Issue: Spring 2008
COVER STORY: The Magic of Learning by Doing
Students say sitting in a classroom is a great way to learn, but when you add hands-on work, the experience is amplified. It’s like learning in stereo.
Committed to Uncertainty
Prof. Alan Lightman’s latest novel focuses on the natural vs. the supernatural.
Giving Back
Irwin and Joan Jacobs, who never forgot their lean days as students, give MIT $30 million to support graduate fellowships.
The Third Revolution
Nobel laureate Phillip Sharp says MIT’s new cancer center will blend science
and engineering to find new treatments for cancer.
Fulfilling a Dream
Jim and Pat Poitras commit $20 million to the McGovern Institute for Brain Research to support mental illness research.
Trapped in Venice Flood
Prof. Paola Rizzoli, once trapped in a Venice flood, now studies why coastal waters ebb and flow.
Battery Technology
Prof. Gerbrand Ceder has developed a new battery, which he hopes will power a plug-in hybrid car that can recharge in the garage at night.
Double Career
Freshman Lauren McClellan, who plans to become a structural engineer, has been an actress for 10 years.
Returning the Gift
Mark Gorenberg ’76, who says MIT had a big impact on his life and career, makes a major gift to the Institute to return what he has received.
