MIT Media Lab’s Negroponte Resigns

Nicholas Negroponte, co-founder and chairman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab, has stepped down to pursue an initiative to provide children across the world with computers, CNET News.com reports.

The changes went into effect on the first of February.

Frank Moss, an entrepreneur, will step in as the lab’s new director, CNET News.com reports.

The Media Lab was co-founded by Negroponte in 1985. 

Negroponte’s One Laptop Per Child non-profit is designed to improve the education received by children in third world countries.  The United Nations has endorsed the initiative, CNET News.com reports.

MIT President Susan Hockfield thinks Moss’ experience in bringing innovative technologies to market fits perfectly with the Media Lab’s mission.

“I am delighted that Frank Moss has accepted our invitation to serve as the next director of the Media Lab,” Hockfield said in a statement. “He brings a deep intellect, great creativity and an outstanding record of leadership in research and industrial settings to his new role. Moreover, his interests in the computer and life sciences and in technological enhancement of human capability align beautifully with the lab’s vision, and with MIT’s distinctive cross-disciplinary collaborations, which embrace not only science and engineering but also humanities and the arts.”

Moss is the founder of Tivoli Systems and Bowstreet, two software companies that were acquired by IBM, CNET News.com reports.

“At a time in human history when technology has the potential to profoundly affect people and society, I can’t think of a more exciting place to be,” Moss said.

Don’t forget to keep checking in at our CIO News Alerts page for updated news coverage.