Advancing Human Understanding
MIT SHASS: Celebrating 75 Years
Meet the Professor: Jacob Moscona
World-class
research
Without human understanding, there is no understanding. We are home to scholars and artists doing transformative work in fields vital to addressing the world’s most important challenges. Our faculty develop the values, vision, and ethical compass of tomorrow’s leaders.
AI is transforming society in profound ways. We’re at the forefront of exploring the economic, political, and ethical implications of this technology.
Seeing sounds
Mariano Salcedo SB ’25, SM ’26, an alumnus of MIT’s undergraduate artificial intelligence and decision making program and music technology and computation graduate program, is designing an AI to visualize and express music and other sounds. “I want users to feel movement and explore sounds and their impact more fully,” he says.
A data-driven approach to making better choices
In the new economics course 14.163 (Algorithms and Behavioral Science), students investigate the deployment of machine-learning tools and their potential to understand people, reduce bias, and improve society.
Our faculty are among the world’s leading experts in their fields. Here you’ll find a selection of recent publications from SHASS scholars.
Uptake of COVID‐19 Vaccines and Intention to Vaccinate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Cross‐Sectional Survey
New research co-authored by political scientist and MIT GOV/LAB director Lily Tsai and Research Director Nuole Chen assessed uptake of COVID‐19 vaccines and intention to vaccinate and associated factors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
How architecture influences political activity
New research from MIT political scientist Noah Nathan describes the impact of semi-communal “compound houses” In Ghana, which can affect how much people vote and participate in political activity. “The overarching pattern we find is that if you compare people who live in compound houses to residents of other housing types, like single-family homes or self-contained apartments, there is a pretty big difference in political actions,” Nathan says.
MIT graduates share how their SHASS education prepared them to take on the world’s greatest challenges.
Meicen Sun PhD ’22
Political Science
“SHASS provided the crucial resources and flexibility needed to investigate how we can approach the social sciences from the perspective of information science.”
Ankita Reddy ’19
Anthropology (Course 21A)
Biology (Course 7)
“My classes, discussions, and connections fostered through SHASS taught me the value of deep listening, priming me to ask difficult questions about technological solutions (and to have the courage to do so).”
Broadening student minds
If you want to make the world a better place, you need to understand how it works. SHASS plays an essential role at MIT, ensuring our students have a deep understanding of the human implications of the world’s biggest challenges.
Latest news from SHASS
Our work has broad impact at MIT and across the globe. Read the latest about new ideas coming out of SHASS.
Climate Action Learning Lab bridges research and policy for effective climate solutions
J-PAL North America’s Learning Lab supported a second cohort of U.S. government and nonprofit organizations in building and using rigorous evidence to advance effective decarbonization and adaptation strategies.
The effects of an “algorithmic monoculture” depend on the details
In a study focusing on hiring decisions, MIT researchers found the use of a single algorithm by many firms could benefit job seekers in certain situations.
Who we become when we talk to machines
Professor Sherry Turkle’s new book, “Artificial Intimacy,” offers a withering critique of chatbots and the antisocial dynamics she believes they encourage.
In the media
ChatGPT doesn’t love you
Primordial black holes might be five-dimensional—and formed by cosmic strings
Obamacare $500 refund checks are here. Map shows where payouts are coming
A.I. anxiety is showing up in therapy
SHASS videos
Weaving economic narratives: A cross-disciplinary collaboration inspired by jamdani
