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Latest news and research from MIT's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Early-career women in CEE and related fields are invited to apply now for MIT CEE’s Rising Stars in Civil & Environmental Engineering workshop. Join two days of research talks, career panels, and networking with MIT faculty. Applications close August 1: ceerisingstars.mit.edu
Prof. Desirée Plata and research scientist Glen Andrew de Vera received the J-WAFS Grant for Transforming Animal Agriculture Systems to study the impacts of agricultural runoff on drinking water treatment.
From agricultural waste to water risk | Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS)
MIT researchers received a 2026 J-WAFS Animal Ag Grant to study the impacts of agricultural runoff on drinking water treatment.
jwafs.mit.edu
Professors Saurabh Amin and Benedetto Marelli have been awarded J-WAFS seed grants to advance research addressing critical challenges in water and food.
New MIT research projects aim to tackle real-world challenges in water and food | Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS)
Now in its 12th year, J-WAFS seed grants support projects that have the potential to create significant advancements in water and food for human need.
jwafs.mit.edu
The MIT-led Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet project has opened its first solar-powered Adaptation Fortress in Bangladesh, providing a safe refuge from extreme heat and tropical storms for vulnerable communities. news.mit.edu/2026/mit-led... #climate #sustainability #resillience #ClimateAdaptation
MIT-led project opens first climate shelter in Bangladesh
An MIT-led project opens the first "adaptation fortress" in Bangladesh, designed to protect residents from extreme heat and tropical storms.
news.mit.edu
Prof. Benedetto Marelli and postdoc Giorgio Rizzo joined Boston Public Radio’s Curiosity Desk to discuss their work upcycling seafood waste into a seed coating that could boost drought resilience and nutrition. www.youtube.com/live/XyO0NbV...
GBH News
69 likes. "Boston Public Radio, The Curiosity Desk, & The Culture Show Live Thursday, April 30, 2026"
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Applications are open for MIT CEE’s Rising Stars in Civil & Environmental Engineering workshop. Early-career women in CEE and related fields are invited to apply for two days of research talks, career panels, and networking with MIT faculty. Apply now: cee.mit.edu/community/ri...
Rising Stars Workshop - cee.mit.edu
Rising Stars in Civil and Environmental EngineeringAn Academic Career Workshop for Women Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23, 2026 Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT invites top early ...
cee.mit.edu
QS World University Rankings has placed MIT in the number 1 spot in 12 subject areas for 2026, including Civil and Structural Engineering. news.mit.edu/2026/qs-worl...
QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2026
QS World University Rankings has rated MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2026. The Institute ranks second in seven subject areas.
news.mit.edu
Chemical data shapes both public health and policy outcomes. A new study from postdoc Nicolette Bugher, Prof. Desirée Plata, and collaborators finds that even “gold-standard” data on toxic N-nitrosamines can carry hidden bias that affects regulatory decisions. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Partitioning Parameters of N-Nitrosamines: An Intercomparison of Determination Methods
N-Nitrosamines make up a class of carcinogenic industrial pollutants that lack well-characterized physicochemical properties. Classical approaches to determine octanol–water partition coefficient…
pubs.acs.org
Active Surfaces, a startup co-founded by alumnus Shiv Bhakta, is developing lightweight, flexible, high-efficiency solar energy films designed to be used on roofs, walls, and any curved surface. news.mit.edu/2026/active-...
Active Surfaces aims to install peel-and-stick solar panels everywhere
Active Surfaces, a startup with roots in the MIT Energy Initiative, is developing efficient, lightweight, flexible solar energy films designed for mass production and easy installation on any kind of…
news.mit.edu
Machine learning is transforming how we predict and prepare for floods. Join the Boston Society of Civil Engineers for the 51st Annual John R. Freeman Lecture: “AI for Global Flood Forecasting” with Dr. Grey Nearing. More info: members.bsces.org/ap/Events/Re...
Arctic rainfall and snowfall have surged in recent decades, largely driven by sea ice melt. A new study from research scientist Judah Cohen and colleagues finds natural Atlantic ocean cycles are amplifying this trend—and could slow it if they reverse. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Role of Atlantic multidecadal variability in modulating Arctic sea ice loss and wetting
AMV modulation accelerates Arctic wetting by nearly one-third through enhancing local sea ice loss and evaporation.
science.org
A new AI system developed by Prof. Cathy Wu and collaborators in LIDS and IDSS adapts to decide which robots should get the right of way at every moment, avoiding congestion and increasing throughput. news.mit.edu/2026/ai-syst...
AI system learns to keep warehouse robot traffic running smoothly
A new system increases throughput in automated warehouses by adaptively determining which robots should go first to avoid congestion and collisions. The work was led by researchers from MIT and…
news.mit.edu
VibeGen, a new AI model developed in the Buehler Lab, generates novel proteins based on how they vibrate and move, opening new possibilities for dynamic biomaterials and adaptive therapeutics. news.mit.edu/2026/mit-eng...
MIT engineers design proteins by their motion, not just their shape
VibeGen is a new generative AI model that designs proteins with dynamic vibration and movement. The model, developed at MIT, opens new possibilities for dynamic biomaterials and adaptive therapeutics.
news.mit.edu
Biodegradable plastic doesn’t break down on its own—it takes a microbial team. New research from the Plata Lab found different ocean bacteria each play a role in degrading plastic, and together they can fully consume it. news.mit.edu/2026/ocean-b...
Ocean bacteria team up to break down biodegradable plastic
MIT researchers uncovered the roles of bacteria from the environment as they worked together to break down biodegradable plastic. Understanding how microbes break down plastics could help scientists…
news.mit.edu
PhD student Audrey Parker studies methane mitigation strategies in dairy farms and coal mines, to reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas. news.mit.edu/2026/cutting...
From Idaho to MIT, on a quest to cut methane emissions
Idaho native and MIT PhD candidate Audrey Parker studies methane mitigation strategies in dairy farms and coal mines to help protect the outdoor environment she’s loved since childhood.
news.mit.edu
A new study led by @gioele-zardini.bsky.social, CEE grad student Xinling Li, and EECS grad student Meshal Alharbi finds autonomous mobility-on-demand research must become more transparent and reproducible to guide real-world transportation decisions. cee.mit.edu/before-auton...
Before autonomous vehicles scale up, researchers call for stronger scientific standards - cee.mit.edu
A new study finds autonomous mobility-on-demand research must become more transparent and reproducible to guide real-world transportation decisions As cities and companies move towards fleets of…
cee.mit.edu
Unreasonable Labs, a startup co-founded by CEE Prof. Markus Buehler and Yuan Cao is building AI to connect insights across scientific fields and accelerate discovery. www.unreasonablelabs.ai
Prof. Markus Buehler joins an episode of “Machines and Molecules” to discuss why adaptability may be the single most important universal principle in materials science. open.spotify.com/episode/18n9...
Automating Scientific Discovery with MIT Professor Markus J. Buehler
Machines and Molecules · Episode
open.spotify.com
A new study from the McRose Lab finds that nitrous oxide may harm some soil bacteria. While some N2O is produced naturally at plant roots, agricultural practices can increase its levels, potentially disrupting microbes that support plant growth. news.mit.edu/2026/nitrous...
Nitrous oxide, a product of fertilizer use, may harm some soil bacteria
An MIT study suggests the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide could be toxic to certain microbes at the plant root, perhaps influencing plant health.
news.mit.edu
Prof. Michael Howland has received a NSF CAREER Award to develop computational tools that improve energy harvesting and fluid dynamics of turbomachines. cee.mit.edu/mit-assistan...
MIT Assistant Professor Michael Howland receives NSF CAREER Award to advance the fluid dynamics of energy harvesting - cee.mit.edu
Michael Howland, the Jeffrey Cheah Career Development Professor and Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is recipient of a 2026 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award…
cee.mit.edu
Prof. Desirée Plata will be speaking at the 2026 Women in Data Science Cambridge Conference, Friday, March 6, 2026 in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Microsoft NERD Center. Register now: www.eventbrite.com/e/wids-cambr...
Congrats to Prof. Charles Harvey on being elected to the National Academy of Engineering for contributions to hydrogeology regarding groundwater arsenic contamination, transport, and consequences. news.mit.edu/2026/mit-com...
MIT community members elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2026
Seven MIT faculty members, along with 12 additional alumni, were elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for significant contributions to engineering research, practice, and education.
news.mit.edu
A parking-aware navigation system developed by Prof. Cathy Wu and researchers in IDSS and LIDS helps drivers identify lots offering the optimal balance between proximity to their destination and the likelihood of available spaces. news.mit.edu/2026/parking...
Parking-aware navigation system could prevent frustration and emissions
By minimizing the need to drive around looking for a parking spot, this technique can save drivers up to 35 minutes — and give them a realistic estimate of total travel time.
news.mit.edu
We’re proud to celebrate six CEE graduate students recognized with prestigious fellowships supporting research that advances sustainability and innovation across the built and natural environment.🎉 cee.mit.edu/cee-graduate...
CEE graduate students receive MIT Fellowships for 2025-2026 academic year - cee.mit.edu
The following students were recognized in the 2025-2026 academic year: Riccardo Fiorista received the Hugh Hampton Young Fellowship. Riccardo’s research addresses challenges in public transportation…
cee.mit.edu
Congrats to CEE alumna Rachel Schaefer on receiving the 2024 Lorenz G. Straub Award for her thesis exploring a range of physical scales to describe how seagrass provides coastal protection and facilitates blue carbon. cee.mit.edu/cee-alumna-r...
CEE Alumna Rachel Schaefer receives 2024 Lorenz G. Straub Award - cee.mit.edu
Rachel Schaefer, PhD ’24 was selected as the winner of the 2024 Lorenz G. Straub Award for her dissertation entitled, “Exploring connections between seagrass ecosystem services and meadow…
cee.mit.edu
Who’s shaping U.S. carbon capture policy? A new study from Prof. Charles Harvey finds fossil fuel companies dominate lobbying around carbon capture—spending nearly $1B over 20 years—helping steer climate policy toward solutions that extend fossil fuel use. cee.mit.edu/study-examin...
Study examines industry influence and efficacy of carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) deployment - cee.mit.edu
A study published in Environmental Science & Policy by Professor Charles Harvey and climate scientist, Lindsey Gulden reviews federal lobbying disclosures from 2005 to 2024 to understand why carbon…
cee.mit.edu
The Jameel Observatory–CREWSnet, an initiative led by Prof. Elfatih Eltahir, has begun construction on the first Adaptation Fortress in Bangladesh—protecting communities from both heatwaves and cyclones. #ClimateAdaptation #ClimateResilience #ExtremeHeat www.communityjameel.org/news/jameel-...
Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet begins first Adaptation Fortress | Community Jameel
The Adaptation Fortress will transform a cyclone shelter and provide protection from heatwaves in Bangladesh for the first time.
communityjameel.org
With the help of AI, MIT Research Scientist Judah Cohen is reshaping subseasonal forecasting, with the goal of extending the lead time for predicting impactful weather. news.mit.edu/2026/decodin...
Decoding the Arctic to predict winter weather
MIT research scientist Judah Cohen is using machine learning and Arctic climate indicators to improve subseasonal weather forecasting. His model won first place in the 2025 AI WeatherQuest…
news.mit.edu
New research led by grad student Kristen Riedinger with the Plata Lab and MIT Superfund Research Program detects low-level N-nitrosamines in drinking water and explores links to other water quality indicators. doi.org/10.1039/D5EW...
Research Scientist Glen de Vera grew up surrounded by unsafe water and pollution. Now at MIT, he studies water treatment, tackles pollutants, mentors students, and advances technologies that protect public health. cee.mit.edu/from-flooded...
From flooded streets to MIT: Glen de Vera’s lifelong quest to protect global water health - cee.mit.edu
In a small town in the Philippines, environmental issues weren’t newspaper headlines, but daily realities for Research Scientist, Glen de Vera. Floodwaters routinely filled the streets. Rivers ran…
cee.mit.edu