Massachusetts Institute of Technology
April 12, 2017

MIT News: around campus

A weekly digest of the Institute’s community news

Eleven from MIT elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences for 2017

Prestigious honor society announces 228 new members this year.

President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim visits MIT

A trained scientist, Gurib-Fakim discusses ways of strengthening ties with Institute.

In MIT visit, sociologist Arlie Hochschild discusses U.S. political divisions

At Mens et Manus America event, Hochschild recommends three pillars of action for finding common ground among U.S. voters.

Environmentalist and explorer

Senior Elizabeth Rider uses atmospheric chemistry research to create international connections.

Featured video: Being the change

MIT students explore their interests in social change through the Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center.

The art of the dealers

MIT’s Kristel Smentek studies art, collectors, and commerce in new ways.

Ernesto Blanco, mechanical design professor and inventor of the stair-climbing wheelchair, dies at 94

Longtime professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering patented over a dozen inventions and inspired generations of engineers.

In the Media

In an article for The Wall Street Journal about how business schools are increasingly developing programs to help entrepreneurs, Kelsey Gee highlights the MIT Sloan School of Management. For alumna Rena Pacheco-Theard, “becoming a real entrepreneur became a distinct reality for the first time at Sloan.”

The Wall Street Journal

In this CBS News Sunday Morning segment, Prof. David Autor speaks with David Pogue about the impact of automation on employment. Autor notes that while in the “last 200 years, we’ve had an incredible amount of automation…this has not in net reduced the amount of employment.”

CBS News

Boston Globe columnist Scott Kirsner speaks with Professors Regina Barzilay and Tommi Jaakkola about their Introduction to Machine Learning class. Jaakkola explains that the course connects “the more theoretical, algorithmic stuff students are learning to actual data and problems.”

Boston Globe

research & innovation

Neuroscientists identify brain circuit necessary for memory formation

New findings challenge standard model of memory consolidation.

New technology could offer cheaper, faster food testing

Specialized droplets interact with bacteria and can be analyzed using a smartphone.

Articles of faith

A new study of the words “a” and “the” sheds light on language acquisition.

The Engine closes its first fund for over $150 million

MIT’s new accelerator will now focus on selecting startups.

Institute announces new open access policy for all MIT authors

Optional license allows students, researchers, and staff to make scholarly articles freely available.

MIT News

Unsubscribe from our newsletter.

Have feedback or questions about our newsletter? Email [email protected]

This email was sent by: MIT News Office, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 11-400, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307, USA