MIT community in 2020: A year in review
In a year full of challenges, top Institute stories dealt with resilience, innovation, and MIT’s drive to embody its longstanding values in a changing world.
Top MIT research stories of 2020
The year’s popular research stories include astronomical firsts, scientific breakthroughs, and engineering milestones addressing Covid-19 and other global problems.
Task Force 2021 and Beyond shares its initial compilation of ideas
More than 50 proposals to recast MIT for the post-Covid era released for review and community input.
2020 MIT Water Summit brings international audiences together to discuss resilience
Hundreds of students, researchers, and industry experts from around the world gathered virtually in November for a cross-disciplinary exploration of water resilience.
A better model for business insurance
Founded by an MIT alumnus, Newfront Insurance offers brokers and businesses digital tools for responding to a rapidly changing risk landscape.
Making data-informed Covid-19 testing plans
A new web-friendly modeling tool helps organizations build tailored Covid-19 testing strategies that can save money and reduce coronavirus spread.
Model could help determine quarantine measures needed to reduce Covid-19’s spread
A key finding: Early reopening last spring led to a dramatic drop in “quarantine strength” in southern and west-central U.S. states.
MISTI shifts to fully remote global internships and cultural experiences amid pandemic
MIT students Robert Koirala and Grace Smith intern for a nonprofit promoting educational and health equity in India.
3 Questions: Phillip Sharp on the discoveries that enabled mRNA vaccines for Covid-19
Curiosity-driven basic science in the 1970s laid the groundwork for today’s leading vaccines against the novel coronavirus.
Explained: Why RNA vaccines for Covid-19 raced to the front of the pack
Many years of research have enabled scientists to quickly synthesize RNA vaccines and deliver them inside cells.
Q&A: Valencia Joyner Koomson ’98, MNG ’99 on new possibilities in microelectronic health systems
MLK Visiting Scholar focuses on microelectronics for cell analysis and biomedical applications.
Moving forward by moving
With safety measures in place, MIT Fitness reopens indoor classes and expands fitness access.
Exploring pandemic response through a coded simulation
MIT Social Impact Interns partner with the Naval War College to develop an educational disaster response game.
Illustrating Covid-19 hygiene best practices
Jasmine Florentine ’11, SM ’15 combines engineering and art to illustrate educational posters related to Covid-19.
Study examines role of mobile health technology in monitoring Covid-19 patients
Lincoln Laboratory researchers join international task force to evaluate wearable and emerging technology.