Bionics Researchers Develop Technologies to Ease Pain and Transcend Human Limitations
Professor of media arts and sciences Hugh Herr SM ’93 and graduate student Christopher Shallal are working on next-generation biomimetic limbs
Spring 2023
On a campus full of people not known for standing still, “movement” manifests itself in many ways across MIT—from biomechanics and predictive modeling to collective action and economic mobility to transportation and quantum spin. No matter their area of focus, our faculty, students, and staff will always find a way to drive things forward.
The Spin Doctor: Danna Freedman Designs Novel Molecules for Possible Quantum Applications
Chemistry professor and 2022 MacArthur Fellow opens a door “into a real field that has real potential”
When Movements Topple Dictators
Associate professor of political science Mai Hassan examines contentious politics and collective action in autocratic regimes—and the barriers to democratization that follow
MIT Mobility Initiative Thinks Forward
Platform merges public, private, and academic spheres to help shape the future of transportation
Latest stories
Unlocking Age-Old Secrets Set in Stone
Aspiring geologist follows passion as Poitras Scholar at MIT
The Dynamism of Human Patterns at MIT’s Civic Data Design Lab
Led by urban studies professor Sarah Williams MCP ’05, the lab visualizes data on the movements of people—and moves audiences in the process
Popular stories
Francesca Riccio-Ackerman Works to Improve Access to Prosthetics
PhD student is designing and building a sustainable care and delivery model in Sierra Leone
Discovery Science
Mission-Driven Space Scholar Chloé Gentgen Sets Her Sights High
AeroAstro PhD student hopes to formulate and eventually lead a robotic mission to the outer solar system
Shape-Shifting at the Molecular Level in the Wendlandt Lab
Organic chemist designs molecules from the atoms up, with the goal of synthesizing useful substances faster and more efficiently
A Big Change for the Home of MIT.nano
Alumna Lisa T. Su ’90, SM ’91, PhD ’94 lends her name to Building 12
MIT PRIMES = A Plus for Youth
Math program mentoring helps high schoolers advance in research
Health of the Planet
Newly Endowed, MIT Sandbox Ensures Enterprising Ideas Can Take Shape
Companies supported by the entrepreneurship program are making a splash
Two Stories of Philanthropy in the Department of Architecture
Named professorship and significant discretionary funds are “gifts of confidence”
Bianca Champenois SM ’22 Helps Model the Future for Coastal Industries
Mechanical engineering PhD student looks at geophysical systems of land, air, and water to track ocean acidification
Norhan Bayomi, Inspired by Hollywood Icon, Takes on Climate Change
Entrepreneur-DJ pushes boundaries in technology, art
Human Health
PhD Student Wei-Chen Wang Is Moved to Help People Heal
Research draws on simulated robots to illuminate movement—knowledge that might someday help people come back from injury
Modeling the Marvelous Journey from A to B
Assistant Professor Nidhi Seethapathi seeks to understand why we move the way we do
A Robotic Helping Hand for Aging in Place
Mechanical engineering professor Harry Asada works on tools that may be able to help elderly people retain their independence
In the MIT.nano Immersion Lab, Capturing the Movements of Dancers Has Wide Applications
Characteristics of motion in dance can illuminate what it means to be efficient or fatigued in other domains
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
CashEx Startup Helps Immigrants Build Financial Future
Funded by delta v, digital service is designed to help African migrants to the US overcome banking obstacles
MIT System Design and Management Alum Makes Productivity Portable
Founder of Mobile Pixels credits MIT with giving him the skills to launch his company and thrive through the pandemic
In the Pioneering MIT Department of Economics, Researchers Turn a Scientific Lens to Policy
Economists offer insights and interventions for health care, education, and work
Tata Center: 10 Years of Sustained Impact
MIT faculty and students target innovations for the developing world
Teaching Learning and Living
‘Leading Creative Teams’ Asks Students to Look Inward to Lead Outward
Class in the Daniel J. Riccio Graduate Engineering Leadership Program asks students to look inward to lead outward
Moving MIT Forward
Q&A with Julie Lucas, Vice President for Resource Development
A New Academy, a New Dawn for Design
Faculty leaders of the interdisciplinary Morningside Academy for Design discuss how the Academy will elevate design at MIT and beyond
From Major to Minor, Design Proves Key at MIT
Students see the benefits of adding a creative skillset to their repertoire