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Alumni Home > News & Events > Noteworthy > E-Newsletters

eAVC - The Monthly e-Newsletter for MIT Volunteers

May 2006

In This Issue:

Dear Volunteers,

President Hockfield's energy initiative, a push to unite current MIT energy research from disparate labs and departments in a focused way, kicked off with a day-long energy forum last week. The Energy Research Council presented a summary of their findings and released their recommendations for comment—the full report is available online. Comments can be emailed to energyresearch@mit.edu.

Though this is a preliminary set of recommendations, the research that is already going on at MIT is phenomenal. Nineteen faculty summarized ongoing projects that represent all that MIT thrives on: collaboration, innovation, leadership, data-driven analysis, and the can-do attitude the world needs when it comes to solving problems. As Ernest Moniz noted, the multiple solutions required to address the world's energy crisis will take 50 years to enact—starting today.

What next? The ERC report calls for MIT to establish a multidisciplinary research portfolio and central research space within five years. It also recommends new educational initiatives including energy content integrated into the undergraduate curriculum, more coherence in the graduate program, new courses, new undergraduate minors (which will be defined by early 2007), and outreach to the developing world. In addition, MIT hopes to serve as a model for other universities by lowering campus energy use and cost, reducing emissions, and providing learning opportunities for faculty, students, and staff.

Please read the report. I look forward to developing ideas about how alumni can take part in this global energy initiative.

Regards,
Beth Garvin HM

Association Talking Points

Last Call: Register for Tech Reunions 2006 By May 19

Don't miss the opportunity to explore campus, learn from MIT faculty, and meet other interesting MIT alumni at Tech Reunions 2006, held June 8-11. Registration closes May 19. Register and check out the schedule.

Dial Those Digits!

Calling all reunion gift volunteers—2006 reunion gift campaigns come to a close in a mere four-and-a-half weeks. Call your classmates today to help boost your class gift and participation. Help make this reunion year a success!

Reunion Row Celebrates Ten Years of Spirited Competition

What class will be inscribed on the coveted Reunion Row bowl? Find out Sunday, June 11, at the tenth annual row, where crew teams representing reunion classes battle it out on the Charles River. Learn more or register.

Enjoy One-Stop Shopping for Volunteer Tools

Now, access all your volunteer tools on one convenient page after logging in to the Infinite Connection from the Alumni Association homepage. Find Lists and Labels, educational counselor and ICAN tools, SmarTrans™, Association and Fund Board materials, and more from Your Information page, which appears upon login. Simply scroll to the Volunteer Tools section. While there, verify and update your contact information.

Angel Investing Sequel Shows How to Close the Deal

Learn how to close deals and work with angel investors at "Talk to an Angel: Crucial Connections to Early Stage Capital," the MIT Enterprise Forum's sequel to last June's broadcast, which provided an overview of angel investing. View the broadcast June 7, 2006, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. EDT on campus, or set up a local viewing site via satellite or Web cast or delayed on DVD. Contact the Enterprise Forum at 617-253-0015 or mitef@mit.edu for information.

Campus News

Institute Outlines Plan to Help Solve World's Energy Crisis

The Energy Research Council, formed a year ago by President Hockfield to address the Institute's contributions to sustainable energy, released its report May 3 during a day-long energy forum. The report outlined promising MIT energy research, new educational initiatives, and a campus-wide effort to improve energy management. Download a PDF of the report.

MIT Research Offers New Hope for Alzheimer's Patients

MIT brain researchers have developed a cocktail of dietary supplements, now in human clinical trials, that holds promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

New Map Reveals Secret of Stem Cell Development

Using both human and mouse embryonic stem cells, researchers from MIT, the Whitehead Institute, and Harvard have mapped how a key developmental ingredient controls the genome. The map could be used to guide the fate of stem cells so that they could replace diseased or damaged cells.

Volunteer Initiatives

Club-Sponsored SEPT Program Boosts K-12 Science Education

President Hockfield advocates improved K-12 science education, and numerous alumni clubs and alumni answer the charge by sponsoring local teachers selected for the Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT). SEPT is a week-long opportunity for some 50 primary and secondary school educators to visit MIT's campus to hear about cutting-edge MIT research and learn new ways to teach science, math, and engineering. Alumni clubs worldwide sponsor program participants including the clubs of Cape Cod, southern California, Delaware Valley, southwest Florida, Maine, south Texas, Puget Sound, and more.

Host MIT's Next Generation of Undergrads at Summer Send-Off Events

Meet the future of MIT by hosting a Summer Send-Off event in July or August for members of the Class of 2010. Last year, 50 events worldwide united club volunteers, educational counselors, parent connectors, and current students to welcome incoming freshmen and their parents to the Institute. Contact Krista McCabe at 617-324-0378 or kmccabe@mit.edu to learn more.

Pass Out Kudos to Exceptional Volunteers

The Volunteer Honor Roll of Service recently recognized volunteers for initiating a popular new book club, providing free legal advice, boosting class fundraising results, revitalizing a club, and assisting with rush on campus. What have your fellow volunteers done that deserves recognition? Let the Alumni Association know. Nominate them for the Volunteer Honor Roll of Service for work completed between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006.

Recruit New Talent with the Volunteer Opportunities Bulletin Board

Does your club or group need to fill volunteer positions as the fiscal year draws to a close? Are you stepping down from your current volunteer role? Post a written volunteer job description on the Volunteer Opportunities Bulletin Board. It's a great way to recruit new volunteers.

Stay Current

Make your volunteer work easier by being easy to find. Please take a moment to log in to the Infinite Connection and update your contact information.

About eAVC

eAVC, a monthly e-newsletter for MIT volunteers, is available in HTML and text-only formats. To receive the text-only format, please email mitalum@mit.edu.

Feedback, comments, or questions?

E-mail Amy Marcott, Web Writer/Editor