MIT had a groundbreaking year in 2023 with several remarkable achievements, from President Sally Kornbluth’s inauguration, Mark Rober’s inspirational Commencement address to Professor Moungi Bawendi clinching the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The year saw MIT researchers making crucial contributions in areas of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, clean energy solutions, and medical diagnosis tools. Besides, promoting the science of kindness also drew attention.
One of the highlights of the year was Steve Hartman’s exploration of kindness science with Professor Anette “Peko” Hosoi. The story asks if a single act of kindness can change the world, underscoring the importance of compassion in society.
This year, Professor Bawendi earned the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on quantum dots, a key component in electronics and medical imaging. Reflecting on his success, Bawendi shared how curiosity drew him to basic science and pursuing an understanding of how the world works.
Strong female leadership played a vital role at MIT, with President Kornbluth, Provost Cynthia Barnhart, and Chancellor Melissa Nobles pushing for greater inclusion of women and underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Another spotlight was on MIT’s efforts to provide educational opportunities for community college students, with pathways to transfer onto degree programs at MIT. These efforts have empowered students like Subin Kim, showcasing the institute’s commitment to widen access to higher education.
AI was another major frontier for MIT in 2023. On AI’s future, President Kornbluth emphasized AI’s ethical implications and climate change’s existential threat, asserting the need for immediate action on climate change. Furthermore, MIT researchers designed techniques for early-stage breast cancer detection and developed AI systems that could radically transform medical practice.
In engineering, MIT made significant strides, notably in creating 3D-printed hearts and unlocking the secret behind Roman architecture’s longevity.
On the climate front, MIT played a leading role in clean energy initiatives and innovations. MIT researchers made crucial discoveries in combating water shortages and observed that the strategic placement of EV charging stations could mitigate the energy demands triggered by EV adoption.
On the healthcare front, MIT scientists developed drug-delivery nanoparticles to target cancer cells without disrupting healthy cells, discovered a potential new antibiotic using AI, and designed an ultrasound bra that could revolutionize breast cancer detection.
Various MIT contributions in arts, astrophysics, literary works, and community building added more color to the year. An AI opera, a large woven art piece representing migration data, the detection of a dying star consuming a planet, debut of books exploring various facets of science and society, and fostering inclusive student communities were some prominent highlights.
Lastly, promoting educational excellence remained a key focus, with Professor Gilbert Strang receiving a standing ovation in his final lecture while MIT students and graduates used innovative approaches to spread knowledge and impact lives beyond the academic world.
