Olivia Farrar

Olivia Farrar is the digital content specialist at Harvard Magazine. A graduate of Harvard College and the University of Oxford, she writes about technology, medicine, the natural sciences, and the humanities. Before joining the magazine in 2023, she worked at Audible in content strategy, script editing, and production, helping to produce titles including David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and The Signalman by Charles Dickens (directed by Sam Mendes), a modern reimagining of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, and numerous other audiobooks, short stories, and podcasts. 

Olivia adheres to the highest ethical standards across writing and reporting, including in interviews with subjects and throughout researching and fact-checking stories.

Social(s)

A mechanical hand representing AI copies images of Disney's Mickey Mouse

Five Questions |

Is Copyright Law the Wrong Weapon Against AI?

Harvard law professor Rebecca Tushnet explains how “fair use” applies to LLMs.

Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan

Harvard Kennedy School of Government |

Paul Ryan Warns Congress Is Losing Power—and Blames Both Parties

At Harvard Kennedy School, the former House speaker reflected on executive overreach, DEI, and “wokeism.”

A graphic depiction of a stone wall, reimagining the stone wall set in Harvard Square near Winthrop Street

Harvard History |

One of Harvard’s Oldest Structures Is Hiding Behind a Beer Garden

A crumbling wall in Harvard Square holds centuries of the city’s story, if you know how to read it.

An abstract collage of a pair of people engaged in a tense conversation, depicting speech bubbles and words

Five Questions |

Can We Disagree Better? A Harvard Professor Has Tips.

Kennedy School professor of public policy Julia Minson on how to improve political conversations

An illustration of a Celtic warrior with a shield in grey

Museums & Collections |

The Celts in Art and Imagination

A new exhibition at the Harvard Art Museums traces 2,500 years of Celtic art.

Six red star-like objects against a dark background, each with labels and coordinates.

Five Questions |

Are ‘Little Red Dots’ Keys to Understanding the Early Universe?

Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysicist Fabio Pacucci explains one of cosmology’s newest mysteries.

Brick building with classical architecture, surrounded by snow and bare trees.

Teaching & Learning |

A Cap on A’s at Harvard? Students and Faculty Raise Concerns at Town Hall

Dozens debate the grade inflation proposal that faculty will discuss next week.

An illustration depicting a series of mouths and heart organs connected by lines, indicating the link between oral hygiene and heart health

Five Questions |

Five Questions with Tien Jiang

How brushing and flossing can protect your heart

An abstract image of several figures walking over a collage of newspaper

Five Questions |

Five Questions with Nancy Gibbs and Thomas E. Patterson

The Washington Post laid off more than a third of its journalists. Does this signal a new era for newsrooms?

Left to right: Jason Furman, Joseph Aldy, and Robert Rubin in conversation at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics

Harvard Kennedy School of Government |

AI Is Risky Business for the Power Grid, Harvard Experts Say

An Institute of Politics panel focused on the technology’s rapid expansion 

President Obama and Medvedev of Russia shake hands after signing the New START treaty in 2010

Five Questions |

Five Questions with Matthew Bunn

The last treaty limiting nuclear arms buildup between Russia and the U.S. expires February 5. What’s next?

Skier holding a Harvard Crimson flag points at the camera

Athletics |

Harvard Students, Alumni to Compete at the 2026 Olympics

Six Crimson athletes are headed to the XXV Winter Games in Milano Cortina.