NEWS BRIEFS
MIT's capital campaign, expected to raise billions of dollars, will probably stay in its "quiet phase" for several more months. Only 6 percent of registrants on edX are getting certificates, but researchers say that's not a sign that online courses are failing.
Europe’s bonds back in vogue, analysts warn of risk
LONDON — When Ireland recently made its first offering of new debt since leaving its bailout program, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny was already focused on where the money would come from next.
MIT scientists benefit from US budget deal
Massachusetts fishermen and MIT scientists are among the winners in a $1.012 trillion spending deal released Monday night by Congress.
MIT Medical adds new portal system
On Jan. 1, 2014, MIT Medical fully converted to a new healthcare portal called Follow My Health, replacing an older portal called Patient Online. Follow My Health will support features absent from Patient Online, such as the ability for patients to view lab results. Like Patient Online, Follow My Health has the right to sell aggregate data, but will not compromise any patient privacy in the process.
NEWS BRIEFS
On Jan. 1, John Charles became the new vice president for information systems and technology (IS&T). He succeeds Marilyn T. Smith, who stepped down February last year. “It’s an extraordinary honor and opportunity for me to serve MIT and its talented IS&T organization in this leadership capacity,” he told the MIT News Office.
James Roberge, MIT faculty since 1967, dies at 75
James K. Roberge, a professor of electrical engineering and a member of the MIT faculty since 1967, died Friday, Jan. 10, at age 75. Roberge continued teaching in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) through last semester.
Boris Magasanik, professor emeritus, dies at 94
Boris Magasanik, the Jacques Monod Professor Emeritus of Microbiology, passed away on Dec. 25 at his home in Cambridge. He was 94.
MIT’s Ludwig Center receives $90 million for cancer research
MIT’s Ludwig Center for Molecular Oncology, housed within the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, has received a gift of $90 million from Ludwig Cancer Research to study metastasis, the spread of cancer from a primary tumor to other parts of the body. In FY2013, MIT received $58 million research funds from non-profits, according to the treasurer’s report.
Hazel Sive steps down as assoc. dean of science
Hazel L. Sive stepped down as the associate dean of the School of Science on Dec. 16. Sive, who has served in the position since its inception in 2007, has returned to her post as a professor of biology.
Admissions says yes to 9 percent of early applicants
MIT admitted 612 students for the Class of 2018 under its early action program this year. This number represents a record low early acceptance rate of 9.0 percent, a decrease from the 9.9 percent admittance rate last year.
Charles M. Vest, champion of diversity and openness
Former MIT president Charles M. Vest — a tireless advocate for research and science, and a passionate supporter of diversity and openness — died of pancreatic cancer at his home in the Washington area on Dec. 12. He was 72.
Four MIT seniors are among Marshall Scholarship winners
Four MIT seniors recently received the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. According to the MIT News Office press release, these undergraduates — Kirin J. Sinha, Catherine E. Koch, Colleen Loynachan, and Grace C. Young — will join the 30 other U.S. winners in pursuing a graduate degree for two years at the U.K. institution of their choice.
American and British spies infiltrate fantasy realm of online games World of Warcraft and Second Life
Not limiting their activities to the earthly realm, U.S. and British spies have infiltrated the fantasy worlds of World of Warcraft and Second Life, conducting surveillance and scooping up data in the online games played by millions of people across the globe, according to newly disclosed classified documents.
Sipser appointed Acting Dean of the School of Science
Effective Dec. 16, 2013, Michael Sipser, head of the Department of Mathematics, will become the interim dean of the School of Science according to an MIT News Office press release.
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: Final presentations by students in 2.009
On Monday, Dec. 9, students in 2.009: Product Engineering Processes, presented their final projects in Kresge Auditorium. The students worked together in teams of sixteen to eighteen throughout the semester to develop products and build prototypes related to the wellness-oriented theme dubbed “Be Well.” Each team was given a $6,500 budget to design their product and build prototypes. The event, a well-organized production complete with live music, began promptly at 7:30 p.m. with a musical performance by organist Epp Sonin.
MBTA expands T hours
The MBTA announced last week a one-year pilot late night service operating on Saturdays and Sundays beginning this spring. Expanded hours will not run on Friday nights. According to the Boston Globe, the new service will run until 3:00 A.M. with the last train leaving the city at 2:30 a.m. and will include the all train lines, the Silver Line, and 15 bus routes: 1, 15, 22, 23, 28, 32, 39, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77, 111, 116, and 117. Train fares will remain the same for late night hours as other times: $2 for a subway and $1.50 for a bus.
EECS implements new maternity leave policy
The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department (Course 6) has agreed to fund a third month of paid maternity leave for its female graduate students, beyond the two-month maximum through the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE). The new policy will become effective in Spring 2014, according to department head Anantha Chandrakasan.