Building a scholarly community

July 2, 2026 - 18:28

A new initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is working to deepen connections between researchers across different disciplines. The SHASS Faculty Fellows Program, run by the MIT Human Insight Collaborative, known as MITHIC, aims to build a stronger sense of community among faculty members by creating fresh opportunities for joint research and collaboration.

The program focuses on bringing together scholars who might not otherwise cross paths in their daily work. By providing structured support for shared projects and intellectual exchange, it encourages faculty to step outside their usual departmental silos. Organizers hope this will spark new ideas and lead to innovative approaches to complex problems that require insights from multiple fields.

Participants in the fellowship gain access to dedicated resources and time to develop collaborative initiatives. The emphasis is on fostering genuine dialogue rather than simply funding individual research. Early feedback suggests that faculty appreciate the chance to build lasting professional relationships with colleagues from different parts of the institute.

This effort reflects a broader push within higher education to break down barriers between academic departments. By investing in community-building at the faculty level, MIT hopes to create a more integrated and dynamic research environment where unexpected partnerships can flourish.