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This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Content Knowledge

  • Assignment 2

    The second phase of our first lab consists of three parts: 

    1.  Please calculate the thermal time constant, in minutes, from your experimental data, using the three methods to be given in lab this week.
    2. Construction of solar building. Please complete the construction of your solar building, using the design specifications given in lab last week.
    3. Estimation of air temperature inside your house.
    Read more: Assignment 2
  • Assignment 1

    While you are free to construct your house entirely on the basis of your design and modeling skills and your physical intuition, please consider making use of provided software to guide you in choices about windows and insulation. We will use several versions of this software throughout the lab to compare prediction with performance. The elf house should be ready next week to be placed on the roof for an initial, one-week test period. Please come to lab next week prepared to finish the construction during the first half of our session. We’ll then activate and insert the temperature loggers and place the houses on the roof . We’ll also work with the data from the potatoes and continue to work with the software. 

    Read more: Assignment 1
  • Quiz 2

    This is a quiz, with open-ended questions from D-Lab I: Development.

    Read more: Quiz 2
  • Living with AIDS

    If you can't make it to the evening film screening, view DVD of Living with AIDS (On the Frontlines of AIDS) on your own time prior to class in Ses #30.

    Read more: Living with AIDS
  • Drowned Out

    If you can't make it to the evening film screening, view DVD of Drowned Out on your own time prior to class on Ses #25.

    Read more: Drowned Out
  • Trip Project Proposal

    This form will allow the D-Lab staff to provide feedback and help you prepare for your project. You should fill in a form for each project you are working on, but only one of them will be turned in to be graded. You should continue to refine the proposals throughout the semester.

    Read more: Trip Project Proposal
  • Current Events

    Review both the national and international media to find a story that affects your D-Lab project country. Some sectors that might be of interest include: the environment, health and sanitation, agriculture, energy, education, humanitarian disaster, politics, economics and information technology. Each person on your D-Lab country team should select a different topic. Write a 2-page summary of the story making sure to comment on its implications for the nation, your D-Lab trip or another affected group. Make sure to properly cite all your sources.

    Read more: Current Events
  • Final Project

    Read the final project requirements. Think about what topic, datasets, and output technique you want to explore for your final project. This could be building on one of the sketches you did before, or starting something new.

    Read more: Final Project
  • Homework 16 & 17: Sketch 5

    Start working on your idea for this sketch, and bring into class: data, audience, goals, and question.

     

    Finish your sketch

    Read more: Homework 16 & 17: Sketch 5
  • Homework 15: Map Somerville tree data

    Use Tableau or CartoDB to make a map of the Somerville MA tree data

    Read more: Homework 15: Map Somerville tree data

Notice something that doesn’t seem right? Want to make a suggestion or provide feedback about how something is classified? 
Please reach out to esi [at] mit.edu and include SCALES Website in the subject of your email.
Feedback and any actions taken with regards to the feedback, will be shared as they are addressed.