Senior Kevin Guo, a major in computer science, and junior Erin Hovendon, pursuing mechanical engineering, are on notably distinct trajectories at MIT. Yet their lives converge in a singular aspect: They both recognize that their minors in political science and public policy furnish essential insights for their research and future professions.

For Guo, the link between computer science and policy manifested through his involvement at MIT’s Election Data and Science Lab. “When I began, I was merely seeking a venue to learn coding and engage in data science,” he recalls. “However, I discovered this captivating crossroads where technical abilities could directly influence democratic processes.”

Hovendon is concentrating on sustainable strategies to tackle climate change. Currently, she is engaged in a multisemester research initiative at MIT’s Environmental Dynamics Lab (ENDLab) focused on creating monitoring technology for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR).

She believes that the success of her current and future research hinges on comprehending its societal implications. Her academic pathway in policy provides that foundation. “When developing a new technology, it’s crucial to consider how it will be implemented,” she asserts. “This involves understanding the policies necessary for scaling it up and the most effective means to communicate the value of your work to the public.”

Connecting STEM and policy

For both Hovendon and Guo, an interdisciplinary approach is proving to be a beneficial platform for effectively addressing real-world issues.

Guo arrived at MIT from Andover, Massachusetts, as the son of parents who specialize in semiconductors and computer science. While mathematics and computer science were a natural path for him, Guo also had a keen interest in geopolitics. He signed up for course 17.40 (American Foreign Policy). “It was my first exposure to political science at MIT, and I really enjoyed it because it covered historical events I was eager to learn more about, including World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam,” Guo shares.

He followed this with a course on American Military History and the Rise of Asia, where he found himself in classes with graduate students and active-duty U.S. military personnel. “I appreciated attending a course with individuals who possessed unique insights,” Guo mentions. “I also liked that these humanities classes were smaller seminars, allowing for a greater focus on individual students.”

From coding to elections

It was in the course 17.835 (Machine Learning and Data Science in Politics) that Guo first understood he could directly link his computer science and mathematical skills with the humanities. “They provided us with substantial political science datasets to analyze, which was an exciting application of the skills I acquired in my major,” he states.

Guo transitioned from this course to a three-year undergraduate research project within the Election Data and Science Lab. “The most challenging aspect is data collection, which I tackled for an election audit project assessing whether there were significant variances between original vote counts and audit counts across all states, at the precinct level,” Guo explains. “We had to scrape data, raw PDFs, and create a cohesive dataset, standardized to our format for publication.”

The data analysis capabilities he developed in the lab have proven advantageous in the professional realm where he has started training: investment finance.

“The workflow is quite similar: tidy the data to identify relevant information, analyze it to find potential edges, and then write some code to implement it,” he observes. “The primary distinction between finance and lab research is that the development cycle is significantly quicker, where you need to act on a dataset within days, not weeks or months.”

Engineering environmental solutions

Hovendon, hailing from North Carolina with a profound passion for the outdoors, arrived at MIT devoted “to engaging in something related to sustainability with direct applications in the surrounding world,” she notes.

Initially, she pursued environmental engineering, “but then I realized that nearly every major could approach that subject from a different angle,” she explains. “Thus, I switched to mechanical engineering because I genuinely enjoy the practical elements of the field.”

Alongside her design and manufacturing, and mechanics and materials courses, Hovendon also dove into energy and environmental policy classes. One noteworthy anthropology course, 21A.404 (Living through Climate Change), urged students to consider whether technological or policy measures could stand alone in combating climate change. “It was beneficial to explore holistic perspectives on human relations with the environment,” Hovendon states.

Hovendon brings this comprehensive viewpoint to her research at ENDLab in marine carbon capture and fluid dynamics. She is assisting in developing verification techniques for mCDR at a pilot treatment facility in California. The site aims to extract 100 tons of carbon dioxide from the ocean by enhancing natural processes. Hovendon aspires to design cost-effective monitoring systems to validate the effectiveness of this innovative technology. When scaled, mCDR could enable oceans to sequester significantly more atmospheric carbon, contributing to cooling the planet.

However, Hovendon is acutely aware that groundbreaking innovation cannot arise solely from technical effectiveness.

“You will encounter individuals who believe we shouldn’t attempt to replicate or interfere with a natural system, and if you’re establishing one of these facilities in water, you’re utilizing public spaces and resources,” she states. “It’s impossible to develop any form of technology, especially climate-related technology, without first securing public support.”

She recalls course 17.30J (Making Public Policy), which highlighted the importance of both economic and social analysis for the successful enactment of impactful legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act.

“I believe that advancements in science and engineering should be assessed not just by their technological capabilities but by the effectiveness of their implementation for societal benefit,” she asserts. “Grasping the policy dimensions is crucial for enhancing accessibility to scientific progress.”

Beyond the dome

Guo is preparing to embark on a career as a quantitative financial trader, and he considers his political science background vital for his success. While his expertise in data cleaning and analysis will be advantageous, he believes other competencies are equally important: “Understanding foreign policy, contemplating how U.S. policies affect other regions, is indeed significant in finance,” he clarifies. “Macroeconomic shifts and political factors influence trading volatility and markets overall, making it critical to comprehend ongoing developments.”

With one year remaining, Hovendon is contemplating pursuing graduate studies in mechanical engineering, possibly focusing on renewable energy technologies. “I genuinely hope to be engaged in work that I am passionate about, something with a larger purpose,” she expresses. “Regarding politics and technology, I also hope there will still be some governmental research and development directed toward climate initiatives because I am certain there will be an immense demand for it.”