|
|
In this newsletter for globally connected faculty and researchers at MIT, we provide updates on LatAm-focused faculty research, new programming, and student activities at the Institute.
You are receiving this email because you have research interests in Latin America or have been a friend to MISTI or the Center for International Studies. Please share this newsletter with others in our research community who might be interested in joining.
They can sign up for the newsletter here.
Please contact LATAM/MIT lead Rosabelli Coelho at RLCK@mit.edu with questions, suggestions, and/or to submit news for the next newsletter.
| |
MIT Global Seed Funds in Latin America | |
|
Calling applicants for the 2024 MIT Global Seed Funds (GSF). Researchers interested in applying should submit proposals by December 10, 2024.
There are 3 country / region specific funds and the General Seed Fund for projects in any country:
| |
|
|
8
Seed Fund grants were awarded in Latin America in the 2023–24 cycle
| |
|
Spotlight on the MIT-Peru Seed Fund
The MIT-Peru Seed Fund offers five grants of $30,000 each to support collaborative research projects between MIT and the Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC) in Peru. These grants aim to strengthen academic ties and foster research and innovation between both institutions. UTEC will also contribute an additional $7,000 per project for non-travel expenses, providing further support to each initiative.
| |
|
The Seed Fund encourages proposals that advance research in sustainability, energy, water resources, economics, and education. Past projects have included environmental studies in Machu Picchu, urban development research in Lima, and initiatives on resource management and economic resilience. For more information please visit the official MIT-UTEC Seed Fund webpage. | |
|
Celebrating past seed fund grants / grantees
We're thrilled to share the outcomes of the project "Reversing the Misrepresentation of the Cross-Border Region of the Amazon: Socioenvironmental Integration of the Border between the Andean Amazon and the Brazilian Amazon," one of the winners of our seed fund in 2022. Led by Lawrence J. Vale, associate dean and Ford Professor of Urban Design and Planning at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P), Carlos Gilberto Zarate Botia, from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and Alessandra Fabbri, from the SA+P program, this initiative focused on fostering community dialogue among
the Magütá people in the Amazon-Solimōes triple border region across Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
| |
|
MISTI Mexico
Our featured student is Gabriel Castro-Andrade, a 2024 summer intern at TEN Arquitectos who said: "This experience in Mexico City taught me a great deal about my resilience, adaptability, and the value of immersing myself in unfamiliar environments. I learned that, while I’m deeply connected to my roots in Ecuador, I thrive in diverse cultural settings where challenges are less about technical obstacles and more about building relationships, trust, and mutual understanding.
| |
|
"It made me realize how much I enjoy the process of navigating cultural nuances and how critical it is for me, as an architect, to engage with the human side of design—whether that means working with laborers on a construction site or finding common ground with colleagues from different backgrounds. One significant takeaway was understanding that architecture is not just about constructing buildings, but about creating spaces that respond to the social, cultural, and economic contexts of the people who inhabit them." | |
|
MISTI Chile, MISTI Peru, and MISTI Argentina placed over two dozen summer interns
This summer, the MIT-Chile, MIT-Peru, and MIT-Argentina programs provided life-changing opportunities for over two dozen MIT students, placing them in impactful internships across Latin America. These immersive experiences allowed students to engage with pressing regional issues while gaining hands-on experience and contributing to research and development projects within their fields.
| |
|
|
For instance, Zachary, a MArch student, spent his internship at the Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, working at a research center focused on urban economics. Reflecting on his time there, Zachary shared, “This opportunity provided practical insights into integrating sustainable infrastructure with community needs, which is a central theme in my academic and professional ambitions.”
In Chile, Mauricio, a 2024 graduate in business analytics, worked as a research assistant for an economics project at J-PAL within the School of Government at the Universidad Catolica de Chile. His role involved conducting preliminary regression analyses to explore potential links between government expenditure and funding through a unique program. This analytical work added real-world depth to his studies in business analytics.
Meanwhile, in Peru, Markey, a senior majoring in earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, joined the Instituto de Paleontología at the Universidad Nacional de Piura. There, she collaborated with local students on fossil processing and identification, working with specimens from Mesozoic vertebrates. Markey noted, “This experience has encouraged me to seek out future abroad experiences and opportunities to connect with families from different cultures.”
These internships are only a glimpse of the diverse and inspiring opportunities that MISTI programs offer students, allowing them to apply their skills, pursue their passions, and connect with communities abroad.
| |
CIS Latin American Working Group | |
The LatAm Working Group provides an interdisciplinary forum for faculty and students from across the Institute and beyond, focused on issues related to the region. The working group covers a wide range of topics, including discussions on current events, presentations by leading scholars and graduate students, lectures by external speakers, and book talks on key regional issues. Participants come from various disciplines, including political science, business, and public policy, representing both academic and policy-oriented perspectives. The meetings will take place on a regular basis from 12:00 to 1:30 PM in the E53 building. To learn more, reach out to the coordinators Antonio Alexis Mahana and Lucas Nobrega Augusto. | |
|
Commentary on BRICS in transition | |
|
Mihaela Papa, director of research and principal research scientist at CIS, discusses the recent BRICS summit.
This year’s BRICS summit brought world leaders to the city of Kazan in Russia. It was the bloc’s first main gathering since new countries joined the club earlier this year. What were the main outcomes? And how do you expect the group’s agenda to evolve under Brazil’s leadership in 2025? Read the full article here.
| |
|
|
BatucadaMIT
BatucadaMIT is an informal Brazilian music and arts ensemble committed to fostering community and joy through the vibrant traditions of Brazilian music, percussion, and dance. The group was founded by the MIT-Brazil program, the Portuguese program at MIT Global Languages, and the MIT Brazilian Students Association. Our next meeting will take place on November 18 at 5:00 PM, featuring contemporary percussionist Marcus Santos, a Berklee College of Music alum and educator from Brazil, who will teach pandeiro and other Brazilian percussion instruments. For more details please send a message to batucada@mit.edu.
| |
|
|
Invitation: Fulbright Amazonia and Bioeconomy workshop at MIT
We invite you to join us on December 6th at MIT for a one-day workshop featuring the inaugural cohort of Fulbright-Amazonia scholars and their work on the Amazonian bioeconomy. Together with these scholars and a group of MIT friends and collaborators working in this area, we will explore ways to support a sustainable, interconnected, and technology-informed bioeconomy, prioritizing the balance of economic, social, and environmental needs. Hosted by Professor Brad Olsen, MIT chemical engineering, MIT-Brazil, and MIT-Amazonia, our aim is to share perspectives, deepen our understanding of diverse approaches, and discuss the social, economic, and technological dimensions shaping the Amazon’s future. We hope that this day of learning and dialogue will contribute valuable insights, guiding a thoughtful approach to supporting a bioeconomy rooted in sustainability. We encourage MIT researchers and those engaged with these challenges to join us in building a collaborative foundation for future work.
Agenda:
9:00 AM – Light refreshments
9:15 AM – Opening remarks
9:30 AM – Presentations by Fulbright-Amazonia Bioeconomy Scholars
12:00 PM – Working lunch
1:30 PM – Business perspectives on the bioeconomy
3:00 PM – Break
3:15 PM – Panel on education and capacity building in the bioeconomy
4:30 PM – Adjournment
Space is limited. If you are interested, please complete the registration form or contact us at amazonia@mit.edu.
| |
|
MISTI LATAM Open House
In September, the LATAM team at the Center for International Studies held its first MISTI LATAM Open House, inviting all students to explore IAP and summer opportunities and to apply for summer internships, Global Teaching Labs, and Global Classrooms. The event drew a great turnout, with nearly 90 participants, and featured a special appearance by our SHASS Dean, Professor Agustin Rayo.
| |
|
Thank you for reading! We welcome any feedback here.
The LATAM/MIT team
| | | | |
