Reflecting and Looking Forward: President Sally Kornbluth
In her first year as MIT President, Sally Kornbluth has implemented initiatives and faced challenges. Her listening tour culminated in a number of findings, ranging from the ethics of artificial intelligence to concerns over living expenses on campus. Kornbluth led the Institute through the Supreme Court ruling overturning affirmative action and its response to the crisis in the Middle East. Kornbluth sat down with The Tech to reflect on her tenure so far as President.
Dreary Days leading up to Next Semester
Less than two weeks until classes start up again. Back to a life dictated by psets, labs, lectures … the constant pressure of the lack of time. Personally, I am dreading it, and it seems Mother Nature feels my pain. Today through Sunday, there is no sun. Just clouds and precipitation. A dreary sign of what is to come next. One good note is that relative to the past weekend’s temperature, the world is getting warmer. Temperatures are hitting highs in the 40s and the lows are not below freezing! A symbol that the end of Winter, of IAP, of empty time, is upon us, leading us to the Spring semester.
Karl Reid ’84, SM ’85 named Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
In a statement to the MIT community, President Sally Kornbluth announced that Karl Reid ’84, SM ’85 will become the new vice president for equity and inclusion (VPEI) beginning March 3rd. Reid currently serves as Senior Vice Provost and Chief Inclusion Officer at Northeastern University. Professor Daniel Hastings SM ’78, PhD ’80 served as the interim Institute community and equity officer following the departure of John Dozier in June of 2023.
MIT’s UN Climate Change Conference delegation reflects on proposed resolutions
The Institute sent its own delegation to discuss the conference’s resolutions, having done so since the early 2000s.
Standing Together Against Hate panels announced
In a recent email, the Institute revealed several upcoming events this year “to build understanding and foster respectful dialogue.”
MIT-GSU discusses plans for graduate students post-contract ratification
The GSU intends on using the momentum gained from the contract’s success to further prioritize graduate students.
MIT-GSU 2023 election results
The MIT Graduate Student Union (MIT-GSU) held an election in the fall of 2023 to decide the union’s new officers. This election was the first GSU election and was open to all graduate students. 400 out of 7,344 graduate students voted.
MIT’s mascot Tim the Beaver celebrates 110th anniversary
Jan. 17 marked the 110th anniversary of MIT adopting Tim the Beaver as the Institute’s mascot.
In Memoriam: Emma Pearl Wilmer-Shiles ’18 G, Lochie Ferrier ‘19
In a statement to the MIT Community, President Sally Kornbluth announced the deaths of Emma Pearl Willmer-Shiles ’18 G and Lochie Ferrier ’19 in a plane crash off the coast of California. A San Francisco native, Willmer-Shiles studied mechanical engineering as an undergraduate. At the time of her passing, Willmer-Shiles was a second-year graduate student in Architecture. Ferrier was an alumnus of the AeroAstro Department and was working as an aeronautical engineer at the time of his passing.
In Memoriam: Lynn Yamada Davis ’78
Lynn Yamada Davis ’78, known for her viral “Cooking with Lynja” videos, passed away at 67 on Jan. 1 from complications of esophageal cancer. Yamada graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Course 1 and was a former Chairperson of The Tech.
MIT Medical changes name to MIT Health
In an email to the MIT community on Jan. 18, Dr. Cecilia Stuopis, Chief Health Officer of MIT Health, announced that MIT Medical adopted the new name of MIT Health. Stuopis stated that the name change would be visible across campus; a new logo, website, and medical forms will be amongst the most notable changes.
A little heavy on the Kool-Aid: The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
Want to see what a year-long trial of productivity looks like? Read The Productivity Project — but only if you can stomach the author’s on-page personality.
Holst’s The Planets Suite VII: Neptune Shines for its Mysterious Nature
The movement makes listeners enter an unparalleled state of wonder.
a reflection on a reflection on hackMIT
you know, a few months ago, i wondered if i would be you.
Visiting the Other Cambridge
I found it amusing that both are famous college towns that share the same name while having significant differences in various aspects.
Uncovering secrets at the bottom of Earth’s oceans
From sharks that can live for up to 400 years to microbes that could be the evolutionary ancestors of all complex life on Earth: if we’ve learned anything about Earth’s oceans in the past decade, it’s how little we really know. When each year brings a new and unexpected find, one begins to wonder: how much are we missing?
Can scientists mimic the benefits of CBD without using cannabis?
A team of researchers has uncovered a mechanism by which CBD prevents severe epileptic seizures.
