Dear Octet community,

Greetings to you during this heavy winter! I hope these quiet winter months have given you some space to rest and reflect, much like the bears, bats, and bees settling into their hibernation, especially as we enter this Lenten season together.

For me, daily walks through the woods have me wondering about what I can't see: the root systems beneath the bare trees. Hidden underground, those roots are doing the quiet work of anchoring, nourishing, and preparing for the burst of life that spring will bring. It makes me wonder—what does that kind of grounding look like for us?

When I talk with people, I often hear about hometowns, communities, political parties, traditions, the values we hold close. These feel like expressions of a root system, but one that is asking for more. Philosopher Simone Weil wrote: "To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul."

So I'm curious: What is truly worthy of your soul's anchoring? And what kind of spring are you looking forward to?



Share what is stirring in your heart!

With thanks and joy,

Mia Chung-Yee

Executive Director

• Read Sam Lee's essay on whether hope is necessary.
• Mark your calendar: April's Diálogos dinner on medical ethics with Lydia Dugdale.
• Recap: Highlights from Diálogos, IAP, and our Faculty Retreat!
• And a year in review for Octet — we can't believe all that's happened.

Essay: Is hope necessary?

"Hope, in its simplest form, exists because of an unfulfilled desire—there is a gap between where I am and where I long to be."

In this essay, Assistant Theologian Sam Lee explores the heart-wrenching burden of hope. Might we be better off without hoping? Or, is hope what we need to stay alive?

Two dates to mark . . .

Octet's next Diálogos dinner is Thursday, April 16, 5:00-8:30pm.

• We'll be inviting physician Lydia Dugdale (Columbia) to discuss the challenging topic of assisted death. What do we owe each other as we grow ill and die? Whose ethics should govern end-of-life decisions? As a deep thinker and a practicing physician, Dr. Dugdale will bring nuanced wisdom to these difficult conversations.
• We'll send invitations shortly, so keep an eye on your inbox.

MIT's Veritas Forum will take place on Thursday, March 12, 7:00-8:30pm.

• Join Prof. Desirée Plata (MIT CEE) and Prof. Cullen Buie (MIT MechE) for a discussion about what it means to care about our work and the people around us, amidst the busyness of everyday life. Plus, you might glimpse Octet's own Mia Chung-Yee!
• RSVP at http://bit.ly/Veritas26 and share the link with any and all of your friends! All are warmly welcome.



Recap: A thoughtful, provocative Diálogos

We were honored to welcome Miroslav Volf to campus last Thursday for a Diálogos dinner considering the Cost of Ambition.

Dr. Volf's talk took aim at the desire to strive for superiority. This prompted some stimulating table conversations — after all, where would MIT be without ambition and drive? How do we distinguish between destructive ambition and constructive striving for excellence?

It was a delight to hear Dr. Volf provoke these questions in us, and for our community to disagree well, together.

Recap: Our most fun IAP yet

This January, we gathered both old and new friends for IAP:

• Cullen Buie (MIT MechE) spoke for four weeks on work, meaning, and identity. Is there a way to work that's not just striving for success?
• Ami Vitale (National Geographic) shared a riveting talk about her photographic work, which views both humans and rhinos through the lens of empathy. Missed it? Check out this recap in The Tech!
• Russ Ramsey (Christ Presbyterian) combined his pastoral wisdom with his deep love of Van Gogh to discuss what art history can tell us about suffering well.
• And our own Nathan Barczi taught our Disagreeing Well lab for the third time. Can we disagree with each other and still coexist?

Our January MIT - Gordon Conwell retreat discussed technology and agency . . .

Twice a year, we gather faculty from MIT and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary for fellowship and thoughtful conversation. We love hearing the theologians, engineers, historians, and physicists cultivating wisdom together!

This January, we discussed the role of human agency in character formation, and how technological power can both expand our agency and contract it. How might ethical maturity be formed in a world of machines?

We're so thankful for these faculty and their eagerness to connect across differences.

A year in review

2025 was another year full of new friendships, intellectual adventures, and the grace of God.

From faculty retreats to Diálogos dinners to a Media Lab Colloquium, and so much more: We're so thankful for all that 2025 brought! Check out this video for a recap:

Consider a gift to Octet

We're supported by generous individuals and grants. Did you know that you can give to Octet through the MIT Fund? If you're already giving to MIT, we'd love for you to consider designating some of your gifts to Octet. Monthly gifts are especially helpful!