MIT Faculty School Stephen Colbert on Science, Education, Economics

On his satirical Comedy Central show, The Colbert Report, comedian Stephen Colbert’s persona has earned a reputation as a tough interviewer, with little regard for hard data—he frequently claims he is “factose intolerant.” Though he coined the word “truthiness”, facts tend to cause him some problems. Even so, at least eight of MIT’s brilliant—and brave—faculty have sat down for an interview with the quick-witted Colbert.

With the news that Colbert will be leaving the Report for the Late Show in 2015, Continuum takes a look back at some of the funny man’s interactions with the Institute. Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments.

Professor of Materials Chemistry, Donald Sadoway, on his liquid metal battery and renewable energy.

Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, Sherry Turkle, on the positive and negative effects of technology on human relationships.

edX CEO Anant Agarwal on edX, the global online learning initiative.

Writing professor Junot Díaz on literature, immigration, and Freedom University (a college for undocumented students).

Associate professor of aeronautics and astronomics, Missy Cummings, on lightweight, smartphone-operated surveillance drones.

Whitehead Institute director and biology professor David Page on the evolution of the Y chromosome and the future prospects of males.

Nicholas Negroponte ’68, MAR ’66, cofounder of the MIT Media Lab and professor of digital media, on giving laptop computers to the poorest children in the most remote regions of the world.

Simon Johnson on how big banks must be made smaller to prevent another financial meltdown.