New ZigZag and more

New ZigZag and more As you know, MIT is embarking on a mission to tackle the worlds energy and environment problems. Today, Ive got two pieces of media to check out relating to this mission. First, theres a new episode of ZigZag, hosted by Marsha. Theres a nice piece about MIT research on more energy-efficient cars, as well as a look at MITs Friday-after-Thanksgiving tradition of a giant Rube Goldberg machine. Check it out: Also, MIT President Susan Hockfield recently wrote an op-ed in the Boston Globe entitled A Model For Tackling The Energy Challenge. Heres a snippet, beginning with her speaking of the energy challenge: Adding to the pressure for multiple approaches to this vast challenge, the time for initiating meaningful steps to curb climate-threatening carbon dioxide emissions is short. It will take a long time to change the energy mix appreciably. Yet we are probably only decades away, at best, from the point of no return on greenhouse gas concentrations. The university research community has embraced these challenges, with many faculty and students invested in finding energy solutions. Superb work underway on many campuses today, from Berkeley and Stanford to MIT, from the University of Michigan to the University of Texas to Georgia Tech, encompasses an impressive range of new and evolving technologies. This past summer, two MIT undergraduates gathered a group of 50 co-competitors from the annual international solar car race to collaborate in designing and building alternative vehicles capable of 300 miles or more per gallon. The tireless enthusiasm of students is one reason universities have the potential to play key roles in energy innovation. In addition, while integrating new technologies on a broad scale into an immense and mature sector of the economy will pose complex challenges, universities have expertise to share not only in technical fields, but also in economics, planning, architecture, political science, and management, among others. [] Some are pessimistic. However, consider at least one argument for a more positive outlook. At universities, we have a sustainable source of optimism our students. Make no mistake about it, they really do care. We should, too, by investing in a secure and clean energy future. In other words, were looking to you wherever you go for college to change the world. Up for it? More news soon