<< INSTITUTIONAL LIFE IN GENERAL

I had the unique opportunity of learning about academic administration while serving as the Associate Director of the Media Laboratory in 2000-01. I learned a whole lot about human nature and interhuman relations that I would never have realized otherwise. It depressed me, yet at the same time invigorated me with a new perspective on life. So I now often think about the role of people in power, and people that are not in power. I realize now that people that are not in power can be the most powerful force around. I always wonder what makes a good community. I have some rough thoughts in this in this area [pdf].Some notes on Sep 25, 2002 regarding a debate on what constitutes a master's thesis in design and technology at MIT [pdf]. A recent epiphany regarding what my role is as a Professor. Often times I am worried about destroying students by accident so my interaction has always been gauged. I believe this is a policy I can live by for now [pdf].What is the point of academia? I wonder sometimes. I'm wondering why being a Professor in a research institution is valid, here are some of my random thoughts in this area [academia.pdf].