Department
Mechanical Engineering
Gang Chen named head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering
An MIT faculty member since 2001, Chen succeeds Mary Boyce as MechE department head.
Explained: Hydrophobic and hydrophilic
Better understanding of how surfaces attract or repel water could improve everything from power plants to ketchup bottles.
Pruning the power grid
New algorithm quickly identifies the most dangerous risks in a power grid amid millions or billions of possible failures.
Better droplet condensation could boost power efficiency
Improved system for power plants uses oil-infused condenser surface to improve heat-transfer properties.
Ferroelectric-graphene-based system could lead to improved information processing
New system uses two-dimensional structures to guide plasmonic waves at ultrashort wavelength, offering a new platform for memory and computer chips.
Can you feel me now?
New array measures vibrations across the skin, may help engineers design optimal, wearable tactile displays.
Meet the maker
MIT alumna Limor Fried has become a pioneer of the ‘maker movement’ with her multimillion-dollar company.
Local fifth graders explore mathematics with MIT graduate students
MITxplore, a free after-school math program, transforms math into an adventure.
D-Lab Scale-Ups awards funds to three MIT social entrepreneurs
Shawn Wen ‘13, Kevin Cedrone SM ’10 PhD ‘13 and Sumana Shrestha MBA ‘13 to join the Phase I Fellowship Program
MIT Global Founders’ Skills Accelerator announces 2013 student teams
Startup accelerator includes eight MIT student teams as well as teams from six international universities.
Students with toys: Not just playing around
In mechanical engineering department’s toy-design class, teams design creative board games, plush toys and puzzles.