School of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences

Researchers find that Dutch sugar production in Indonesia in the 19th century entailed industrialization whose economic benefits are still evident today.

The complex effects of colonial rule in Indonesia

Evidence links Dutch-era sugar production and greater economic activity today.

February 5, 2020

MIT Schwarzman College of Computing leadership team (left to right) David Kaiser, Daniela Rus, Dan Huttenlocher, Julie Shah, and Asu Ozdaglar

A college for the computing age

With the initial organizational structure in place, the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing moves forward with implementation.

February 4, 2020

The first students to enroll in MIT’s new MicroMaster Program in Data, Economics, and Development Policy program arrived at MIT in January.

MIT launches master’s in data, economics, and development policy, led by Nobel laureates

The first cohort of 22 students from 14 countries share a common ambition: harnessing data to help others.

February 4, 2020

Isabelle de Courtivron's latest work takes on the controversial subject of aging for women, with its particular implications in French culture.

3 Questions: Isabelle de Courtivron on the shock of becoming old

MIT professor emerita talks about her new memoir and aging in a patriarchal society.

February 3, 2020

Singing for joy and service

After surgery to correct childhood hearing loss, Swarna Jeewajee discovered a desire to be a physician-scientist, and a love of a cappella music.

February 2, 2020

Katy Knight (left) of the Siegel Family Endowment and José Cisneros (right), elected treasurer for the City and County of San Francisco, listen as MIT professor and Work of the Future Initiative co-chair David Autor provides feedback on how to design an effective evaluation of a labor force development program.

Experts join J-PAL North America in advancing conversation on the work of the future

Academic, government, and advocacy leaders gathered to promote collaborative research partnerships to identify strategies that help workers thrive in today’s labor market.

January 31, 2020

A new study by MIT economists indicates that some metrics used in hospital rankings do, in fact, provide real insight about hospital quality.

Hospital rankings hold up

Some basic metrics do effectively diagnose care quality, according to MIT economists.

January 30, 2020

Madeline Abrahams, an EECS senior and MIT/Tang Family FinTech SuperUROP scholar, presents her work investigating the spread of misinformation related to climate change via algorithmic aggregation platforms at the SuperUROP Showcase.

At halfway point, SuperUROP scholars share their research results

In a lively poster session, more than 100 undergraduates discuss their yearlong research projects on everything from machine learning to political geography.

January 29, 2020

Kang Zhou, a lecturer in Chinese in MIT Global Studies and Languages, teaches the fundamentals of Chinese calligraphy during the MIT's Independent Activities Period in January.

3 Questions: Kang Zhou on the lessons of Chinese calligraphy

When we appreciate calligraphy works in class, we also analyze the life experiences and stories of each calligrapher’s unique style.

January 28, 2020

Dwai Banerjee is co-author of a new book titled “Hematologies: The Political Life of Blood in India.”

Blood and politics in India

New book explores the use of blood in political rhetoric, imagery, and activism, and even the politics of blood drives.

January 21, 2020

"Lately I have been trying to think of African history from the perspective of goodness and basic human decency," says Kenda Mutongi, an MIT professor of history. "Of course, conflicts exist, and do a great deal of damage in our lives, and we must confront them — but we must also allow ourselves to appreciate basic goodness and kindness when we see it."

3 Questions: Professor Kenda Mutongi on Africa, women, power — and human decency

Mutongi discusses the connection between Kenyan widows and the #MeToo movement, myths of African entrepreneurship, and the wider implications of her research.

January 14, 2020

The Santa Clara County’s Office of Supportive Housing in California is working with J-PAL North America and affiliated researchers to test the impact of rapid re-housing on homeless shelter entry, housing moves, and hospital visits for single adults.

J-PAL North America seeks partners to research homelessness

Housing Stability Evaluation Incubator will provide funding and technical assistance to help partners build evidence on strategies to reduce and prevent homelessness.

January 13, 2020

A new MIT-led study set in Camden, New Jersey (pictured here), finds that “hotspotting” healthcare programs have a very limited effect when it comes to improving care and reducing costs for high-risk patients.

In health care, does “hotspotting” make patients better?

Study shows no effect from program intended to reduce repeated hospitalizations by targeting high-cost patients.

January 8, 2020

Jeanne Guillemin was described by The New York Times as a “scientific sleuth” and the Washington Post as a “pioneering researcher” in obituaries that lauded her groundbreaking work in biological warfare — a field where men had long outnumbered their female colleagues.

Jeanne Guillemin, biological warfare expert and senior advisor at MIT, dies at 76

A sought-after analyst on the use of biological weapons, she was a model of interdisciplinary excellence to all — especially women.

January 7, 2020

How to stage a revolution

MIT History class explores the roots and complexities of revolutions across the globe.