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A LIVABLE FUTURE
 

“The Council gives the MIT community the kind of deep discourse that is so necessary to face climate change and a rapidly changing world.”

— John Fernández ’85, Professor of Architecture, and Director, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
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Given what we know how do we live now?
MIT's Council for the Uncertain Human Future convenes small circle groups to reckon with the climate crisis in solidarity.
Story by SHASS Communications | Sidebar: Voices from Council participants

ANTHROPOLOGY
Living Climate Futures event shows a holistic way forward on the climate crisis
Natural world philosophies were one highlight of the two-day symposium.
Story by MIT Anthropology

MIT CLIMATE GRAND CHALLENGES
MIT announces five flagship Climate Grand Challenges projects
The portfolio of multiyear projects focuses on breakthrough solutions. SHASS engagement on finalist and flagship teams includes faculty from Comparative Media Studies, Economics/J-PAL, Philosophy, and Political Science.
SHASS engagement on the CGC finalist and flagship teams
 

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NEW WORKS

LINGUISTICS
Syntax in the Trees | Shigeru Miyagawa
MIT linguistic scholar Miyagawa argues that subject-verb agreement helps us do much more than build sentences. 
Story by Peter Dizikes at MIT News | Shigeru Miyagawa

MUSIC
World premiere of Charles Shadle's Symphony No.4
Shadle's symphony, an homage to his father and American lands, starts at 59:00 on the webcast.
Webcast: Symphony No.4 | Composer's commentary | Related: Choctaw Animals

SECURITY STUDIES
Republics of Myth | John Tirman, Malcolm Byrne, Hussein Banai
The authors make the case that one factor in the enmity between Iran and the US is vast difference in the two national narratives.
About the Book | Why the US and Iran are at odds | John Tirman
 

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EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE

 

Detail, interactive map of pre-Colonial Indigenous lands and territories, via Native Land Digital

“There is limitless potential in making a better world through partnerships between MIT and Indigenous nations, people, and communities,” says Alvin Harvey, MIT Aero/Astro PhD student and member of the Navajo Nation.

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PROJECT INDIGENOUS
MIT expands commitment to Indigenous scholarship and community
The Institute's new commitments build on insights from scholarship and student research in 21H.283, a SHASS course that explores how MIT’s history intersects with the broader history of oppression of Native Americans.
Story by Peter Dizikes, MIT News
Letter from President Reif | Gallery: Native American & Indigenous Perspectives at MIT

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LINGUISTICS
Honoring Noam Chomsky, Morris Halle — and promising new MIT Linguistics research
A new Stata Center wing celebrates Chomsky and Halle's towering achievements as well as the next generation of linguistics research at MIT.
Story by MIT Linguistics

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
Shapiro Fellowship for the History of the African-American Experience of Technology
Meet HASTS PhD student Kelcey Gibbons, the inaugural recipient of a fellowship established by L. Dennis Shapiro '55. The fellowship "helps cement MIT’s leadership in the history of technology," says STS Head Deborah Fitzgerald, the Cutten Professor of the History of Technology. "We are truly grateful to Dennis for supporting this important area of scholarship.”
Story by SHASS Communications

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ECONOMICS
Springing people from the poverty trap | Clare Balboni and colleagues
Field experiment in Bangladesh shows the poor simply lack opportunities to gain wealth — and a one-time boost, for example, a single cow, can jump-start a path to more economic well being. The study helps explain the success of programs that center on significant one-time interventions.
Story by Peter Dizikes, MIT News | Clare Balboni

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LITERATURE + HUMANITIES
An expanding vision for a global MIT humanities | Wiebke Denecke 
Denecke, an expert in East Asian literature, is spearheading a Comparative Global Humanities Initiative at MIT, a center that would catalyze work with historical depth and of global scope on socially relevant topics and issues.
Story by Peter Dizikes at MIT News  | Wiebke Denecke | Comparative Global Humanities
 

Wiebke Denecke, Professor of East Asian Literature

Wiebke Denecke is leading "an initiative that conceives of the humanities of the future at one of the most future-oriented and visionary institutions in the world." 

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CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES  + SECURITY STUDIES PROGRAM
Clearinghouse:  Analysis + Research on the war in Ukraine
The implications and consequences of the Russian assault on Ukraine will be felt for years. CIS is closely involved via analysis, advice, and informing the public with regular updates.  Clearinghouse: Analysis +  Research  | Wider Implications of the War: Video
MIT historian Elizabeth Wood on understanding the war: Story | Video | The ghosts of history

 

 

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CALLING ALL SHASS FIELDS
 

Have you taught or mentored a student with an inspiring, illuminating, worthy, quirky, or otherwise compelling post-graduation story? Media Relations Manager Stephen Oakes (oakes@mit.edu) would like to hear from you! 

 

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Published by SHASS Communications
Office of the Dean, MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Editor and Designer: Emily Hiestand
Publication Associate: Alison Lanier
Published 11 May 2022