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Your independent source for Harvard news since 1898

March-April 2023

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Letters

Readers’ views on the humanities, Romanian orphans, the Supreme Court, and more

President Bacow on international students, immigrants, and refugees

Undergraduates, their classes, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

The College Pump

Harvard Business School logo on a campus cornhole board

Photograph by Niko Yaitanes /Harvard Magazine

Cornhole at HBS, prayer and meditation at SEAS, minerologist’s meter, eclipse aficionado

Treasure

Photograph of collected hummingbird nests and eggs

Drawer of diminutive hummingbird nests and eggs

Photograph by Jim Harrison

Inside the Museum of Comparative Zoology’s revealing birds’ egg and nest collection

In this Issue

An illustration depicting students choosing among different varieties of branded college experiences

Illustration by Robert Neubecker

Pursuing their individual brands, colleges neglect the needs of higher education.

Historic portrait of Henry Clarke Warren

Henry Clarke Warren, 1879
Photograph courtesy of Harvard University Archives

Brief life of a Harvard-educated Buddhist scholar: 1854-1899

Photograph of a California two-spot octopus

A California two-spot octopus. Octopuses taste what they touch using chemoreceptors in their suckers.

Photograph by Anik Grearson/Bellono Laboratory

Nicholas Bellono probes the biological basis of animal adaptations and behaviors.

Harvard Business School campus at its unveiling in 1927

Welcoming Harvard Business School’s new campus—with a warning

Photograph courtesy of HBS Archives Photograph Collection: Buildings and Grounds, Baker Library, Harvard Business School

On the history and potential of values-driven enterprises

Letters

Readers’ views on the humanities, Romanian orphans, the Supreme Court, and more

President Bacow on international students, immigrants, and refugees

Undergraduates, their classes, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Right Now

An elderly couple with infirmities stand on a sidewalk with their moving boxes

Illustration by Nicole Xu

As the ranks of the elderly swell, there are too few housing options for seniors who want to “age in place.”

In a verdant landscape sits a plate with healthy foods

Illustration by Sam Falconer

The healthiest plant-based diets are also best for the environment.

Illustration of an anthropomorphized artificial intelligence or AI breaking into a system

Illustration by Matt Chinworth

Human systems of all kinds may soon be vulnerable to subversion by artificial intelligence.

Harvard Squared

Historic buildings and American flag in Litchfield, Connecticut

A glimpse of the shops and restaurants across from the town green
Photograph by Stan Tess/Alamy Stock Photo

Visiting America’s first formal law school

Art depicting Vegas showgirl kissing businessman

The Desert Inn

Images courtesy of Alison Elizabeth Taylor and the James Cohan Gallery, New York 

Marquetry artist Alison Elizabeth Taylor at the Addison Gallery of American Art

Digital reconstruction of two medieval tiles

Digital reconstruction of tiles showing Richard the Lionheart and Saladin

Image ©Janis Desmarais and Amanda Luyster

A Worcester exhibit links politics and visual culture.

Exterior of blue house with garage surrounded by greenery

Caring for your home 

Photograph courtesy of Old England Painting

Spring is the perfect time to touch up your property

John Harvard's Journal

Claudine Gay, president-elect, reacts to crowd ovation December 15, 2022, as her appointment is announced.

For the first time as president-elect, Claudine Gay responds to a rousing welcome on December 15.

Photograph by Jonathan Shaw/Harvard Magazine

Harvard announces its next president.

Louis Deslauriers seated at a table in front of a blackboard

Louis Deslauriers

Photograph by Jim Harrison

Portrait of an expert in science education and "engaged learning"

Illustration depicting a summer-school student sunbathing on the steps of Widener Library

Illustration by Mark Steele

Headlines from Harvard’s history

The performing arts center, south of Harvard Stadium and McCurdy track, as seen from the northeast; rising behind it is proposed University-affiliate housing.

Rendering courtesy of Architectural Resources Cambridge

Harvard introduces plans for two new projects.

Portraits of newly appointed University Professors Catherine Dulac, Arlene Sharpe, and Robert J. Sampson

From left: Catherine Dulac, Arlene Sharpe, and Robert J. Sampson
Photographs from left by: Kris Snibbe/HAPC; Channing Johnson; Kris Snibbe/HPAC

A trio of University Professors, honoring Paul Farmer, professional-school rankings, and more

The nominated slates for this spring’s balloting

Portrait of Harvard Alumni Association executive director Sarah Karmon

Sarah Karmon

Photograph courtesy of Harvard Alumni Association

Harvard Alumni Association’s new executive director

Commencement and Alumni Day logistics

Montage

An older couple standing in a large room filled with pianos

Patricia and Edmund Michael Frederick have been collecting and restoring historical pianos since the 1970s.

Photograph by Jim Harrison

An instrument restorer’s beautiful obsession

Illustration of Emily Dickinson talking to tech support

Illustration by Barbara Kelley

Alexandra Petri introduces the poet to tech support for help with her keyboard.

Design at water’s edge: photograph of the multipurpose Elbphilharmonie, on the River Elbe, Hamburg (2016)

At water’s edge: the multipurpose Elbphilharmonie, on the River Elbe, Hamburg (2016)

Creative Commons/Wikipedia

Recent books with Harvard connections

portrait of Wendell Steavenson

Wendell Steavenson

Photograph by Adrien Jaulmes

A new novel from foreign correspondent Wendell Steavenson

Droz with his sculpture “Open Doors” in the Kay Gallery at BlackRock Center for the Arts, outside Washington, D.C.

Photograph courtesy of Dan Droz

Magician-turned-designer-turned sculptor Dan Droz

Republican or Early Imperial Roman relief of the Greek playwright Menander, 100 BCE-early first century CE

Republican or Early Imperial Roman relief of the Greek playwright Menander, 100 BCE-early first century CE

Photograph from the Princeton University Art Museum/In the Public Domain

How humans hybridize their civilizations

University People

Alejandro Montagna standing in front of a small airplane wearing a wingsuit

Alejandro Montagna (center) wearing in his webbed wingsuit, preparing to fly
Photograph courtesy of Alejandro Montagna

Wingsuit skydiver Alejandro Montagna on minimizing risk—at 150 mph

Dumb Menakaya standing on campus with her camera

Dumebi Menakaya

Photograph by Jim Harrison

The photographer takes self-portraits—without photographing herself.

Conceptual illustration of a budding plant with long roots reaching into words of failure

Illustration by Mary Haasdyk Vooys

Learning how to make the most of setbacks at Harvard

The College Pump

Harvard Business School logo on a campus cornhole board

Photograph by Niko Yaitanes /Harvard Magazine

Cornhole at HBS, prayer and meditation at SEAS, minerologist’s meter, eclipse aficionado

Treasure

Photograph of collected hummingbird nests and eggs

Drawer of diminutive hummingbird nests and eggs

Photograph by Jim Harrison

Inside the Museum of Comparative Zoology’s revealing birds’ egg and nest collection