Ioannis Miaoulis
President and Director, Museum of Science, Boston

Dr. Ioannis (Yannis) N. Miaoulis, 43, became President and Director of the Museum of Science, Boston January 1, 2003. His dream is to make everyone scientifically and technologically literate. As Dean of Tufts University School of Engineering, Miaoulis spearheaded the introduction of engineering into the Massachusetts K-12 science and technology curriculum, making the Commonwealth first in the nation to do so in 2001. Convinced the best way to interest people in science and engineering is to connect these subjects to their passions, Miaoulis created popular engineering courses at Tufts based on students’ and his own enthusiasm for fishing and cooking. Guided by him for 15 years, Tufts engineering students have inspired children in hands-on classroom engineering experiences. Now, led by Miaoulis, the Museum of Science is advancing technological literacy nationwide by working with school systems, engaging students in engineering activities, providing a window into the world of technology, and fostering discussion of the impact of science and technology.

Originally from Greece, Miaoulis has been honored for his research and community service, including the Presidential Young Investigator Award; the Allan MacLeod Cormack Award for Excellence in Collaborative Research; and the William P. Desmond Award for outstanding contributions to Public Education. He served on the Massachusetts Math and Science Advisory Board and is Chair of the Massachusetts Technology/Engineering Advisory Board.

Helping Tufts raise $100 million for its engineering school, Miaoulis greatly increased the number of female students and faculty, oversaw a strategic plan raising the school’s international visibility, designed collaborative programs with industry and more than doubled research initiatives. Earning bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering and a master’s in economics at Tufts, he also received a master’s in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has published more than 100 research papers and holds two patents.

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