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Researchers are collaborating to close the achievement gap in MOOCs worldwide.

Small interventions, big effects: Closing the MOOC achievement gap

Techniques that develop a sense of belonging help to improve global MOOC persistence and completion rates.

January 31, 2017

"At a fundamental level, the conduct of elections affects the experience of voters and people’s trust in American democracy," writes the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in a press release announcing their funding of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. "It’s imperative that we, as a nation, get this right and we believe that this lab, under Professor [Charles] Stewart’s leadership, ca...

MIT Election Data and Science Lab launches

Founded by political scientist Charles Stewart III, the Election Lab focuses on non-partisan research, data, and analysis to improve elections.

January 25, 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

New MOOC study explores 290 MIT and Harvard online courses, a quarter-million certifications, 4.5 million participants, and 28 million participant-hours.

Study of MOOCs offers insights into online learner engagement and behavior

New report, based on four years of data from edX, represents one of the largest surveys of massive open online courses to date.

January 12, 2017

MapD is a type of commonly used database-management system modified to run on GPUs instead of CPUs, which power most traditional database-management systems. MapD can process billions of data points in milliseconds, making it 100 times faster than those traditional systems, and visualizes that data near instantaneously.

Split-second data mapping

New type of database-analytics platform queries and maps billions of data points in milliseconds.

January 11, 2017

MIT affiliates were well represented in the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30, honoring young leaders.

At least 30 from MIT named to 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 lists

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni honored in "the most definitive gathering of today’s leading young change-makers and innovators."

January 5, 2017

Sourcewater provides users with a list and interactive map of all available fresh and wastewater, treatment facilities, shippers, and other water-based services. Users can search based on price, location, water quality, and other parameters to reduce the distance, cost, and environmental impact of hauling water.

Startup offers “online booking” for industrial water

MIT alum’s website helps companies find, ship, and recycle water, reducing environmental impact.

January 4, 2017

“Compared to the developed world, the state of transportation systems in China is less well-understood, and because it’s such a large, populous country, unrestricted or poorly guided growth could lead to significant negative consequences for the environment and climate,” says Paul Kishimoto, a recent recipient of a fellowship from the Martin Family Society of Graduate Fellowships in Sustaina...

Rethinking how we get around

Paul Kishimoto, a PhD student in IDSS, probes the future of transportation in China.

January 4, 2017

On Dec. 8, 151 SuperUROP students presented their work at the SuperUROP Research Review.

Bots, bit flips, and catching the bus

Engineering undergrads showcase their research after one semester of yearlong SuperUROP projects.

December 22, 2016

Participants in the first Rising Stars in Physics Workshop at MIT

Young women in physics explore faculty careers in inaugural MIT workshop

Rising Stars event features research presentations, panel discussions on academic life.

December 14, 2016

“Everybody uses concrete; even the Romans used it, it just wasn’t the same kind we use today,” says Steven Palkovic, a graduate student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “I’m currently studying volcanic ash as a more environmentally friendly option than the industry standard, and I’m creating a framework to study alternative materials to lessen the environmental...

3Q: Seeking concrete solutions to an environmental issue

Civil and environmental engineering graduate student Steven Palkovic looks at sustainable solutions for cement paste.

December 13, 2016

MIT faculty members Michael Cima (left) and Edward W. Merrill ScD ’47 (right) are among the 2016 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.

Two MIT faculty named 2016 fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Cima and Merrill recognized for contributions resulting in a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

December 13, 2016

Mariann Carnazzo, longtime MIT staff member, dies at 74

Over 53 years at the Institute, Carnazzo made contributions to MIT offices of contract accounting, treasurer, and vice president for finance.

December 9, 2016

A new study estimates that, since 2008, access to mobile-money services — which allow users to store and exchange monetary values via mobile phone — increased daily per capita consumption levels of 194,000, or roughly 2 percent, of Kenyan households, lifting them out of extreme poverty (living on less than $1.25 per day).

Study: Mobile-money services lift Kenyans out of poverty

Greater access to services raises daily spending, especially among female-headed households.

December 8, 2016

Clockwise from top left: MIT professors Erik Demaine, Fredo Durand, Daniel Jackson, and William Freeman.

Four CSAIL researchers named ACM fellows

Association for Computer Machinery cites Erik Demaine, Fredo Durand, William Freeman, and Daniel Jackson for having "provided key knowledge" to computing.