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News from the Edgerton Center

June 17, 2022

Testing an Autonomous Boat

MIT Arcturus on their first testing trip
See more on Instagram

Letter From The Director

This past semester has seen much excitement through events, awards, and recognition.

Clubs and teams have been back to work at full capacity, with the addition of our new autonomous boat team, Arcturus. At our first annual teams showcase on March 13, students, faculty, industry leaders, and alumni gathered to see everyone’s work.

Publications across MIT have featured Edgerton Center stories. MIT News highlighted our high number of women student leaders, and Slice of MIT published a retrospective on Solar Electric Vehicle Team founding member James Worden ’89. Their story made quite a splash on their Facebook page, which you can see below.

Our K-12 Program is growing to reach more teachers looking to integrate maker projects into their curriculum. Diane Brancazio and Justin Schmidt are offering free teacher workshops over Zoom. See their upcoming workshops, free materials, and K-12 Maker newsletter on their website.

Edgerton Center classes for MIT students are continuing to push students’ creativity and curiosity: two important elements of Doc Edgerton’s ethos. Pinball, crochet, and origami workshops offered a welcome refuge during IAP.

It is gratifying to see my longtime staff member Ed Moriarty recognized with not just one but two exceptional awards this Spring for his dedication to his students. (The 2022 Gordon Y. Billard Award and the Excellence in Mentoring Award). Awards won by Edgerton Center students include First Place at MakeMIT as well as the 2022 Lauren Tsai Memorial Award.

Together we have proved once again that the freedom to explore and community-building are vital elements of education.

I wish you a happy Summer.

Prof. J. Kim Vandiver
Forbes Director of the Edgerton Center

Headlines

At MIT, women take the lead on student teams

Women strengthen MIT Edgerton Center rocketry, motorsports, and solar vehicle teams with diverse perspectives.
Full story on MIT News

First annual Edgerton Center team showcase dazzled audience of all ages

Members of the public, faculty, alumni, industry leaders, and team sponsors were in attendance.
Full story on Edgerton Center website

Edward Moriarty Wins MIT Gordon Y. Billard and Excellence in Mentoring Awards

"He goes far beyond teaching STEM. He inspires creativity, wonder and joy," says President Reif.
Full story on Edgerton Center website

How a Vision for a Solar Car Sparked a Career―and MIT’s Solar Electric Vehicle Team

Engineering projects need goals, and James Worden ’89 set an especially engaging and enduring one for himself as a high school student in the early 1980s while pursuing his passion for homebuilt go-karts.
Full story on Slice of MIT

Introducing MIT Arcturus: The Edgerton Center’s new RoboBoat team

The 27-member team will represent MIT at the international RoboBoat competition this month.
Full story on Edgerton Center website

Students Create a Maker Community at the Edgerton Center Over IAP

Pinball, crochet and origami draw dozens into workshops, where students master machines and become teachers.
Full story on Edgerton Center website

Exploring Natural Creativity at the Edgerton Center

EC 050/090 helps students explore their natural creativity in unexpected ways.
Full story on Edgerton Center website

Social Highlights

Reels

When you give MIT students a month to design and build a pinball machine
From building 2-stage rockets to designing a race car: See what a few of our student clubs and teams have been up to this Independent Activities Period!
MIT Edgerton Center Teams Showcase 2022

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