Washington Post reporter Sarah Larimer writes that the Women of NASA LEGO set developed by Maia Weinstock, deputy editor for MIT News, will become an official LEGO set. Weinstock says she hopes the set, which depicts the contributions of five of NASA’s female pioneers, “helps to inspire the kids of the future!”
Speaking with Ellie Bothwell of Times Higher Education, President L. Rafael Reif emphasizes MIT’s “commitment to tackling big, important problems for humanity – climate change, clean energy, cybersecurity, human health – with colleagues of every identity and background.”
Over 1,500 Fulbright recipients, including a number of MIT fellows, penned a letter in The Huffington Post about the U.S. election. The authors “stand for the tradition of tolerance, free expression, and inclusivity that has made the United States a beacon of hope.”
Gabrielle Emanuel reports for WGBH that MIT students shared their hopes and fears following the 2016 election on sheets of paper wrapped around columns in Lobby 7. “It wasn’t long before the sheets were filled with notes scribbled in many different languages. There were famous quotes and personal confessions. There were pleas for understanding and calls for action.”
President L. Rafael Reif speaks with Federico Kukso of El País about the MIT Campaign for a Better World and the need to educate students prepared to tackle society’s most pressing challenges. MIT is “an intellectually explosive, unique place,” says Reif, adding that “we value intelligence, passion, curiosity.”
Researchers at the MIT Media Lab are joining forces with Google to create a program aimed at mentoring the next generation of African-American and Latino computer scientists in Oakland, California, reports Ethan Baron for The Mercury News.
In an article for Inside Higher Ed, Rick Seltzer highlights MIT’s efforts to reduce bias in the college application process by soliciting more information from applicants. “The value of more information is it gives us this opportunity to get a little closer to the student,” explains Lauren Avalos, associate director of admissions.
Prof. Evan Apfelbaum writes for Fortune about a study he co-authored examining how businesses can undertake more successful diversity efforts. Apfelbaum explains that his research found that while diversity programs often treat “two underrepresented groups—women and minorities—in the same ways, messaging that motivates one group may actually de-motivate another, leading to failure of diversity programs.”
In an NPR piece about diversity in sci-fi, Jeff Young highlights a study by Prof. Edward Schiappa that found TV viewers became more accepting after watching shows that introduce them to different cultures. "At this point, it's a pretty unequivocal finding that TV can affect how people feel and think about others," says Schiappa.
Stu Schmill, MIT’s Dean of Admissions, speaks with Matt Lauer of The Today Show about a new report that he helped develop, which recommends changes in the college application process. “This report, I hope, will really send a more powerful message around what colleges are really, really interested to see,” says Schmill.
In a letter to The Boston Globe, Lisa Arrowood, president of the Boston Bar Association, commends MIT’s decision “to speak out in favor of race-conscious admissions policies in higher education.” Arrowood writes that these policies help foster diversity in higher education.
Stephanie McFeeters writes for The Boston Globe about the social media campaign #ILookLikeAnEngineer, highlighting the MIT students, faculty and alumni who participated in the trend by posting their photos. The campaign stemmed from the negative response one female engineer received after appearing in an ad campaign for her IT company.
Professor Junot Díaz will be honored as one of this year’s We Are Boston Award recipients for embracing “diversity and immigrant heritage,” writes Jennifer Usovicz for The Boston Globe. “Boston is beautiful precisely because of our immigrant communities,” says Díaz. “Our energy and sacrifice is the dynamo that drives the city forward.”
Boston Globe reporter Katherine Landergan writes that during MIT’s 2015 Commencement, U.S. CTO Megan Smith ’86, SM ’88 urged graduates to “be kind, be inclusive, be open.” President L. Rafael Reif asked graduates to have a “bold willingness to disrupt the status quo, to make the world a better place.”
MIT celebrated the induction of Robert Robinson Taylor, the Institute’s first African American graduate, into the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage Stamp series. “Robert Robinson Taylor graduated MIT in 1892 and is believed to be the country’s first academically trained black architect,” reports Sara Feijo for The Cambridge Chronicle.