MIT CEE

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-bac…

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-m…

A new study led by @GioeleZardini, CEE graduate student Xinling Li, and @MITEECS graduate 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-autonom…

Check out this article in The Information: theinformation.com/newsletters/ai…

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. Learn more: 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/18n9iC…

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-o…

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-assistant-…

PhD candidate Teja Jammalamadaka reflects on his time as a CEE Comm Lab Fellow. “I learned early on that sometimes all someone needs is a nudge, a different perspective, and support from someone who is intentionally kind and honest,” he says. mitcommlab.mit.edu/cee/2026/02/16…

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: eventbrite.com/e/wids-cambrid…

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-commu…

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-a…

CEE is pleased to announce the promotion of Michael Howland to Associate Professor without Tenure and Benedetto Marelli to Full Professor effective July 1, 2026. 🎉 cee.mit.edu/mit-department…

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-s…

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-rac…

Join us for the C.C. Mei Distinguished Speaker Series with Gabriel Katul on February 11 at 4 PM in Room 1-190. cee.mit.edu/events/c-c-mei…

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-examines…

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. communityjameel.org/news/jameel-ob…

Professors Herbert Einstein and Haruko Murakami Wainwright have been named honorees of the Committed to Caring program, which recognizes professors who display outstanding mentorship of graduate students. news.mit.edu/2026/mit-facul…

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/decoding-…