Ideas and Voices from MIT This Month: Leadership
September 2001
 

In This Edition

MIT Working in the World

Part 1: Joint Learning in University and Nonprofit Partnerships

Part 2: Industry and Government Outreach

Part 3: Community and Public Partnerships

Questions & Answers

Prof. John Vander Sande
Executive Director, Cambridge-MIT Institute

Ellen Nedrebø '89
President, MIT Club of Norway

Susan Murcott, '90, SM '92
Working on water issues in developing countries

John Kogel '03
President, MIT Habitat for Humanity

Rich Streitmatter-Tran
Cross-registered for MIT's Interrogative Design Workshop

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MIT's commitment to creating knowledge and practical applications that improve the wellbeing of people and the planet is felt worldwide. MIT people influence diverse worlds touched by science and technology--space and deep sea exploration, computing and new media, bioengineering and nanotechnology, and learning innovations both near and distant. MIT astronauts outnumber graduates of all other private universities. U.S. presidents have relied on eight MIT-affiliated science advisors since 1940. President Charles Vest is the latest contributor to that line as a member of both the Clinton and Bush administrations' Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. New initiatives range from faculty/study/curricular exchanges through the Cambridge-MIT Institute to student-led efforts in sustainable housing, clean water, and disaster relief in communities worldwide.

MIT has, admittedly, a historic commitment to useful work. The founding charter pledges the Institute to "the advancement, development, and practical application of science in connection with arts, agriculture, manufactures and commerce." This month's openDOOR focuses on the MIT faculty, staff, and students who contribute to neighborhoods, cities, and environments far from 77 Massachusetts Avenue.

  • Joint Learning in University and Nonprofit Partnerships: Partnerships in Cambridge UK and Singapore; On Track with Japan; Enterprise Center's $50K to Go; Sustainable Housing in China; MIT Off Campus.
  • Industry and Government Outreach: Two-way traffic in the Ford-MIT Alliance;, Pluto in 2006; new generation space observatories; lean air defense; Venice flood gates; Enterprise Forum public events.
  • Community and Public Partnerships: Nepal water project; United Trauma Relief; MIT's Habitat House; alternative Turkish village; public schools teaching; ArtWorks for high school students; publishing to the public.

Poll:
In your opinion, how can MIT best help the world at large?

Help improve U.S. K-12 education
Bring technology to developing nations
Find cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's
Help industry adopt technological innovations
Improve leadership training for MIT students

 


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