MIT
MIT Faculty Newsletter  
contents Vol. XXXI No. 5
May / June 2019

This issue of the Faculty Newsletter features commentary on the Congressional Discretionary Budget (Editorial); announcement of the new Chair of the Faculty; an update on the renovations to Hayden Library; and discussion of the Random Faculty Dinners.

Spotlight
walking in snow
Time to Up Our Game
In her final column as Faculty Chair, Susan Silbey stresses the importance of MIT significantly increasing its focus on climate change.
An Update on MIT's
Climate Action Plan

Vice President for Research Maria Zuber highlights the updates in the Institute's continuing Climate Action Plan.
Introducing the Faculty Committee on Campus Planning
Committee Chair Deborah Ancona comments on the activities of the Faculty Committee on Campus Planning,
 
Editorial
The Danger to Civilian Science
from the Growing Pentagon Budget
One of the clearest expressions of national values and national priorities is the annual budget voted by the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Discretionary Budget.
Greetings to You the Graduates –
And to Your Families!
Faculty Newsletter Editorial Board
We join with the thousands of family members and friends gathered for Commencement in sharing the excitement of your graduation. MIT’s Faculty value . . .
From the Faculty Chair
Time to Up Our Game
Susan S. Silbey
This is my final column as Chair of the Faculty. It is uncharacteristically short in hopes of communicating an unambiguous and urgent message: we can no longer engage . . .
An Update on MIT's Climate Action Plan
Maria T. Zuber
I am pleased for this opportunity to share with you some thoughts about MIT’s progress under our Climate Action Plan (CAP). Let’s begin by going back to 2015. It was the . . .
Rick Danheiser New Faculty Chair
Newsletter Staff
Rick L. Danheiser, A. C. Cope Professor of Chemistry, will succeed Susan Silbey as Chair of the Faculty on July 1, 2019. Rick has been Chair-elect during the current . . .
Random Faculty Dinner Notes Academic Year 2018-2019
W. Craig Carter
The monthly Random Faculty Dinners continue Samuel Jay Keyser’s tradition of convening faculty from across the Institute for a meal and collegial chat. Toward the . . .
Hayden Library Renovation: What You Should Know
Chris Bourg
When we announced our plans for the partial renovation of Hayden Library back in January, we shared that our goal for the project was to create a destination for MIT . . .
Introducing the Faculty Committee on Campus Planning
Deborah L. Ancona
As the Chair of the MIT Faculty Committee on Campus Planning (CCP), I would like to introduce you to our work. Why should you care? We are in the midst of the largest . . .
Letters
Should MIT Break All Ties With Saudi Arabia?
Dick Larson
While I agree with the deep concern of many of my MIT colleagues with regard to formal ties to Saudi “State-Controlled Entities,” the situation is more complicated.
Numbers
U. S. Discretionary Spending 2017
   
MIT