Barbara Stowe, vice president for resource development, credits the campaign with raising people’s sights about the importance of supporting MIT.

A Time in the Sun

Barbara Stowe, vice president for resource development, reflects on the most successful campaign in MIT history.

Computers must serve people, says Prof. Victor Zue, who is now teaching the computer to talk and listen. One day, he says, we won’t need to carry around a computer, speak its language, or point or click. We’ll just talk to it. Photo: Ed Quinn

Computer Talk

Prof. Victor Zue says one day we won’t need to carry a computer, speak its language, or point or click. We’ll just talk to it.

Writer-in-residence Stephen Alter, the author of eight books, explores themes of taking journeys and crossing borders. Photo: Ed Quinn

A Pilgrim’s Path

Stephen Alter, the author of eight books, has spent his life journeying between Indian and American cultures.

Esther Duflo is an economics professor who pursues the big question driving her work: Why do the world’s poor stay poor? “It’s the broad motivation for all I do,” says Duflo, who recently co-founded the MIT Poverty Action Lab. Photo: Ed Quinn

Helping the Poor

Prof. Esther Duflo, who co-founded MIT’s Poverty Action Lab, is working to improve the income level and quality of life of the poor.

The son of a fireman and a nurse, Patrick Hart says, “I always saw my parents in service positions, always helping out, not expecting anything in return. I always wanted to be like them,” Photo: Ed Quinn

Live to Give

Junior Patrick Hart organized a dozen MIT students to go to Huntington, W. Va., to build low-cost housing for a family in need.

Albert Chow began playing the violin at 6. At 9, he performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Ed Quinn

Musical Insight

Freshman Albert Chow of Hong Kong is a world-class violinist, who music experts say could be the second coming of Beethoven.