MIT endowment rises to 10.9 billion, up seven percent from last year
MIT’s endowment grew in fiscal year 2013 to $10.9 billion, the highest ever, in large part due to investment returns of 11.1 percent, MIT announced Friday.
Exiting provost speaks on braving funding cuts
Researchers at MIT facing funding troubles due to the federal budget sequester can rely on the Institute for “bridge funding” in the short term but may have to downsize their labs or adjust their research programs in the long term, exiting provost Chris Kaiser said in an interview.
Student survives four-story fall at fraternity
An 18-year-old MIT student fell four stories through a skylight at MIT fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa during a party shortly after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night. The student, who asked MIT to not release his name, was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is alert and has no life-threatening injuries, according to a statement released by the MIT News Office yesterday, and “student life officials are gathering further information about the circumstances surrounding the events that evening.”
Scholars skeptical toward Syria strike
The MIT Center for International Studies hosted a panel on Wednesday to discuss the recent developments in the Syrian conflict as part of its Starr Forum series of public events. The talk was held in the Bartos Theater of the MIT Media Lab and moderated by John Tirman, executive director of the Center for International Studies. It focused mainly on the use of chemical weapons that occurred on Aug. 21 and the Obama Administration’s call for military action in the wake of the attacks.
The swallowing of the shrew
How far would you go in the name of science? Last night, 10 new Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded to scientists who had succeeded in publishing “improbable” research at the 23rd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony.
ASE results fluctuate little
This year’s freshmen did remarkably well on the Chemistry (5.111) Advanced Standing Examination (ASE) — the pass rate for increased from around 14 percent in past years to 21 percent. In other subjects, though, the pass rates either remained the same or decreased.
$25 million for new center to study intelligence
The National Science Foundation announced Monday that it would award $25 million over five years to a new MIT-based Center for Brains, Minds and Machines. Researchers at the center will endeavor to both understand intelligence in humans and create intelligence in computers.
Admissions releases profile of Class of 2017
What makes the Class of 2017 unique is “their talent, energy, creativity, optimism, diversity, and passion,” wrote Dean of Admissions Stu Schmill ’86 in an email to The Tech. Last week, the Office of Admissions released a more detailed profile of the 1,116 members of the new freshman class.
How many finals do you have to take?
It is well known that different departments at MIT prefer different methods of evaluating students. For some, this is an important factor when choosing classes, or even a major. The Tech looked into how many finals are required in each of MIT’s courses. The data in this article do not take GIRs or HASS classes into account, assume a student follows prerequisites and does not take Advanced Standing Exams, and classes can be scheduled accordingly.
New dorm security policies reflect 2012 report
Five undergraduate residences (Baker House, Maseeh Hall, McCormick Hall, Next House, Simmons Hall) and two graduate residences (Tang Hall and Westgate Apartments) received enhanced security systems, video monitoring, and access systems this summer.
300 Mass. Ave. construction projects causing complaints
Random Hall residents will be getting some noisy neighbors later this month as construction begins at 300 Massachusetts Avenue, right next to the dormitory.
Former biotech king, dethroned and jailed
He was once hailed as the king of biotechnology. In the industry’s frontier days, David Blech was the top gunslinger, quick to draw his checkbook to start new companies or prop up faltering ones.
Swartz report spurs MIT to hold forums on open access, computer crime
In response to questions raised after the prosecution and death of Internet activist Aaron Swartz, MIT will arrange gatherings for the community to discuss ethics and information technology, Provost Chris Kaiser and Faculty Chair Steven Hall announced Wednesday. The dates of the gatherings will be announced “in the coming weeks,” according to their email to the MIT community.
Fossil fuels are the new tobacco: a divestment focus
In the 1980s, it was South Africa. In the 1990s, it was tobacco.
Design of GradRat unveiled yesterday
It takes more than smooth jazz, fancy desserts, and chocolate fountains to lure graduate students out of their labs and into the Walker Memorial on a Thursday evening. But the unveiling of the GradRat — the MIT graduate ring — managed to do so yesterday.
CMS and Writing join forces
Comparative Media Studies (CMS) and Writing (21W), formerly two separate majors, are now under the CMS/W program. The two majors will remain essentially the same from an academic point of view — their undergraduate and graduate programs will still remain separate — but the new program aims to encourage students in both majors to take classes in the other.