In a candid and wide-ranging conversation on GBH’s Boston Public Radio, MIT President Sally Kornbluth joined co-hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan live in studio on Thursday, February 5, to discuss a range of topics, from the future of American research to her personal journey as a Type 1 diabetic. The discussion touched on the pressures facing higher education, the importance of scientific advancement, and the challenges of maintaining academic excellence amid rising financial and political headwinds. Reflecting on decades of progress in diabetes treatment, Kornbluth shared a powerful personal moment: “This is science!” she exclaimed, highlighting how far medical innovation has come. Her own experience living with Type 1 diabetes underscored the real-world impact of sustained research and development in medicine. As university leaders grapple with mounting challenges—including a new endowment tax that costs MIT $240 million annually—Kornbluth emphasized the strain it places on the institution’s mission. “Are we managing it? Yes. Are we still forging ahead on all of our exciting initiatives? Yes. But we’ve had to reconfigure things. We’ve had to merge things. And it’s not the way we should be spending our time and money,” she said, underscoring how financial burdens are diverting focus from core academic and research goals. The conversation also addressed broader concerns about the future of America’s research enterprise, including increasing global competition for top talent and the growing politicization of science. Kornbluth spoke about the importance of protecting academic freedom and fostering environments where curiosity-driven discovery can thrive. Later in the broadcast, MIT Assistant Professor John Urschel—also a former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens—joined Edgar B. Herwick III on GBH’s new show, The Curiosity Desk. Urschel, who earned his PhD in mathematics at MIT, shared insights into his dual passions. “Well, I hate to break it to you, I like math better,” he said with a smile. He described falling in love with MIT’s intellectual culture, where “everyone loves math, everyone wants to learn. I was just constantly excited every day showing up.” The Curiosity Desk, airing weekday afternoons from 1 to 2 p.m., will feature additional MIT experts in the coming weeks. On Thursday, February 12, Anette “Peko” Hosoi, Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Jerry Lu MFin ’24, a former researcher at the MIT Sports Lab, will discuss how artificial intelligence is being used to help Olympic figure skaters perfect their jumps. Then, on February 19, Professors Sangeeta Bhatia and Angela Belcher will join Herwick to talk about groundbreaking research into ovarian cancer, including the discovery that about 80% of cases originate in the fallopian tubes—a finding that could revolutionize early diagnosis and treatment.