History

The term “wild,” is receiving renewed attention from academics and popular authors alike. MIT historian Harriet Ritvo notes that even those who are critical of the term employ it frequently, and that most of us remain uncertain of the word's conceptual parameters.

3Q: Historian Harriet Ritvo on what it means to be "wild"

Scientists, social scientists, and humanists heed the call of the wild at MIT workshop.

November 4, 2016

Rendering of United States filled up as thousands of people

Analyzing the 2016 election: Insights from 12 MIT scholars

Experts from the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences weigh in on topics from polling to rhetoric to individual campaign issues.

October 12, 2016

"We got to learn how to use saws, a drill press, and other machines," says Kathryn Hendrickson, rising senior and computer science major (at left with Theodore Mouratidis and Lauren Huang). "It was cool to make something physical, where I'm used to just code. Building a printing press is awesome."

Mens et manus in the MIT History workshop

Students gain insights into early book-making technology and cultural systems by creating paper and a handset printing press from scratch.

June 10, 2016

“We are still trying to understand the economics of theater-going over the course of these 113 years. For example, we have limited records about the casting of plays, but we have already recognized that when new actors or actresses debuted, there would be spikes in attendance,” Jeff Ravel says.

3 Questions: Jeffrey Ravel on bringing data to cultural history

MIT conference stems from data-rich historical project on French theater.

May 18, 2016

Anne McCants is a professor of history and Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellow; housemaster for Burton-Conner; director of the Concourse Program, a freshman learning community dedicated to exploring fundamental questions that lie at the intersection of science, social science, and humanistic inquiry; and vice-president (soon to be president) of the International Economic History Association.

How history can help us solve global economic issues

MIT economic historian Anne McCants discusses the connection between innovation and opportunity.

April 22, 2016

“MITx grants provide a fantastic mechanism for developing new courses.” —MIT Professor Hazel Sive

MITx Grant Program selects eight new innovative digital learning projects

New projects emphasize using digital methods not possible in traditional classes, leveraging research-based teaching practices, and measuring student learning.

March 16, 2016

The SHASS Research Fund supports MIT research in the humanities, arts, or social sciences that shows promise of making an important contribution to the proposed area of activity.

Ten MIT-SHASS Research Fund recipients announced for 2016

January 25, 2016

Life in the aftermath

MIT historian’s book explores life for Armenians in modern Turkey.

January 8, 2016

“I was always very interested in current events and fascinated by what was happening in the world around me,” MIT historian Tanalís Padilla says. “My parents were very political. I considered myself quite a political being. … I think [living in] Mexico and the United States and seeing the contrast to be so great, especially in rural Mexico, made me aware [of politics] early on.”

Past and present

MIT’s Tanalís Padilla brings alive the history of political struggles in Mexico.

January 4, 2016

MIT’s response to earthquake in Nepal

MIT supports recovery and learning following earthquake in Nepal.

October 8, 2015

"Washington as Statesman at the Constitutional Convention"

MIT observes Constitution Day 2015

Today the Institute honors the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

September 17, 2015

Hundreds of MIT students explore fields at the 2015 TOUR de SHASS

Academic expo connects students with MIT-SHASS faculty and courses.

September 16, 2015

New MIT-SHASS Faculty for 2015: David Atkin, William Deringer, Paloma Duong; Caley Horan, Amy Moran-Thomas, Tanalís Padilla, Robin Scheffler; Frank Schilbach, Bettina Stoetzer, Leslie Tilley

Announcing MIT-SHASS new faculty for fall 2015

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences welcomes a new group of standout scholars.

September 14, 2015

Policing sex trafficking in the digital age

Mitali Thakor works with tech companies and police to understand what sex trafficking looks like today.

August 18, 2015

Jeffrey S. Ravel named head of MIT History

June 16, 2015

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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