MIT community in 2021: A year in review
Top Institute stories dealt with the return to campus and continued response to Covid-19, MIT’s commitments to climate action, its support of a diverse community, and more.
Q&A: John Dozier on the Strategic Action Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
MIT’s Institute community and equity officer discusses the opportunities and challenges of building consensus, the tensions between short and long-term planning, and the processes for bringing the MIT community together.
Shirley McBay, former MIT dean of student affairs and leading advocate for diversity, dies at 86
The trailblazing Black mathematician fought to bring more students from underrepresented groups into science and engineering fields.
MIT joins the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts
The organization works to address the racial wealth gap through policy advocacy and business and leadership development.
Climbing new heights across New England
Since 2014, MIT Outing Club members — new and advanced outdoor enthusiasts — come together for its annual School of Rock, a weekend program teaching and advancing outdoor rock-climbing skills.
3 Questions: Tolga Durak on building a safety culture at MIT
Managing director of environment, health, and safety programs discusses MIT's resources for helping researchers and students operate safely in the lab.
Chemist and MLK Jr. Scholar Robert Gilliard explores new frontiers in synthetic chemistry
MIT visiting scholar is motivated by foundational science at the edges of the periodic table.
3 Questions: Supporting graduate student families
Staff members Naomi Carton, Adj Marshall, and Jennifer Recklet Tassi coordinate everything from professional development to play.
MIT Libraries digitizes materials from Mary Rowe
Papers from MIT’s former ombudsperson provide an important resource on the beginning of the organizational ombuds profession.
Managing Covid-19 at MIT this fall: “So far, so good”
Ian Waitz, Cecilia Stuopis, and Suzanne Blake answer 3 questions on the fall semester and look ahead.
MIT makes strides on climate action plan
Online events highlight progress with new climate planning bodies, campus improvements, and involvement of all parts of the MIT community.
MIT Press announces Grant Program for Diverse Voices
New initiative extends the press’ commitment to publishing books by historically underrepresented authors through direct financial support.
American Physical Society honors nine with MIT ties for physics research
Faculty, staff, and alumni recognized for outstanding contributions to physics research, education, and policy.
Gene Dresselhaus, influential research scientist in solid-state physics, dies at 91
Over 50 years at MIT, Dresselhaus made lasting contributions to materials science within the research group of longtime collaborator and wife, Mildred Dresselhaus.
Diagnosing cancer with a barcode-inspired test
Dana Al-Sulaiman, a recent postdoc with MIT’s Ibn Khaldun Fellowship for Saudi Arabian Women, has developed a cheap, minimally invasive diagnostic test for cancer.