WEBVTT 1 00:00:11.310 --> 00:00:16.119 John A Ochsendorf: Welcome everyone. We'll get started in just a few minutes. Thanks so much for joining. 2 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:11.350 3 00:01:31.070 --> 00:01:33.870 John A Ochsendorf: Welcome everyone. We'll just give it a couple more minutes. 4 00:02:36.260 --> 00:02:47.160 John A Ochsendorf: Okay, welcome everyone we are recording. So I think we can go ahead and get started breaking MIT protocol and starting 1.3 min early. 5 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:53.299 John A Ochsendorf: So I'm John Ochsendorf, professor in Architecture and also Civil Environmental Engineering 6 00:02:53.350 --> 00:02:58.179 John A Ochsendorf: and director of the New Morningside Academy for design, or MAD 7 00:02:58.220 --> 00:03:12.100 John A Ochsendorf: and really excited to host you to share a little bit more about the fellowship and answer any questions you have, and I'd like to introduce a handful of MAD colleagues who are here with me. So over to you, Maria. 8 00:03:12.390 --> 00:03:18.499 Maria Yang: Hi, everyone! I'm Maria Yang. I'm a professor of Mechanical Engineering, and I'm also associate director for MAD. 9 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:21.520 Maria Yang: and I will pass things on to Marion. 10 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:31.750 Marion O Cunningham: Hi! My name is Marion Cunningham. I'm the associate director for Administration for MAD. Welcome. I look forward to meeting you all virtually, and I'm going to turn it over to my colleague, Katherine. 11 00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:38.039 Katherine Higgins: Hi! Good evening. My name is Katherine Higgins. I am the academic research program administrator for MAD. 12 00:03:39.870 --> 00:04:00.259 John A Ochsendorf: So we have a few slides to go through. It shouldn't take too long, and please feel free to put questions in the chat. We'll probably answer questions. The slides will probably answer a lot of your questions, but if you have others, then we can open it up at the end, and I think we can go ahead and start the slides. So 13 00:04:00.260 --> 00:04:18.719 John A Ochsendorf: first, so to begin with, what is MAD, we're a new entity, and you can learn all about us. We're cross-cutting. We're supporting design across all of MIT, and you can learn about us at design.mit.edu. If you're not on our mailing list already, please do sign up there. We have events, we have all sorts of activities, and 14 00:04:18.850 --> 00:04:29.409 John A Ochsendorf: whether you're awarded a MAD fellowship or not, we really hope to see you engaging and helping us elevate and connect designers across all of campus. So so please do 15 00:04:29.490 --> 00:04:48.660 John A Ochsendorf: follow the work we're doing. And you know there are many opportunities for students to get involved with MAD and to propose public events or programming, or bring someone to campus, or, you know, take design classes. So there are lots of different ways you can engage with MAD, and the portal is really all through design.mit.edu 16 00:04:48.700 --> 00:04:50.310 John A Ochsendorf: next. 17 00:04:50.350 --> 00:05:07.849 John A Ochsendorf: how did we come about? Well, we observed, Maria and I have both been on the faculty for decades, and we've seen a lot of growing interest in design across MIT students wanting to use design to translate their work into the world, and 18 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:28.870 John A Ochsendorf: as a way of addressing urgent and challenging issues that we face. And we don't have to tell you there are many in the world today. And so 4 years ago, exactly, Maria and I chaired essentially an ad hoc committee of leading designers from across campus, saying, What can we do to help support design? 19 00:05:28.940 --> 00:05:46.580 John A Ochsendorf: And we had a series of recommendations, and in particular, just thinking about ways that we could make more resources available to students who were who were using design or were working as designers. So I'll pass it on to Maria to tell you a little bit more. 20 00:05:46.580 --> 00:06:03.420 Maria Yang: Thanks, John. So this committee led to some great findings, and sometimes your wish, list and dreams do come true. We received a generous gift from Gerald Chan and his foundation, his family foundation, the Morningside Foundation, which 21 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:19.450 Maria Yang: you see Gerald here, and this has enabled many different things that are sort of in motion. Now, in particular, this enables an endowment for graduate fellowships, which is why we are having this call today, and maybe we can go to the next slide. 22 00:06:20.249 --> 00:06:24.490 Maria Yang: So yeah. And we can tell you more about this fellowship. And this is why you're here. 23 00:06:24.630 --> 00:06:26.330 Maria Yang: Next slide, please. 24 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:44.589 Maria Yang: And really the first thing — the most important thing is — and I see we have over 40 people now, which is great. This fellowship is open to any graduate student at MIT, not in their... who is currently here, and is a master's or PhD. Student. That is fine in any major or discipline. 25 00:06:44.590 --> 00:07:00.339 Maria Yang: But they must be doing work that is sort of design related in some way. We really value this notion that design permeates MIT culture. It's not just in one department or division or school, and we want to be broad in how we think about design. 26 00:07:00.670 --> 00:07:04.470 Maria Yang: and I believe I will pass things on to Katherine. Now. 27 00:07:04.470 --> 00:07:05.810 Katherine Higgins: Thanks, Maria. 28 00:07:06.270 --> 00:07:16.090 Katherine Higgins: as Maria said. Graduate students who are currently enrolled and in residence will be in residence at MIT in the upcoming academic year are eligible to apply. 29 00:07:16.310 --> 00:07:21.109 Katherine Higgins: There are 2 components to the application. One is the faculty nomination. 30 00:07:21.850 --> 00:07:30.269 Katherine Higgins: We really encourage you to work with your faculty advisor or faculty member you work closely with, who knows your work well 31 00:07:30.310 --> 00:07:38.499 Katherine Higgins: and ask, talk to them about your your application early, because faculty members can only nominate one student. 32 00:07:39.090 --> 00:08:03.579 Katherine Higgins: Through our accelerator app, which is linked from the fellowship webpage, you will see a form, and there are 2 components to upload, one being a CV or resume, that's 1 page showing your current degree program. And the second element is a statement of interest. And in this you'll address your area of study at MIT, including your research questions and methods. 33 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:08.070 Katherine Higgins: And, as Maria said in the previous slide, you'll be talking about 34 00:08:08.410 --> 00:08:18.890 Katherine Higgins: who benefits from your research. What are the impacts of your research on users, on society or on design research in general. 35 00:08:19.140 --> 00:08:25.090 Katherine Higgins: We also ask you to describe how your graduate program includes design. 36 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:28.260 Katherine Higgins: You may include. 37 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:43.550 Katherine Higgins: you may include how you see your long term goals as a designer or in design research. You can also include examples of design work you have done or design expertise in the past, although that is not a requirement. 38 00:08:45.130 --> 00:08:56.779 Katherine Higgins: the selection criteria for the fellowship. The applications will be reviewed by the MAD directors and MIT faculty members from all 5 schools and the College of Computing. 39 00:08:57.260 --> 00:09:11.629 Katherine Higgins: They're looking for, you know, academic strength in the applications, creativity, the clarity of goals you're describing in that statement of interest and how you engage with design. And again its impact. 40 00:09:12.410 --> 00:09:13.270 Katherine Higgins: the 41 00:09:15.250 --> 00:09:23.340 Katherine Higgins: evaluators will also look closely at the faculty nomination and how you've described the impact of the fellowship 42 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:29.980 Katherine Higgins: potentially the financial aspects of this fellowship on your academic career 43 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:39.679 Katherine Higgins: and the evaluators will also be considering the cohort as a whole, and the diversity of perspectives on design through the cohorts. 44 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:42.609 Katherine Higgins: And now I'll pass it to Marion. 45 00:09:42.610 --> 00:10:09.900 Marion O Cunningham: There are many benefits to the fellowship, and I see that the financial benefits are listed first. But I actually think that some of the non-financial benefits may be some of the stronger aspects of this fellowship. The community of fellows, the knowing people who are across the Institute, not just in your department getting to know more about MIT's rich design history. Also, we have a very. 46 00:10:09.900 --> 00:10:12.170 47 00:10:12.170 --> 00:10:14.239 Marion O Cunningham: Also have a very strong. 48 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.940 49 00:10:16.280 --> 00:10:41.560 Marion O Cunningham: Communications Group thanks... Communications group that really works to highlight the activities of fellows. So that if you win an award or you have a particular project, we really try to uphold that and bring a spotlight to those activities as they relate to the fellowship. Of course there are also the financial benefits. And this year we're doing something a little new that we want to highlight. You may... 50 00:10:41.560 --> 00:11:06.850 Marion O Cunningham: You may apply for the fellowship for one semester or 2 semesters. Often our students who apply, or students have RA-ships or TA-ships that they'd like to have in one semester, and they can't have both the fellowship and the RA or TA. So in that instance you might be interested in applying for the MAD fellowship for one semester this year. That is an option that is available to you. 51 00:11:06.870 --> 00:11:36.740 Marion O Cunningham: In addition, we have a monthly stipend, and we also offer health insurance for each semester that you're here. And finally, we have a scholarly allowance of up to $5,000 that you can use for conferences or research that may not be covered by your department or areas of design, interest, and pursuit that you'd like to pursue. I'd like to note the key dates which are coming up. The biggest one is January 14th. 52 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:55.479 Marion O Cunningham: That is the deadline for the applications in mid-March. We will announce our decisions. In late April — April 23rd or 30th, we will present the fellows as part of the Boston Design Week, and then in late or mid August, we'll process the various paperwork. 53 00:11:55.730 --> 00:12:07.970 Marion O Cunningham: I will also note that we had issued the call for applications in mid-November. And obviously, today, we're having the information session. You might want to get a sense for who some of our current fellows are. 54 00:12:07.970 --> 00:12:31.529 Marion O Cunningham: We have 10 fellows currently, and they are from the departments that are noted here. Urban Studies and Planning, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Management, Media Arts and Sciences, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Each cohort that we've had has been equally diverse, and we try to have about 10 people in each cohort of 55 00:12:31.530 --> 00:12:37.280 Marion O Cunningham: fellows. And now I'm going to turn it over back to John and Katherine. 56 00:12:38.160 --> 00:12:55.790 John A Ochsendorf: And I just want to say we're really fortunate to have 2 previous fellows, prior fellows who are joining us today. So James and Surbhi, if you would like to say hello quickly, and introduce yourselves, and they're on hand to answer questions as well, so you can hear directly from them as well. So please James, then Surbhi. 57 00:12:57.100 --> 00:13:03.659 James Brice: Hi, everyone! My name is James. I was a MAD fellow in the second year cohort. 58 00:13:04.576 --> 00:13:20.770 James Brice: I, at the time, was a master's student in Architecture and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Now, I'm a PhD student in Earth, Atmosphere and Planetary Science, but still sort of a part of the MIT MAD community, so happy to answer any questions. 59 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:46.150 Surbhi Agrawal: Hi, everybody! I'm Surbhi. I was part of the 1st cohort for MAD and was in DUSP in the city planning program when I was at school. I have graduated now, still around the Boston area and work as an urban planner. And yeah, the MAD experience is one of the most transformative things that happened to me in my time at MIT, so happy to answer any questions. 60 00:13:46.750 --> 00:13:56.929 John A Ochsendorf: Great. Thank you both. So at this point the floor is open and please feel free to raise your hand and then unmute and ask your question. 61 00:14:05.380 --> 00:14:16.060 Marion O Cunningham: There is a question about whether SPURS fellows are allowed to apply, and I believe the answer is, no, because isn't the SPURS a 1 year program? 62 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:39.360 John A Ochsendorf: You need to be enrolled in an MIT graduate program. And so if you're not enrolled in an MIT graduate program, a master's or PhD, then you're not eligible. But also a 1 year program, like an MEng is typically not eligible because it's really apply now for next year. So it tends to be your second year of a two-year Master's degree. So 63 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:47.739 John A Ochsendorf: if you're a SPURS fellow who happens to be doing a two-year Master's Degree during your spurs fellowship, then you would be eligible. But a typical SPURS fellow, I think, would not be 64 00:14:51.930 --> 00:14:53.440 John A Ochsendorf: anyone else. 65 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:59.549 John A Ochsendorf: We've been very efficient in 13 min, covering information so hopefully that answered most things. 66 00:15:00.250 --> 00:15:02.999 Maria Yang: May. Maybe we can stop share, so we can see each other. 67 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:34.299 Mich Lin: Hi! I have a I have a question. I was not here for the beginning steps of the of the presentation, so I apologize. If this was already covered. I'm wondering if, for the financial portion there's any way to like either defer or like hold that in an internal MIT account to be used in the following year. If we already have funding for the next upcoming year. 68 00:15:35.890 --> 00:15:52.179 Marion O Cunningham: We, we have go ahead. We have not had any deferrals. Our attempt to really address, that is, to allow people to have the fellowship for one semester. So I guess that's a that's an elegant way of saying no. 69 00:15:52.380 --> 00:16:10.040 John A Ochsendorf: But depending on your department, they may be so happy to receive the MAD funding that they will happily bank the internal funding, and then, save that for a future year, so it can happen, depending on your department. But the MAD fellowship is for the year that you apply, and 70 00:16:10.400 --> 00:16:22.570 John A Ochsendorf: and, as was mentioned, you know. Please tick the box for one semester or 2 semesters or a priority you have. If you had a TA-ship, for example, one other semester. So I see Ricardo. 71 00:16:23.570 --> 00:16:25.000 John A Ochsendorf: and then Yifeng. 72 00:16:26.070 --> 00:16:36.020 Riccardo Fiorista: Hi, John, thanks for the clarifications and the overview to you and your team. I just was wondering I'm finishing to be a master's student 73 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:41.169 Riccardo Fiorista: like, I'll be theoretically graduating in May, but I have PhD applications going 74 00:16:41.577 --> 00:16:51.349 Riccardo Fiorista: at MIT so will I be eligible to apply? Or would I have to like apply for next year when I have a guaranteed placement for the upcoming 75 00:16:51.570 --> 00:16:52.750 Riccardo Fiorista: academic year. 76 00:16:56.510 --> 00:17:05.419 John A Ochsendorf: Anyone want to take that, Maria, or I'm happy to, I mean, the short answer is, you must be enrolled, and we've specifically tried to 77 00:17:05.569 --> 00:17:20.199 John A Ochsendorf: give the answer on the fellowships prior to the admissions decisions so that it can affect admissions. But it's not typically for 1st year, PhD students. So if you are hoping to come in as a PhD student. 78 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:28.840 John A Ochsendorf: it would be more appropriate to apply your 1st year, because we don't know for certain that you're admitted yet, and so we can't give you a fellowship until we know you're admitted. 79 00:17:31.320 --> 00:17:32.889 Marion O Cunningham: Okay. Oh, sorry. 80 00:17:33.090 --> 00:17:34.320 John A Ochsendorf: Please anyone else. 81 00:17:35.370 --> 00:17:37.759 Marion O Cunningham: Yifeng, did you have a question. 82 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:41.090 Yifeng Liu: Yeah. Can you hear me? 83 00:17:41.090 --> 00:17:41.619 Marion O Cunningham: Yes, we can hear. 84 00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:44.879 Yifeng Liu: Yeah, here's a 2 questions. That's that. 85 00:17:45.253 --> 00:17:54.809 Yifeng Liu: I have 2 advisors here, and like, I think they are both from different background. And they both, and the thing about to like do we have? 86 00:17:55.110 --> 00:18:01.939 Yifeng Liu: It's good better for me to have 2 nominees, or we can only accept one nominees here in the application. 87 00:18:04.770 --> 00:18:17.360 Marion O Cunningham: That is a great question. We have had instances where an applicant has had 2 nomination letters, so it is possible. The main thing is that 88 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:23.139 Marion O Cunningham: each nominator can only nominate one person for the fellowship. 89 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:29.100 Yifeng Liu: Yeah, yeah, I got you. So if I can go to, nominee is possible. And. 90 00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:33.030 John A Ochsendorf: Possible, but it would prevent them from nominating another student, and so. 91 00:18:33.030 --> 00:18:33.570 Yifeng Liu: Yeah. 92 00:18:33.570 --> 00:18:38.749 John A Ochsendorf: Likelihood one of them might want to nominate another student and another advisee in their group. So I think 93 00:18:38.750 --> 00:18:40.680 John A Ochsendorf: and talk to both advisors. 94 00:18:40.850 --> 00:18:41.839 Yifeng Liu: See how those are. 95 00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:46.820 John A Ochsendorf: Cool and see which one is willing to nominate you, and if the other one have anyone to nominate. 96 00:18:47.170 --> 00:18:48.349 John A Ochsendorf: then you could have both. 97 00:18:48.760 --> 00:18:53.650 Yifeng Liu: Yeah, got you got? You actually like one. My advisor is for EECS. So like. 98 00:18:53.840 --> 00:18:55.380 Yifeng Liu: I will talk to them. Thank you. 99 00:18:55.510 --> 00:19:03.150 Yifeng Liu: And also, here's a second question for you, like my current academic plan is to graduate in the next December. 100 00:19:03.230 --> 00:19:12.150 Yifeng Liu: like, I just have a 1 semester round for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. But actually, the reason why I graduated 101 00:19:12.210 --> 00:19:22.419 Yifeng Liu: in that time is because right now I'm self funding for that semester. So if I can goet the fellowship and raise him about and remote to have a year round 102 00:19:22.590 --> 00:19:27.630 Yifeng Liu: like academic plan here, so if I still can apply for the one year round. 103 00:19:27.870 --> 00:19:39.130 John A Ochsendorf: Yeah, or you may take one semester only, but that's the sort of thing that your nominator could also mention in their letter that they would really like you to stay another semester, and it would be a great help, something like that. 104 00:19:39.130 --> 00:19:48.609 Yifeng Liu: Got you so like. I'm not sure how the application portal goes on. So I was still applying for one semester. But Nominator said, it's better, for 105 00:19:48.690 --> 00:19:51.309 Yifeng Liu: it's going to extend to one year around. 106 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.860 John A Ochsendorf: Yeah, you could 107 00:19:52.860 --> 00:20:00.350 John A Ochsendorf: both, or you could discuss it with your nominator and decide, you know, if you would be open to 2 semesters or one semester. 108 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:06.830 John A Ochsendorf: I do have 3 other questions, so I would like to get to those, if possible, and then we could come back to you. 4 other questions. 109 00:20:06.830 --> 00:20:08.220 Yifeng Liu: Yeah, for sure. Thank you. 110 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:14.570 John A Ochsendorf: We have 2 in the chat. Does anyone on the MAD team want to start with the 2 in the chat, and then we'll go to Juliet and Nof. 111 00:20:17.580 --> 00:20:29.950 Katherine Higgins: I was just, I think, typing to Alicia your question about the dual masters, and similar to Ricardo. You would not be eligible if you have a pending application for a degree. 112 00:20:30.310 --> 00:20:30.830 John A Ochsendorf: But it 113 00:20:30.830 --> 00:20:39.500 John A Ochsendorf: you. If you find out that you are admitted in the dual masters prior to January 14th you could say, for example, I'll be doing 114 00:20:39.610 --> 00:20:43.679 John A Ochsendorf: the MCP in addition to my MBA, but 115 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:47.800 John A Ochsendorf: but you would need to find out, as Katherine says, before January 14th. 116 00:20:47.800 --> 00:21:01.340 Marion O Cunningham: In terms of what to prioritize on the CV, I would say, prioritize your design-related experience and credentials. 117 00:21:01.370 --> 00:21:10.489 Marion O Cunningham: I mean, if you, and if there is a design element to other work that you've done, you can point that out as well as you're right — It's not a lot of space. 118 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:16.862 Marion O Cunningham: So no, no 2 point font but you know, maybe 10 or 9 point. 119 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.589 John A Ochsendorf: Please, Juliet, and then Nof. 120 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:34.286 Juliet Porter: Hi, I wanted to ask about if there's any flexibility on the PI status for the faculty nominator, 121 00:21:35.730 --> 00:21:42.440 Juliet Porter: and what that looks like, I know it's different lecturers, senior lecturers, but if there's flexibility there. 122 00:21:44.748 --> 00:21:57.020 John A Ochsendorf: Every year we've gotten nominations from lots of members of the teaching staff across MIT. We do tend to prioritize PI status or ladder rank faculty. 123 00:21:57.120 --> 00:22:03.540 John A Ochsendorf: But if the person who knows your work best is a lecturer or senior lecturer or senior scientist, and 124 00:22:03.630 --> 00:22:10.840 John A Ochsendorf: you want them to nominate you. It's okay. It doesn't mean that you won't get the fellowship, but we are prioritizing faculty. 125 00:22:15.670 --> 00:22:19.100 John A Ochsendorf: Thank you, Juliet. Nof, and then Oz. 126 00:22:20.129 --> 00:22:31.880 Nof Nathansohn: I was wondering because it's a design-related fellowship. Is there a way to add also visual content, like portfolio images. 127 00:22:32.350 --> 00:22:33.820 Nof Nathansohn: website link. 128 00:22:34.790 --> 00:22:38.130 Katherine Higgins: I can take this one. Thanks for the question off. 129 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:48.370 Katherine Higgins: There's a limit of 10 MB for your statement of interest, and so you could add an image or 2, but we really encourage you to include links. 130 00:22:48.690 --> 00:23:08.240 Katherine Higgins: As I had said, portfolios are not required, but you're welcome to put a link to a web page or dropbox for a portfolio or any other design materials. So we encourage links. But you know, maybe keep it at a reasonable number. We know it's tough to keep all the information in 2 pages, but we encourage you 131 00:23:08.750 --> 00:23:15.920 Katherine Higgins: to encourage the share. The most important aspects that make a compelling application. 132 00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:29.980 John A Ochsendorf: I'd like to just pause for a second to ask James or Surbhi if there's anything you'd like to add, because our staff we've been answering all the questions. But are you good with everything? Is there anything you would want to clarify from your perspective as a former fellow? 133 00:23:36.590 --> 00:23:53.250 Surbhi Agrawal: I think I've gotten a lot of questions like in the past couple one or 2 years when folks reached out asking about, what's a good way to respond to the statement of interest. And again, this is just my own perspective, and so take it with like. 134 00:23:53.290 --> 00:23:57.020 Surbhi Agrawal: which is all but like, I thought, kind of thinking about. 135 00:23:57.520 --> 00:24:07.859 Surbhi Agrawal: what the design fellowship offers you in the sense of this is what I bring, or my experience. This is what the fellowship will help me do 136 00:24:08.190 --> 00:24:21.349 Surbhi Agrawal: in terms of resources and platform and such. And this is how it fits into the larger picture of what I want to do, thinking about in it in those that framework really helped me respond to the question of the SOP [Statement of Purpose]. So 137 00:24:22.330 --> 00:24:23.130 Surbhi Agrawal: yeah. 138 00:24:27.190 --> 00:24:28.850 John A Ochsendorf: James, you want to add anything. 139 00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:30.389 John A Ochsendorf: You're good. 140 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:34.648 Marion O Cunningham: He does. I do. Over. 141 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:37.630 James Brice: My zoom is lagging. Can you hear me? Okay. 142 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.480 Marion O Cunningham: Yes. 143 00:24:38.770 --> 00:24:41.179 James Brice: Okay, I 144 00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:44.682 James Brice: I don't think I could add much to Surbhi. I mean, I agree. I think, 145 00:24:45.100 --> 00:25:05.210 James Brice: it's just a good opportunity to really explain what design means to you in the context of your work, and sort of not hold yourself back to what you may think. The preconceived notions about design are, I guess I wanted to add 146 00:25:05.430 --> 00:25:07.213 James Brice: a little bit just 147 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:24.029 James Brice: about. I don't know my experience in the program, because I think it was also a really formative and sort of like big highlight of the time in my master's program, and sort of want to emphasize that like, yes, the... 148 00:25:24.410 --> 00:25:30.099 James Brice: you know. Financial support was really facilitated research that I wasn't 149 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:46.753 James Brice: going to be able to do otherwise. So that was a huge thing. But I think it's hard to see from the outside sometimes that the community that you get to be a part of is like a huge win, and it's still a community that I, you know, try to be a part of and 150 00:25:47.350 --> 00:25:54.930 James Brice: appreciate sort of like hearing lots of different perspectives about design and 151 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:57.640 James Brice: kind of like expanding my own 152 00:25:57.910 --> 00:26:06.429 James Brice: sort of like work and ideas. So you know, definitely, if anyone wants to talk about it more. Please feel free to reach out to me. It's kind of just what I wanted to share. 153 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.439 John A Ochsendorf: Thank you so much, so Oz! And then Prerna. 154 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:28.449 Oz Fishman: Hi, everybody. And I'm gonna apologize in advance for this like end of a job interview. Kind of question. But I am curious. I think we use like a lot of times. We use the word design just in general, with varying degrees of it. 155 00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:36.949 Oz Fishman: meaning anything. If you know what I mean, I think we call a lot of things design. And sometimes those things aren't necessarily design. I'm curious, specifically like. 156 00:26:38.390 --> 00:26:49.916 Oz Fishman: what are the things that you all are interested in like when we talk about advancing design at MIT like, what is that referring to? And then I'd also maybe like to hear a little bit more 157 00:26:50.280 --> 00:26:53.910 Oz Fishman: about James and Surbhi's projects. If that's okay. 158 00:26:54.630 --> 00:26:57.520 Maria Yang: Great Maria, you want to take that one or 159 00:26:57.520 --> 00:27:03.559 Maria Yang: sure so we have a good question, Oz. We have worked studiously to avoid defining design 160 00:27:03.570 --> 00:27:17.320 Maria Yang: many. We've gotten that question 4 billion times, and we have avoided it every time. So I think that one of the but what? And that's not because we're trying to be, you know, cute or anything. It's really that it means very different things across the Institute in different departments. 161 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:37.779 Maria Yang: So it really is the way you want to define design and and we actually mean that. And that's maybe so, because architecture is different. Mechanical engineering is different. Product Development is different. HCI is different. So so you should take that as a positive in whatever kind of design-related work you do. 162 00:27:38.310 --> 00:27:45.929 Maria Yang: That's the 1st thing. Second is, I think it's a great idea to hear from James and Surbhi. Maybe you can talk a little bit about your oh, John, were you going to add something. 163 00:27:45.930 --> 00:28:04.390 John A Ochsendorf: The only thing I was going to add was that we do tend to believe somewhere there is a human being who could benefit from your design work. So if you are using the word design in a very, very abstract way, an algorithm is like 5 times removed from humans who will ever apply this algorithm 164 00:28:04.760 --> 00:28:17.229 John A Ochsendorf: that doesn't feel particularly designed for social impact. So we are interested in human beings being involved at some point. But, as Maria says, a big tent, lots of different approaches to design across MIT. 165 00:28:17.230 --> 00:28:26.220 Maria Yang: I actually, John, thank you for keeping me honest. So yes, human beings, social impact, but or something along those lines. And then maybe creativity. There's this notion of 166 00:28:26.520 --> 00:28:28.479 Maria Yang: it's not just an algorithm. 167 00:28:29.413 --> 00:28:38.960 John A Ochsendorf: So, James and Surbhi, you have queued up your 12 min Ted Talks just kidding. You want to just share your projects. Briefly, that you proposed 168 00:28:41.370 --> 00:28:42.820 John A Ochsendorf: Surbhi than James. 169 00:28:44.160 --> 00:29:08.590 Surbhi Agrawal: Great. Yeah. So during the mad fellowship, I was trying to inspect the question of digital equity. And before I get into that, I want to. Just kind of, you know, reiterate what John and Maria were saying, that what I found during MAD, that there was this flexibility to really kind of define how you interpreted design, and I think that was very refreshing to hear different perspective 170 00:29:08.590 --> 00:29:16.892 Surbhi Agrawal: on how people interpreted design right like in kind of somebody from like, say, like engineering, or like biomedical sciences, space sciences. 171 00:29:17.550 --> 00:29:35.359 Surbhi Agrawal: I, being from like a planning design background, thinking about what, how do those ideas of design talk to each other. So I think that was a very, very good part of like the conversation we had and then, in the particular project I took up at in the fellowship I was thinking about the question of digital equity. 172 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:56.270 Surbhi Agrawal: And how does that play out in the context of like informal settlements in urban India. So I mean, there had been like a massive nationwide cellular revolution around getting cell phone Internet accessible to a lot of different people in the country, I mean, through like price and market factors, and that led to 173 00:29:56.270 --> 00:30:18.999 Surbhi Agrawal: massive digital activity. And I was looking at layers of social intermediaries like community based organizations and whatnot that will help bridging capacity. Right? So once everybody has access that doesn't kind of ensure equity still. And so what were the processes and the social intermediaries that were helping bridge 174 00:30:19.250 --> 00:30:37.320 Surbhi Agrawal: and create better, like socioeconomic and civic participation? Opportunities in this digital space for traditionally marginalized residents and informal settlements. Right? So like, I mean, I guess you could be, what is design in that. So it's like a question of like process design. It's a question of like 175 00:30:37.430 --> 00:30:39.183 Surbhi Agrawal: community conversations. 176 00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:54.011 Surbhi Agrawal: who, who is a part of kind of this conversation. How do different groups get represented. How do those representations sum up into like kind of policy change and advocacy and things like that? 177 00:30:54.810 --> 00:30:55.580 Surbhi Agrawal: yeah. 178 00:30:58.080 --> 00:30:59.671 James Brice: Oh, yeah, I 179 00:31:00.390 --> 00:31:08.569 James Brice: It's really cool, actually hearing about everyone's projects. I think it's something that you kind of get to do at the beginning, when you're in a cohort, and you're like Whoa. 180 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:15.337 James Brice: like everyone's so cool. so I was working on 181 00:31:16.110 --> 00:31:45.599 James Brice: what's called Nature-based coastal adaptation. I study environmental fluid mechanics, particularly in coastal ecosystems. And so I was working on ways that we can think about design, coastal, designing coastal infrastructure to be climate resilient, taking advantage of sort of like the inherent physical, ecological, and social resilience that sort of 182 00:31:45.760 --> 00:31:59.370 James Brice: restoration of our coastal ecosystems entails. And so there was part of it where I was working in a lab, doing fluid mechanics, experiments. I was in the architecture department, doing 183 00:31:59.520 --> 00:32:04.329 James Brice: projects and different kinds of proposals with communities 184 00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:11.285 James Brice: in vulnerable coastal communities. So stuff about like storm surge and things like that. 185 00:32:11.970 --> 00:32:15.910 James Brice: I guess to, you know, John's point about there being a human involved. 186 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:37.459 James Brice: There are definitely humans involved. But it was actually important to me. And sort of an angle in my project was thinking about the not humans involved. So I came from an animal husbandry background before I came to grad school, and so designing for the oysters, which is the critters that I was working with was kind of like a big part of my project. 187 00:32:42.150 --> 00:32:44.920 Marion O Cunningham: Thank you. Prerna? 188 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:59.850 Prerna Ravi: Yeah, thank you. Thanks. So much for sharing your projects. You're really cool. I guess, a question I had was regarding the research, like the statement that you submit as part of the application. And what the scope is. Are you sort of 189 00:32:59.850 --> 00:33:22.449 Prerna Ravi: proposing a project that you would do in the upcoming year? Are you describing things that you've already done working towards it? Like, I guess I'm trying to understand at what state like, what stage of your research are you describing in the statement? Because I'm somewhat like halfway through my program? So like, I've done something, and I have ideas for what I want to do. So which one am I prioritizing on the application? Or is it a combination of both? 190 00:33:22.450 --> 00:33:23.010 Prerna Ravi: Yeah. 191 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:28.208 James Brice: I could share what I did. 192 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:36.579 James Brice: Not saying that it's the only way, but I think a mix is kind of what I tried to land on like I 193 00:33:36.930 --> 00:33:46.729 James Brice: had an idea for a project that I had kind of had the opportunity to explore in previous classes. So I sort of tried to include 194 00:33:46.940 --> 00:34:01.340 James Brice: experiences that I had that kind of spoke to almost like a proof of concept. But the fellowship is a really great opportunity to do a project that you actually may have not otherwise been able to do. Maybe because you have, like 195 00:34:01.600 --> 00:34:08.840 James Brice: teaching assistantship responsibilities or things like that. So. The faculty that I worked with 196 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:15.218 James Brice: it was, it was somewhat of a proposal, but but again, like not in a rigorous way, and it was 197 00:34:15.710 --> 00:34:17.390 James Brice: really like 198 00:34:17.449 --> 00:34:34.039 James Brice: a thesis that I had been developing. I was in also my second year of my program. So it was like kind of like ideas and questions that I had been thinking about, and so kind of used MAD as like a launching pad to really make it a big project. 199 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:36.220 Prerna Ravi: Okay. Thank you. 200 00:34:36.469 --> 00:34:42.329 Surbhi Agrawal: Yeah, I think kind of similar for me, I definitely picked up like. 201 00:34:42.369 --> 00:34:57.709 Surbhi Agrawal: So again, this whole digital equity project, I've been working on a similar project in Kenya, with a lab at MIT in my 1st year. But I mean, you know, from that project I had learnings, and I wanted to inspect the same question in a different context of 202 00:34:57.709 --> 00:35:20.619 Surbhi Agrawal: but a little bit more free from the constraints of you know that specific research project and the way it's set up right. And so, having the funding help do that. And I wrote voices of it. But I also, I think, wrote to how it ties into the broader narrative of my interest in this area of digital equity, and why it means something to me, right. So the long archive narrative of my work 203 00:35:20.649 --> 00:35:23.179 Surbhi Agrawal: also, I think those are the 3 things. 204 00:35:24.270 --> 00:35:25.890 John A Ochsendorf: Okay, got it? 205 00:35:25.890 --> 00:35:35.859 John A Ochsendorf: Answers Berfien's question in the chat a bit as well that the projects can be at various stages of development. It could be aspirational for something you'd like to do, that the fellowship could enable you to do. 206 00:35:36.850 --> 00:35:42.160 Marion O Cunningham: I saw Mich had their hand up. I don't know if your if your question was answered. 207 00:35:42.160 --> 00:35:45.070 Mich Lin: Yeah, that was actually exactly my question. So thank you. 208 00:35:45.070 --> 00:35:45.800 Marion O Cunningham: Okay. 209 00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:49.260 John A Ochsendorf: Anyone else. 210 00:35:51.690 --> 00:35:58.109 John A Ochsendorf: There's also an email address you can write to with other questions, and we'll post this recorded session. 211 00:35:58.200 --> 00:36:09.540 John A Ochsendorf: I will say that in the last few years the interest has been growing, and we have typically had many more applicants than we've been able to support. It's been our goal to 212 00:36:09.720 --> 00:36:16.909 John A Ochsendorf: to support graduate students and not give the funding directly as research grants to faculty who might hire postdocs, or, you know. 213 00:36:17.505 --> 00:36:21.419 John A Ochsendorf: other soft money members of their labs. And so 214 00:36:22.190 --> 00:36:30.580 John A Ochsendorf: so please do lean into your own uniqueness and the ways that you use design to try to improve the world. Sergio. 215 00:36:32.520 --> 00:36:43.710 Sergio Eduardo Mutis: Alright. Now, thank you for the information I was just wondering. So if I have an arrangement for next semester, I wouldn't be eligible to apply for the full year. 216 00:36:44.253 --> 00:36:56.910 Sergio Eduardo Mutis: Right? And but that like. The reason why I'm applying to an arrangement is also because I just can't afford, or someone might not afford to be doing its own research. So 217 00:36:57.520 --> 00:37:01.080 Sergio Eduardo Mutis: yeah, and then you're either the point where you would not 218 00:37:01.110 --> 00:37:07.839 Sergio Eduardo Mutis: turn down something that was already confirmed, so would you only be allowed to apply for the second. 219 00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:13.370 John A Ochsendorf: So my quick recommendation is that in your application you could tick 220 00:37:13.390 --> 00:37:19.030 John A Ochsendorf: the box for one semester, and you could say, Prefer Spring, prefer Fall. 221 00:37:19.290 --> 00:37:40.650 John A Ochsendorf: and you could also tick the 2 semester box. If that makes sense for you and your nominator may talk about, you know your in other words, many of you are trying to secure funding, and if you're able to secure funding already for next fall, by all means do it. And yet your nominator might also talk about that. 222 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:56.300 John A Ochsendorf: From your department standpoint your departments will be able to support other students with the money. So if you end up getting the fellowship, and you turn down a TA or turn down an RA, your department typically will not be upset about that, because there are other students who need support also. 223 00:37:57.140 --> 00:38:02.889 John A Ochsendorf: And Maria, as deputy Dean of Engineering, is nodding because she knows how important graduate support is. 224 00:38:03.180 --> 00:38:06.830 John A Ochsendorf: But it's true, for many departments across MIT. 225 00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:08.400 Sergio Eduardo Mutis: Alright. Thank you. 226 00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:09.390 John A Ochsendorf: Does that help. 227 00:38:09.390 --> 00:38:10.000 Sergio Eduardo Mutis: Yeah. 228 00:38:12.150 --> 00:38:13.950 John A Ochsendorf: Any final questions. 229 00:38:17.060 --> 00:38:17.950 Marion O Cunningham: Mich. 230 00:38:17.950 --> 00:38:20.739 Mich Lin: Hi, yeah, kind of similar on that. Is. 231 00:38:20.740 --> 00:38:22.730 John A Ochsendorf: Do you mind pronouncing your name for us? Is that. 232 00:38:22.730 --> 00:38:24.279 Mich Lin: It's Mich like fish. 233 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:25.110 Marion O Cunningham: Thank you. 234 00:38:25.470 --> 00:38:40.891 Mich Lin: Yeah, so on that note. Is it helpful to know there's like a box in the application to describe the nature of your funding to say like, maybe we, I only need like a 30% shortfall or like, however, percent 235 00:38:41.430 --> 00:38:44.430 Mich Lin: would that like describing that be. 236 00:38:44.610 --> 00:39:05.079 John A Ochsendorf: Sure we're happy to have your particular information. We are in contact with departments and department heads, and we generally know what the funding packages are so you know, and the department heads are very grateful for the support coming to their department. So give us the information you have. There are people, for example, who in their PhD program. 237 00:39:05.170 --> 00:39:21.320 John A Ochsendorf: their advisors counting on them to TA a Fall class, and they really want that there are others who might have like a three-quarter tuition package or something, and but sure any details you can share, please do, and it will not affect your odds of winning the fellowship. 238 00:39:21.320 --> 00:39:27.390 Mich Lin: Okay, Gotcha. I just didn't know how much I should dig with my department to like, find out the exact number. So sounds like. 239 00:39:27.390 --> 00:39:32.299 John A Ochsendorf: Not too much. Whatever you know off the top of your head is probably okay. Right, Marion, would you. 240 00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:37.249 Marion O Cunningham: Yeah, yeah, we'll reach out to them and confirm. So yeah. 241 00:39:37.250 --> 00:39:38.410 Mich Lin: Okay. Thank you. 242 00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:43.660 John A Ochsendorf: Anyone else. 243 00:39:48.310 --> 00:40:01.060 John A Ochsendorf: I want to say a special thank you to James and Surbhi for taking time to join us and share, and they are 2 of our 35 graduate students when we've been able to support over the last 3 years, and 244 00:40:01.150 --> 00:40:06.810 John A Ochsendorf: this has been hugely gratifying for all of us, because we know how much need there is for graduate support. 245 00:40:07.030 --> 00:40:12.919 John A Ochsendorf: So thank you both for joining and thanks everyone, and thanks all the colleagues for joining as well. 246 00:40:13.020 --> 00:40:21.079 John A Ochsendorf: and unless there are no other questions, I think we can say that's a wrap and stay dry out there tonight. Everyone. 247 00:40:23.140 --> 00:40:24.250 Mich Lin: Thank you. 248 00:40:25.240 --> 00:40:26.670 John A Ochsendorf: Okay, thank you. All.