gift-from-dick-larson-establishes-distinguished-professorship-in-data,-systems,-and-society

The MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) has unveiled the establishment of a new endowed chair thanks to the kindness of IDSS professor post-tenure and “MIT lifer” Richard “Dick” Larson. Starting July 1, the fund offers a full professorship for senior IDSS faculty: the Distinguished Professorship in Data, Systems, and Society.

“As a faculty member, MIT has not merely accepted but fully embraced my various mid-career shifts,” remarks Larson. “I have considered five distinct academic departments my home, beginning with Electrical Engineering (as it was referred to in the 1960s) and culminating with the interdepartmental, interdisciplinary IDSS — Institute for Data, Systems and Society. Those magnificent three words — data, systems, society — embody my energy and dedication throughout the latter part of my career. My endowed chair aims to keep those three words alive, enabling others to continue research, teaching, and mentorship focused on data, systems, and society.”

Larson’s career has concentrated his expertise in operations research and systems on a diverse array of challenges, in both the public and private spheres. His contributions cover areas such as urban service systems (notably emergency response systems), disaster preparedness, pandemics, queueing, logistics, technology-enhanced education, smart-energy homes, and workforce planning. His latest publication, “Model Thinking for Everyday Life,” reflects years of experience as a proponent of STEM education at MIT and beyond, including his leadership at MIT BLOSSOMS.

“Dick Larson has influenced MIT for over fifty years,” notes IDSS Director Fotini Christia, the Ford International Professor in Political Science. “This donation amplifies his already substantial legacy and guarantees his influence will be felt for many more years ahead.”

Christia is delighted that IDSS and brain and cognitive science professor Alexander “Sasha” Rakhlin is the first recipient of the new professorship. The selection acknowledges Rakhlin’s remarkable academic achievements, dedicated service to IDSS, excellence in instruction, and contributions to research in statistics and computation.

“Sasha’s examination of neural network complexity, alongside his development of tools for online prediction, exemplifies research that bridges various disciplines and connects different departments and units at MIT,” explains Michale Fee, the Glen V. and Phyllis F. Dorflinger Professor of Neuroscience, and head of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. “It’s fantastic to see Sasha’s efforts recognized in this manner, and I appreciate Dick Larson for supporting this vision.”

Rakhlin’s research focuses on machine learning, with a concentration on statistics and computation. He aims to formalize the learning process, evaluate learning models, and derive and implement novel learning methodologies. A key aspect of his research involves developing theoretical and algorithmic tools for online prediction, a learning framework where data is received sequentially.

“I am privileged to be the first holder of the Distinguished Professorship in Data, Systems, and Society,” states Rakhlin. “Professor Larson’s dedication to education and service to MIT serves as exemplary models to aspire to.”


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