PKG Center

All winning teams of the annual IDEAS Global Challenge, held Saturday, April 29, in the MIT Media Lab.

“IDEAS” to change the world

MIT teams innovating in medical, education, environmental, and other fields split prizes totaling $95,000.

May 2, 2017

Featured video: Being the change

MIT students explore their interests in social change through the Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center.

April 6, 2017

Plastic sliding calipers known as Squirrel Devices, developed by MIT grad students, make geometry’s continuous shapes and lengths measurable for blind and limited-vision students, who can read measurements in Braille.

A measurable improvement in STEM access for the blind

Two MIT graduate students have developed a device that provides better access to STEM materials for the blind and low-vision community.

March 22, 2017

MIT students and CITE research assistants Emily Gooding and Mark Brennan examine a metal post-harvest storage silo as part of a study with the World Food Program in Uganda.

MIT researchers inform World Food Program work to reduce post-harvest losses

Study of post-harvest storage technology use in Uganda assesses potential for farmer adoption, identifies supply chain challenges and solutions.

February 23, 2017

MIT Assistant Professor Amos Winter (right, blue shirt) and Tish Scolnik ’10 were inspired to build a more rugged wheelchair after visits to Tanzania.

Building the mountain bike of wheelchairs

An MIT professor helped turn a class project into a mass-produced product that is helping people in developing countries.

January 23, 2017

Kate Trimble's experience as both a faculty member and a staff member will enhance the PKG Center’s ability to engage all areas of the MIT community to fulfill the Institute’s mission to “serve the nation and the world.”

PKG Center welcomes Kate Trimble as senior director

With deep roots in public service, Trimble looks to establish innovative new programs and stronger service involvement from all MIT community members.

October 14, 2016

“If there's any place that I can do the weird stuff that I like to do, it would be in academia, and it would be at MIT,” says PhD student Lily Bui. “I'm not quite satisfied with being pigeonholed into one role, and I think that's just going to stay the case for the rest of my life.”

Harnessing the power of citizens

PhD student Lily Bui works with communities around the world to gather data from the bottom up.

October 12, 2016

“The idea is one simple technology can have this huge impact on someone's well-being. But today there are a lot of technologies out there such as solar lanterns or water filters, and there's no way to systematically evaluate what works and what doesn't work on the ground,” says Cauam Cardoso, a PhD student in international economic development at MIT.

Seeking simple solutions with huge impacts

PhD student Cauam Cardoso assesses technologies that aim to help the world’s poor.

July 8, 2016

As an undergraduate at MIT, Ned Burnell began thinking about the entire process of making products, and all of the decisions that lead to designing products in a particular way. This is what motivated him to pursue mechanical engineering.

Using engineering savvy to improve product designs

From windmills to software, graduate student Ned Burnell creates better tools.

June 8, 2016

MIT community members paint a railing along roads near MIT's campus as part of the inaugural Together in Service Day, held on Tuesday, which included dozens of volunteer opportunities across the region and beyond.

Together in Service Day strengthens MIT-Cambridge ties

Day included volunteer events, civic-engagement hackathon, and launch of community initiatives.

April 21, 2016

A total of 938 gifts were donated by MIT students, faculty, and staff to the 2015 Giving Tree Campaign.

MIT community supports local agencies with record-setting Giving Tree donations

More than 900 gifts help to make the season a bit brighter for area kids and teens.

December 30, 2015

Grant Williams and Mr. Figgers at One Voice Mississippi

Public Service Center Fellowships program turns 25

For a quarter-century, public service fellowships have inspired MIT students to work with community partners for the betterment of humankind.

July 24, 2015

Social enterprises empower communities

MIT students launch social enterprises that work with communities to foster financial and environmental sustainability.

June 23, 2015

Anya Kamara, Pamela Montalvo, Maggie Crowley

Reaching out to our neighbors

MIT students share their love of reading and math with children in Cambridge.

June 1, 2015

Beth Hadley and Margaret Marie at The Boston Home

Empowerment through mobile technology and co-design

MIT students improve the quality of life, safety, and independence of The Boston Home residents with InstaAid mobile application.

May 18, 2015

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Browse By

Topics

Departments

Centers, Labs, & Programs

Schools