Technology and society

MIT Media Lab spinout Changing Environments is the brains behind the solar-powered Soofa Bench, which is equipped with an embedded charging station for mobile devices that also connects to wireless networks. Recently, the startup released the solar-powered Soofa Sign, which displays public transit times, weather, and events, among other city information.

Smart city fixtures

Startup brings solar-powered, phone-charging park benches and digital signs to cities worldwide.

January 27, 2017

Seymour Papert (left) chats with LEGO Group owner Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen in 1998 when the Denmark-based company launched LEGO Mindstorms.

LEGO Foundation endows Media Lab fellowships in honor of Seymour Papert

New graduate student fellowship program announced at Media Lab event celebrating the life and work of Seymour Papert.

January 26, 2017

Professor Daniela Rus stands with autonomous SMART vehicles on the MIT campus.

SMART automation

MIT Professor Daniela Rus combines automation and mobility to create a smarter world.

January 19, 2017

An MIT-led study finds that technological advances alone will not bring about dematerialization, or the reduction of the amount of materials needed to produce goods and services.

Study: Technological progress alone won’t stem resource use

Researchers find no evidence of an overall reduction in the world’s consumption of materials.

January 19, 2017

“The whole goal of my life is to fix all the people problems. I sincerely think that the biggest problems we have are how we deal with each other, and how we treat each other. [We need to be] promoting empathy and understanding, and technology is an enormous power to influence that in a good way,” senior Garrett Parrish says.

Creating “big, beautiful things”

Senior Garrett Parrish combines art and technology, with dramatic effects.

January 13, 2017

An MIT student participates in the Institute's Independent Activities Period (IAP)

Featured video: Diving into IAP

A look at MIT's Independent Activities Period (IAP), a four-week term in January during which community members get creative.

January 12, 2017

Timothy Hyde, architectural historian and associate professor in the History, Theory, and Criticism (HTC) section of the MIT Department of Architecture.

House rules

Research shows how rebuilding Britain’s Houses of Parliament in the 1800s helped create clean-air laws.

January 12, 2017

Solve launches new challenges on climate, education, and health care

MIT’s open innovation platform for tackling global problems seeks solutions from near and far.

January 4, 2017

MIT engineers have studied a simple vehicle-platooning scenario and determined the best ways to deploy vehicles in order to save fuel and minimize delays.

Driverless platoons

Analysis finds autonomous trucks that drive in packs could save time and fuel.

December 20, 2016

“I see starting a company not only as an option, but the option,” says graduate student Keertan Kini. “It’s a way to make sustainable change in the world.”

Helping policy and technology work together

Engineering grad student Keertan Kini is working to strengthen the intersection of policy and technology.

December 12, 2016

President Reif calls for renewed national commitment to support basic science

“Invisible infrastructure” of nation’s scientific enterprise is eroding, MIT president warns in Wall Street Journal op-ed.

December 8, 2016

“Policymakers, NGO activists, and businesspeople in developing countries are increasingly aware of the importance of good data and rigorous evidence for designing and choosing policies and projects — and implementing them effectively,” says Esther Duflo, the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics in the Department of Economics.

MIT announces MITx MicroMasters program in development economics, with path to full master’s degree

Institute to offer its first “blended-only” master’s program, in data, economics, and development policy.

December 5, 2016

The TechCon conference, hosted by MIT and USAID's Higher Education Solutions Network from Nov. 10 - 12, convened researchers and innovators to collaborate on solving global issues.

At TechCon, science-based solutions for world issues

Innovators and researchers tackle global issues through actionable research and collaboration.

November 15, 2016

“I was lucky enough to discover MIT and my passion for engineering through MITES. I want to show students how great it is here and that yes, you can truly find paradise,” says senior Sade Nabahe.

Seeing solutions through, across continents

When a plan to improve stoves in Peru met unexpected challenges, MIT senior Sade Nabahe rose to meet them.

October 26, 2016

Solve at HUBweek took place at the MIT Media Lab on Sept. 27 and 28. Participants selected online through an open innovation platform pitched their ideas for meeting a range of challenges, from removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to educating children in refugee camps around the world.

Sparking conversations, spurring solutions

Solve and HUBweek bring together cutting-edge thinkers and doers, from Greater Boston and beyond.

October 21, 2016

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