Special events and guest speakers

A better DNA material for genetic medicine
To our immune system, a potentially lifesaving gene therapy can look a lot like a dangerous infection. That’s because most genetic medicine uses viruses or double-stranded DNA to deliver genetic…
Lisa Su ’90, SM ’91, PhD ’94 to deliver MIT’s 2026 Commencement address
Lisa Su ’90, SM ’91, PhD ’94, a leading executive in the semiconductor industry and head of the company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), will deliver the address at the OneMIT…
Need support while OGE is closed for the winter break?
The Institute is closed from December 25-January 2, but there are still resources available if you need help! Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the people below. Searching…
Winter break activities & connections
Note: If you need support while the Institute is closed, please don’t hesitate to use these resources. Free or discounted tickets to museums and arts events Take some time to…
A day in the life of MIT PhD student Alex Busch
“As a student of both sociology and economics, MIT Sloan was the ideal place for me to combine both disciplines,” says Alex Busch, a PhD student. “MIT Sloan is unique…
MIT’s Science Policy Initiative holds 15th annual Executive Visit Days
“To really understand science policy, you have to step outside the lab and see it in action,” says Jack Fletcher, an MIT PhD student in nuclear science and engineering and…
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya visits MIT
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya visited MIT on Friday, engaging in a wide-ranging discussion about policy issues and research aims at an event also featuring Rep. Jake…
Paula Hammond named dean of the School of Engineering
Paula Hammond ’84, PhD ’93, an Institute Professor and MIT’s executive vice provost, has been named dean of MIT’s School of Engineering, effective Jan. 16. She will succeed Anantha Chandrakasan,…
MADMEC winners develop spray-on coating to protect power lines from ice
A spray-on coating to keep power lines standing through an ice storm may not be the obvious fix for winter outages — but it’s exactly the kind of innovation that…
MIT researchers “speak objects into existence” using AI and robotics
Generative AI and robotics are moving us ever closer to the day when we can ask for an object and have it created within a few minutes. In fact, MIT…
Cultivating confidence and craft across disciplines
Both Rohit Karnik and Nathan Wilmers personify the type of mentorship that any student would be fortunate to receive — one rooted in intellectual rigor and grounded in humility, empathy,…
Exploring how AI will shape the future of work
“MIT hasn’t just prepared me for the future of work — it’s pushed me to study it. As AI systems become more capable, more of our online activity will be…
The unsung role of logistics in the US military
The U.S. military is mighty, formidable, and singular in influence, stationed in at least 128 overseas bases across 51 countries. Concealed beneath the United States’ biggest investment is a surprise:…
Celebrating the advancement of technology leadership through policy analysis and guidance
In 1965, after completing his PhD in civil engineering at MIT, Professor Richard de Neufville joined the first class of White House Fellows, one of the nation’s most prestigious programs…
MIT scientists debut a generative AI model that could create molecules addressing hard-to-treat diseases
More than 300 people across academia and industry spilled into an auditorium to attend a BoltzGen seminar on Thursday, Oct. 30, hosted by the Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in…
Mind, hand, and harvest
On a sunny, warm Sunday MIT students, staff, and faculty spread out across the fields of Hannan Healthy Foods in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Some of these volunteers pluck tomatoes from their vines…
How a building creates and defines a region
As an undergraduate majoring in architecture, Dong Nyung Lee ’21 wasn’t sure how to respond when friends asked him what the study of architecture was about. “I was always confused…
New AI agent learns to use CAD to create 3D objects from sketches
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the go-to method for designing most of today’s physical products. Engineers use CAD to turn 2D sketches into 3D models that they can then test and…
A new take on carbon capture
If there was one thing Cameron Halliday SM ’19, MBA ’22, PhD ’22 was exceptional at during the early days of his PhD at MIT, it was producing the same…
Returning farming to city centers
A new class is giving MIT students the opportunity to examine the historical and practical considerations of urban farming while developing a real-world understanding of its value by working alongside…
Phil Sharp-Alnylam Fund for Emerging Scientists to support MIT biology graduate students and faculty
It’s no question that graduate school in fundamental research was never for the faint of heart, but academia’s nationwide funding disruptions threaten not just research happening now, but the critical…
Green bananas can’t throw 3.091 Fun Run off course
The night before the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE)’s 3.091 Fun Run, organizer Bianca Sinausky opened a case of bananas she’d ordered and was met with a surprise:…
Transforming complex research into compelling stories
For students, postdocs, and early-career researchers, communicating complex ideas in a clear and compelling manner has become an essential skill. Whether applying for academic positions, pitching research to funders, or…
Giving buildings an “MRI” to make them more energy-efficient and resilient
Older buildings let thousands of dollars-worth of energy go to waste each year through leaky roofs, old windows, and insufficient insulation. But even as building owners face mounting pressure to…
Charting the future of AI, from safer answers to faster thinking
Adoption of new tools and technologies occurs when users largely perceive them as reliable, accessible, and an improvement over the available methods and workflows for the cost. Five PhD students…
Lightning-prediction tool could help protect the planes of the future
More than 70 aircraft are struck by lightning every day. If you happen to be flying when a strike occurs, chances are you won’t feel a thing, thanks to lightning…
3 Questions: How AI is helping us monitor and support vulnerable ecosystems
A recent study from Oregon State University estimated that more than 3,500 animal species are at risk of extinction because of factors including habitat alterations, natural resources being overexploited, and climate…
Using classic physical phenomena to solve new problems
Quenching, a powerful heat transfer mechanism, is remarkably effective at transporting heat away. But in extreme environments, like nuclear power plants and aboard spaceships, a lot rides on the efficiency…
Studying war in the new nuclear age
Nuclear security can be a daunting topic: The consequences seem unimaginable, but the threat is real. Some scholars, though, thrive on the close study of the world’s most dangerous weapons.…
Support with purpose, driven by empathy
MIT professors Michael McDonald and Kristala Prather embody a form of mentorship defined not only by technical expertise, but by care. They remind us that the most lasting academic guidance…
At MIT, a day of hands-on, kid-friendly learning
Back and better than ever, the Cambridge Science Carnival, an annual free family-friendly science extravaganza, was held on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Kendall/MIT Open Space. Founded by the MIT Museum in…
Five with MIT ties elected to National Academy of Medicine for 2025
On Oct. 20 during its annual meeting, the National Academy of Medicine announced the election of 100 new members, including MIT faculty members Dina Katabi and Facundo Batista, along with…
Over 1,000 MIT students inspired to work toward climate solutions
Recently, more than 1,000 MIT students stepped into the shoes of global decision-makers by trying out En-ROADS, a simulation tool developed to test climate policies, explore solutions, and envision a…
Solar energy startup Active Surfaces wins inaugural PITCH.nano competition
The inaugural PITCH.nano competition, hosted by MIT.nano’s hard technology accelerator START.nano, provided a platform for early-stage startups to present their innovations to MIT and Boston’s hard-tech startup ecosystem. The grand…
The student becomes the teacher
Coming from a small high school in rural South Dakota that didn’t offer advanced placement (AP) classes, Titus Roesler ’25 didn’t have the easiest start at MIT. But when his…
New software designs eco-friendly clothing that can reassemble into new items
It’s hard to keep up with the ever-changing trends of the fashion world. What’s “in” one minute is often out of style the next season, potentially causing you to re-evaluate…