MIT MechE News

MechE faculty Professor Tom Peacock studies Langrangian coherent structures

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:43:04 -0500

Prediction and modeling of fluids and gasses has always been a challenge for researchers. With the assistance of modern supercomputers and the application of Lagrangian mathematics, scientists have uncovered possible new answers to this age old problem. MechE Professor Tom Peacock has been studying the effects of Lagrangian coherent structures that exist in the ocean and fluids. This field of research will have applications in everything from airport safety to oil spills and even the lives of jellyfish. Read the full story: The Economist.

Sounds good: new 3D imaging technique may lead to improved hearing aids

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:40:23 -0400

A new 3D imaging process developed by MechE Professor Douglas Hart holds the potential to make hearing aids both easier to produce and more effective. The process, which involves inserting a tiny, liquid filled balloon containing a camera into the patient's ear, makes it possible to record detailed information about the shape of the ear canal in real time. The inspiration for the new technique came out of left field, while Professor Hart was studying the thickness of engine oils using a process called emission reabsorption laser induced fluorescence (ERLIF). For more in-depth coverage of Professor Hart's work, you can read about it in both Fast Company and Technology Review.

MechE students battle it out in Japan at Robocon 2009

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:07:41 -0400

A group of students led by Professor Dan Frey recently traveled to Tokyo Denki University, where they participated in the 2009 International Design Contest event known as Robocon. MechE undergrads Matthew Udomphol, Elvine Philip B. Pineda, Edward Michael Grinnell, Arielle Gabriella Fischer, and Pablo Bello teamed up with students from around the globe to take part in the annual robotics competition. Congratulations go out to Elvine Pineda, whose Orange Team took home the top prize. To learn more, visit the Robocon web site, or you can check out online news coverage (in Japanese) from Tokyo MX News.

MIT team helps uncover secrets of ulcer-causing bacteria

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:43:35 -0400

A group of MIT-based mechanical and biomedical engineers, including Professor Gareth McKinley, Professor Peter So, and Randy Ewoldt, has teamed with scientists from Boston University and Harvard Medical School to challenge long-held assumptions about the bacteria responsible for causing stomach ulcers. According to their findings, Helicobacter pylori changes the acidity of its environment, allowing it to penetrate the protective mucus that lines the stomach wall. The researchers hope their findings will lead to better treatment and prevention strategies for dealing with ulcers. you can find the full story online on the National Science Foundation website at http://www.nsf.gov.

Cariplo Foundations funds faculty exchange program between MIT MechE and University of Brescia in Italy

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:21:20 -0400

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to announce the establishment of a Faculty Exchange Program with the University of Brescia in Italy. The program will be funded by the Cariplo Foundation, and is aimed to promote technical collaborations between MechE faculty and the faculty of UniBS. This program will support a number of projects proposed jointly by one faculty member from each school, and will fund their travel to the other location and their local expenses. The Scientific Directors of the program are Professor Ahmed Ghoniem at MIT and Professor Gian Paolo Beretta at UniBS.

MIT Ocean grad, astronaut Chris Cassidy ready for launch

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:58:56 -0400

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy is the latest MechE alumnus to be heading into space. Cassidy, an Ocean Engineering graduate in 2000, will be embarking upon his first-ever space mission on Saturday, June 13th, on board the Space Shuttle Endeavor. He will be part of NASA mission STS-127, tasked with delivering necessary components to the International Space Station (ISS). Upon docking with the ISS, Cassidy will become one of 13 astronauts present there - the most at any one time in the space station's history.

MIT MechE 2009 Student Award Winners

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:42:49 -0400

The recipients of the 2009 Student Awards for MIT MechE have been announced. This annual tradition celebrates the creativity, innovation, and performance of students in the Mechanical Engineering department throughout the past year. Congratulations to all of the MechE students who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the department and the MIT community.

MIT Announces Leaders for Global Operations Program

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:40:40 -0400

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- The MIT Leaders for Manufacturing (LFM) program announces its new name: Leaders for Global Operations (LGO). This new identity reflects the expansion from LFM's historically broad understanding of manufacturing to encompass all aspects of operations. The program will continue to build on its strengths in production and logistics, as well as on the consistent #1 rankings given to MIT School of Engineering and MIT Sloan’s Operations Management Group in U.S. News & World Report’s annual evaluation of graduate programs.

Astronaut, MechE grad Michael Massimino part of successful Hubble repair mission

Tue, 19 May 2009 14:15:56 -0400

Nearly twenty years after it was first released into orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope has received one final tuneup thanks to a skilled team of NASA engineers, including telescope repair expert and Mechanical Engineering grad Michael Massimino. The seven-person crew of the Atlantis space shuttle is set to return to earth on Friday after completing a series of delicate adjustments. This is the fifth repair mission overall on the famous telescope, whose deep-space images have captured the public's imagination since it was launched in 1990. The work of this most recent mission, which included five spacewalks over the past week, is expected to extend the lifespan of the Hubble for another five to seven years. Learn more about the Hubble Space Telescope at http://hubble.nasa.gov/

MIT Professional Education - Short Programs Provide Opportunities to Learn Directly from MechE Faculty

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:44:00 -0400

This summer MIT Professional Education – Short Programs is offering a number of 2-5 day short courses taught by MIT faculty, including several by members of the Mechanical Engineering Department. These courses provide an opportunity to learn crucial knowledge and skills from some of the top experts in their respective fields, in areas of MIT expertise. For complete details on all of the available courses, visit the Short Programs web site at http://web.mit.edu/professional/short-programs/index.html

Igo Krebs' research in robotic therapy highlighted in new video

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:17:49 -0400

In the video "Robotics: a new hope in Cerebral Palsy", MechE Principal Research Scientist Igo Krebs discusses his history with robotic research, and its application in different types of physical therapy. Building off past successes with recovering stroke patients, research is now underway to study children with cerebral palsy, and the ways in which robotic therapy techniques can be used to improve basic motor skills. You can watch the video online by visiting the MIT TechTV web site.

de Florez Awards competition to recognize outstanding students in Course 2

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:55:43 -0400

The de Florez Invention and Innovation awards in design are given annually to students in Course 2 who demonstrate "outstanding ingenuity and creative judgment". Each year, four awards are given to students in Course 2 - two for graduate students, and two for undergraduates. Award-winning entries will receive a prize of $4,500 each. Students interested in applying for a de Florez award must submit a preliminary application to Professor Martin Culpepper no later than 5pm on Monday, May 4th. For complete details on the de Florez awards and how to apply, please visit http://pcsl.mit.edu/deFlorez.html

MIT MechE named #1 graduate program by U.S. News and Report

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:34:42 -0400

U.S. News and World Report has released their rankings of Best Grad Schools, and once again Mechanical Engineering at MIT has topped the list. MIT MechE was recognized as the top graduate mechanical engineering program in the United States - one of six engineering disciplines at MIT to be so honored. In addition, the School of Engineering as a whole was recognized as best in the nation, a spot it has held every year since the rankings began in 1990. The recognition for the MechE graduate program comes on the heels of similar accolades for the MechE undergrad program, which took the top spot in last fall's rankings. To learn more, read the MIT News Office story online.

Tish Scolnick honored as 2009 Truman Scholar

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:06:54 -0400

Congratulations to MechE undergrad Natasha (Tish) Scolnik on being named a Truman Scholar for 2009. Scolnik, who is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on International Development, has spent the past two years working with the physically disabled in Tanzania, collaborating with local workshops to improve the quality of mobility aids. The Truman Scholarship Foundation recognizes college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service. To learn more about Tish Scolnik and her work to help others, read the MIT News Office story online.

Orian Welling named Gates Cambridge Scholar

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:36:53 -0500

Congratulations to MechE grad Orian Welling '08, who has been chosen to receive a 2009 Gates Cambridge Schorlarship - one of 37 American students so honored. Welling, who is orignially from Custer, Wisconsin, spent his time at MIT working on sustainable energy technologies through research of high efficiency diesel engines and inexpensive manufacturing techniques for silicon solar cells. He is a winner of the MIT Ideas Competition Yunus Challenge, and a recipient of the Henry Ford II Scholarship, among other honors. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge University.

Innovative RoboClam inspired by nature

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:29:49 -0500

MechE Professor Anette "Peko" Hosoi and graduate student Amos Winter are digging into clams, as they develop a new robotic underwater anchor system. In doing so they have drawn attention to a seemingly simple sea creature with some rather remarkable talents. The RoboClam project is based on the razor clam - specifically its ability to dig into the sea floor quickly and efficiently, and then attach itself with a strength greater than any existing mechanical anchor. The project has drawn plenty of attention, including a Boston Globe article and a podcast on Scientific American's 60-Second Science. You can learn more about RoboClam, and check out video of a razor clam in action, at the MIT News Office web site.

Nathaniel Sharpe wins Marshall Scholarship

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:36:05 -0500

Four MIT students have been awarded Marshall Scholarships - the most awarded to any U.S. college or university this year. Among the winners of the prestigious award, which provides students the opportunity to study for up to two years at a British university, is Mechanical Engineering student Nathaniel Sharpe. Sharpe has proved adept at solving problems, as evidenced by his success in robotic competitions both at MIT, where he finished third in a field of 135, and abroad, where his team took second place in the 2007 International Design Competition. In the future Sharpe aims to tackle the challenges of sustainable energy at Cambridge University. To read more, visit the MIT News Office online.

Greg Schroll '08 Takes Top Honors in Collegiate Inventors Competition

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:19:49 -0500

MIT MechE grad Greg Schroll was recently honored by the Collegiate Inventors Competition, taking first place in the Undergraduate division for his project "Spherical Vehicle with Flywheel Momentum Storage for High Torque Capabilities". Inspired by the principle of gyroscopic precession, Schroll developed a spherical robot which generates angular momentum to overcome obstacles such as hills or stairs. Schroll, who is currently a graduate student at Colorado State University, studied under Professor Alex Slocum at MIT. To learn more visit the Collegiate Inventors Competition website.

MechE PhD candidate Vijay Shilpiekandula wins R.V. Jones Memorial Scholarship

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:23:37 -0500

Vijay Shilpiekandula, a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, was awarded the 2008 R.V. Jones Memorial Scholarship by the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE) for his paper titled, "A Flexure-based Mechanism for Precision Angular Alignment at Large Loads," co-authored with his academic advisor Professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi. The award, which includes a $1,000 honorarium, was presented at the Annual Meeting of ASPE and the 12th ICPE at Portland, Ore., in October.

Grads in Space - Four MIT Alumni will Orbit Earth in November

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:44:33 -0400

There will be a heavy MIT presence above the earth's atmosphere this November, as four MIT graduates will be in orbit at the same time. On November 14th, Mechanical engineering grad Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper '84 and ocean engineering grad Stephen Bowen '93 will head to the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver equipment that will enable larger crews to reside there. Stephanyshyn-Piper and Bowen will be joining fellow MIT alums Michael Finke '89 and Gregory Chamitoff PhD '92 in space, marking the first time that as many as four graduates of MIT will be orbiting the earth simultaneously. To learn more about this MIT milestone, read the October 29th issue of TechTalk online.

MechE Alum Darryll Pines Named Dean of Engineering at University of Maryland

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:08:59 -0400

The University of Maryland has announced that they have chosen Dr. Darryll Pines as dean of their engineering school. Dr. Pines, who previously chaired the aerospace engineering department at UMD, is an alumnus of the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT, where he received a Ph.D. in 1992 and a M.S. in 1988. In addition to his work at Maryland, Pines has also spent three years as a program manager for the Tactical Technology Office and Defense Sciences Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he received a Distinguished Service Medal for his efforts. To learn more about Darryll Pines' appointment and accomplishments, visit the University of Maryland Newsdesk web site.

MechE Professors Glicksman, Chen, and Slocum Receive 2008 ASME Awards

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:57:03 -0400

The Department of Mechanical Engineering would like to congratulate Professors Leon Glicksman, Gang Chen, and Alexander H. Slocum - all three have been recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for their excellent work over the past year. The 2008 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition will be held in Boston from October 31st to November 6th. As part of this special event, MIT MechE will be hosting our alumni with laboratory tours and a reception on Sunday, November 2nd.

Quantifying, Predicting and Exploiting Uncertainty - MIT conducts real�time experiments in the East China Sea / Taiwan / Kuroshio region

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:10:41 -0400

MIT researchers led by Professor Pierre Lermusiaux are currently conducting real-time ocean physics and acoustic experiments in the Taiwan Strait and north of Taiwan, building on discoveries made over the previous five years in probabilistic sonar performance prediction, integrated ocean-acoustic modeling, multidisciplinary data assimilation, ocean predictability, multi-scale custom climatologies and autonomous underwater platforms.

MIT MechE ranked #1 in US News and World Report's 'Best Colleges 2009'

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:55:05 -0400

Mechanical Engineering at MIT has been honored once again as the best in the nation, according to the latest edition of US News and World Report's rankings of mechanical engineering departments offering doctorate degrees. The undergraduate engineering program as a whole was also ranked #1 in the country, marking the seventh straight year it has been so honored. The full list of engineering program rankings can be found at http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/engineering

Barry Kudrowitz Jokes Around with New Ideas

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:20:39 -0400

In an interview for the upcoming documentary "Imagine It!²", MechE PHD candidate Barry Kudrowitz talks about using a brainstorming technique called association mapping to generate new ideas in the classroom. By applying the principles of joke theory - particularly the combination of unusual ideas - Kudrowitz has developed new concepts for spurring innovation and creative thought. You can find the interview online at http://www.iloop.tv/people/index.html.

MIT, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals launch program on clean water, clean energy

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:02:56 -0400

Solar energy, the desalination of seawater, and other technologies related to the production of fresh water and low-carbon energy will be the focus of a seven-year research and educational program launched between faculty in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

13Seas Wins Award for "Outstanding Student Section" from Marine Technology Society

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:43:02 -0400

Congratulations go out to 13Seas, the MIT-based student section of the Marine Technology Society, for being recognized as "Outstanding Student Section" within the organization. The Marine Technology Society (MTS) is an international, not-for-profit professional society of ocean engineers, technologists, policy makers, and educators.

MechE Grad Veuthey Among Six Awarded Fulbright Scholarships

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:54:50 -0400

Four recent MIT graduates and two current PhD students have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year. Among them is Tess Veuthey '08, who graduated this past June with dual degrees in Course 2-A and brain and cognitive sciences. She plans to dedicate her life to examining the physical and mental effects on the physically disabled through hands-on work, creating prosthetics, and counseling through psychiatry. This fall she will travel to Cambodia to continue the work she began with her winning IDEAS competition scheme, building low-cost and appropriate prosthetics for poor rural communities. Learn more about all six scholarship recipients by visiting the MIT News Office web site.

MIT Professional Institute Provides Opportunities to Learn Directly from MechE Faculty

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:16:54 -0400

This summer the MIT Professional Institute is offering a number of 2-6 day short courses taught by MIT faculty, including several by members of the Mechanical Engineering Department. These courses provide an opportunity to learn crucial knowledge and skills from some of the top experts in their respective fields, in areas of MIT expertise. For complete details on all of the available courses, visit the MIT Professional Institute web site at http://web.mit.edu/mitpep/pi/

Carol Livermore Explores the Hidden Potential of 'Nanotube Forests'

Wed, 28 May 2008 16:32:47 -0400

In a recent Boston Globe profile, MechE Assistant Professor Carol Livermore discussed her work in nanotechnolgy - specifically carbon nanotubes, and some of their potential uses in future technologies. The microscopically small yet unusually strong nanotubes act as highly efficient springs, capable of storing and releasing energy as they are stretched and released, like "tiny Slinkies". Potential uses range from more efficient watch springs that only need to be wound once a month, to a regenerative braking device for bicycles that stores braking energy and converts it into propulsive force.

MIT MechE Honors 2008 Student Award Winners

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:23:14 -0400

On Thursday, May 15th, students, faculty, and staff gathered at the MIT Faculty Club for the 2008 Student Awards Luncheon. This annual tradition celebrates the creativity, innovation, and performance of students in the Mechanical Engineering department throughout the past year. Congratulations to all of the MechE students who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the department and the MIT community.

Nam-Pyo Suh to Receive Honorary Doctorate from Carnegie Mellon

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:22:03 -0400

Distinguished professor, former MechE department head, and current KAIST president Nam-Pyo Suh will receive an honorary doctoral degree from Carnegie Mellon University on May 18th, in recognition of his work in helping to make KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) a world-class institution. Professor Suh has been part of the MIT Mechanical Engineering family for over three decades. During that time he has compiled a long list of accomplishments, including Founding Director of the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity (LMP), Director of the Park Center for Complex Systems, and MechE Department Head from 1991-2001.

Professor Mary Boyce to Head MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:36:03 -0400

MIT MechE Professor Mary Boyce has been chosen as the next head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, effective July 1st. The appointment was made by Dean Subra Suresh, at the recommendation of a special faculty advisory committee. Professor Boyce is renowned for her research in the mechanics of polymers, networks, and soft tissues, and for her dedication to engineering education. She succeeds Professor Rohan Abeyaratne, who has served as the head of MIT MechE since 2001.

MIT and Fraunhofer Announce Center for Sustainable Energy Systems

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:05:18 -0400

At the recent MIT Energy Conference, Foreign Minister of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, along with MIT President Susan Hockfield and Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles, participated in the announcement ceremony for the founding of the MIT-Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems. MechE Professor Tonio Buonassisi was named one of the center's founding directors, along with Nolan Browne and Professor Roland Schindler. The center, which will be located adjacent to the MIT campus, will be active in many areas of sustainable energy, with its initial focuses in solar, green buildings and energy device prototyping.

Professor Nicholas Makris' Hurricane Research Featured in NY Times

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:07:14 -0400

Recent research by MechE Professor Nicholas Makris into a new method of measuring the strength of hurricanes has caught the attention of many in the scientific community - including the science writers at the New York Times. The new technique uses underwater microphones to measure the sound generated by a hurricane as it passes overhead. These sounds can then be used to determine the strength of the storm. Professor Nicholas Makris is a professor of mechanical and ocean engineering, and the director of MIT's Laboratory for Undersea Remote Sensing. To learn more about his research, take a look at the New York Times article, and the story from the MIT News Office.

Professor Gang Chen Leads Pioneering Thermoelectric Research

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:22:25 -0400

A team of scientists from Boston College and MIT has used nanotechnology to achieve dramatic gains in thermoelectric efficiency. According to a new paper published in the online edition of Science magazine, the researchers were able to achieve gains of 40% in the thermoelectric efficiency of bismuth antimony telluride, a commonly used semiconductor alloy. "These thermoelectric materials are already used in many applications, but this better material can have a bigger impact," said Gang Chen, the Warren and Towneley Rohsenow Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, and a leader of the project. Read more...

Professor Ahmed Ghoniem Receives KAUST Grant for Clean Technologies

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:18:06 -0400

Congratulations to MechE Professor Ahmed F. Ghoniem, who has been chosen to receive a five-year grant from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. Prof. Ghoniem is one of twelve researchers from around the world to be named as a Global Research Partnership (GRP) Investigator. His project at KAUST, "Advanced Energy Conversion Systems", will focus on future clean technologies with a unique emphasis on integrating process, component, and systems level analyses, allowing for the optimization of modern energy systems for higher efficiency and lowest carbon emissions. Read more...

MIT Undergrad Michael Snively Blogs the Toy Lab

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:17:41 -0500

Since the start of the new year, MIT undergrad Michael Snively '11 has been offering a unique perspective on student life at MIT, via his blog on the MIT Admissions web site. In a recent post, he shares his experience on the first day of class in Toy Design (2.00b), ultimately deeming it "The Holy Grail of Classes". Read all about it on Snively's Blog.

NASA Astronaut, MechE Grad Dan Tani '88 Returns Home

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

After spending the past four months in orbit , much of it on the International Space Station, Mechanical Engineering graduate Daniel Tani '88 has finally returned to earth. Tani was one of seven astronauts on board space shuttle Atlantis, which touched down safely at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday morning. You can read more about the successful return of shuttle Atlantis on the NASA web site.

MSRP and CONVERGE Programs Provide Graduate Opportunities, Support Diversity at MIT

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) seeks to promote the value of graduate education; to improve the research enterprise through increased diversity; and to prepare and recruit the best and brightest for graduate education at MIT. Learn more at http://web.mit.edu/gso/admissions/summer.html. CONVERGE is a graduate preview weekend held on the MIT campus during the fall, which began as a grass roots collaboration between MIT graduate students in the Graduate Student Council and the Black Graduate Students Association, and members of the MIT administration. Learn more at http://web.mit.edu/converge/

MechE Student Receives National Honor for Academic Excellence

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Melis Anahtar '08 is one of 20 high-achieving students named to the 2008 All-USA College Academic First Team, USA TODAY's recognition program for outstanding undergraduates. Anahtar was selected for the honor from a group of over 500 juniors and seniors from around the country. Read more...

Krebs to Co-Direct Rehabilitation Robotics Workshop

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

MechE Principal Research Scientist Hermano Igo Krebs will be part of a panel of experts gathering in Elche, Spain in the spring of 2008 to conduct a workshop focused on the growing field of rehabilitation robotics. The 3° Winter School, which will take place from March 30th - April 4th, will involve a set of international experts in the field from the clinical, scientific, and engineering communities. To learn more, visit their web site at http://www.isa.umh.es/vr2/euron08, or you can view a PDF with more program details.

MechE Graduate Launches Into Space

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0500

NASA Astronaut and Mechanical Engineering grad Daniel Tani '88, recently hopped a ride on space shuttle Discovery, and is currently in residence high above Earth on the International Space Station. Tani is expected to spend several months on the outpost. The engineer has flown on one previous shuttle mission. Married with two children, Tani holds two degrees from MIT.

iRobot Founder Helen Greiner Enters Women's Technology Hall of Fame

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

MechE alum Helen Greiner '90, one of the founders of Burlington-based iRobot, has been selected for induction into the Women in Technology International (WITI) Hall of Fame. Greiner is one of four inductees being honored by the professional group this year. Read more...

Low Technologies, High Aims - IDDS, Amy Smith Profiled in New York Times

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Congratulations to MIT D-Lab, the International Development Design Summit, and MechE Senior Lecturer Amy Smith for being featured in the Science section of the New York Times. In an article titled "Low Technologies, High Aims", reporter Andrew C. Revkin looks at the groundbreaking efforts of MIT students and faculty as they search for innovative solutions to problems faced by developing countries around the world. Read the NYT article, and also check out the MechE Feature story on Amy Smith and D-Lab.

MIT MechE ranked #1 by US News and World Report

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Department of Mechnical Engineering at MIT is the best in the nation, according to the 2007 edition of US News and World Report's college rankings. MechE was one of many MIT departments honored - the Departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science also topped their respective categories, while the undergraduate engineering program as a whole was named best in the country for the sixth consecutive year. Read more...

MechE professors Vest, Langer win top U.S. technology, science honors

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Three distinguished members of the MIT community - President Emeritus and Professor of Mechanical Engineering Charles M. Vest, pioneering biomedical engineer and joint Professor of Mechanical Engineering Robert S. Langer, and groundbreaking atomic physicist Daniel Kleppner - have been awarded the nation's highest technology and science honors. Vest joins four current or former engineers and inventors from MIT who have won the National Medal of Technology, while Langer and Kleppner bring to 47 the number of MIT scientists to win the National Medal of Science. Read more...

MechE Alum Craig Forest reaches finals of "American Inventor" Competition

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

A team of inventors including MIT Mechanical Engineering alumnus Craig Forest '07 has been selected as the New York City finalists for the ABC television series "American Inventor". The team impressed the judges with The Claw, a replacement for a ceiling hook from which to hang a bicycle. The Claw latches on to the front or back tire with just a vertical motion and eliminates the struggle to wrestle a bike onto a hook. As winners of the New York competition, they received $50,000 to further develop their product, and will move on to the Los Angeles-based finals, where they will be competing for the $1 million first prize. Forest earned his PhD from the MIT Mechanical Engineering department this past June, working with Professor Ian Hunter.

Slocum appointed to Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professorship

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Alex Slocum has been selected to be the next holder of the Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professorship in Mechanical Engineering. This Chair recognizes Professor Slocum's many contributions to creative design and passionate education.

Yue selected for First Philip J. Solondz Professorship

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Dick Yue has been selected to be the (first) holder of the Philip J. Solondz Professorship in the School of Engineering. This is a recognition of Professor Yue's many seminal contributions to computational fluid mechanics, especially related to free-surface waves in the ocean.

MechE Students Triumph in $100K Competition

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Mechanical Engineering students Nevan Hanumara, Conor Walsh, and Amy Banzaert were among the big winners of this year's MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition. Hanumara and Walsh's team won the Business Venture Grand Prize, for inventing a new robotic device that assists radiologists perform tumor biopsies. Banzaert's team won the Development Grand Prize, for developing a unique process to create cooking fuel from agricultural waste, such as corn cobs.

2007 Departmental Award Winners Announced

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Congratulations to the following MechE students and faculty, who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the department and the MIT community:

Meeting the Entropy Challenge: An International Thermodynamics Symposium - October 4-5, 2007

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This international symposium, scheduled to take place October 4-5, 2007, is being organized in honor and memory of the late Joseph Henry Keenan, thirty years after his passing. You can learn more at http://mit.edu/keenansymposium

Ghoniem Appointed to Ronald C. Crane Professorship

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Professor Ahmed Ghoniem has been appointed as the first Ronald C. Crane (1972) Professor in the School of Engineering. The donor, Ronald C. Crane (1972), established this professorship to support a School of Engineering faculty member involved in energy-related research. Please feel free to congratulate Prof. Ghoniem when you see him next!