Category: Political Science

  • J-PAL: How MIT’s Poverty Action Lab Drives Evidence-Based Policy to Fight Global Poverty

    J-PAL: How MIT’s Poverty Action Lab Drives Evidence-Based Policy to Fight Global Poverty

    The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Founded by Nobel laureates, J-PAL uses randomized evaluations to test the effectiveness of social programs and scale up solutions that work.

    Recent Highlights

    • Innovative projects explore ways to deal with extreme heat — Low-cost personal cooling and emissions-free air conditioning among ideas studied with MIT’s Climate Project seed funding (June 2026).
    • New J-PAL research and policy initiative to test and scale AI innovations to fight poverty — Project AI Evidence connects governments, tech companies, and nonprofits with world-class economists to evaluate AI solutions (February 2026).
    • “MIT Open Learning has opened doors I never imagined possible” — Munip Utama applies knowledge from the MITx MicroMasters Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy to support students in Indonesia (January 2026).
    • A new lens on humanity — The inaugural MIT Human Insight Collaborative (MITHIC) Annual Event showcased projects supported in the first year of the presidential initiative (January 2026).
    • Introducing the MIT-GE Vernova Climate and Energy Alliance — Five-year collaboration to accelerate the energy transition (November 2025).
    • Climate Action Learning Lab — Helps state and local leaders implement effective climate mitigation strategies using data and evaluation (September 2025).
    • J-PAL North America launches Initiative for Effective US Crime Policy (IECP) — Generating rigorous evidence for fair public safety solutions (August 2025).
    • Better public service with data — MIT master’s student and Brazilian diplomat Davi Augusto Oliveira Pinto applies data-driven policymaking (August 2025).
    • Study in India shows several tactics together boost vaccination against deadly diseases — One combination led to a 44% increase in child immunizations (May 2025).
    • New Alliance for Data, Evaluation and Policy Training (ADEPT) — Advances data-driven decision-making in public policy (March 2025).
    • From refugee to MIT graduate student — Mlen-Too Wesley applies lessons from an MITx MicroMasters to help Liberia thrive (December 2024).
    • J-PAL North America announces new evaluation incubator collaborators — LEVER collaborators develop evaluations of poverty-alleviation programs (November 2024).
    • Groundbreaking poverty alleviation project expands — Collaboration with Arnold Ventures to reduce poverty and increase economic mobility in the US (July 2024).
    • How a quantum scientist, a nurse, and an economist are joining the fight against global poverty — The MITx MicroMasters program educates learners worldwide (June 2024).

    Through rigorous research and training, J-PAL continues to shape policies that improve millions of lives around the world.

  • MIT Political Science Department: Pioneering Research on Democracy, AI, and Global Affairs

    MIT Political Science Department: Pioneering Research on Democracy, AI, and Global Affairs

    MIT’s Department of Political Science continues to produce groundbreaking research at the intersection of politics, technology, and society. From the impact of architecture on political participation in Ghana to the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, MIT scholars are addressing critical questions facing democracies worldwide.

    How Architecture Influences Political Activity

    New research shows that semi-communal “compound houses” in Ghana significantly affect voting and political engagement. (June 25, 2026)

    Exploring the Societal Impacts of AI

    Leading MIT researchers examined AI’s influence on employment and democracy during the AI and Society Forum. (June 23, 2026)

    The Crucial Human Component in Computing and AI

    The MIT Ethics of Computing Research Symposium highlighted ethical and social impacts in technology. (June 5, 2026)

    Democracies and Safe Drinking Water

    Researchers find that while developing economies provide public water, safety lags due to low visibility. (May 21, 2026)

    Committed to Caring: Professor Daniel Hidalgo Honored

    Associate Professor Daniel Hidalgo, a political scientist studying Latin American elections, receives recognition for graduate student mentorship. (May 13, 2026)

    MIT Affiliates Awarded Guggenheim Fellowships

    Afreen Siddiqi, Kathleen Thelen, and Vinod Vaikuntanathan, along with alumna Kate Manne, are appointed 2026 Guggenheim Fellows. (May 1, 2026)

    Built to Fly: Brian Robinson’s Intersection of Aviation, Politics, and Technology

    MIT senior and master’s candidate Brian Robinson works at the nexus of aviation, politics, and technology. (April 15, 2026)

    Why Does Wealth Inequality Matter?

    An MIT Stone Center event examined origins, mechanisms, and political consequences of high inequality. (April 3, 2026)

    Fostering MIT’s Japan Connection

    MISTI Japan managing director Christine Pilcavage supports students and faculty exploring Japanese culture with a STEM focus. (January 15, 2026)

    Eighteen MIT Faculty Honored as “Committed to Caring”

    The program recognizes outstanding mentorship of graduate students for 2025-27. (January 8, 2026)

    How Drones Are Altering Contemporary Warfare

    A new book by Erik Lin-Greenberg examines evolving dynamics of military and state action centered around drones. (November 13, 2025)

    Q&A: How MITHIC Is Fostering Collaboration at MIT

    The MIT Human Insight Collaborative supports new interdisciplinary initiatives across the Institute. (October 30, 2025)

    Studying War in the New Nuclear Age

    MIT political scientist Caitlin Talmadge scrutinizes military postures and international dynamics to understand escalation risks. (October 28, 2025)

    MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Welcomes 11 New Faculty

    New faculty bring varied backgrounds and expertise to the MIT community. (October 17, 2025)

    Meet the 2025 Tenured Professors in SHASS

    Faculty members granted tenure in Linguistics and Philosophy, Music and Theater Arts, and Political Science. (September 18, 2025)

    These stories reflect the breadth and depth of research at MIT’s Political Science Department, where scholars are shaping our understanding of governance, technology, and global affairs.