Hope for a cleaner future at MIT Energy Conference
The fifth annual MIT Energy Conference took place at the Boston Sheraton Hotel last weekend. The two-day event brought 800 professionals from areas of energy technology, policy, finance, and industry to Boston, up from the 650 last year. The Saturday conference featured John Rowe, CEO of Exelon Corporation; Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka of the International Energy Agency; and Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, who is also the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Lerman to leave MIT for GWU in July
Vice Chancellor and Dean of Graduate Education Steven R. Lerman ’72 has announced that he will be leaving MIT to serve as provost of George Washington University, starting July 1.
Pres. candidate loses Senate seat
At 9 p.m. last night, UA presidential candidate Ian P. Tracy ’11 was officially removed from his seat in the UA Senate for lack of attendance at Senate meetings, according to Senate speaker Tim Stumbaugh ’12.
MIT alum and employee charged with son’s murder
MIT alumnus and Media Lab intellectual property rights manager Geoffrey V. Wilson ’02 was arrested and charged with the murder of his 6-month-old son, Nathan, on Sunday night.
How the human genome folds in 3-D
Until recently, the process of how genomic DNA neatly folds itself into the nucleus of a cell — twisting and contorting into a work of astonishingly compact molecular origami — had perplexed biologists.
2010 UA Presidential/Vice Presidential Debate
The 2010 UA Presidential/Vice Presidential Debate, as filmed from the first floor of the Stratton Student Center on Sunday evening.
Medical may cut overnight care
MIT Medical has proposed to eliminate its inpatient unit and close its overnight urgent care services by the end of 2010. The space vacated by the inpatient unit would be filled with a new “Community Care Center.”
One operator per train on Orange Line
The MBTA will stop using two employees to run each Orange Line train, part of a plan approved by the agency’s board Wednesday to balance next year’s budget without raising fares or cutting service.
The end of Northwest Shuttle?
MIT is considering shutting down the Northwest Shuttle service, which runs between the MIT graduate dorms north of Vassar St. and west of Massachusetts Ave. and the main academic buildings. MIT would expect Northwest Shuttle riders to instead use EZRide, a shuttle operated by the Charles River Transporation Management Association that services most of the same area, according to Lawrence R. Brutti, the operations manager of MIT Parking and Transportation.
Perault promoted to Captain
Jay A. Perault has been promoted to the rank of Captain of the Patrol Division of the MIT Police. Perault’s promotion is effective as of February 10, 2010.
Lerman will be provost at George Washington in July
Vice Chancellor and Dean for Graduate Education Steven R. Lerman ’72 will leave at the end of this academic year for George Washington University, where he will be Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Only one ticket for top UA spots
Only one pair of candidates has officially registered to run for Undergraduate Association President and Vice President this spring. In response, the UA has extended its late petition deadline for the presidential/vice presidential race to Thursday, March 4.
Electronic billboards called another distraction
Safety advocates who worry about the dangers of distracted driving have a new concern beyond cell phones and gadget-laden dashboards: digital roadside billboards.
Three members of Tau Epsilon Phi named in suit
Three members of MIT’s chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi (tEp) have been named defendants in a lawsuit by volunteers for the Charles River Clean Up Boat regarding a sodium explosion in September 2007.
Back-end changes coming to Stellar
The software architecture behind Stellar, MIT’s course management system, is likely to change within the next year, while user interface will mostly stay the same. Pilot changes to the system may be implemented over the summer, said Eric Klopfer, Chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee on Learning Management Systems, which is tasked with developing the next version of Stellar, called Stellar Next Generation.
Faculty fling fake facts in food fight
Latkes or Hamentashen? That was the question this past Wednesday as students, faculty, and staff packed into 26-100 in anticipation of MIT Hillel’s annual Latkes vs. Hamentashen debate. Six professors fought it out, arguing for the ultimate Jewish food product: the latke (a fried potato pancake eaten during Hanukkah) or the hamentash (a three-sided filled cookie eaten during Purim).