Los Angeles Times reporter Deborah Netburn spoke with President L. Rafael Reif about the importance of allowing scientists around the world to collaborate. “It doesn’t matter if you were born in Pakistan or Somalia or whatever— scientists like to work with scientists,” explains Reif.
CNN reporter Matt McFarland highlights the impact of the Executive Order on immigration on American universities. He notes that 40% of MIT faculty and graduate students come from outside the U.S. and that, as President L. Rafael Reif wrote, “a great many stay in this country for life, repaying the American promise of freedom with their energy and their ideas.”
Writing for the Financial Times, John Thornhill highlights President L. Rafael Reif’s comments on empowering innovators and The Engine, MIT’s venture aimed at supporting startups focused on “tough” tech. Thornhill writes that “MIT should be applauded for its ambition. Innovation needs to become more innovative.”
Speaking with Ellie Bothwell of Times Higher Education, President L. Rafael Reif emphasizes MIT’s “commitment to tackling big, important problems for humanity – climate change, clean energy, cybersecurity, human health – with colleagues of every identity and background.”
During a trip to Rome to renew MIT’s partnership with Eni aimed at accelerating clean energy technologies, President L. Rafael Reif spoke with Alessia Rastelli of Corriere della Sera about MIT’s Climate Action Plan, the Campaign for a Better World and bringing world-changing ideas to the marketplace. Reif explains that MIT researchers want to “have an impact on a global scale.”
On Reuters TV, President L. Rafael Reif emphasizes the importance of fundamental scientific research. On the need for federal support for discovery science, he explains that at “places like MIT, we want to make the world better, and to make the world better you have to try to answer the most fundamental questions.”
President L. Rafael Reif speaks with Dominic O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Today program about innovation, climate change and the importance of scientific research. On how MIT researchers bring innovations to the marketplace, Reif explains what is needed is “a desire to impact society in a positive way.”
Boston Globe reporter Adam Vaccaro writes about MIT’s selection of Apple CEO Tim Cook to deliver the 2017 Commencement address. Vaccaro notes that, “Past MIT commencement speakers have included big names from the worlds of business, politics, and entertainment.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been selected to deliver MIT’s 2017 Commencement address, reports the Associated Press.
President L. Rafael Reif writes for The Wall Street Journal about the importance of federal support for scientific research. “If we hope for technological solutions in the future to some of humanity’s great challenges… we must renew our national commitment to supporting basic science,” Reif explains, adding that society benefits from the investment through job creation and an improved quality of life.
WGBH reporter Kirk Carapezza explores MIT’s MicroMasters program in Supply Chain Management, which allows students to complete a master’s degree through online and on-campus courses. Student Danaka Porter explains that the program provides an opportunity to “get education from a fantastic university, as well as be able to continue to keep working.”
President L. Rafael Reif speaks with Cory Johnson of Bloomberg TV about The Engine, a new entity from MIT to support startups tackling humanity’s biggest problems. Reif explains that our innovation ecosystem is geared toward maximizing profits, "but we have a lot of innovation and ideas that are to maximize societal impact and those ought to find a way to the marketplace.”
Xconomy reporter Jeff Engel writes about The Engine, a new venture MIT launched to provide “resources to startups whose technologies typically take lots of time and capital to develop—think biotech, robotics, advanced manufacturing, medical devices, and energy.”
BostInno reporter Olivia Vanni writes that MIT is launching a new venture to support startups working on scientific and technological innovations that require time and patient capital. Vanni writes that tech industry leaders see the new effort “as a prime opportunity to retain our local tech talent."
CNN reporter Matt McFarland writes that MIT is launching a new entity aimed at providing space, funding and support for startups focused on tackling the world’s biggest challenges. "This is putting a piece in the puzzle that is missing," explains Executive Vice President and Treasurer Israel Ruiz. "There's a deficiency in the ecosystem to support these startups."