Darsh Grewal

What’ve you enjoyed most about your area of study? Was there a particular discovery, new skill or way of thinking, or insight that you found especially valuable? Please share an example from your favorite class or experience.

Pursuing a minor in political science has afforded me the opportunity to dedicate 12 units each semester to engaging in profound discussions and learning alongside my astute peers. The skillfully led dialogues by outstanding professors like Dr. Chap Lawson and Dr. Mallick Gachem have prompted us to scrutinize our perspectives and tackle weighty questions such as “What is freedom?” and “Is a Utopia feasible?”. The conversations and coursework in these classes have broadened my approach to thinking about issues on personal, professional, and societal levels.

How does the knowledge from this field, or your interest in it, combine with your other major or minor studies at MIT?

As a materials science major, I aspire to enter the field of product engineering with a focus on sustainability. It is crucial to consider such technologies within the context of their direct impact on communities, climate policies, and the economic aspects of deployment. Political science classes taught by Dr. Oye and Dr. Bonvillian have equipped me with insights into policy frameworks concerning various technologies, as well as innovation pipelines that are vital to bear in mind while engaging in engineering projects.

An MIT education includes study in the scientific, technical, social science, arts, and humanities fields. How do you think that wide range of knowledge and perspectives will be valuable to you – for your career success and for your enjoyment of life?

A varied array of courses offered through SHASS and MIT NEET has enriched my understanding of engineering, positioning it within the broader context of society and the individuals it affects, rather than merely as a technical discipline.

What are your plans for the future?

I will be extending my academic journey for an additional year to pursue an MEng in Data Science and Systems Engineering through MIT CEE.