Dear members of the MIT community and friends,

With the fall semester wrapping up and the Institute preparing to head into winter break, I can’t help but reflect upon this past year. I recall remarking last December on how much I missed campus and our community. Being back has been an incredible privilege, and a testament to the determination of our faculty, students, and staff to work together—literally and figuratively—to ensure our safety and ability to return to campus. The continual effort to show up and meet the challenges of the day are apparent in everything that we do, and a reminder that as MIT engineers, we are prepared to overcome any adversity.

To close out the year, I’ve compiled a list of stories that shows the depth and breadth of our school at all levels. In this issue, you’ll meet a group of students who are working to better understand the building blocks of life, and how they can be used to reshape our world. You’ll also be introduced to a cohort of amazing faculty who will compete to bring their entrepreneurial aspirations to fruition. Also included are several stories highlighting the exciting research being explored in areas such unmanned flight simulation, computer-aided design, materials applications, and carbon reduction.

It’s been an extraordinary year in the School of Engineering, witnessing remarkable advancements in AI, machine learning, climate and sustainability, and nuclear energy, and impactful growth in entrepreneurship, graduate fellowships, undergraduate curriculum, industry collaborations, and more. I look toward the future with great anticipation and feel grateful for the support of our incredible alumni community.

Here’s to another year full of compelling discoveries and remarkable breakthroughs! Until then, I’d like to wish you and yours a most wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely,