Volume 53, Number 19 TechTalk Wednesday, March 18, 2009 S ERVING THE MIT COMMUNITY MIT-trained economists bring pragmatic approach to Obama administration Stephanie Schorow News Office American presidents have famously raided universities to build their policy teams. President John F. Kennedy sought foreign policy advisors from his alma mater, Harvard. President Ronald Reagan relied on economists steeped in the laissez-faire school of thought from the University of Chicago. President Barack Obama has tapped a number of MIT-trained economists to craft a response to the worst economic downturn in generations. These economists represent no particular ideology or canon. Instead, they reflect the eclectic, practical approach of the Institute’s Department of Economics. James Poterba, the Mitsui Professor of Economics, former head of the MIT Econom- ics Department, and president of the National Bureau of Economic Research, says the MIT crew is part of a “dream team of economic advisors” in the Obama administration. “They are realists and pragmatists who are looking for what will work to address the particular problems we are facing,” Poterba says. “I think these folks are very much prob- lem solvers in the MIT tradition.” “Of course,” he adds, “on the economic UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO UNIVERSITY front, they have lots of problems to solve.” PHOTO / PHOTO ‘Dream team’ MIT’s Department of Economics has trained many leading central bankers. In addi- tion to U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman IMAGE / MOLLY BANG Ben Bernanke PhD ’79, the bankers with MIT ties include Mario Draghi PhD ’77, governor Drawn to science of the Bank of Italy, Stanley Fischer PhD ’69, an emeritus member of the MIT faculty and A page from ‘Living Sunlight,’ a children’s book about photosynthesis that MIT ocean governor of the Bank of Israel, José de Grego- microbiologist Penny Chisholm co-authored. Read more on page 3. rio PhD ’90, governor of the Central Bank of Chile, and Athanasios Orphanides ’85, PhD ’90, governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus. In Washington, Lawrence H. Summers ’75, former secretary of the Treasury and Harvard University president, leads Presi- dent Obama’s National Economics Council. Rapid recharge Christina Romer PhD ’85 heads the Council of Economic Advisors while Austan Gools- bee PhD ’95, who served as Obama’s senior Re-engineered material could solve long-standing battery issues economics advisor during the campaign, has been nominated to serve as a member Elizabeth Thomson of the Council of Economic Advisers and is News Office chief economist of the President’s Economic MIT engineers have created a kind of Recovery Advisory Board. Harvard econom- beltway that allows for the rapid transit of ics professor Jeremy Stein PhD ’86 is a special electrical energy through a well-known advisor to the secretary of the Treasury. battery material, an advance that could usher Additionally, Xavier de Souza Briggs, associate in smaller, lighter batteries — for cell phones professor of sociology and urban planning in and other devices — that could recharge in the Department of Urban Studies and Plan- seconds rather than hours. ning, has joined the administration as associ- The work could also allow for the quick ate director of the White House Office of recharging of batteries in electric cars, Management and Budget. although that particular application would be The MIT-trained economics appointees From top: Alumni Ben limited by the amount of power available to a IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CEDER LAB bring different skills and points of view, homeowner through the electric grid. Bernanke PhD ’79, following no single “party line,” says Robert Scanning electron micrograph of a Austan Goolsbee PhD The work, led by Gerbrand Ceder, the Solow, Institute Professor emeritus. Their Richard P. Simmons Professor of Materials particle of the new battery material. Dark ’95, Christina Romer primary strength lies in their ability to deal Science and Engineering, is reported in the area indicates the inside of the particle PhD ’85 and Lawrence H. with data without a lot of presupposition, he surrounded by a lighter surface layer Summers ’75. says. uPlease see BATTERY, PAGE 7 only five nanometers wide. uPlease see ECONOMY, PAGE 6 PEOPLE RESEARCH & INNOVATION NEWS Chandrakasan honored iGarden Happy Birthday, MITAC MTL Director Anantha Chandrakasan wins In CSAIL project, robots MIT Activities Committee celebrates a SIA University Researcher Award. do the gardening. quarter-century of events, tickets and fun. PAGE 3 PAGE 8 PAGE 7 PAGE 2 March 18, 2009 u PEOPLE MIT Tech Talk S M T WT Events F S 26,000 miles later, alumnus completes solo sail � Liv Gold at MIT Alumni Association Rich Wilson SM ’76 piloted his 60-foot racing yacht, Great American III, across the finish line at Les Sables d’Olonne in Today France on Tuesday, March 10, after sailing nonstop for four months — and 26,000 miles — around the world. • MITAC 25th Anniversary Open Wilson, 58, took ninth place in the House. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in 32, Stata Vendee Globe solo sailboat race, making Center lobby and Student Street. him the oldest skipper and only the second MITAC celebrates 25 years! American in the race’s 20-year history to finish successfully. Equipment failures and • “Techno-Blinders: How the Cult severe weather knocked out 19 of the 30 of Technology is Endangering U.S. boats that initially set sail in November. National Security.” Speaker: Elizabeth Race organizers praised Wilson’s deter- Stanley, Georgetown University. Noon- mination to complete the race, which had 1:30 p.m. in E38-615. the highest-ever attrition rate: “[Rich’s achievement] is a testament to his excel- • Tough Economy Series: The “Art” lent seamanship skills, deep determination, of Behavioral Interviewing in a Tough careful planning and prudent execution.” Economy. Speaker: Bob Dolan - Career To survive the journey, Wilson packed Development Center. 2:40-4 p.m. in his monohull with a 120-day supply of 56-114. The MIT Career Development food, including generous amounts of Center has planned special workshops homemade granola, foil-packed tuna, and covering all aspects of the job search freeze-dried meals. He cluster-napped — a given the current economic situation. 40-minute sleeping technique that kept PHOTO / OLIVIER BLANCHET, VENDEE GLOBE him in sync with his body’s natural sleep Rich Wilson SM ’76 aboard his 60-foot racing yacht, Great American III, as he finishes • Institute Faculty Meeting. 3:30-5:30 cycle and allowed him to intermittently the Vendee Globe solo sailboat race. p.m. in 10-250. monitor the horizon for oncoming vessels. Although he sailed alone, he was in • Going Global: “Yes You Can!” prestigious Newport Bermuda Race as the site, he described sightings of albatross, touch with supporters and the world daily. — an informational panel. 4-5 p.m. skipper of Holger Danske, and in 2004 he flying fish, porpoises, and shooting stars. You can relive his adventure virtually on in 12-142. Are you intrigued by the won second place in the solo Transatlantic Light rain and cloudy skies accompanied his SitesAlive Foundation web site with thought of studying abroad or pursuing UK-USA. He also set three world records Wilson in his final stretch to the French daily blogs, podcasts, photos, a live map, other global education opportunities as skipper and navigator on clipper routes: port where he was greeted by thousands of and Q&As about sailing and oceanography but think they are impossible to actu- San Francisco-Boston in 1993, New York- onlookers, including his family who live in answered by experts. He documented the ally pursue? A panel of MIT students Melbourne in 2001, and Hong Kong-New Marblehead, Mass. challenge to share this learning experience and staff will be present to answer your York in 2003. Most recently, he completed “For me, this was not just a race, but with K-12 students around the world. questions and dispel myths about global the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre in something else too,” he said after landing As Wilson, who has been a defense education at MIT. 2007 and the return solo race, the B2B in France. “The difficulties were worth it analyst, technical consultant, and investor, from Brazil to France. for all the lessons and essays I sent back.” told his SitesAlive followers, he began sail- Wilson still enjoys learning and Wilson’s final essay on SitesAlive ing with his father at age three. The fresh confronting obstacles — as he did during recounts advice from one of his greatest Thursday, March 19 air on the open ocean helped his asthma, several storms, when mechanical and elec- teachers at MIT, Ray Pariser, who said, and he liked learning about boat main- trical failures forced him to make repairs “You need to stretch your mind.” • Women In Math Lecture Series. tenance and sailing strategy. In 1980, he while his boat rocked violently — but he “For me, being at sea does that exactly,” Speaker: Angela Hicks (UC San Diego) became the youngest overall winner of the also enjoys the ocean’s wildlife. On his web Wilson wrote. on “Combinatorics of the Diagonal Harmonics.” 2:30-3:30 p.m. in 4-149. Obituaries • “Logical Relations: A Step Towards More Secure and Reliable Software.” Speaker: Amal Ahmed (Toyota Techno- Edward O. Vetter, Corporation of Electrical Engineering and Computer “He certainly was a great addition to logical Institute at Chicago). 4-5 p.m. Science, remembered Vetter as someone the corporation for his knowledge and in 32-G449. Part of the EECS Special life member emeritus, 88 fiercely loyal to MIT and possessing the insight,” said Emily “Paddy” Wade ’45, a Seminar Series. fun-loving charm of his adopted state of Corporation life member emeritus.