MIT News: around campus

Wall Street Journal reporter Christopher Mims speaks with Francis O’Sullivan, director of research at the MIT Energy Initiative, and graduate student Jesse Jenkins about the challenges related to building charging infrastructure and upgrading electric distribution grids to accommodate the growing electric vehicle market.

Writing for Reuters, Mark Miller highlights Prof. Paul Osterman’s new book, which examines labor market trends for caregivers. Osterman finds that by 2030 there will be a national shortage of 151,000 paid direct care workers and 3.8 million unpaid family caregivers. By 2040, the shortfall will be much larger.”

The Economist highlights a study by MIT researchers that shows climate change could cause the flow of the Nile River to become more variable, increasing strain on regional water conflicts. The researchers found that while output could increase by up to 15%, variability would also increase, resulting in, “more (and worse) floods and droughts.”

Research Engineer Bryan Reimer speaks with Anthony Brooks of WBUR’s Radio Boston about the possibility of creating more car-free zones in Boston. Creating a car-free zone is possible, says Reimer, but “it’s going to take a long-term focus and shifting the vehicular traffic around.”