While there are those who will write about the broader failings of the MIT Media Lab, and there is much to be written about, it's important to take a minute to recognize just how prescient and important this choice is. Newman's work on space suit design is something I'm familiar with and have followed for quite some time, there is - simply put - nothing out there like her work. https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/617047main_45s_building_future_spac... (Submitted to HN here, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21620979 )
I believe that Prof. Newman is the right choice for the Media Lab, because she has Gotten Stuff Done. Stuff that has flown in space and has made meaningful contributions to her field. She's an excellent choice.
She also helped design the weird idea variant of dynamic/static loading on an astronaut's body to reduce bone loss, https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/strg/2012_nstrf_... http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/people/dnewman/pdf2/WaldieN... The GCLS did not work out. But it was far more interesting than the rougher Roscosmos variant. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pingvin_exercise_suit)
I believe that Prof. Newman is the right choice for the Media Lab, because she has Gotten Stuff Done. Stuff that has flown in space and has made meaningful contributions to her field. She's an excellent choice.