Summer 2026 recommended reading from MIT
Enjoy these recent titles from Institute faculty and staff.
The ripple effect of learning at MIT
MIT Professional Education helped Ignacio Vazquez SM ’22 bridge technical mastery and strategic insight, leading to his role as MIT System Design and Management industry and certificate director.
Meet the leader of the Department of Biology’s all-important “kitchen”
Karen O’Leary, lab associate and acting supervisor in the Glassware Sterilization Facility (a.k.a. “the kitchen”), has become a cornerstone of the department’s operations.
At a spirited Commencement ceremony, the Class of 2026 is urged to “run toward the hardest problems”
Lisa Su ’90, SM ’91, PhD ’94, Advanced Micro Devices CEO, tells graduates to apply “purpose, judgment, and courage” in their lives.
Commencement address by Lisa Su ’90, SM ’91, PhD ’94
“Technology itself does not decide what the future looks like,” the chair and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices told the Class of 2026.
Sally Kornbluth’s charge to the Class of 2026
MIT’s president asked graduates help the world understand the importance of curiosity — “our intellectual rocket fuel” — to society as a whole.
Q&A: Expanding MIT’s global reach through Universal Learning
Dimitris Bertsimas and Megan Mitchell discuss the motivation behind Universal Learning, and what sets the new MIT Open Learning educational initiative apart.
MIT School of Engineering faculty receive awards in winter 2026
Faculty members and researchers were honored in recognition of their scholarship, service, and overall excellence.
MIT affiliates awarded 2026 Guggenheim Fellowships
Afreen Siddiqi, Kathleen Thelen, and Vinod Vaikuntanathan, along with alumna Kate Manne, are appointed to the 2026 class of “trail-blazing fellows.”
Faces of MIT: Gabi Hott Soares
Through mentorship, enthusiasm, and a global perspective, Gabi Hott Soares supports student leaders at MIT.
Building the blocks of life
Computational biologist Sergei Kotelnikov is working to develop new methods in protein modeling as part of the School of Science Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship.
G. Anthony Grant named a 2025-26 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year
MIT director of athletics and DAPER department head has supported remarkable success by MIT’s student-athletes and coaches while strengthening department culture and initiatives.
3 Questions: Communicating about climate, in audio and beyond
Madison Goldberg, the new host of the Ask MIT Climate podcast, talks about her career as a science communicator as well as ideas she thinks it’s important for climate communicators to convey.
Les Perelman, expert in writing assessment and champion of writing education, dies at 77
The longtime MIT faculty member and former dean established an influential writing program at the Institute and was known for his fierce criticism of automated essay grading.
The strength of “infinite hope”
MIT Dean of Engineering Paula Hammond keynotes the 52nd MLK Celebration, with a message of resilience and determination.