Society
What lessons can be learned about perseverance and adaptability?
The first and foremost thing to consider is not giving up and being consistent in your efforts.

“Fields are won by those who believe in the winning.” – Thomas Higginson.
When I was in my tenth standard, my school teacher had written the above quote in my autograph book. I still have the signed copy of the quote, but as a fifteen-year-old, I didn’t quite understand the meaning of it. When I look back, the quote has a deeper meaning and connection to perseverance and adaptability. To explain this, let me tell you a story.
I had been working in the corporate world for nearly eight years and just completed my MBA. I wanted to share my corporate experience with students via guest sessions. So, I started my journey to find that first elusive guest session. I wrote emails to colleges across Mumbai, including my alma mater.
The outcome was unanimous and a resounding “NO.” Why? Because “No one responded!” Unsure of what to do next, I decided to sleep over it. After a few days, I met a teacher from a renowned college in Mumbai who recommended that I meet the Dean of IT. After a few days, I was seated before the Dean and had a detailed conversation about the topic, the duration, and the benefits to the students.
At the end of our conversation, he politely pointed towards a paper hanging on the pinboard with three to four names. “This person is the VP of a company with eighteen years of experience; the second has sixteen years of experience,” he said. “I am unable to call them for a session; how can I call you for a lecture?” he concluded, after which I left the place slightly dejected but determined not to give up.

After a few months of trying, one of my college professors asked me to meet the Dean of another management institute. I got the email and contact details of the Dean and dropped a note to him requesting a guest session. But I did not get any reply; luckily, my cousin sister studied at that college, and I tried to find out if there was any other way to contact this elusive professor.
I tried everything, but it was getting challenging, and I did one last thing. I went to the college in the morning and understood from the security guard what time the professor came to college. After several attempts and one fine day, I met him in person and had a discussion. After persevering for months, I finally heard what I had been striving for, “Okay, I will call you for a guest session!”
Well, this was the first part of the story, but let me extend the story and highlight one more aspect. After a few years, I started teaching a complete subject. Standing before a class of thirteen students, I was enthusiastic, drawing a flow chart and blabbering my knowledge.
Suddenly, a boy seated at the back raised his right hand, stood up, and bluntly stated, “I don’t understand one word of what you are saying!!”
We learn more from failures than successes, as facing fear can make us fearless, and, above all, it helps us understand steps to avoid
The statement pierced my heart like a hot knife through butter. But in reality, I wasn’t teaching well, and in hindsight, I probably needed that blunt feedback. Though it took me some time, I eventually focused on being innovative and adopted a different way of teaching. It was only because of that statement that I changed how I taught.
Today, I am a visiting faculty in the colleges I referred to in the above story. Overall, I would like to share some learnings takeaways:
Be Persistent: The first and foremost thing to consider is not giving up and being consistent in your efforts.
Be Adaptable: Be flexible in your approach and figure out ways and means to reach the goal.
Embrace Challenges: Don’t be afraid of challenges; learn to face them head-on.
Don’t fear failure: We learn more from failures than successes, as facing fear can make us fearless, and, above all, it helps us understand steps to avoid.
Be Self-Motivated: It isn’t necessary for someone to give you a pep talk; hence it is vital to stay self-motivated.
Reassess your plan: If one solution doesn’t work, you need to relook your plan and conceptualize another solution.
Keep Trying: Lastly, in the words of my manager, “If you want to achieve a goal, you need to keep banging the door till it opens or you break it open.”
Society
INM: MIT’s Bold Push to Regain America’s Productive Edge
The ambitious initiative aims at reinvigorating U.S. manufacturing with cutting-edge innovation

In a move to reshape the future of American industry, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has launched its Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM), an Institute-wide effort aimed at revitalizing U.S. manufacturing through next-generation technologies, research, education, and deep collaboration with industry.
Announced today, INM seeks to strengthen key sectors of the U.S. economy and spark nationwide job creation. The initiative will bring together MIT’s extensive research capabilities and educational resources to help companies of all sizes increase productivity and build a more resilient and human-centered manufacturing landscape.
“We want to work with firms big and small, in cities, small towns and everywhere in between, to help them adopt new approaches for increased productivity,” MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth wrote in a letter to the Institute community this morning. “We want to deliberately design high-quality, human-centered manufacturing jobs that bring new life to communities across the country.”
“We want to work with firms big and small, in cities, small towns and everywhere in between, to help them adopt new approaches for increased productivity
Kornbluth emphasized the significance of the effort, stating in a media statement: “Helping America build a future of new manufacturing is a perfect job for MIT — and I’m convinced that there is no more important work we can do to meet the moment and serve the nation now.”
Industry Collaboration
INM has already attracted strong industry support, with its first five founding consortium members — Amgen, GE Vernova, PTC, Siemens, and Sanofi — joining forces to fund initial research projects, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence for manufacturing.
“There is tremendous opportunity to bring together a vibrant community working across every scale — from nanotechnology to large-scale manufacturing,” said Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer and dean of engineering. “MIT is uniquely positioned to harness the transformative power of digital tools and AI to shape the future of manufacturing.”
The initiative will support research, education, and real-world applications — including new manufacturing labs, a “factory observatory” program to connect students with live production sites, and thematic pillars ranging from semiconductors and biomanufacturing to defense and aviation.
Workforce development is also central to INM’s mission. It will include TechAMP, a program designed to bridge the gap between technicians and engineers through collaboration with community colleges, along with AI-powered teaching tools and expanded manufacturing education on campus.
The initiative is co-directed by three MIT faculty: John Hart, head of mechanical engineering; Suzanne Berger, an Institute Professor and political scientist; and Chris Love, professor of chemical engineering. Julie Diop serves as executive director.
At a recent MIT symposium titled “A Vision for New Manufacturing,” Berger underscored the urgency of the moment: “The rationale for growing and transforming U.S. manufacturing has never been more urgent than it is today. What we are trying to build at MIT now is not just another research project. … Together, with people in this room and outside this room, we’re trying to change what’s happening in our country.”
Love added: “We need to think about the importance of manufacturing again, because it is what brings product ideas to people… There is a real urgency about this issue for both economic prosperity and creating jobs.”
Echoing the sentiment, Hart emphasized the long-term significance of the initiative: “While manufacturing feels very timely today, it is of enduring importance… Working with industry — from small to large companies, and from young startups to industrial giants — will be instrumental to creating impact and realizing the vision for new manufacturing.”
A Continuum of Commitment
INM builds on a legacy of MIT initiatives aimed at supporting manufacturing, including the 1989 book Made in America, the Production in the Innovation Economy project, and The Engine, a venture fund launched in 2016 to back hardware-based startups.
As Kornbluth noted in her letter, “We want to reimagine manufacturing technologies and systems to advance fields like energy production, health care, computing, transportation, consumer products, and more… and we want to reach well beyond the shop floor to tackle challenges like how to make supply chains more resilient, and how to inform public policy to foster a broad, healthy manufacturing ecosystem that can drive decades of innovation and growth.”
With its launch, MIT’s Initiative for New Manufacturing marks a renewed commitment to restoring American manufacturing leadership through innovation, collaboration, and education — aimed squarely at building a stronger, more equitable industrial future.
EDUNEWS & VIEWS
Harvard Pledges $250 Million for Research After Federal Funding Slash
The administration has defended the funding freeze as part of a broader campaign to address what it characterizes as pervasive anti-Semitism on campuses and to roll back diversity programs

Harvard University has announced a $250 million investment to sustain vital research programs in the face of steep federal funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration.
The move follows a sweeping $2.6 billion reduction in government grants to the Ivy League institution, citing alleged discriminatory practices and refusal to comply with federal oversight mandates. The cuts, which Harvard is actively challenging in court, have already suspended or canceled dozens of projects—some of which were considered critical to public health and technological innovation.
University President Alan Garber and Provost John Manning issued a joint statement on Wednesday, emphasizing the urgent need to protect research initiatives. “While we cannot fully offset the financial blow from halted federal support, we are committed to backing essential research during this transitional period,” they said. The university is also working with faculty to secure alternative funding channels.
Harvard has strongly criticized the federal measures, calling the termination of grants “unlawful” and accusing the administration of interfering with academic independence. The university contends that the loss of funding not only halts groundbreaking work but also threatens years of scientific progress.
At the heart of the dispute is a broader political clash over university governance. Harvard, whose endowment reached $53.2 billion in 2024, has become a focal point of the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape higher education policy. The White House has demanded greater control over admissions, hiring, and the political climate on campus—demands Harvard has resisted.
The administration has defended the funding freeze as part of a broader campaign to address what it characterizes as pervasive anti-Semitism on campuses and to roll back diversity programs. Critics argue these moves are part of a larger effort to suppress progressive academic culture and penalize dissent over U.S. foreign policy, especially in light of recent student protests against the war in Gaza.
In recent weeks, federal authorities have also taken steps to revoke visas of international students involved in these demonstrations, accusing them of ties to militant organizations—allegations civil rights groups and university leaders have strongly disputed.
With tensions between the federal government and top academic institutions mounting, Harvard’s legal challenge could set a precedent for how universities navigate political interference while safeguarding research, free speech, and academic autonomy.
Health
Robot Helps Elderly Sit, Stand, and Stay Safe from Falls
The innovation comes at a time when the United States faces a dramatic demographic shift

As America’s population ages faster than ever before, a team of engineers at MIT is turning to robotics to meet the growing eldercare crisis. Their latest invention, the Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot—or E-BAR—aims to provide critical physical support to seniors navigating life at home, potentially reducing the risk of injury and relieving pressure on a strained care system.
The innovation comes at a time when the United States faces a dramatic demographic shift. The nation’s median age has climbed to 38.9, nearly ten years older than in 1980. By 2050, the number of adults over 65 is projected to surge from 58 million to 82 million. As demand for care rises, the country is simultaneously grappling with shortages in care workers, escalating healthcare costs, and evolving family structures that leave many elderly adults without daily support.
“Eldercare is the next great challenge,” said Roberto Bolli, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and one of E-BAR’s lead designers, in a media statement. “All the demographic trends point to a shortage of caregivers, a surplus of elderly persons, and a strong desire for elderly persons to age in place.”
E-BAR is designed to address exactly that challenge. The mobile robot acts as a robotic support system, following a user from behind and offering both steadying handlebars and rapid intervention in case of a fall. It can support a person’s full weight and includes side airbags that inflate instantly to catch users if they begin to fall—without requiring them to wear any equipment or harnesses.
“Many older adults underestimate the risk of fall and refuse to use physical aids, which are cumbersome, while others overestimate the risk and may not exercise, leading to declining mobility,” said Harry Asada, the Ford Professor of Engineering at MIT, in a media statement. “Our design concept is to provide older adults having balance impairment with robotic handlebars for stabilizing their body. The handlebars go anywhere and provide support anytime, whenever they need.”
The robot consists of a heavy, 220-pound base equipped with omnidirectional wheels, allowing it to maneuver easily through typical home spaces. From its base, articulated bars extend and adjust to assist users in standing or sitting, and the handlebars provide a natural, unrestrictive grip. In testing, E-BAR successfully helped an older adult complete everyday movements such as bending, reaching, and even stepping over the edge of a bathtub.
“Seeing the technology used in real-life scenarios is really exciting,” said Bolli.
The team’s design, which will be presented later this month at the IEEE Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), aims to eliminate the physical constraints and stigmas often associated with eldercare devices. Their approach prioritizes both independence and safety—key values for aging Americans seeking to remain in their homes longer.
While E-BAR currently operates via remote control, the team plans to add autonomous capabilities and streamline the device’s design for home and facility use. The researchers are also exploring ways to integrate fall-prediction algorithms, developed in a parallel project in Asada’s lab, to adapt robotic responses based on a user’s real-time risk level.
“Eldercare conditions can change every few weeks or months,” Asada noted. “We’d like to provide continuous and seamless support as a person’s disability or mobility changes with age.”
As the nation prepares for the realities of an aging population, MIT’s work offers a glimpse into a future where robotics play a central role in eldercare—enhancing both quality of life and personal dignity for millions of older adults.
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