Comm Lab Fellow
Mechanical Engineering
Sara Laura Wilson is a PhD candidate in the Ideation Lab with Professor Maria Yang, where she is pursuing an Interdisciplinary Doctoral Degree in Sustainable Design and Computation in Mechanical Engineering. Her research focuses on design for sustainable behavior, with a core emphasis on climate communication through cognitive interventions in product design. This intersection of engineering and communication has strengthened her ability to present complex technical concepts in clear and compelling ways, particularly on topics related to sustainability and climate change.
Sara earned a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT before completing a dual master’s degree in Innovation Design Engineering from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art. As a Teaching Assistant for the graduate-level course Product Design & Development (2.739), she has gained extensive experience mentoring graduate students, helping them articulate their ideas in writing and through presentations. She has also presented her own research at conferences such as the International Design Engineering Technical Conference (IDETC) and the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED), experiences that underscored the importance of effective communication in sharing research with broad, interdisciplinary audiences.
In addition to her academic work, Sara communicates climate science through artistic media, including interactive art installations at the MIT Museum and the Wiesner Student Gallery. These installations translate technical and sustainability-related topics into personal narratives and visually engaging experiences, furthering her commitment to making climate science accessible and impactful.