Students

Writing for The Boston Globe, Esther Shein reports on how freshman Mat Guthmiller is on a quest to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world. 

Benjamin Winterhalter interviews graduate student Michael Chen for this Atlantic article about the importance of scientific research that enhances our understanding of the world in general. “Without these theoretical realizations, we'll never get to new places," says Chen.

Martin LaMonica of The Boston Globe writes about two MIT startups that are aiming to solve long-standing problems with the production of nuclear power. Transatomic Power and UPower Technologies are looking for ways to make efficient use of radioactive waste and develop smaller, cheaper plants, respectively.

In an article for El Mundo (written in Spanish), Carlos Betriu writes about the annual robotics competition that is the culmination of course 2.007. The goal of the course is to challenge students to solve problems with robots and to think creatively, Betriu reports.

MIT alumnus James Lee’s company has invented an armrest with a double-decker design that allows it to be shared comfortably, WCVB reports.

Boston Globe reporter Carolyn Johnson writes about 2.007’s robotics competition. “Students competed at MITSKI, in which the robots they built from scratch had to climb ski slopes, descend them with grace, collect slalom flags, return flags to the ski chalet, and collect medals,” Johnson writes.

MIT senior Kirin Sinha talks with FOX 25 about the SHINE for Girls program, which uses dance to get young girls excited about math and science. Sinha, who founded the program, says SHINE provides a content-based curriculum that teaches self-confidence along with math skills.

“Sinha, a senior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is majoring in theoretical math and computer science and electrical engineering -- fields that have remained heavily dominated by men,” Boston Globe reporter Carolyn Johnson writes of the SHINE for Girls program, founded by Kirin Sinha, that teaches young girls math through dance.