Cynthia Barnhart PhD ’88 is acting as the dean of the School of Engineering while the United States Senate decides whether to confirm Subra Suresh ScD ’81, the current dean, as the next director of the National Science Foundation. Suresh, who was nominated by President Obama in June, is on sabbatical as he awaits his confirmation.

Students learn about companies at Career Fair 2010, sponsored by the MIT Class of 2011, the Graduate Student Council, and the Society of Women Engineers, on Thursday. Over 330 companies attended.

The Cambridge Fire Department responds to a chemical spill in 18-006 on Thursday evening. Building 18, the chemistry building, was designed by I.M. Pei and constructed in the 1960s.

Gregory Gaultier of France retrieves a tough return hit by Amr Shamana of Egypt during the Showdown@Symphony squash tournament on Wednesday. Each of the four professional squash players invited to play in the tournament at Symphony Hall has either held the World No. 1 ranking or won the World Open.

Benjamin A. Lewis ’13 scores in the second quarter against two Brandeis defenders on Wednesday. The Engineers defeated Brandeis 2-1.

Professor of Applied Physics Harry A. Atwater of the California Institute of Technology speaks about solar cell technology at Technology Review’s Emerging Technologies Conference at MIT on Thursday. Now in its tenth year, emTech@MIT is a three-day-long conference that brings together leaders in technology, engineering, investment, and management.