MIT Energy Initiative Colloquium: The age of living machines: A biology-based energy technology revolution

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

5:15-6:15 pm ET

Samberg Conference Center, 7th Floor, Salons I & T (E52)

Register

MIT Energy Initiative Colloquium: The age of living machines: A biology-based energy technology revolution with Susan Hockfield, President Emerita and Professor, MIT

Today we’re on the cusp of a new convergence—between biology and engineering—that has the potential to be every bit as revolutionary as the 20th century’s convergence of physics with engineering that produced today’s digital technologies. Susan Hockfield’s new book, The Age of Living Machines, describes some of the breathtaking new technologies that are coming our way in the energy/water/food nexus, including virus-built batteries, protein-based water filters, and computer-engineered crops. The development of these biology-based technologies is the scientific story of the 21st century—one that holds the promise of overcoming some of the greatest environmental and humanitarian challenges of our time.

All Colloquium attendees will receive a free, signed copy of Susan Hockfield’s book, The Age of Living Machines, at the event while supply lasts.

About the speaker:

Susan Hockfield served from 2004 to 2012 as the sixteenth president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is now President Emerita, professor of neuroscience, and a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. As president, Hockfield strengthened the foundations of MIT’s finances and campus planning while advancing Institute-wide programs in sustainable energy and the convergence of the life, physical, and engineering sciences. Hockfield helped shape national policy for energy and next-generation manufacturing, appointed by President Obama in 2011 to co-chair the steering committee of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership and by serving as a member of a Congressional Commission evaluating the Department of Energy laboratories in 2015. As a biologist, she pioneered the use of monoclonal antibody technology in brain research. She is the past president and chairman of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and currently serves as a director of Partners HealthCare System, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory and Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation, is a life member of the MIT Corporation, and a board member of the Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Reception with light refreshments will follow.

Please note this is a public event and we will open our doors to unregistered participants 15 minutes before the event start time. To guarantee your seat, we recommend you register and arrive at least 15 minutes early.

If you are not able to attend, note there will be a high-quality recording of this seminar made available on our YouTube channel about a week following the event.