Over the past few years, I've been reflecting a lot on the role of academia in the world and how my views have evolved. I want to share this journey with you.
When I began my academic career, I saw it as a two-way relationship: I learned a lot from academia, and I contributed some back. It seemed straightforward—academia and I were in a symbiotic relationship.
Initially, I believed that other sectors like business and government would naturally access academic data. I thought there was no need for me to engage directly with these circles; academia's insights would somehow disseminate on their own. My role was solely to interact with academia. This was my Model #1
However, my perspective changed quickly after joining MIT and receiving an offer to be part of the Media Lab. There, I met real people with real questions, and it became evident that academic knowledge wasn't reaching them as I'd assumed. People had questions that academics had already answered, yet the information wasn't getting through. This realization struck me hard; there was a moat or wall around academia that kept data from flowing out.
Recognizing this gap, I understood that my job couldn't just be about writing papers for other academics. Some of my research was funded by taxpayer money and government grants, so there was a responsibility to make this knowledge accessible and actionable beyond academic circles. This was my Model #2
The Media Lab played a crucial role in this shift. It became clear that our mission was not just to generate knowledge but to ensure it could be applied effectively. I started communicating directly with businesses, governments, NGOs, and the public. This outreach wasn't just about sharing information; it was also about learning from these interactions. Engaging with different sectors revealed new challenges and perspectives that enriched my understanding. This was my Model #3
This two-way exchange proved invaluable. My initial assumption that pushing information out was sufficient turned out to be naive. Real conversations with businesses and other organizations highlighted gaps and provided feedback that helped refine my research.
As time went on, I expanded my efforts further. I engaged more with startups, including founding my own, which offered firsthand experience in applying academic insights in the real world. My communication channels widened—I started a blog, wrote for the Wall Street Journal for a decade, authored several books, participated in movies, hosted a TV show, and launched a podcast. This was my Model #4
Reflecting on my early view of academia as an ivory tower—a pure but isolated realm—I realized that having an impact mattered more to me than maintaining its purity. While everyone's relationship with academia can differ, for me, making a tangible difference became paramount.
In recent years, I've crafted my own version of an ivory tower. It's not detached but rather an ivory yard where I collaborate with academics, businesses, startups, NGOs, and governments. This environment allows me to set my standards for contributing to the world using my unique skills and tools.
I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity to define how I contribute and learn continuously from diverse interactions. Recently, I've been doing more internships and spending more time with people to deepen this learning process.
Where will this journey lead? I'm not entirely sure. What new discoveries await? That remains to be seen. But I'm excited for the next steps in this adventure.
