The Center for Computational Engineering supports computational engineering research and education at MIT. The emphasis is on the development of new computational methods and on the innovative application of computational techniques to important problems in engineering and science.
Seminars & Events
The MIT Center for Computational Engineering (CCE) hosts a series of Seminars in Computational Engineering presented by distinguished speakers in fields relevant to our program. All seminars during fall term 2009 take place from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in Room 1-390.
Fall 2009 Seminar Speaker Series
Wednesday, September 16, 2009:
Jeffrey Grossman, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, MIT
Topic: Nanomaterials for Energy Conversion and Storage: Insight from Theoretical Calculations
Abstract: Materials for energy conversion and storage can be greatly improved by taking advantage of unique effects that occur at the nanoscale. In our work, we develop and apply classical and quantum mechanical calculations to predict key properties that govern the conversion and storage efficiencies in these materials, including structural and electronic effects, interfacial charge separation, excited state phenomena, band level alignment, confinement effects, reaction pathway energetics, and novel synthesis approaches. An overview of our work will be presented, with examples in solar photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, hydrogen storage, and solar fuels. We use these examples to illustrate how computational approaches can improve our understanding and lead to more efficient materials and ultimately devices.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009:
Jay Gopalakrishnan, Department of Mathematics, University of Florida
Topic: New Discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin Techniques for Designing Numerical Schemes
Abstract: Finite element methods of the Petrov-Galerkin type have different trial and test spaces. While approximate solutions lie in the trial spaces, the equations are satisfied weakly up to the test spaces. Asserting a general principle that although one must choose trial spaces with good approximation properties, one may pick test spaces solely for stability properties, I will exemplify it by designing specific novel schemes. The presentation will be largely focused on our initial studies for the transport equations. But the potential for applying the technique in greater generality will be conveyed.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009:
Andreas Wächter, Mathematical Sciences Department, T.J. Watson Research Center, IBM
Topic: to be announced
Wednesday, December 2, 2009:
Ju Li, Material Theories Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Topic: to be announced
