Leveraging schools for political influence
Doctoral student Blair Read links rise of private education in India to local political competition, signaling potential erosion of public services.
New power sources
Thirty-six million people in the U.S. use an energy system developed by a handful of activists in the 1990s. An MIT scholar examines this unusual story.
Conversations at the front line of climate
Novel communications infrastructure from the MIT Civic Design Initiative aims to support communities on the front lines of the climate crisis.
Study: Higher minimum wages raise voter turnout
Low-wage workers, who vote infrequently, gain a participation boost when their salaries increase.
From modeling quantum devices to political systems
Senior Sihao Huang uses his background in physics and complex systems to inform his interdisciplinary approach to political science.
Is an armed conflict imminent?
As Russia masses military equipment near Ukraine borders, experts in an MIT forum express concern about possible action and its consequences.
An honor that empowers change
Pressman Awards inspire undergraduate engagement in politics and policy, and sometimes a complete pivot in direction.
Where legal, voting by those in prison is rare, study shows
The findings suggest voting by incarcerated people is unlikely to affect electoral outcomes, in contrast to some assumptions.
J-PAL North America announces five new partnerships with state and local governments
Five new state and local government partners will work with J-PAL North America to develop rigorous evaluations of policies and programs related to environment, education, economic security, and housing stability.
Q&A: Can the world change course on climate?
Political scientist Nazli Choucri discusses challenges and hopes for global coordination on climate issues — and the role of political science in the process.
Silicon Valley beckoned, but he went home to Delaware
Senior Max Williamson uses his background in computer science to tackle public policy issues in his home state and on a global scale.
Report: Economics drives migration from Central America to the U.S.
A new survey underscores how material needs lead to movement within the Americas — at a high cost to those trying to relocate.
At UN climate change conference, trying to “keep 1.5 alive”
A delegation from MIT traveled to Glasgow for COP26, where international negotiators sought to keep global climate goals on track.
Q&A: Options for the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant
Researchers argue the plant could provide multiple benefits for California, including desalinated water and clean hydrogen fuel.
Cures for the health insurance enrollment blues
An experiment in Indonesia shows how much subsidies and in-person assistance spur people to get insurance — and how many people stop trying.