Scholars congregate for networking, connection, and education under the Burchard Scholarship program.
The Burchard Scholars Program Unveiled
Get ready for a brain-tickling bonanza, as MIT's extraordinary scholars ascend to the must-attend Burchard Scholars Program! This jaw-dropping juncture brings together top-tier experts and promising young minds excelling in humanities, arts, and social sciences. Established in 1986, this program has been a shining beacon of integrated scholarship and education.
The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) oversees this scintillating soiree, preparing a series of stimulating dinners graced by brilliant minds from across SHASS disciplines. The scholars, supported by visionaries and intellectual juggernauts, fine-tune robust, open-minded, and adaptable methods for intellectual discourse. The program pays homage to John Ely Burchard, the illustrious ex-dean of SHASS.
MIT's prized Burchard Scholars frequently find themselves competing among big-league finalists for prestigious scholarships and fellowships like the Rhodes and Marshalls! Each academic year, approximately 35 MIT undergraduates get the prestigious nod to participate in this highly sought-after program. The scholars engage in a year-long odyssey, commencing in February and ending in December.
Willow Huang, a biological engineering prodigy, recently wrapped up her astounding tenure as a Burchard Scholar, and she's ecstatic about the experience. "I'm damn grateful I applied," she quips. "We spent the year tackling intriguing issues during our discussions."
Huang waxes lyrical about the program's role in enhancing her comprehension and communication skills. "These skills are golden for my career," she notes. "Acquiring meaningful knowledge in fields such as art, history, and literature is a vital part of our education. It broadens our perspective and aids in deciphering complex topics like cultural phenomena and political issues."
Professor Margery Resnick, a veritable powerhouse in literature and women's and gender studies, orchestrates the Burchard Scholars program. Resnick introduced the faculty fellows component 15 years ago.
"These faculty members act as constants at the Burchards, attending dinners and events and cultivating deep relationships with the students," she explains.
The intrepid faculty fellows, selected by the dean himself, assemble the Burchard student cohort and erect a robust support system.
"By the program's end, students forge links with a spectrum of faculty, not just the fellows, but also the speakers hailing from various programs within the school," Resnick delineates. "The most significant twist, though, is that over the course of the year, students cultivate intimate relationships with both the faculty fellows and fellow students."
The 2023 finale Burchard Scholars dinner unfolded on Nov 1 at the celebrated Catalyst restaurant in Cambridge.
Before the dinners, the faculty mingle with students, forging bonds outside the classroom. The faculty fellows then take their seats alongside the students, exchanging ideas over dinner.
"The dialogues at dinner tables are explosive, captivating, and thought-provoking," Resnick raves. "The scholars represent an eclectic mix of studies across the Institute, but they all share a thirst for exploring fields beyond their own."
Professor Martin Beraja, the dinner's special guest on Nov 1, is an MIT economist who studies the impact of government policy on business cycles and the challenges posed by new digital and automation technologies. Beraja unveiled "Artificial Intelligence and Governments: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" during the Burchard Scholars dinner.
The range of presentation topics sparks excitement for the scholars selected for the 2023 Burchard Scholars class.
"We'll move the world forward by blending disciplines, not by confining ourselves to silos," math and computer science guru Laker Newhouse proclaims after the dinner. "With AI coming in hot on the horizon, it's essential to construct diverse, expansive coalitions for a promising future."
Philosophy enthusiast Benjamin Lou gushes over the opportunity to entertain ideas outside his academic sphere. "Burchard highlights the value of other SHASS disciplines," he emphasizes.
Senior Iana Ferguson, an ardent physics student, found this year's dinner series exhilarating. "It's a setting where you discuss subjects you wouldn't conventionally run into," she says. "Melding disciplines has value extending beyond physics."
- The Burchard Scholars Program brings students from various fields including humanities, arts, and social sciences together in a classroom-like setting for an educational experience.
- Established in 1986, the Burchard Scholars Program has been a part of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) at MIT, and it has focused on integrated scholarship and education.
- Each academic year, approximately 35 MIT undergraduates are selected to participate in the Burchard Scholars Program, which runs from February to December.
- Willow Huang, a biological engineering prodigy, recently completed her tenure as a Burchard Scholar and praised the program for improving her comprehension and communication skills.
- According to Professor Margery Resnick, who oversees the Burchard Scholars Program, the faculty fellows component was introduced 15 years ago to create a supportive network for students.
- During the Burchard Scholars Program, students engage in discussions about various topics, broadening their perspectives and deepening their understanding of complex issues like cultural phenomena, political issues, and the impact of government policy on business cycles.
- One example of the diverse presentation topics at Burchard Scholars dinners is "Artificial Intelligence and Governments: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," which was presented by MIT economist Professor Martin Beraja.
