Subra Suresh, former Director of the National Science Foundation and Dean of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), examined the potential of “co-intelligence,” combining human, artificial, and nature’s intelligence, in Falls Music Center on February 19. Noting that nature has evolved to become efficient and intelligent, Suresh discussed how researchers can combine technology with nature’s methodologies.
During the Q&A segment, Suresh emphasized the importance of supporting and funding scientific research. Suresh noted how the potential benefits of scientific pursuits in today’s age are even greater.
“Science has delivered a lot for society, all the time, and there is yet to be so many things to be discovered. With all the tools that we have, there is a possibility for even greater scientific achievements for societal benefit and economic benefit for the country than we’ve had in the last 75 years,” said Suresh.
Prior to his talk, Suresh shared a meal with members of the Phillips Academy Sustainability Coalition (PASC). Lisa de Boer ’26, Co-Coordinator of the PASC, related the talk to science’s reduced role in current policy.
“[Suresh] was talking about how important it is for the scientific community to communicate effectively to different audiences. For example, when you’re talking to another scientist, when you’re talking to another policy maker, [or] when you’re talking to a general person in society, you need to present your results very differently, because different people have different interests in science. I thought that was very relevant especially to our times now because we see science taking a back seat in policymaking, which I’m not very happy about. It’s also relevant in global cooperation,” said de Boer.
Subra presented specific examples from his own research in his presentation, explaining how he mimicked nature to advance science. Kaya Mangani ’27 appreciated his presentation style, in which he explained the importance of biomimicry.
“I really liked his use of examples, especially when he talked about his own research. For example, when he talked about the pollen paper part. It was very interesting and demonstrated his deep knowledge of the subject. I liked how he started by explaining something in nature and then showed how it could be applied to technology,” said Mangani.
Nate Cook ’25 was drawn to the talk due to his interest in AI and how nature influences technological advancements. He reflected on how simple observation of one’s surroundings can lead to groundbreaking discoveries, a lesson applicable beyond just scientific research.
“A concept that anyone can apply to their lives is learning from your surroundings. You can draw so much from the environments that you participate in. Being observant of the nature of your environment can help you draw many fascinating things,” said Cook.
