Writing & Speeches

Dear members of the MIT community,

With enthusiasm, I write to let you know about an important new strategic initiative to increase access to quality STEM education across the United States, in settings from kindergarten to community college.

A natural…

Thank you, Mark. And good afternoon, everyone!

Last time I was here at the MET I was at the head of a parade! The joyful, noisy, fluttering procession that marked the official “occupancy” of this incredible space. 

Lots of you were part of it (and…

Good afternoon! A very warm welcome to MIT Future Fest!

I see many faces here from MIT. But I also see lots of faces from communities we touch beyond our campus: Scientists. Inventors. Designers. Artists. Investors and entrepreneurs. Teachers and students.…

Dear members of the MIT community,

With a heavy heart, I write to let you know that Thomas Rose, the POSCO Professor of Materials Science and an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, died yesterday due to injuries from a bicycle accident…

Dear members of the MIT community,

It’s rare that a successful institution has to take a fresh look at many aspects of its mission. But I’m convinced that the opportunities and risks generative AI poses for our model of education and research now constitute…

Dear members of the MIT community,

We write to share the final report of the Committee on Accelerating Translation and Entrepreneurship (CATE).

As we said in January when we charged the committee, given the evolving landscape of technology and…

Dear members of the MIT community,

I write to share the sad news that Susumu Tonegawa, the Picower Professor of Biology and Neuroscience, died suddenly this weekend at his home in California.

Born and raised in Japan, he earned an undergraduate degree…

Technically, as MIT’s president, it’s now my job to deliver a “charge” to the graduates.

But this year, I faced that assignment with a serious case of humility. You’re entering a world that I’m certain you’ll navigate better than I could.

So, for your…

As published in the Boston Globe.

At public and private universities across the country, high-impact science is being damaged and derailed.

Most successful scientists are optimists. They have to be, since the vast majority of experiments fail. In…

Hello, everyone.

It’s been a while since I’ve spoken with you all.

But the Institute is facing ongoing challenges in two related areas: funding, and our talent pipeline.

So I thought you’d appreciate hearing the facts.

First, funding.