Spotlight
Global community dedicated to alleviating poverty gathers at MIT
Celebrating the 10th anniverary of the Jameel Poverty Action Lab
MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE from across the nation and the world gathered at MIT on December 7, 2013 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). The program featured stories from the field, talks and videos, panel discussions with researchers, policymakers, staff, and partners — and a musical tribute from Bono, lead singer of U2, singing "Happy Birthday" to J-PAL.
Established in 2003 as a research center within the Economics Department of MIT's School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, J-PAL's founders pioneered the use of randomized control trials to test the effectiveness of anti-poverty programs. Today, J-PAL comprises a global network of nearly 100 researchers working in 55 countries.
J-PAL fits in perfectly with MIT’s mission and values — to make the world a better place through service to humanity. Everyone gathering here today is concerned with questions of deep moral importance — and that is how to relieve human poverty and the suffering it creates.”
— MIT President L. Rafael Reif,
speaking at the J-PAL@10 gathering