MIT Tech Connection

An MIT Alumni Association Publication

February 2017

Akamai CEO, Dr. Tom Leighton

National Inventors Hall of Fame to Honor Akamai Founders

MIT Professor Tom Leighton PhD '81 and the late Danny Lewin SM '97, who founded Akamai in 1998, used algorithms to make the Internet speedy by copying and channeling massive amounts of data into secure places that are quick to access. The National Inventors Hall of Fame will recognize their work in May as 2017 winners.

Research & Discovery

Videos: Learn about Smart Fabrics, New Music, Medical Engineering, and More

Watch videos of recent Faculty Forums Online including Manufacturing Smarter Fabrics featuring alumni researchers and sessions with composer John Harbison and Koch researcher Daniel Anderson. Check out upcoming FFO events including the alumni winners of the Presidential Early Career Awards on February 21. 

Campus News

Time to Vote

All MIT alumni are encouraged to vote in the election of four new representatives to the 2017 Alumni Association Selection Committee (AASC), the group that chooses the Association president and board members. Learn more about each nominee and vote on the AASC selection page.

Better World (Mexico)

Alumni and friends in Latin America can learn more about MIT's global commitment to research, education, and innovation when the Better World tour visits Mexico City on March 23. RSVP now to hear speakers including, President L. Rafael Reif, graduate student Carlos A. Sainz Caccia, and professors Paulo Lozano SM '98, PhD '03 and Miho Mazereeuw. 

Alumni News

Grad Life: MIT Is Less an Ivory Tower, More a Market Square

Biological engineering doctoral student Shelby Doyle feared MIT life might be isolating but instead she found it to be a "bustling place of business and innovation."

Video: MIT Hyperloop

An MIT student team is testing high-speed concept pods in a SpaceX competition.

Alaska Family Trip

An MIT student team is testing high-speed concept pods in a SpaceX competition.

Transparent, Gel-Based Robots

Hydrogel robots could assist in surgery, evade underwater detection.

MIT 24-Hour Challenge

Join MIT’s first Giving Day, March 14, and help unlock a $150,000 challenge gift.

Alumna Shares Science on YouTube's SciShow

Ceri Riley ’16 followed a non-traditional career path–and found that exploring new research and weird science in Montana is a perfect fit.

Where to Find Love at MIT

What is the most romantic spot at MIT? Alumni responded with tales of true love found at the ‘Tute and offered some surprising data.

Tibetans and MITers Meet on the Court

Find out why nine alumni showed up last August when Tibet hosted the first exhibition game with the country’s all-star players and a US basketball team.

About Tech Connection

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February 2017

Research & Discovery

Videos: Learn about Smart Fabrics, New Music, Medical Engineering, and More

Campus News

Time to Vote

Better World (Mexico)

Alumni News

Grad Life: MIT Is Less an Ivory Tower, More a Market Square

Video: MIT Hyperloop

Alaska Family Trip

Transparent, Gel-Based Robots

MIT 24-Hour Challenge

Alumna Shares Science on YouTube's SciShow

Where to Find Love at MIT

Tibetans and MITers Meet on the Court