MIT SHASS' Top 10 articles of 2023

What captured your attention in 2023? From artificial intelligence to civil discourse, this year saw SHASS faculty and students investigate and expand views of what's possible in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. We've compiled a list of the 10 most-read articles from the past year about what's happening in SHASS.

1. Who will benefit from AI? 

In a campus talk, MIT Economics professor Daron Acemoglu offers a vision of “machine usefulness,” rather than autonomous “intelligence,” to help workers and spread prosperity.

MIT economist and Institute Professor Daron Acemoglu (left) presented the case for using AI to produce shared prosperity by supplementing workers, rather than replacing them, in a campus talk at MIT's Starr Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 26. At right is Fotini Christia, Ford International Professor of the Social Sciences at MIT, who was a discussant after Acemoglu's remarks.MIT economist and Institute Professor Daron Acemoglu (left) presented the case for using AI to produce shared prosperity by supplementing workers, rather than replacing them, in a campus talk at MIT's Starr Forum. At right is Fotini Christia, Ford International Professor of the Social Sciences at MIT, who was a discussant after Acemoglu's remarks. Photo: Michelle English

2. Serious play at the MIT Game Lab 

MIT's Game Lab uses games as a way for students to play, explore, and learn to think critically about the role of games in society. 

iStock image of computer illustrations of humans playing gamesThe MIT Game Lab uses games to broaden perspectives and teach students to think critically about the role of games in society. Image: iStock

3. Q&A: A high-tech take on Wagners' "Parsifal" opera

Director and MIT professor Jay Scheib speaks about his widely heralded production of Wagner's "Parsifal" opera at the Bayreuth Festival, which features an apocalyptic theme and augmented reality headsets for the audience.

Production of Wagner’s “Parsifal” opera at the Bayreuth Festival, which features an apocalyptic theme and augmented reality headsets for the audience.Production of Wagner’s “Parsifal” opera at the Bayreuth Festival, which features an apocalyptic theme and augmented reality headsets for the audience. Photo: Enrico Nawrath. Courtesy of the Bayreuther Festival 

4. Changing attitudes about jobs and gender in India 

PhD candidate Lisa Ho ’17 studies barriers that limit women’s participation in the labor force.

PhD candidate Lisa Ho ’17, who studies barriers that limit women’s participation in the labor force. She's wearing a print dress, smiling, and leaning on a red wall.PhD candidate Lisa Ho ’17, who studies barriers that limit women’s participation in the labor force. Photo: Adam Glanzman

5. A civil discourse on climate change

A new MIT initiative designed to encourage open dialogue on campus kicked off with a conversation focused on how to address challenges related to climate change.

Attendees examine the ideas and information under discussion during the first "Civil Discourse" event at MIT.Attendees examine the ideas and information under discussion during the first "Civil Discourse" event at MIT. Photo: Kevin Ly

6. Centering feminism 

MIT History professor and director of the Women's and Gender Studies program Lerna Ekmekcioglu investigates marginalized women, social systems that create barriers to advancement, and potential empowerment.

Lerna Ekmekcioglu is MIT’s McMillan-Stewart Associate Professor of History and the director of MIT’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program.Lerna Ekmekcioglu is MIT’s McMillan-Stewart Associate Professor of History and the director of MIT’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

7. MIT students build connections with Black and Indigenous Brazilians to investigate culture and the environment 

A three-week course - WGS.247/21L.592 (Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas), offered jointly by the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences' Women’s and Gender Studies, Literature, and Writing programs, provides students opportunities to study how American and Brazilian Black and Indigenous writers, artists, and filmmakers’ art and cultural activism — particularly women’s — can impact racial justice and environmental issues. 

The 2023 cohort of Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas with Joaquin Terrones (left) poses at the Jabaquara Black Cultural Center. Started in 2019, the ongoing program has seen numerous benefits for students and faculty alike.The 2023 cohort of Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas with Joaquin Terrones (left) poses at the Jabaquara Black Cultural Center. Started in 2019, the ongoing program has seen numerous benefits for students and faculty alike. Photo: Jabaquara Black Cultural Center staff.

8. First-of-its-kind Indigenous immersive incubator gathers on MIT campus 

An historic delegation of 10 Indigenous artists and advisors gathered on MIT's campus to share their work with each other and with the MIT community.

2023 ISO Indigenous Incubator at MIT participants gather with members of the Institute's Indigenous community.2023 ISO Indigenous Incubator at MIT participants gather with members of the Institute's Indigenous community. Photo: Co-Creation Studio at MIT

9. Empowering the next generation of philosophers through diversity and inclusion 

Held annually at MIT, the PIKSI-Boston program brings together students from groups underrepresented in the field of philosophy.

Yunqing/Isaac Han from Claremont McKenna College (wearing white and yellow mask) was one of the Alain Locke Fellows who attended PIKSI-Boston this summer.Yunqing/Isaac Han from Claremont McKenna College (wearing white and yellow mask) was one of the Alain Locke Fellows who attended PIKSI-Boston this summer. Photo: Allegra Boverman

10. Finding the heat 

Poet Joshua Bennett invites MIT students to gather around Black American poetry.

Clockwise from left: Joshua Bennett, Margaret Yu, Lyne-Nicole Odhiambo, Alissa Kopylova, Ella Trumper, Yasmeen Shabazz, Stephen Andrews, Diego Swaddipong, Elizabeth Zhang, and Matt Caren, who is making a point in discussion about Stevie Wonder.Clockwise from left: Joshua Bennett, Margaret Yu, Lyne-Nicole Odhiambo, Alissa Kopylova, Ella Trumper, Yasmeen Shabazz, Stephen Andrews, Diego Swaddipong, Elizabeth Zhang, and Matt Caren, who is making a point in discussion about Stevie Wonder. Photo: Allegra Boverman