From the President
Summer 2015
Water + Food
MIT is playing a key role in helping to ensure the sustainability of human civilization into the future. Across the Institute, and across the world, faculty and students are pursuing transformative research to address the urgent challenges of water and food.
J-WAFS: A Nexus for Water and Food Research at MIT
Professor John Lienhard discusses the transformative work of the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab.
Securing Water and Food for a Growing Global Population
“The time is right now to look at water and food security,” says Mohammed Jameel ’78, founder of the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab at MIT.
Cheaper, Energy Efficient Ways to Desalinate Water
Jeffrey Grossman and Evelyn Wang are searching for ways to make clean water.
Detecting Leaks with Robots, Wireless Sensors
Kamal Youcef-Toumi and Andrew Whittle are working to increase the world water supply by decreasing loss of water through leaks.
The Water-Food-Energy Nexus
Afreen Siddiqi and James Wescoat hope a network of sensors will allow more efficient use of water and the energy used to transport it, while increasing yield of wheat.
Rocks for Crops
Antoine Allanore’s work focuses on sustainably extracting metals from ore.
Rice Experiment Yields Results
Tavneet Suri’s experiment determined that the hunger season could potentially be shortened and yields increased.
Weapons Sensor Technology Detects Rotten Meat, Ripe Fruit
Tim Swager has created tiny sensors that can detect rotting meat and ripe fruit.
Mapping Soil Moisture from Space
Dara Entekhabi’s work could affect a range of issues from our understanding of the conditions for life on Earth to agriculture in Africa.
Air Pollution, Climate, Affect Global Food Security
Colette Heald’s study is the first to bring the impact of climate change and air pollution together.
Toward the Holistic City
Alan Berger is developing “the holistic agribusiness city.”
On the Ground
Wherever people face challenges related to water and food, you’re likely to find students and recent alumni building projects and companies.
On the Road to a Better Commute
Transportation expert Carolina Osorio is aiming for less congestion, more reliable travel times, more efficient fuel consumption, and fewer emissions.
Key to Quantum: Diamonds
Dirk Englund says the next chapter in the history of technology is not simply about faster computers.
Ancient Life, Cast in Stone
Tanja Bosak’s work explores how the Earth changed from one antithetical to complex life forms to one supporting an explosion of such organisms 540 million years ago.
Medical Anthropology
Erica Caple James investigates how behavior, culture, and structural inequalities impact health.
MRIs for a More Peaceful World
An MIT collaboration is now underway using MRIs to develop innovative conflict-resolution strategies.
Technology to Touch Across the Globe
Hiroshi Ishii and colleagues developed an invention that can point, touch, and manipulate objects remotely over long distance.
Mending a Broken Heart
Laurie Boyer’s work may one day help develop cures for heart defects and disease.
Atomic Insights
Ju Li has created a window into a world where things are inconceivably small and change inconceivably fast.
Water Challenges
Doug ’75 and Deborah Brown support research on new techniques for purifying water.
Catalyzing Change
“I see the impact of climate change on the world,” John Carlson (’83) says.