MIT President Sally Kornbluth formally welcomed the Class of 2030 on Sunday, noting that the campus quickly feels like home. The annual event, called the President’s Convocation for First‑Years and Families, is held at the Johnson Ice Rink, coinciding with the arrival of most new undergraduates.
The Class of 2030 includes over 1,100 students from around the world with diverse academic interests. Kornbluth observed that newcomers often say they have finally found their place and people at MIT, and it feels like home.
She highlighted MIT’s shared culture of curiosity‑driven inquiry. This month astronomers discovered a brand‑new astrophysical object called a “black‑hole star,” and two days later a research team found that blocking a certain enzyme can lower lung‑cancer risk. Discoveries continue across fields from climate science to quantum physics.
Members of the MIT community are frequently motivated by the desire to make an impact, striving to create positive change in the world. More than 2,000 listeners applauded at key moments.
A third hallmark is the campus “spirit of entrepreneurship,” not necessarily about starting companies but about wholehearted action, trying new things, and learning through doing.
Kornbluth also addressed AI, noting MIT’s deep ties to its development and how AI tools accelerate research across disciplines. Educators face the challenge of harnessing AI’s benefits while mitigating its harms. She cited a recent MIT report on AI and education, reaffirming the institute’s core mission to empower human discovery, problem‑solving, and invention.
She thanked the new students for bringing their talent, energy, curiosity, and creativity to MIT and introduced the senior administrators on stage: Provost Anantha Chandrakasan, Chancellor Melissa Nobles, and Vice Chancellor for Graduate and Undergraduate Education David L. Darmofal.
Following tradition, two alumni faculty spoke. Anna Huang (SM ’08), a professor in Music and Theater Arts and EECS, studies human‑computer interaction and AI‑enhanced music creation. She urged students to follow their broad interests, participate in global programs like MISTI, and emphasized MIT’s collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
Desirée Plata (PhD ’09), associate dean of engineering and climate‑energy professor, described her work translating natural methane‑capture processes into technologies that could reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions in mines. She encouraged students to maintain an optimistic outlook and embrace the sense of possibility she feels each morning on campus.
The ceremony concluded with Kornbluth joining the campus a‑cappella group The Chorallaries to sing “Arise All Ye of MIT” and “Take Me Back to Tech.” Students then filed out of the rink, ready to explore their new home.
Blogger's Review: The MIT convocation not only showcases the institute’s research vigor but also underscores a culture of diversity, collaboration, and innovation, providing incoming students with a clear sense of purpose and community.