Global

Senior Research Associate Jim Walsh speaks with WBUR Here & Now host Indria Lakshmanan about the U.S. military action in Iran. 

In an opinion piece for The Boston Globe, MIT Prof. Carlo Ratti and University of Toronto Prof. Richard Florida explore the “paradox of overtourism.” Ratti and Florida note that: “Tourism accelerates global convergence — the same luxury retailers, hotel chains, and Instagram‑ready design cues that push cities to conform to international expectations. At times, it can even undermine more authentic local businesses, which cannot compete against much larger global competitors. Yet local distinctiveness does not vanish under global pressure; it adapts. The visual signatures that make one place different from another persist beneath the surface layer of brands. That is where efforts to manage tourism’s cultural impact should concentrate.” 

Prof. Daron Acemoglu speaks with Fortune reporter Jake Angelo about his work studying the “origins of economic and political decay,” and the need for the U.S. to crack down “on economic inequality and tempering with job destruction.” “If we go down this path of destroying jobs [and] creating more inequality, U.S. democracy is not going to survive,” says Acemoglu.  

Prof. Jim Walsh speaks with WBUR’s Here & Now host Tiziana Dearing about increased military presence in the Middle East and methods to de-escalate tensions. 

Prof. Jim Walsh speaks with Fox News reporter Jon Scott about international relations between the United States and countries in the Middle East. 

Prof. Carlo Ratti speaks with Matt Fortin of NBC Boston about his work designing this year’s Olympic torch. “For us it’s very exciting to do this,” says Ratti, “because it’s a way you can actually push design beyond what you normally do.”

The torch for this year’s Winter Olympics was designed by Prof. Carlo Ratti, reports Laura Baisas for Popular Science. Dubbed “Essential,” the torch clocks in at just under 2.5 pounds, and "boasts a unique internal mechanism that can be seen through a vertical opening along its side. This means that audiences can peek inside and see the burner in action. From a design perspective, that reinforces Ratti’s desire to keep the emphasis on the flame itself and not the object.”

Prof. Jim Walsh speaks with WBUR’s Here and Now host Scott Tong about U.S. global negotiations and relationships. 

Prof. Daron Acemoglu speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek Daily hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec about American politics. “In my mind, worryingly, there is a little bit of a theory which is that all of these actions are aimed at centralizing power in the hands of an executive presidency with fewer and weaker checks which come either from institutions or norms.” 

Prof. John Sterman speaks with Guardian reporters Dharna Noor and Oliver Milman about the climate concerns surrounding increased oil production in Venezuela. “If there are millions of barrels a day of new oil, that will add quite a lot of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and the people of Earth can’t afford that,” says Sterman. 

New York Times reporter Rebecca Elliott spotlights Phoenix Tailings, a startup co-founded by MIT alumni that is developing a sustainable process for refining rare-earth refining in the United States. Elliott notes that Phoenix Tailings created a closed-loop design for their manufacturing method that “distinguishes this process from the more energy-intensive techniques used in China, where workers scoop up molten metal with ladles.”

Prof. Carlo Ratti speaks with Reuters reporter Catherine Early about the growing number of initiatives aimed at creating more walkable neighborhoods in urban cities. “Small, tangible changes – like pedestrianizing a block, repainting a square, or hosting a street festival – help people understand what proximity feels like in practice,” Ratti explains. “When people are involved in shaping their environment, skepticism often turns into ownership.” 

Prof. Jonathan Gruber speaks with David Frum from The Atlantic’s “The David Frum Show” to shed light on the American healthcare system and health care disparities. “The issue in the U.S. is there are the haves and the have-nots—the haves get comparable health care to the rest of the world at a much higher price; the have-nots get worse health care at a much higher price,” says Gruber. “There’s really two fundamental challenges in U.S. health care: There’s disparities, and there’s costs.” 

Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Maggie Prosser spotlights senior Alice Hall, who was selected as one of the 2026 Rhodes Scholars. “Never stop trying to learn, especially from the people around you,” says Hall. “You don’t have to be a Rhodes scholar to change the world. Just be yourself.” 

Vivian Chinoda '25, Alice Hall, Sofia Lara, and Sophia Wang '24 have been named 2026 Rhodes Scholars, reports Michael Nietzel for Forbes. “This class of U.S .Rhodes Scholars will pursue studies across the social sciences, humanities, and biological and physical sciences,” writes Nietzel.