Long before she entered a laboratory, Ananda Santos Figueiredo was gazing at the stars in Brazil, fascinated by the universe and nurturing her scientific curiosity through popular culture, literature, and online resources. She was attracted to astrophysics for its combination of visual awe and mathematical precision.

Even as a youngster, Santos sensed her ambitions reaching beyond the confines of her local area. “I’ve always been interested in STEM,” she remarks. “I had this constant feeling that I was destined to venture elsewhere to acquire more knowledge, discover, and achieve greater things.”

Her parents recognized their daughter’s aspirations as a chance to forge a brighter future. The summer before her second year of high school, her family relocated from Brazil to Florida. She remembers that moment as “a significant leap of faith in something larger, and we had no idea how it would unfold.” She was certain of at least one thing: She wanted an education that was both technically challenging and broadly expansive, one that would enable her to follow all her interests.

At MIT, she discovered precisely what she was looking for in a community and curriculum that aligned with her curiosity and ambition. “I’ve always associated MIT with something innovative and thrilling that strives for the absolute best we can attain as humans,” Santos states, emphasizing the use of technology and science to profoundly influence society. “It’s a space where individuals aren’t afraid to dream ambitiously and put in the effort to make it happen.”

As a first-generation college student, she bore the burden of financial pressures and the unpredictability that comes with being the first in her family to navigate higher education in the U.S. However, she discovered a sense of belonging within the MIT community. “Being a first-generation student encouraged my growth,” she shares. “It motivated me to seek out opportunities and assist others as well.”

She channeled that enthusiasm into student government roles for the undergraduate housing facilities. Through Dormitory Council (DormCon) and her residence, Simmons Hall, her voice contributed to shaping campus life. She started as the reservations chair for her dormitory but eventually became the president before being elected dining chair and vice president for DormCon. She’s worked towards enhancing dining hall operations and has organized significant community events, including Simmons Hall’s 20th anniversary and DormCon’s first Field Day.

Now, a senior on the brink of earning her bachelor’s degree, Santos asserts that MIT’s motto, “mens et manus” — “mind and hand” — has profoundly resonated with her since the beginning. “Learning here extends far beyond the classroom,” she says. “I’ve been surrounded by individuals who are passionate and driven. That energy is contagious. It’s transformed how I perceive myself and what I believe is achievable.”

Charting her own course

Initially pursuing a physics major, Santos’ academic journey took an unexpected turn after a life-changing internship with the World Bank’s data science laboratory between her sophomore and junior years. There, she applied her coding abilities to investigate the effects of heat waves in the Philippines. The experience opened her eyes to how technology and data can enhance lives and expanded her understanding of what a STEM career could entail.

“I realized I didn’t want to merely study the universe — I intended to transform it,” she states. “I wanted to merge systems thinking with my interest in the humanities, to construct a better world for individuals and communities.”

When MIT introduced a new major in climate system science and engineering (Course 1-12) in 2023, Santos was the first to declare it. The interdisciplinary framework of the program, integrating climate science, engineering, energy systems, and policy, provided her a structure to link her technical capabilities to tangible sustainability challenges.

She customized her coursework to align with her interests and career aspirations, leveraging her physics experience (now her minor) to comprehend issues in climate, energy, and sustainable systems. “One of the most significant aspects of the major is its breadth,” she mentions. “Even classes that aren’t my primary focus have broadened my thinking.”

Practical fieldwork has been a vital component of her learning. During MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP), she examined climate effects in Hawai’i in the IAP Course 1.091 (Traveling Research Environmental Experiences, or TREX). This year, she investigated the design of sustainable polymer systems in Course 1.096/10.496 (Design of Sustainable Polymer Systems) through MISTI’s Global Classroom program. The IAP class took her to the heart of the Amazon Rainforest to explore what the future of plastic production could resemble using Amazonian products. “That experience was profoundly enlightening,” she elaborates. “It helped me forge a connection between my own background and the types of challenges I wish to tackle in the future.”

Santos also found joy outside of labs and lectures. A member of the MIT Shakespeare Ensemble since her freshman year, she took to the stage in her final spring performance of “Henry V,” portraying both the Chorus and Kate. “The ensemble’s collaborative spirit and its ability to breathe life into centuries-old texts has been transformative,” she remarks.

Her love for the arts also intersected with her involvement in the MIT Lecture Series Committee. She assisted in hosting a special screening of the film “Sing Sing,” in partnership with MIT’s Educational Justice Institute (TEJI). That connection led her to enroll in a TEJI course, highlighting the unexpected and meaningful ways various aspects of MIT’s ecosystem intersect. “It’s one of the beautiful things about MIT,” she observes. “You sometimes stumble upon experiences that profoundly impact you.”

Throughout her tenure at MIT, the community of passionate, sustainability-focused individuals has served as a significant source of inspiration. She’s been actively engaged with the MIT Office of Sustainability’s decarbonization efforts and participated in the Climate and Sustainability Scholars Program.

Santos recognizes that working in sustainability can occasionally feel daunting. “Confronting the challenges of sustainability can be disheartening,” she says. “The urgency to effect meaningful change in a brief timeframe can be overwhelming. Yet being surrounded by individuals who are actively addressing it is far better than remaining inactive.”

Looking to the future, she intends to pursue graduate studies in technology and policy, with aspirations to influence sustainable development, whether through academia, international entities, or diplomacy.

“The most gratifying moments I’ve experienced at MIT are when I’m tackling complex problems while also contemplating who I aspire to be, what kind of future I wish to help create, and how we can be more compassionate and supportive of one another,” she reflects. “That’s what motivates me — addressing real challenges that truly matter.”