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Masdar Institute Practical Experience Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Begins on 18 June

September 21, 2018

Two-Week Intensive and Challenging Program on Integrated Energy Systems Comprises Six Modules

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 5 June, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced the two-week Practical Experience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) program will begin from 18 June.

This is the second consecutive year the program is organized for the benefit of the students. The collaborative program between Masdar Institute and MIT will be held from 18 -28 June in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US. Organized by the MIT Energy Initiative, the 11-day program is a multidisciplinary, hands-on experience in scientific, technical, and societal themes in energy innovation.

Led by MIT faculty members, the program embraces intensive and challenging integrated energy systems and the students will focus on seven educational modules. The topics include ‘Energy conversion’, ‘Energy infrastructure: Technology, planning and geography, ‘Energy efficiency and buildings’, ‘Renewable energy: Emerging technologies and applications’, ‘Energy innovation and entrepreneurship’, ‘Energy in developing countries’, and ‘International climate negotiation’.

Campus tour, orientation, field trips and sightseeing around Boston and Cambridge will be part of the program schedule. MIT students will join Masdar Institute students in several networking dinners during the program.  Towards the close of the program, teams of Masdar Institute students will present results of energy systems analysis completed during the program, and an ‘MIT energy research showcase’ will give participants an opportunity to interact with additional MIT faculty and students.

Visits to industrial sites are also scheduled for extra course-related knowledge enhancement.

A group of outstanding professors will share their knowledge and expertise with the students through the modules. The overall program is coordinated by Dr Vladimir Bulovic, Director of the Microsystems Technology Laboratory and the Organic and Nanostructured Electronics Laboratory, and Co-Director of the MIT-Eni Solar Frontiers Center. Dr Amy Glasmeier, Head of MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, will lead the energy infrastructures module as well as the team project.  Additional faculty include Dr. Marc Balso, Dr. Steve Leeb and Dr. James Kirtley, all of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. John Sterman of the Sloan School of Management; Dr. Jeffrey Grossman of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Dr. Leon Glicksman of the Departments of Architecture and Mechanical Engineering; and Dr. Robert Stoner, Associate Director of the MIT Energy Initiative.

Dr Amy Wohlert, Executive Director of General Education and Student Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “Students gain significant value through the Masdar Institute Practical Experience Program at MIT because of its cross-disciplinary nature. The MIT Energy Initiative actively involves more than 200 faculty members and hundreds of students in energy studies, and the MIT faculty members involved with the Practical Experience are outstanding researchers and educators. The modules are carefully structured to offer the students in-depth insight into various aspects of energy management. This expertise will help the participants apply their knowledge while conducting research later at Masdar Institute, further enriching them academically.”

Sara Al Muhairi, Human Resources Director, Masdar Institute, said: “We congratulate the students selected for this opportunity to experience the learning environment at MIT. The program challenges the participants to develop an integrative understanding of complex energy systems through classes, research, and hands-on experience. We thank the UAE’s wise leadership for providing various channels to students for acquiring and enhancing knowledge in the clean energy sector.”

Established as an ongoing collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.