Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

eam of friends showing unity with their hands together

Developing leaders who will offer the world new technological possibilities grounded in human values starts with a learning and research community that supports all of its members, regardless of race, gender, or identity.

The MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the units within are engaging in activities aimed at improving the climate for underrepresented groups. These actions, which align with those of the larger MIT community, are important early steps to becoming a more equitable and welcoming place to thrive.

Outreach

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) has spearheaded several initiatives to increase women’s participation in academia and STEM fields, including Rising Stars in EECS and the Women’s Technology Program. 

EECS is also involved in a range of efforts to broaden participation in computing, such as the graduate student-led mentorship initiative, the Graduate Application Assistance Program, and through hands-on learning opportunities via 6.811 (Principles and Practice of Assistive Technology) and the AT Hackathon, to help students better understand the needs of those who use assistive technology.

The department’s first equity officers, Frédo Durand Leslie Kolodziejski, co-chair the EECS Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The charge of the committee is to accelerate progress, identify opportunities, and create action plans to affect change in departmental policies, procedures and activities, and make improvements to physical spaces.

Students explore electrical engineering, computer science, and mathematics through hands-on classes, labs, and team-based projects during MIT Women’s Technology Program in EECS

Faculty and students within both EECS and the Center for Computational Science and Engineering are engaged with the MIT Summer Research Program and the University Center for Exemplary Mentoring. These programs are dedicated to increasing diversity and supporting the academic success of minority graduate and doctoral students at MIT.

The Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has worked on several diversity initiatives, including but not limited to, hosting and mentoring MLK Scholars; presenting Great Women in Technology, the inaugural TEDxMIT event featuring an all-female lineup of 13 scientists and engineers. CSAIL is also planning a number of new activities that aim to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion and enhance culture at the lab in coordination with CSAIL’s Postdoc and Graduate Student Council, Cabinet, and PIs.

The MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab and EECS are working with IBM to develop mentorship activities for underrepresented minority graduate students in EECS. 

The MIT Quest for Intelligence brings together diverse teams to work at the intersection of science and engineering with the aim for breakthroughs in both natural and artificial intelligence. Since its inception in 2018, 41% of Quest research projects were awarded to women researchers

Resources

For more information on MIT’s diversity, equity, and inclusion resources, see the Institute Community and Equity Office, Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office and Human Resources websites.