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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.

Paper

  • Final Paper

    Final Paper for Food Culture and Politics 

    Read more: Final Paper

  • Weekly Responses

    Weekly Responses for the people and other animals section. 

    Read more: Weekly Responses

  • Research Paper

    A research paper relating to topics discussed in class will be the main assignment focus throughout the course [for people and other animals]. Undergraduate students must write a paper of a minimum of 12 pages, while graduate students have a minimum length of 25 pages.

    Read more: Research Paper

  • Term Paper

    The term paper is to answer a question based upon information available in the literature. It is not a research paper, demanding original intellectual contributions. Your paper should answer the question, noting important uncertainties, areas of unavailable knowledge and including a critique of the information in the literature. You should not become an advocate for a policy or position. Please choose a topic that is of interest for a term paper. Do not pick a topic that you are working on or have worked on as a project already – we want you to look into something outside of your main expertise.

    Read more: Term Paper

  • Short Journal Article

    This second journal article should be a brief (1,500 words or less) compendium of the technical results that YOU specifically have contributed to your group’s work. It’s OK if you worked in pairs with someone, though please try to distinguish what you did if possible

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  • Short Journal Article 1

    For this assignment, you will write a short (1000 words or less) journal-style communication briefly describing your findings on the research portion of this design project.

    Read more: Short Journal Article 1

  • Design for Production

    When designing a product that is to be produced beyond just the prototype stage, attention must be given to the resources that are available and to the sustainability of the manufacturing processes. 

    As a team, determine the appropriate scale of manufacturing for your project: will they be made in the tens, hundreds, or millions? What design changes will need to be made as you shift from manufacture of a single prototype to the production of multiple units?

    Read more: Design for Production

  • Book Group

    The four books that comprise Reading Assignment #7 are divided among four groups of students

    • Small is Beautiful
    • Gaviotas
    • Cradle to Cradle
    • Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid
    Read more: Book Group

  • Technology Critique

    Interact with and critique technology from a variety of perspectives

    Read more: Technology Critique

  • Design@MIT

    Consider the objects and products you encounter every day while at MIT—all of these were designed. When looking at a design, it’s important to be critical, but in a constructive manner. It’s also important to recognize that there are very few instances where a design is totally great or totally terrible; there are typically good parts of a poor design, and vice versa.

    Take a picture of two very different objects or products, one that you believe is a relatively bad design, and one that is a relatively good design. Discuss the pros and cons of each design, and why you have come to your overall “good” or “bad” conclusion. Also discuss what trade-offs and constraints the designers likely faced in developing these products, and how these challenges were managed.

    Read more: Design@MIT

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.