Danielle Wood

Danielle Wood is an Associate Professor at MIT, holding joint appointments in the Media Arts and Sciences and Aeronautics & Astronautics. She leads the Space Enabled Research Group, focusing on leveraging space technology for sustainable Earth systems and promoting equity in technology access. Her work spans satellite applications for environmental justice, space policy, and interdisciplinary systems design.

Education: PhD in Engineering Systems, SM in Aeronautics & Astronautics, SM in Technology Policy, SB in Aerospace Engineering (MIT).

Research Interests: Space sustainability, environmental justice, satellite remote sensing for development, and anticolonial approaches to space exploration. Her projects include the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) initiative and decision support systems for climate resilience.

Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles on topics like Earth observation for SDGs, space debris governance, and inclusive technology design. Recent work emphasizes integrating socioeconomic data with environmental metrics.

Awards: 2019 Faculty Ambassador Award (MIT), NSF CAREER Award, Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst, and induction into the International Academy of Astronautics. Recognized for advancing African and African Diaspora studies at MIT.

Grants & Advising: Leads NASA-funded research on water resource management and collaborates with global agencies. Advises students on space policy, systems engineering, and equity-focused technology.

Labs & Teams: Director of Space Enabled, which hosts initiatives like Zero Robotics and the EVDT framework for environmental decision-making. Collaborates with international partners on projects like the Space Sustainability Rating.