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1、1MIT:ShapingtheFutureInauguralAddress,10May1991IwaselectedpresidentofMITinJune1990andformallytookofficethefollowingOctober15.TheinauguralceremonieswouldnottakeplaceuntilMay1991,whentheNewEnglandweatherwouldpermitustoconveneinthegreatvenueofKillianCourt;Ispentthosemonthsintervie
2、wingtheMITfacultyandothers,learningtheirviewsofwhatwasneededfortheInstitutetogoforward.Theinauguraladdresswasinsomemeasureadistillationandshapingoftheirinsights.Italsocon-tainedseveralcomponentsthatIfeltwereespeciallyimportantforMIT,asaniconandleaderofAmericanscienceandtechnolo
3、gy,toaddress—theshrinkingandrapidinterconnectionofourplanetlargelybecauseofinformationtechnology,theincreasinglyapparentneedtostewardourenvironmentonaglobalscale,thesorrystateofmuchofpublicsec-ondaryeducation,andthecontinuingquesttobringpeopleofcolorintothenation’sscientificand
4、engineeringworkforceandleadership.ItseemedespeciallyincumbentonMITtotakeanactiveandvisibleroleinrebuildingtrustandinvestmentinscienceandtechnologyamongtheAmericanpublicandthefederalgovernment,becauseatthattimehighlypublicizedclaimsofscientificmisconducthadnegativelyaffectedthev
5、iewsofthepublicandofCongressionalpolicymakers.Indeed,amelioratingthiswouldturnouttobeaconstantpersonalquestdur-ingmytenure.Finally,Ichoseasatheme“MIT:ShapingtheFuture,”toconnoteauniversitystronglydedicatedtodrivingchangeintheworldbeyonditscampusboundary,aswellaspurposefullydire
6、ctingitsowninstitutionalevolution.Thisis,indeed,asplendidmoment—aswegathertocelebrateagreatinstitution,torenewourcommitmenttoasetofideals,to2Chapter1markapassage,andtosetacourseforthefuture.Yetformeandformyfamily,itisalsoanintenselypersonalexperience,andonethatwearehonoredtosha
7、re.AjourneythatbeganinawarmfamilyinasmalltowninWestVirginiahasledtocenterstageinKillianCourt—wheremyownpathandthatoftheInstitutehavecometogetherinthissymbolicmoment.Itisaprofoundprivi-legetowalkwithfourgreatandgraciousmen—JayStratton,HowardJohnson,JerryWiesner,andPaulGray.Yourt
8、rustandguidancegivemegreatcomfortandcourageforthetaska