Sylvester James Gates Jr. ’73, PhD ’77 has often described progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion as occurring at “blazingly glacial” rates. The reknowned theoretical physicist was the featured speaker for this year’s MIT Compton Lecture.

To comply with Covid-19 protocols, a new method of blowing glass was developed for MIT’s W. David Kingery Ceramics and Glass Lab. A year later, the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch is back, with 2,000 beautiful works of pumpkin art waiting for new homes.

Via @mitsoftball on Instagram: “The gangs all here!!!! Great week 1 of practice!”

New York Times columnist Thomas B. Edsall spotlighted David Autor’s research exploring the state of men in the U.S., including the growing gender gaps in educational attainment and the labor market.

Chemical engineers have developed a low-cost, energy-efficient approach to removing lead or other heavy-metal contaminants from water. The method could be useful for treating household water supplies, and for industrial applications.

The White House announced Wednesday that Institute Professor Paula Hammond will join the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. “It’s very meaningful for me to have a chance to have an advisory role at that level,” she says.