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MIT alumni and faculty have a long history of public policy service. Kathleen Hicks PhD ’10 (left) is director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Samuel Rodarte Jr. ’13 is a legislative aide for U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano.

Shaping public policy in the nation's capital

Alumni continue an enduring tradition of MIT service.

April 12, 2017

Introducing acclaimed sociologist Arlie Hochschild to MIT, Catherine Gamon, director of the Sloan Student Life Office said, "Hochschild tries to scale an 'empathy wall' to understand her interviewees’ perspectives on the interplay of politics, business, and culture. To me this fits beautifully with MIT's desire to have an impact, and to bring heart into the equation — mind, hand, and heart."

In MIT visit, sociologist Arlie Hochschild discusses U.S. political divisions

At Mens et Manus America event, Hochschild recommends three pillars of action for finding common ground among U.S. voters.

April 10, 2017

MIT Asian security studies faculty (left to right) M. Taylor Fravel, Richard Samuels, and Vipin Narang train the next generation of scholars and security policy analysts; counsel national security officials in the U.S. and abroad; and inform policy through publications and frequent contributions to public debates.

Q&A: Meet MIT's experts in Asian security

Influential team counsels leaders, educates students, and informs policy.

April 3, 2017

"Over the last 15 years, Muslim and South Asian Americans have been told that they are outsiders and newcomers to the United States," says MIT Associate Professor Vivek Bald, winner of the 2017 Levitan Prize. "One of the central goals of the Bengali Harlem project from the beginning — and this has become more important over time — is to demonstrate the longstanding presence of Muslims in the U...

Vivek Bald awarded Levitan Prize in the Humanities, named Whiting Public Engagement Fellow

Both awards support Bald's research-based media projects on South Asian American communities.

March 10, 2017

Planned in secret over a year and a half to mark David Pesetsky's 60th birthday, a surprise celebration featured panel discussions on two linguistics topics of keen interest to Pesetsky — case and wh-questions — and was rounded out with poster sessions and a celebratory dinner.

David Pesetsky honored by MIT Linguistics colleagues and alumni

Surprise gathering and "Festschrift" salute Pesetsky's research, influence, and teaching in linguistics.

March 6, 2017

"This initiative is something that is right at the heart of what MIT stands for," said Professor Thomas Kochan, moderator for the launch event of a new project known as Mens et Manus America. "We believe in solving important problems, contributing collectively wherever we can."

Mens et Manus America initiative launches with documentary event

Over 200 students and faculty attend kickoff as SHASS and Sloan begin an exploration of current U.S. social, political, economic challenges.

March 3, 2017

"One of the principal ways historians contribute to problem-solving work at MIT and elsewhere is by helping to identify what the real problem is in the first place," says Malick Ghachem, an MIT professor of history. "When we understand and articulate the roots and sources of a problem, we have a much better chance of actually solving it."

3 Questions: How history helps us solve today's issues

Professor Malick Ghachem discusses how historians contribute to problem-solving by identifying the roots and sources of a problem.

February 28, 2017

"In theater, we imagine the impossible and try to make that possible," says Charlotte Brathwaite, an MIT assistant professor of theater arts, and an independent director of classical and unconventional texts, operas, dance, multimedia and site-specific installations, and concerts. "We not only imagine, but create the world as we think the world should be."

The world as we think the world should be

Assistant Professor Charlotte Brathwaite believes theater brings people together in a positive way.

February 17, 2017

"Almost anyone engaged with global issues of human well-being, the distribution of resources, or the future of society is doing moral philosophy," says Kieran Setiya.

3 Questions: How philosophy can address the problem of climate change

MIT professor of philosophy Kieran Setiya explores how individuals and societies can think about and act on climate change.

February 8, 2017

"My own work has drawn heavily on a number of normally distant disciplines," says Richard Nielsen, MIT assistant professor of political science. "I’m convinced that ... despite the tendency for scholars to remain in our own disciplinary silos, the big breakthroughs on complex issues will come at the intersections of fields, from researchers and teams that are willing to bridge disciplinary divid...

3 Questions with Richard Nielsen: How political science helps combat terrorism

Assistant Professor Richard Nielsen explores why some Muslim clerics adopt the ideology of militant jihad while most do not.

February 3, 2017

"At a fundamental level, the conduct of elections affects the experience of voters and people’s trust in American democracy," writes the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in a press release announcing their funding of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. "It’s imperative that we, as a nation, get this right and we believe that this lab, under Professor [Charles] Stewart’s leadership, ca...

MIT Election Data and Science Lab launches

Founded by political scientist Charles Stewart III, the Election Lab focuses on non-partisan research, data, and analysis to improve elections.

January 25, 2017

MIT Alumni Elaine Chew (left), Noam Angrist (top right), and Huma Yusuf (bottom right)

MIT in London

The city offers an ideal home for MIT alumni whose work spans disciplines and continents.

January 12, 2017

“I have worked on a number of research projects over the years, but the work we did on the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis is the most important work I have ever done," says Edward Schiappa, the John E. Burchard Professor of the Humanities, and head of Comparative Media Studies/Writing. "Winning this award is terrific acknowledgement of the value of the years we spent on that research.”

Edward Schiappa receives the Charles H. Woolbert Research Award

Test-of-time award recognizes work that has stimulated new conceptualizations of communication phenomena.

December 19, 2016

"Song of the Human" made its world premiere at the Winter Garden in New York City. Discovering MIT Professor Shigeru Miyagawa’s research on birdsong was “validating and inspiring,” creator Pete Wyer says.

"Song of the Human": An origin story

New work by composer Pete M. Wyer draws inspiration from MIT linguistic scholar Shigeru Miyagawa's hypothesis on the origins of human language.

December 13, 2016

My Sister's Keeper seeks to support black women students at MIT, through social, professional, and mentoring relationships. From left to right: Nikahya Etienne, Naomi Dereje, Annie Abay, Bettina Arkhurst, and Kristina Hill.

My Sister's Keeper builds community for black women students at MIT

New organization aims to increase connections, mentoring, and success.

November 10, 2016

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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