MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI)
Doubling energy use, tripling electricity demand, political instability surrounding oil sources in the Middle East, and detrimental effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment: For MIT, these are the next problems to solve.
The scope of the world’s energy problems calls for a comprehensive portfolio of responses to environmental, economic, scientific, security, and political issues. To address problems of this scale, the work must be done on all fronts. Under the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), Institute researchers are fast at work on that portfolio, with an interdisciplinary plan to address energy needs in the short-term—alleviating immediate shortage, security, and environmental concerns. They are also working to address long-term needs—finding secure, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable energy sources.
Throughout its history, the Institute has been a leader in energy research. In 1874, a steam engine was donated to be part of the newly created mechanical engineering laboratory. In 1939, Professor John Wilbur was chief engineer of the world’s first effort to derive energy from the wind by means of a large machine operating on an electric utility network. One year later, Professor Hoyt Hottel built the first solar house on MIT’s campus. These visionaries were early leaders in the energy research that continues today at MIT. Recently, Professor Daniel Nocera invented a compound that produces hydrogen gas with the help of a catalyst and a zap of light, a step toward creating energy from sunlight, as plants do.
An integral part of MIT’s history of problem solving is the convergence of science, technology, and policy. Today, the Institute brings its strengths in science, technology, urban design, and economics together in an interdisciplinary approach to a crisis that threatens our security, our environment, and our economic future.
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More about MITEI
- MITEI is led by Professor Ernest J. Moniz, director, and Robert C. Armstrong, associate director
- Energy research that is part of this Energy Initiative includes work in the following areas:
- Climate change
- today’s energy technology systems
- biomass/biofuel
- hydrogen fuel
- education
- energy storage
- buildings and transportation
- geothermal/wind/wave-ocean/solar power
- nuclear power
- leading by example, using the MIT campus as a learning laboratory for energy efficiency, and
- addressing the environmental impact of developing nations.
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Opportunities for making a difference
We welcome gifts of any amount to the MIT Energy Initiative, and suggest you consider directing your contribution to one or more of the funds listed below:
To discuss a special gift to MITEI, please contact O'Neil Outar , director, Office of Institutional Initiatives, at ooutar@mit.edu or 617.253.6906.
Or, search or browse for
a gift designation that more closely suits your objectives.
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