As campus prepares for inaugural events, MIT's 18th President, Dr. Sally Kornbluth, visits the lab to talk with us about her move from Provost at Duke University in Durham NC to President of MIT. We talk about leadership, the early read on campus, and some thoughts about getting the job done. We meet Lock the Quill's newest feet on the street, Danny and Dylan, of the Grounds Department, and we close the episode with an MIT presidents quiz with a number of students.President Kornbluth's podcast, Curiosity Unbounded: https://news.mit.edu/2023/curiosity-unbounded-podcast-desiree-plata-0419 Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

MIT mechanical engineering professor Sangbae Kim drops by after 2.007 lecture to talk about the virtual / physical divide and his concept of physical intelligence - the  seemingly impenetrable category of subconscious physical tasks and motions that carries so much potential for the future of robotics and physical services.We talk about his research and his group's shift to the integration of machine learning and model-based control, Moravec's paradox, and a couple of cats.Cognitive bias: https://spectrum.ieee.org/humans-cognitive-biases-facing-aiProfessor Kim: https://meche.mit.edu/people/faculty/SANGBAE@MIT.EDUKeep those entries coming for the Lock the Quill Global Challenge!Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

Professor Maria Yang comes to the lab to talk about the early years at MIT and Stanford, and her research in design processes. We also chat about the discipline, and she shares the latest scuttlebutt on the Morningside Academy for Design. We send off another sticker to the March Global Challenge winner, and test Maria's acronym and abbreviation recall skills.  Spoiler: she knows them...really well.Morningside Academy for Design: https://design.mit.edu/Maria Yang: https://meche.mit.edu/people/faculty/MCYANG@MIT.EDUPodcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

We first met Kait when she was an undergrad with us at MIT, and now she's back home as Professor Becker with the Department of Mechanical Engineering.We talk about her experiences with the MIT Glass Lab and Pappalardo Lab, her post-graduate research with Rob Wood at Harvard, and her current projects at MIT. We also chat about music and hatch a plan to roam the infinite corridor in T. Rex costumes. So happy to have you back as part of the team, Kait! https://kaitbecker.com/https://meche.mit.edu/people/faculty/kait@mit.edu...and Bill responds to a heartfelt email. Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

We intercepted Sanjay Sarma before he took off for Logan Airport and meet in building 35 to discuss his book, Grasp - the Science Transforming How We Learn, education, and MIT.Professor Sarma recently stepped down as MIT Vice President of Open Learning where he led MIT initiatives, such as MITx, edX, OpenCourseware, the Integrated Learning Initiative, and many others.  He is now heading to Malaysia, to take the tiller as President and CEO of the Asia School of Business. https://asb.edu.my/Another Lock the Quill Global Challenge winner is announced, and we reset the meter for March. Email your address to lockthequill@mit.edu. The farthest listener in March will win a Lock the Quill sticker, and *may* be a contender for a coveted T-shirt, though the competition is fierce. Thanks to Professor Evan Ziporyn for the MIT Gamelan track!https://arts.mit.edu/cast/Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

Alex Slocum comes by the lab before we head out to a talk. We chat about mentors, influential professors, and his early days at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST). Alex takes us on his journey bouncing between MIT and "the Bureau", finally landing in building 35 at MIT. He talks about our sophomore design class, 2.007, a special project at the National Archives, and shares his thoughts on fixing things and moving us forward. Professor Dave Hardt drops in to clarify the record. Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

MIT alumna and friend of the lab, Lauren Hernley, recounts her path to finding a job with a design consultancy, after encountering some speed-bumps along the way. Hear from Lauren and industry leaders about the importance of experience, real skills, and relationships. Plus, our first Lock the Quill Global Challenge winner is announced and Scott and Danny try to figure out the Austin ice skating thing. Thanks to:Lauren Hernley, MIT '13, M3 DesignJohn Devlin, Essential Design, https://essentialdesign.com/Mark Foohey and Kevin Gentry, M3 Design,  https://www.m3design.com/Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

We have a conversation with Mechanical Engineering Professor Amos Winter and some friends to talk about his experiences at Tufts University and MIT. Professor Winter takes us on an international tour and discusses his projects over the years in underwater vehicles and exploration, his bio-inspired Roboclam work, and a sampling of his current research with his Global Engineering and Research Lab. Plus, we settle the meddling issue of the rogue lobster tank, and throw the gauntlet for the Lock the Quill Global Challenge.   Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

Dr. Thorndike-Breeze of the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT joins us to talk about her journey to MIT, the importance of self-expression in her work, strength and resilience through collaboration and improv, and a few important mentors. The MIT Press book chapter we reference, from Wikipedia @ 20: Stories of an Incomplete Revolution.Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

We sit down with Peko Hosoi, the Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. Join us as Peko talks about her move from west to east to middle to east to west and back to east. She talks about the Kadanov years in Chicago, her first faculty appointment at Harvey Mudd, and her move back to MIT.Plus, we connect with the winner of last week's "Sounds from the Lab"Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

Professor Steven Leeb drops by the lab to talk about some key moments as an undergraduate and graduate student at MIT. We find ourselves on the topic of 80s nerd movies, but get back to talking about research and MIT magic. We test Steve's knowledge of department numbers and present the 2022 Big Nut Award. Our first installment of "Sounds from the Lab" goes live. Comment @lockthequill for the chance to take home the motherlode - a genuine Lock the Quill sticker. Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

Professor Ellen Roche shares her journey to MIT from Galway, and we talk about her cardio-vascular device design and computational modeling research. Ellen gives the thumbs up to The Cranberries and The Coronas, and you'll hear how she does on a quiz. We'll then give an old friend a call to hear what's going on across the river. Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website

We're a group of shop nerds at MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering Pappalardo Lab  - machinists, engineers, scientists, & designers - and are sitting down with (sometimes standing or chasing) colleagues, students, and alumni to share their stories and chitter-chatter about research, life, and the campus scuttlebutt.  Podcast specific:Podcast Instagram: @lockthequillComments or questions: lockthequill@mit.edu The Lab at MIT:Pappalardo Lab Instagram: @pappalardolabComments or questions: pappalardolab@mit.edu Pappalardo Lab website