Alan Yuhas of The Guardian reports that Prof. Ernest Moniz, who recently returned to MIT, finds the current administration’s “anti-scientific” comments worrying. “If we’re not going to have fact-based discussions it’s very, very difficult to have an informed electorate and informed opinions,” says Prof. Moniz.
After serving as the U.S. Energy Secretary for nearly four years, Prof. Ernest Moniz has returned to MIT as a part time physics professor and special adviser to President L. Rafael Reif, reports the Associated Press.
Katie Rae, president and CEO of The Engine, speaks with Meghna Chakrabarti of Radio Boston about her new role and why The Engine is aimed at addressing the gap between science and commercialization. Rae explains that The Engine will be focused on “investing very early into the translational stage for science-oriented startups.”
Greentech Media reporter Julian Spector writes that during the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E Summit, President L. Rafael Reif made the case for the necessity of government funding for basic science. Reif explained that support for scientific research is “an investment in our future.”
Writing for The Washington Post, Prof. Maria Zuber, MIT’s vice president for research, outlines how the U.S. can reduce coal emissions without “declaring war on coal communities.” Zuber argues that the U.S. must “commit to helping the workers and communities that are hurt when coal mines and coal plants reduce their operations or shut down.”
Katie Rae, CEO and president of The Engine, speaks with Boston Globe reporter Scott Kirsner about the new venture, which is aimed at supporting startups focused on “tough tech.” Rae says The Engine is “a very hopeful project in my mind — investing in important ideas over the long-term.”
Boston Globe reporter Tim Logan writes that MIT has unveiled preliminary plans for the Volpe Center site. Logan writes that the plans currently include “1,400 housing units — one-fifth set at affordable rents — 1.7 million square feet of office and lab space, street-level retail and three acres of greenspace on the campus.”
CNN reporter Matt McFarland highlights the impact of the Executive Order on immigration on American universities. He notes that 40% of MIT faculty and graduate students come from outside the U.S. and that, as President L. Rafael Reif wrote, “a great many stay in this country for life, repaying the American promise of freedom with their energy and their ideas.”
Boston Globe reporter Laura Krantz writes that MIT students, faculty and staff gathered on Sunday in response to the Trump administration’s executive order on immigration. “It’s certainly ill-judged and likely counterproductive,” said Associate Provost Richard Lester. “Our community is here because they are contributing research and new knowledge creation that benefits this country.”
Boston Globe reporter Tim Logan writes that MIT has signed an agreement to redevelop the Volpe Center site. “What we have in mind is a big vision,” says Israel Ruiz, MIT’s executive vice president and treasurer. “We want to do more in Kendall Square. This enables us to do it at a level of scale.”
Boston Globe reporter Adam Vaccaro writes about MIT’s selection of Apple CEO Tim Cook to deliver the 2017 Commencement address. Vaccaro notes that, “Past MIT commencement speakers have included big names from the worlds of business, politics, and entertainment.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been selected to deliver MIT’s 2017 Commencement address, reports the Associated Press.
Chris Bourg, director of the MIT Libraries, speaks with Carl Straumsheim of Inside Higher Ed about the MIT report on the future of libraries, which presents a “vision of the library as an ‘open global platform’.” Bourg notes that “providing access to credible information and the tools to assess, use, understand and exploit it…is more important than ever now.”
In an article for The Boston Globe’s special section on the 2016 “Top Places to Work,” Sacha Pfeiffer highlights MIT’s new commuter benefits. Pfeiffer writes that MIT is providing “employees free MBTA bus and subway access through a chip embedded in their university ID cards.”
Boston Globe reporter Tim Logan writes that federal officials announced the initial section of MIT to redevelop the Volpe Transportation Center in Kendall Square. “They understand how to work in Cambridge,” says Greg Vasil of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board of MIT’s long history in the area. “With something this big and intricate, that can really pay off.”