NSE News at MIT

Dear friends and colleagues of NSE,

Welcome to the start of a new academic year. I hope you all enjoyed a great summer. Certainly, those of us in the department enjoyed some downtime — but the summer is also a great time to focus on research projects — it’s hard to get bored at MIT! Of course there is always the excitement of ramping up to our fall classes and welcoming a fresh group of undergraduate and graduate students to the NSE ranks.

Earlier this semester MIT released the report on The Future of Nuclear Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World. Co-chaired by NSE’s Professor Jacopo Buongiorno, the study suggests that new policy models and cost cutting technologies are needed for nuclear energy to play an effective and meaningful role in global climate solutions. A recent MIT News article provides an excellent summary of the report’s findings. The recommendations have been presented at events in Europe, Asia, Washington DC, and other national and international meetings. The reception to the Report, which really looked at this issue with fresh analysis and thinking, has been well received. Congratulations to Jacopo and the entire study team.

This year NSE celebrates 60 years since the official establishment of nuclear engineering at MIT in 1958.  Course 22 was launched seven years earlier, in 1951, within the Department of Chemical Engineering. It was also the year that Manson Benedict became MIT’s first professor of nuclear engineering. Benedict played a key role shepherding the development of nuclear science and engineering as a field. He was the first head of the MIT Department of Nuclear Engineering. His enduring legacy is one of pride in and self-less devotion to the Department and the Institute — it is very much at the heart of NSE today. Learn more about the history of the Department.

To recognize and connect our rich community, we have started a new spotlight series that features NSE alums. The first four feature Gail H. Marcus,  Luisa Kenausis, Ashok Ajoy, and Matt Ellis and Sam Shaner. Please enjoy these articles, and let us know if you have a great story to share.

Do stay in touch and let us know what you are doing, and please stop by the Department if you are in the area. Enjoy the fall!


Dennis