Danielle Wood

Specialization and Research Interests

The mission of the Space Enabled research group is to advance justice in Earth’s complex systems using designs enabled by space. Our message is that six types of space technology are supporting societal needs, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These six technologies include satellite earth observation, satellite communication, satellite positioning, microgravity research, technology transfer, and the inspiration we derive from space research and education. The Space Enabled research group works to increase the opportunities to apply space technology in support of the Sustainable Development Goals using six methods, including design thinking, art, social science, complex systems, satellite engineering, and data science.

Danielle regular group office hours. Members of the MIT community can sign up for announcements about the office hours at this link: wood_officehours@mit.edu.

Teaching Interests

Fall 2018, “Can Space Enabled Designs Advance Justice and Development”; Spring 2019, “Space Technology for the Development Leader”

Academic Degrees

MIT PhD Engineering Systems, 2012; MIT SM Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT SM Technology Policy, 2008; MIT SB Aerospace Engineering, 2005

Positions Held at MIT

Associate Professor and Director of Space Enabled Research Group, 2018-Present; Associate Professor (Joint) of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2019-Present

Positions Held outside MIT

Applied Sciences Manager, NASA Earth Science Division at Goddard Space Flight Center, 2017; Special Assistant to Deputy Administrator, NASA Headquarters, 2015 – 2016; Space Systems Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation 2013 – 2015; Research Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Systems Institute 2013 – 2015; Systems Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Space Department 2012 – 2013; Guest Researcher, United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, 2009;

Biography

Professor Danielle Wood serves as an Assistant Professor in the Program in Media Arts & Sciences and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Within the Media Lab, Prof. Wood leads the Space Enabled Research Group which seeks to advance justice in Earth’s complex systems using designs enabled by space. Prof. Wood is a scholar of societal development with a background that includes satellite design, earth science applications, systems engineering, and technology policy. In her research, Prof. Wood applies these skills to design innovative systems that harness space technology to address development challenges around the world. Prior to serving as faculty at MIT, Professor Wood held positions at NASA Headquarters, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Aerospace Corporation, Johns Hopkins University, and the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs. Prof. Wood studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned a PhD in engineering systems, SM in aeronautics and astronautics, SM in technology policy, and SB in aerospace engineering.