May 31, 2024
Celebrating the Challenge: The ESI at 10 Years

ESI director John E. Fernández reflects upon the 10 year anniversary of the ESI.


September 15, 2023
Letter from the Director: “Climate Change and Biodiversity: Urgent and Entangled”

ESI faculty director John Fernández reflects on his trip to Ecuador for the Concordia Amazonias Summit.


October 7, 2022
Letter from the Director: “A note on free and open expression,” October 2022

ESI faculty director John Fernández addresses the ongoing effort at MIT to adopt a set of principles of free expression.


March 23, 2022
Letter from the Director: “Delay is the new denial,” March 2022

On February 24, ESI Director John E. Fernández participated in the first White House-level convening on the topic of “climate delayism” as part of a group consisting of climate experts and scholars of climate denial and misinformation.


January 8, 2021
Letter from the Director: “Trump’s Legacy – Lies and Violence,” January 2021

It is critically important not to mince words about what has been happening these past four years.


November 8, 2020
Letter from the Director: “Post-election: getting on with our work,” November 2020

As we look to the next few months and years, the passing of 2020 marks the beginning of the need for rapid annual and decadal global greenhouse gas emissions reductions.


September 24, 2020
Letter from the Director: “Vote as if _______ Depends on It – Because It Does,” September 2020

ESI Director John E. Fernández on the 2020 election, the climate crisis, justice and democracy.


June 12, 2020
Letter from the Director: “Welcome to an Extraordinary Individual During Extraordinary Times,” June 2020

ESI Director John E. Fernández welcomes MLK Visiting Scholar Luis G. Murillo-Urrutia and introduces ESI's Principles of Conduct and Engagement.


April 17, 2020
Letter from the Director: “The Exquisite Science,” April 2020

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, ESI Director John Fernandez addresses public trust in science and how deep and active engagement with scientific knowledge can save us from our intertwined crises.


September 16, 2019
Letter from the Director: September 2019

John Fernández ushers in the new academic year by urging a stronger focus on climate change and the value of a deliberate education in ethics - for students and the Institute alike.


September 13, 2018
Letter from the Director: September 2018

John Fernández welcomes the new class of MIT undergraduates and provides updates on ESI's seed grants program and Environment & Sustainability Minor.


June 1, 2018
Letter from the Director: June 2018

John Fernández addresses a period of transition for ESI, with new hires and new program areas.

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