Social Responsibility

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The concept of social responsibility allows individuals to work with integrity and understand the broader social implications of their decisions and actions. Here is information to help bolster skills in this area including your ability to:

Use ethical reasoning as a driver of appropriate actions
Recognize social and environmental impacts of actions
Consider the economic and governmental context of actions

The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values

The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at MIT is a nonpartisan think tank dedicated to work on the ethical and humane dimensions of life. The Center’s programs emphasize responsibility and examine meaningfulness and purpose between individuals, organizations, and societies. Programs and initiatives include: Transformative Leadership; The Ethics Initiative; and the IA P 2022 Seminar Series: Innovation and Social Justice.

Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center

The Priscilla King Gray (PKG) Public Service Center offers the MIT community resources to engage in public service. Graduate students can apply for a PKG fellowship for funding to support service ideas and initiatives.

MISTI

MISTI welcomes graduate student participation in fully funded global research and internship experiences. Their program managers can help you find opportunities in countries around the world.

PhDs: Suggestions for Every Stage

Early Stage: Engage

• Ethics in the lab and life: Check out MIT’s articles on Ethics
• Destigmatize! Forge a path of acceptance & understanding early on in your graduate and professional careers. Check out some great podcasts, theater productions, and other resources: Watch The Manic Monologues: Destigmatize Mental Health, Read The Vagina Monologues
• Know the environmental impacts of your conference travel and virtual meetings
Middle Stage: Expand

• Learn how to balance your professional and political voice
• Check out the MIT Graduate Student Union
Exit Stage: Enhance

• How to speak to HR: Check out MIT’s Human Resources ideas on discussing job-related concerns
• Learn how to quit an unethical job
• Learn how to whistleblow confidently