels, but without prescribing power plants is an approach that both production that produces no operating enumeration of slogans.” And he chastised which fuels or production methods would candidates favor, the debaters said. Grumet carbon emissions, “it’s about the only McCain for saying he would put vice-pres- get support, leaving the market to pick called developing such technologies a thing we’ve got going for us.” Grumet idential candidate Sarah Palin in charge the best options. Grumet said Obama’s crucial need, saying that if a cost-effective responded by citing an MIT study of of energy policy, saying that by contrast plan emphasizes a strong federal policy system could be developed that could be nuclear power’s potential that found it was Obama “will make this a personal priority.” of requiring improvements in the fuel retrofitted on existing fossil-fuel power “not cost effective” without large federal Both debaters agreed on the importance efficiency of cars and trucks, something he plants “that would be the most important subsidies, but added that Obama had voted of reducing the nation’s dependence on said Obama has already pushed hard for, breakthrough we could have.” To achieve for funding research that would “keep the that, he said, Obama has committed to door open” for new nuclear power, which spending $15 billion a year for 10 years for McCain had opposed. research on such technologies. Grumet said that while the two candi- Woolsey agreed on the importance of dates’ energy plans are “theoretically the technology, saying McCain supports an quite similar,” it’s important to look at initial $2 billion a year commitment, which their voting records, which show that Sen. would grow over time using revenues from McCain “voted 20 times against renew- selling licenses under a proposed cap-and- able energy and efficiency standards.” trade system. The latter could generate Woolsey responded that McCain has a “something in the ballpark of $10 to $20 “strong aversion to mandating specific billion a year,” much of which could be choices” in energy systems, and instead “is used for such research. in favor of generic encouragement of new The two also differed on plans for technologies.”

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These polls are ently — some traditionally Republican to MIT faculty and essentially like the call-in polls you some- states became more pro-McCain and some For more information and application: times see on TV. People who are interested traditionally Democratic states held steady research scientists in a topic respond and they may be very — but in general, McCain’s bounce was to jump-start mit.edu/misti/faculty different than the average American. I felt across the nation. The national polls international projects should note, however, that some Internet gave us a window into the overall change in and collaboration. MISTI Global Seed Funds General Fund polls can be useful. the race faster than the state-level polls. So > For research and collaboration anywhere in the world on any topic > Maximum award: $20,000 You also want to look at who is being it’s important to look at both sets of polls. MISTI encourages MISTI Hayashi Seed Fund surveyed. Now that we are close to the bringing students on election, many firms are surveying “likely Q: Why are polls sometimes wrong? > For collaboration with researchers in Japan on oceans the project and offers and the environment voters” — those people they think are most A: Well, they are right more than they > Maximum award: $20,000 likely to turn out — rather than the full are wrong. There are two issues here. First, extra funds of up to MIT-France Seed Fund population. Since every firm uses a differ- any individual poll could be wrong and $10,000 to cover their > For collaboration with researchers in France > Proposal must be submitted jointly by both teams ent standard to determine “likely voters,” sometimes a host of polls is wrong (in the travel expenses. > Preference given to projects that centrally involve younger some of the polls are different. 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Second, laboratories in Spain acteristics of the candidates, small differ- the polls today tell us how people would > Proposal must be submitted jointly by both teams > Preference given to projects that centrally involve younger ences in the wording of questions can have vote if the election was today, but we’re not researchers; propose a balanced exchange; and demonstrate large effects on the answers you get. voting until November. Once we get closer complementarity between the teams to Election Day, after the candidates have > Maximum award: $20,000 Q: Does polling indicate that nega- finished their debates and the campaign Progetto Roberto Rocca > For collaboration with researchers at Milan Politecnico tive campaigning works in terms of how has played out, the polls will be more > Proposal must be submitted jointly by both teams the electorate will actually vote? predictive. But just because polls taken in > Maximum award: $15,000 A: The research evidence on this is August and September sometimes fail to mixed. Some say that negative campaigns predict the winner doesn’t mean they are MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives turn off voters, but others have argued that wrong; they still give us a sense of where negative campaigns help mobilize a candi- the race stands today. PAGE 8 October 8, 2008 u NEWS MIT Tech Talk

Analyzing the ‘sponge’ Book details Simmons Hall competition

PHOTOS / DONNA COVENEY Jen Hirsch Carlo Ratti, Associate Professor of the outrageous. One team proposed that News Office Practice in the Department of Urban the level 8 terrace be converted into a Studies and Planning, had been living glassed-in movie theatre with stadium Ever since its opening in 2002, in the building for about a year when seating. Another simply proposed Simmons Hall — or more affection- a student resident approached him building a “clone” of Simmons across ately, the “sponge” — has been, among about the problems. Instead of tackling the street so that students would not other things, one of MIT’s most unique them on his own, from his perspective be disturbed by visiting architects. buildings. Now it is the focus of a book as an architect Ratti proposed that the Yet another team suggested extending documenting an MIT student competi- students themselves address them in the certain walls and covering them with tion that analyzed communications and form of a competition. chalk-friendly paint. the use of space within the building. “The great thing is to have input and Although it’s not yet certain Designed by architect Steven Holl, feedback from users,” Ratti said of the whether the students’ suggestions the building’s exterior contains more competition. “Letting students speak out will be implemented in the building than 5,500 small square windows, but was an important part of the dialogue.” itself, their results were so unique its uniqueness doesn’t just involve its The competition, chaired by Robert and interesting that they were put façade. Though architects came from far Campbell, the Pulitzer Prize-winning on display at an exhibition organized and wide to tour Simmons, its residents architecture critic for the Boston Globe, by the Canadian Center for Archi- soon identified problems with the build- had a jury of students, faculty and tecture in Montreal. Further, “Inside ing. For example, the terraces were small administration. Ten teams of various the Sponge: Students Take On MIT and difficult to make use of, and, given sizes participated. The teams were to Simmons Hall,” a book documenting the perforated elements key to much of address the problems of terrace use and the competition and its results, was the interior walls of the building, there building communications, but could also published this month by the Canadian was no place to hang bulletin boards, a suggest other changes to the building or Center for Architecture. key method of communication in college its furnishings. dorms. The results ranged from practical to

MIT marks 25 years of international initiatives at MISTI The Institute celebrated 25 years of international education: “I came to MIT wanting to do something MISTI alumnus Jake Seid (’96, MEng ’98), now engagement through the MIT International Science and international and business-related and exciting and new managing director of Lightspeed Venture Partners, Technology Initiatives (MISTI) at an Oct. 2 dinner hosted — and thanks to MISTI, I have found that something.” described how vital the ability to connect to innovation by Dana Mead, chairman of the MIT Corporation, and Zhang researched mobile-gaming trends and investment around the world has become. In the past, he said, “start- Deborah Fitzgerald, Kenan Sahin Dean of the School of opportunities during her internship last summer with a ups happened when a group of people set up shop in a Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. U.S.-China joint venture capital firm in Shanghai. “This garage. That’s not the case anymore. A friend and fellow MIT’s largest international program, MISTI is a was my first close look at the intersection between tech- MIT alum has a two-person start-up: one founder is in pioneer in the field of applied international studies. nology and international business and I found it absolute- China and one is in the U.S. The garage is virtual now.” It prepares MIT students to participate in the global ly fascinating,” Zhang said. “I really hope that MISTI will MISTI has partnered with MIT’s Department of economy by connecting them to hands-on professional become a significant and stimulating part of every MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) internships and research opportunities across the globe. student’s experience, as it has been for me.” to increase global opportunities for EECS students. Eric MISTI began in the early 1980s with the creation of Grimson, Bernard Gordon Professor of Medical Engi- the MIT-Japan Program. By 1991, more than 60 MIT neering and head of EECS, underscored the importance interns each year were working in Japan. Today, MISTI of international experience: “Current students under- prepares and sends more than 300 MIT interns annually stand that to compete in today’s world, they also have to to nine countries: China, France, Germany, India, Israel, appreciate global perspectives: global markets, different Italy, Japan, Mexico and Spain. cultures, national priorities, nuances of communication in “From the path that MISTI has broken, we are now different languages, even the impact of social and reli- paving the way to a whole new avenue for education at gious norms on commercial and technological behavior. MIT,” President Susan Hockfield said at the dinner. “The MISTI has been the leader in this meta-education of our reason I’m convinced that global exposure makes an MIT students.” education even better for our students is that we have MISTI aspires to be a part of the MIT experience been very careful in designing those experiences. MISTI for every student. The program has created new initia- is the premier example.” tives such as the OpenCourseWare/Highlights for MISTI students prepare for their internships through High Schools projects, and student workshops abroad immersion in the language, history and politics of their with leading international companies. This fall, MISTI host country. Working with leading companies, research launched the MISTI Global Seed Funds to help MIT institutes, universities and nongovernmental organiza- PHOTO / JUSTIN KNIGHT faculty begin new projects anywhere in the world, with tions around the world, MISTI individually matches each Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer additional funds to involve students. MISTI also plans student with a project. Science Head Eric Grimson speaks during the MISTI to expand to more countries around the world. Potential MIT senior Wendi Zhang told dinner attendees how 25th anniversary celebration recently as SHASS Dean new host countries include Brazil, South Africa and the MISTI gave substance and new direction to her MIT Deborah Fitzgerald and senior Wendi Zhang look on. United Kingdom.