AP reporter Collin Binkley writes that during her Commencement address at MIT, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg called for equality in the technology sector. "Build workplaces where everyone — everyone — is treated with respect," she said. "We need to stop harassment and hold both perpetrators and enablers accountable. And we need to make a personal commitment to stop racism and sexism."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit MIT this Friday “to headline the annual meeting of the school's Solve initiative,” reports the Associated Press. Trudeau’s appearance at Solve, which “connects tech entrepreneurs with leaders in government, business and academia to tackle world problems,” will mark his first visit to Cambridge since becoming prime minister.
Writing for The Atlantic, MIT lecturer Amy Carleton describes the focus on public policy, as well as engineering and product design, at this year’s “Make the Breast Pump Not Suck” hackathon. “What emerged [at the inaugural hackathon] was an awareness that the challenges surrounding breastfeeding were not just technical and equipment-based,” explains Carleton.
In an opinion piece for The Boston Globe, Alex Amouyel, executive director of MIT Solve, explains how the initiative is ‘crowdsolving’ thorny global problems through open innovation. “We need to source ideas from innovators all around the world to find the next breakthroughs,” argues Amouyel. “We know talent and ingenuity exist everywhere.”
Katie Kindelan of Good Morning America reports on the “Make the Breast Pump Not Suck” hackathon at the Media Lab, which examined physical, socioeconomic and cultural factors affecting new mothers. “We really thought, ‘How do we attack this problem from all angles, not just technology and design but also policy and access,’” explains researcher Alexis Hope.
The Boston Globe highlights some of the notable speakers who will deliver remarks at commencements across New England in the coming weeks, including Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, who will speak at MIT’s ceremony.
Writing for Slate, Sloan alumna Kate Krontiris highlights the issues facing women who breastfeed and previews a hackathon taking place this weekend at the MIT Media Lab. “We are convening hundreds of engineers and designers, doulas and doctors, midwives and mamas to make the breast pump not suck as well as hack other barriers to breastfeeding."
WHDH highlights an MIT Libraries exhibit at the Maihaugen Gallery in memory of Officer Sean Collier. “On display at the exhibit is a collection of items left in the officer’s honor after he was killed in 2013,” 7 News reports. Condolence materials left with the MIT Police in 2013 and 2014 are also included.
A scholarship established in memory of MIT police officer Sean Collier will be awarded for the first time on April 19 at Collier’s alma mater, Salem State. Salem State Prof. Emeritus Ed LeClair tells Emily Sweeney of The Boston Globe that Collier was “an inspirational leader,” and remembers him as “an exceptionally good community police officer.”
Chris Emma of NBC Boston reports from “Stronger After 5,” an event organized by survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings to remember those who were lost, including MIT Police Officer Sean Collier. All proceeds from the event, which “signified the strength and resiliency of Boston, the victims and their families after the bombings five years ago,” will support the Sean Collier Memorial Fund.
Andrea Shea of WBUR writes about the life of retired senior lecturer and conductor John Oliver, who died on April 11. Oliver influenced “many music-making communities in Boston, Cambridge and beyond,” writes Shea.
World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma will deliver an on campus talk titled "Yo-Yo Ma: Culture, Understanding and Survival" as part of MIT's Compton Lecture series. “Ma is a prolific performer who has recorded more than 100 albums and has worked to promote collaboration among artists from different cultures,” notes the Associated Press.
Cristela Guerra of The Boston Globe highlights Pi Day celebrations around Boston, including the Star Wars-themed MIT admissions decision video starring Dean of Admissions Stu Schmill as Luke Skywalker.
Prof. Junot Diaz speaks with Karen McPherson of The Washington Post about his new children’s book, Islandborn, about a girl from the Dominican Republic growing up in an urban immigrant community. “The best stories provide us with opportunities for recognition and estrangement — to be spoken to most directly, or to feel that we are eavesdropping,” Diaz says.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has selected Associate Prof. J. Phillip Thompson to serve as his deputy mayor, writes Mara Gay for The Wall Street Journal. De Blasio praised Thompson as “one of the foremost experts on how to better serve and lift up low-income neighborhoods.”