Molding Tomorrow's Landscape with Systemic Perspectives
Brazilian-Born Physicist Sets Sights on Transforming Climate Science at MIT
Ananda Santos Figueiredo, a Brazilian native with a deep fascination for the cosmos, is set to graduate from MIT as a senior with a bachelor's degree in climate system science and engineering. Her academic journey at the prestigious institution began as a physics major, but her horizons broadened following an impactful internship with the World Bank's data science lab.
As a child, Figueiredo was drawn to the blend of visual wonder and mathematics that astrophysics offered. Her aspirations transcended her hometown, leading her family to move from Brazil to Florida before her sophomore year of high school. The move represented a significant leap of faith, and Figueiredo looked for an institution that offered a rigorous and expansive education, a perfect fit for her insatiable curiosity and ambition.
At MIT, Figueiredo discovered a community and curriculum that mirrored her own drive and curiosity. Her time at the university, she says, has been marked by a strong sense of purpose and the inspiring energy of those around her. As a first-generation college student, Figueiredo encountered financial stress and the challenges that come with being the first in her family to navigate college in the U.S. However, she found a sense of belonging in the MIT community, inspiring her to seek out opportunities to support others as well.
Figueiredo poured her energy into student government roles for the undergraduate residence halls, shaping campus life through Dormitory Council (DormCon) and her dormitory, Simmons Hall. Through these roles, she worked to improve dining hall operations, planning major community events like Simmons Hall's 20th anniversary and DormCon's inaugural Field Day.
During her time at MIT, Figueiredo's academic focus shifted from physics to climate system science and engineering, a newly introduced interdisciplinary program that combines climate science, engineering, energy systems, and policy. The program provided a framework to connect her technical skills to real-world sustainability challenges, allowing her to tailor her coursework to her passions and career goals.
The internship with the World Bank's data science lab proved transformative for Figueiredo. There, she used her coding skills to analyze the impacts of heat waves in the Philippines, opening her eyes to the potential of technology and data in improving lives. This experience deepened her desire to merge her technical skills with her interest in the humanities to better the world for communities.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Figueiredo found joy in artistic endeavors. She joined the MIT Shakespeare Ensemble in her first year, performing in the final spring production of "Henry V." Her passion for the arts also led her to collaborate with MIT's Educational Justice Institute (TEJI) to host a special screening of the film "Sing Sing."
Figueiredo has been actively involved with MIT's decarbonization initiatives and the Climate and Sustainability Scholars Program. Despite the challenges inherent in addressing sustainability issues, she is inspired by the community of passionate individuals at MIT who share her commitment to creating meaningful change.
Moving forward, Figueiredo plans to pursue graduate studies in technology and policy, with aspirations to shape sustainable development through academia, international organizations, or diplomacy. For her, the most rewarding moments at MIT have been when she's tackling hard problems while reflecting on her own development and the future she hopes to help create. "That's what excites me — solving real problems that matter," Figueiredo says.
- Ananda Santos Figueiredo's academic journey at MIT began as a physics major, but her horizons broadened.
- Figueiredo discovered a community and curriculum at MIT that mirrored her own drive and curiosity.
- At MIT, Figueiredo's time has been marked by a strong sense of purpose and the inspiring energy of those around her.
- Figueiredo poured her energy into student government roles for the undergraduate residence halls.
- The internship with the World Bank's data science lab deepened her desire to merge her technical skills with her interest in the humanities to better the world.
- Figueiredo found joy in artistic endeavors, joining the MIT Shakespeare Ensemble and collaborating with MIT's Educational Justice Institute.
- Figueiredo has been actively involved with MIT's decarbonization initiatives and the Climate and Sustainability Scholars Program.
- In addition to her academic pursuits, Figueiredo plans to pursue graduate studies in technology and policy.
- For her, the most rewarding moments at MIT have been when she's tackling hard problems that matter.
- Figueiredo aspires to shape sustainable development through academia, international organizations, or diplomacy.
- The program at MIT, combining climate science, engineering, energy systems, and policy, provided a framework to connect her technical skills to real-world sustainability challenges.
- Figueiredo's aspirations transcended her hometown, leading her family to move from Brazil to Florida before her sophomore year of high school, in search of a rigorous and expansive education.
