Carlo Ratti, a professor of the practice in the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, has been appointed as a special advisor to the president and commissioners of the European Commission. The appointment runs from March 5, 2015 to March 31, 2016.
The European Commission, which includes 28 commissioners appointed by the European Union member states, drafts new laws and regulations, exercises day-to-day management of EU policies and activities, works to see that EU laws are applied evenly and fairly in all member states, and represents the EU in international relations.
Ratti, who also directs the SENSEable City Lab at MIT, will act an as advisor to Carlos Moedas of Portugal, the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation. Ratti's specific charge is "to advise on the merging of the physical and digital world and smart cities."
An architect and engineer by training, Ratti is founder and principal of Carlo Ratti Associati, an architectural practice based in Torino, Italy, with branches in Boston and London. He has co-authored over 200 publications and holds several patents. His work has been exhibited worldwide at venues such as the Venice Biennale, the Design Museum Barcelona, the Science Museum in London, GAFTA in San Francisco, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
