Jan 27 2012

Space Robots II: Attack of the Paradigm Shifts

Posted in: Academics & Research

UROPs.

You've heard about them before, but here's a refresher. At MIT, we have lots of professors doing research. We have lots of undergrads who would love the opportunity to do research and learn about their field. And we have the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program doing all the magic in-between dealing with proposals, funding, and listings.

(Though listings are far from the only opportunities available - if you're interested in a professor's research, just go ask about it and see if they have space for someone. That's how I got my first UROP!)

The experience is incredibly valuable. A few years ago, back when I was Course 7 (that's Biology, for all you haven't-learned-MITese folks), I UROP'd in a really amazing and informative lab working on the genetics of regeneration. Slicing up regenerating organisms with a certain gene turned off to see that they grew heads at every new cut was a real "whoaaaaa what?" moment :)

But though fascinating, I somehow felt like I... read the post »

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Sep 27 2011

Like a G6

Posted in: Life & Culture

You may have heard of the MIT Flying Club, which I'm not actually active in.  (I learned to fly pre-MIT and probably won't have much time to fly until post-MIT - in the meanwhile, I'm mostly spending my time taking advantage of opportunities I didn't have at home ^_^)  In any case, I am on their mailing list, because they are awesome and frequently do awesome things.  Like putting this in the Z center (our humongous campus gym):

It was an F-35 simulator, and I was SUPER STOKED upon signing up for it.  It sounded pretty shiny.  In classical me mode, my first thought upon hearing about it was "I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CRASH THAT THING."   Since I make regular practice of not crashing planes I fly, I figured a simulator is a good place to do it.  Until I saw a shiny, shiny pin that one of the MIT Flying Club members was wearing...

"Whoa, they give those to you?"
"Only if you don't crash."
"NOOOO I WANT MY EXPLOSIONSSSSS!!!"

But man, the pin sure did look shiny.

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Sep 22 2011

A Day in the Life

Posted in: Life & Culture

It's 2am, I'm up reading about plane crashes (more on my classes later), and a cool thing is happening on campus.

Technique, MIT's yearbook (and, relatedly, the photography/design club) is hosting A Day in the Life.  This is one day where students all over campus - grad students working late in lab, people psetting, athletes, artists, awesome people with dart guns, whoever - will take pictures as they go about their normal day, and post them on the website.

To be honest, I'm not sure how old this project is (perhaps someone more enlightened will comment?) - but ever since I stumbled upon it two years ago, I thought it was really neat ^_^ 

The day runs midnight to midnight, so if you'd like to see photos from some of the early birds (well, night owls), take a look!

And now, back to my regularly scheduled tooling*

* except I'm usually asleep by midnight...

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Aug 26 2011

What’s on your mind?

Posted in: Miscellaneous

RUSH RUSH RUSH RUSH

So much is about to happen!  Electrical-component jewelry-making, seesaw- and small earth-mover-building, truffle-creating!  Not to mention the epic water war between the east side and west side dorms (assuming Hurricane Irene doesn't get us first).  Freshmen will learn their way around campus, and upperclassmen will show off every living group and club we've got. 

It's an exciting time, and now... now I am prepared.  Because my hair feels normal again.

You may have previously learned that the east side of campus has an unusually high percentage of people who dye their hair weird colors.  It may come to you as no surprise that I plan on spending most of rush hanging out at Random, with a few flights to East Campus to help build cool wooden things.  'cause, well, my heart belongs to both amazing places ^_^

But enough about me.  My question is for YOU.

Prospective students, curious parents, excited prefrosh gah you guys are freshmen now, what are you... read the post »

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Aug 24 2011

Help@MIT

Posted in: Information

It's August.  Campus is already buzzing to life.  Those friends who went off to distant lands for the summer are finally coming home, and freshmen are just starting to filter in due to FPOPs or international orientation (safe travels for the rest of you arriving over the weekend!).  It'll be a time for some new adventure before classes start.  Boston is to be explored, roller coasters to be built, and all the rush food ever shall be eaten.  Easy, fun, interesting.  Life will be pretty good ^_^

But this MIT, where the education is likened to drinking from a firehose.  As one might suspect, things won't always be easy.  Often enough, you'll find yourself leaning on your friends.  Maybe you'll miss home, and give your parents a call.  But sometimes, you'll need more resources than those.  You might need more than the incredibly awesome How to Get Around MIT guide (free for freshmen!), or the growing Admissions wiki, or a map, or the blogs [insert "You Are Here" sticker].  Maybe it's... read the post »

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