Nobel Week at the Institute
Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson PhD ’89, and James A. Robinson shared the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for 2024 "for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity." Their work traces increased prosperity in nations today back to having more inclusive institutions during the colonial period. Acemoglu is an Institute Professor in the Department of Economics. Johnson received his PhD in Economics at MIT in 1989 and is the Ronald A. Kurtz (1954) Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Sloan School of Management.
The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard lays off 87 employees
In an Oct 10 email to members of the Broad Institute community, Todd Golub, the Director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard announced the layoff of 87 employees, 75 of whom were part of the Data Sciences Platform and IT departments.
Cooling down as October comes to a close
The weather is cooling down from our warm streak but continues to be pretty amiable into this weekend. The trees are starting to turn, and the leaves are starting to fall, make sure to get outside while you still can and enjoy that autumn beauty! A walk along the Charles River esplanade is the perfect opportunity to see some fall foliage close to home. Additionally, make sure to check out Halloween events coming up on campus and partake in the fun!
The Coalition for Palestine continues regular protests as numerous arrests made
The Coalition for Palestine remains adamant in its messaging of severing ties between the Institute and Israeli entities involved in the conflict.
Chabad at MIT, MIT Hillel, and the MIT Israel Alliance hold a memorial service and display in memory of the October 7th attack
"It was really important that the display would not be political,” Bechhofer said. “[The memorial] would just focus on themes of human suffering, crisis, and then resilience and rebuilding.”
MIT’s endowment rises 4.8% to $24.6 billion in 2024 fiscal year
MIT’s endowment rises 4.8% to $24.6 billion in 2024 fiscal year with philanthropic contributions rising 8.3% and MIT’s overall net assets climbing to $33.6 billion for a 4.3% jump
Nassim, as performed by LaWhore Vagistan: A Drag Queen’s Compulsory Vulnerability
Each night, a different performer takes the stage without reading the script beforehand.
Leopoldstadt Invites Memory
Leopoldstadt leaves the viewer with the heaviness of the Shoah, inviting the audience to engage with the imperatives of historical memory, critically needed as genocide unfolds in Palestine.
Fantasies through piano: Emanuel Ax opens the Celebrity Series of Boston
With the eighty-eight black and white keys of a piano at his fingertips, Ax strung together soft and powerful melodies that resembled dreams and unrestrained imagination.
The organ takes center stage at Symphony Hall
The BSO concert on Saturday, October 12, was special for its focus on the organ, a keyboard instrument known for its resonant, high-range sounds.
Mahler’s Eighth echos through Symphony Hall with grandiosity
This performance of the rarely-played symphony was spectacular, and will certainly be remembered as a highlight of the 2024-2025 season.
Recapping November for MIT Fall Sports
MIT’s Fall athletic teams are preparing for the home stretch of their seasons as the semester nears its end. Many teams are vying for postseason spots, while others are longing for the relief of the offseason. If you have not been keeping track of teams this fall, here is a recap of how they’ve been doing (as of the time of publication):
Women’s Club Soccer Closes Season with Doubleheader Split
The MIT Women’s Club Soccer team wrapped up their 2024 regular season with a 0-3 loss to Harvard and a 8-0 win against Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) on Saturday.
For Your Thoughts: American Healthcare
Each time I make a visit to a hospital, I am austerely reminded, no niceties spared, that our glorious nation’s top-of-the-line medical system is in complete and utter shambles.
On Freshman Fall: Fears and the Firehose
Auntie Matter provides advice to a freshman facing the fall firehose.
Fireside Chat with Dan Riccio: Former Apple Executive Shares Reflections on his Journey
Riccio: “I always wanted to be the first person to get there in the morning and the last person to be there at night. When anything came up, I wouldn't wait… It’s just how I was.”
Meet Anantha Chandrakasan, Dean of Engineering
Chandrakasan: “I was rejected by MIT. I remember being on a call with the MIT graduate office. I was emotional about the rejection—I think I cried—but they were very kind and gave me good advice and valuable support even then.”
Minding the Brain: Professor Mehrdad Jazayeri on brain models research, the HHMI award, and the growth of neuroscience
Mehrdad Jazayeri, Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, has recently been named an HHMI Investigator for his research on the mind-brain connection. Having immigrated from Iran and pursued his academic journey at NYU and the University of Washington, Jazayeri's research at MIT combines cognitive science, neuroscience, and machine learning to connect the biological mechanisms of the brain to the computational capacities of the mind.
