Leveraging science and technology against the world’s top problems
From nuclear proliferation to climate change, Richard K. Lester taps research talent to map a path toward a sustainable planet.
MIT Energy Conference focuses on climate’s toughest challenges
Annual student-led conference looks at prospects for decarbonizing some of the most difficult industries, including aviation and cement production.
Ocean vital signs
MIT scientists hope to deploy a fleet of drones to get a better sense of how much carbon the ocean is absorbing, and how much more it can take.
Q&A: Climate Grand Challenges finalists on new pathways to decarbonizing industry
Faculty leaders detail promising technologies, materials, and methods that could help unlock a low-carbon future in sectors where emissions are hardest to cut.
Setting carbon management in stone
When it comes to carbon storage, some MIT scientists think the best solution is to find the fastest way to turn carbon into rock.
Q&A: Climate Grand Challenges finalists on accelerating reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions
Faculty leaders describe their efforts to develop potentially game-changing tools.
Building communities, founding a startup with people in mind
Postdoc Francesco Benedetti strives to make a positive impact — from helping to form supportive student groups to tackling industrial energy waste.
How to clean solar panels without water
A new cleaning method could remove dust on solar installations in water-limited regions, improving overall efficiency.
Using nature’s structures in wooden buildings
A new approach enables architects to use discarded tree forks as load-bearing joints in their structures.
New maps show airplane contrails over the U.S. dropped steeply in 2020
The computer-vision technique behind these maps could help avoid contrail production, reducing aviation’s climate impact.
Q&A: Climate Grand Challenges finalists on building equity and fairness into climate solutions
Faculty leaders discuss the opportunities and obstacles in developing, scaling, and implementing their work rapidly.
Can the world meet global climate targets without coordinated global action?
Growing demand for an energy transition could move the needle, but not far enough.
New power sources
Thirty-six million people in the U.S. use an energy system developed by a handful of activists in the 1990s. An MIT scholar examines this unusual story.
First-ever Climate Grand Challenges recognizes 27 finalists
A subset of the finalists will be announced as multiyear flagship projects this spring.
Students dive into research with the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium
Through MIT’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, students explore research topics relevant to their own interests, the MCSC, and member companies.