A recent episode of Higher Ed Now spotlights the Civil Discourse Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—an initiative supported by AVDF. The episode features perspectives from both faculty and students actively engaged in the program, offering a compelling look at how civil discourse is being cultivated among the next generation of STEM leaders.
Housed within MIT Concourse—a first-year learning community that integrates science and the humanities—the Civil Discourse Project aims to reinvigorate the open exchange of ideas on campus. In the episode, Bryan Paul of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) interviews Senior Lecturer Linda Rabieh, who discusses how the project has adopted the Braver Angels debate format to foster constructive dialogue. This format is promoted by the College Debates and Discourse Alliance, a partnership among ACTA, Braver Angels, and BridgeUSA.
The podcast also includes interviews with student leaders Mariam Abdelbarr, Isaac Lock, and Siddhu Pachipala, who share their experiences organizing and participating in campus debates designed to encourage respectful engagement across difference.
Click here to listen to the podcast or view the transcript.
Back to all Stories
