After more than a decade of successes, ESI’s work will spread out across the Institute
John Fernandez will step down as head of the Environmental Solutions Initiative, as its components will become part of the Climate Project and other entities.
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Window-sized device taps the air for safe drinking water
MIT engineers developed an atmospheric water harvester that produces fresh water anywhere — even Death Valley, California.
“Each of us holds a piece of the solution”
Campus gathers with Vice President for Energy and Climate Evelyn Wang to explore the Climate Project at MIT, make connections, and exchange ideas.
Study helps pinpoint areas where microplastics will accumulate
Biofilms deposited by living organisms reduce the accumulation of small particles, while areas of bare sand can be microplastics hotspots.
AI stirs up the recipe for concrete in MIT study
With demand for cement alternatives rising, an MIT team uses machine learning to hunt for new ingredients across the scientific literature.
MIT students and postdoc explore the inner workings of Capitol Hill
In an annual tradition, MIT affiliates embarked on a trip to Washington to explore federal lawmaking and advocate for science policy.
Shaping the future through systems thinking
Ananda Santos Figueiredo, a senior in climate system science and engineering, is charting her own course of impact.
A new technology for extending the shelf life of produce
Researchers used microneedles to inject fresh-cut crops with melatonin and delay spoilage.
3 Questions: Making the most of limited data to boost pavement performance
Postdoc Haoran Li describes how the Concrete Sustainability Hub is enabling accessible, fast, and robust pavement decision-making.
School of Engineering faculty and staff receive awards for winter 2025
Faculty members and researchers honored in recognition of their scholarship, service, and overall excellence.
MIT engineering students crack egg dilemma, finding sideways is stronger
A new study reveals why eggshells are stronger on their sides, overturning a popular science belief.
New tool evaluates progress in reinforcement learning
“IntersectionZoo,” a benchmarking tool, uses a real-world traffic problem to test progress in deep reinforcement learning algorithms.
Study of facial bacteria could lead to probiotics that promote healthy skin
During the early teen years, many new strains of C. acnes colonize the skin on our faces. This could be an optimal time for probiotic treatment.
Will the vegetables of the future be fortified using tiny needles?
Researchers showed they can inexpensively produce silk microneedles to deliver vitamins or agrochemicals to plants.
Designing a new way to optimize complex coordinated systems
Using diagrams to represent interactions in multipart systems can provide a faster way to design software improvements.