| Passing The Baton | | | | | | On Thursday L. Rafael Reif announced his plan to step down as MIT president. For a decade, Reif’s bold vision led the Institute to dynamic growth and increased stature on the world stage. Full story via MIT News → |
| Cynthia Barnhart named MIT provost Following seven years as chancellor, Barnhart will assume the Institute’s senior academic post. Full story via MIT News → | |
|
| Is an armed conflict imminent? As Russia masses military equipment near Ukraine borders, experts in an MIT forum express concern about possible action and its consequences. Full story via MIT News → | |
|
| New plant-derived composite is tough as bone and hard as aluminum The material could pave the way for sustainable plastics. Full story via MIT News → | |
|
| 3 Questions: Kuheli Dutt reflects on diversity in science The assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the MIT School of Science answers three questions about the work ahead. Full story via MIT News → | |
|
| From modeling quantum devices to political systems Senior Sihao Huang uses his background in physics and complex systems to inform his interdisciplinary approach to political science. Full story via MIT News → | |
|
| MIT president L. Rafael Reif to resign // The Boston Globe President L. Rafael Reif, who “was instrumental in leading [MIT] to convert its science into innovation, especially in the areas of life sciences, energy, materials, and machine learning and artificial intelligence,” has announced he will step down at the end of 2022. Full story via The Boston Globe → |
|
| Scientists create a super plastic that’s two times stronger than steel // Fast Company MIT researchers developed a material that is two times stronger than steel with just one-sixth the material bulk. “The material has implications for everything from how we build the gadgets we hold in our hands to the buildings we live in.” Full story via Fast Company→ |
|
| A new study predicts a huge increase in catastrophic hurricanes for the northeastern U.S. // NPR Scientists from MIT and Princeton University find hurricanes that cause both extreme high tides and heavy rain will become much more frequent by the end of the century, especially for the northeastern U.S. Full story via NPR→ |
|
| USA Skateboarding names Olympian and seven-time X Games medalist Alexis Sablone as new women’s head coach // Forbes |
Olympian Alexis Sablone ’16 will be the head coach for the United States women’s skateboarding team in the 2024 Olympic Games. Full story via Forbes→ |
|
| | | As president of MIT, L. Rafael Reif has played a significant role in shaping education and research, both at the Institute and around the world. But he’s also been an engaging community member — as exemplified by his acceptance of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014. After being challenged by then-president of Harvard University Drew Faust as well as members of the MIT Edgerton Center, Reif was doused — twice — by student-built contraptions, one for each of his challenges. The event was part of a viral fundraising effort to benefit research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Watch the video→ |
| | | Each year, we can count on MIT students to bring light and a little whimsy to the slog of midwinter. After our latest snowstorm dumped about two feet in Cambridge and surrounding areas, residents of Simmons Hall decided to create a “snow Sponge.” Simmons, originally designed by Steven Holl Architects, has been a campus landmark since its completion in 2002. Photo courtesy of first-year student Louisa W. |
This edition of the MIT Weekly was brought to you by elements of MIT. 🧪
Have feedback to share? Email mitdailyeditor@mit.edu.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
—MIT News Office |
|
|
