CRCS closes after 20 years
Dear CRCS Community,
I am writing today to share the news that the Center for Research on Computation and Society (CRCS) will be closing at the end of this academic year. This difficult decision was made by School leadership after a careful evaluation of the financial challenges and uncertainties that SEAS and Harvard University are facing.
In reflecting on the history of CRCS, I’d like to celebrate and acknowledge the work of CRCS researchers and staff over the past 20 years. Thank you for two decades of impact! Since 2005, CRCS has advanced computing for public interest across a variety of topics and methods, including security and privacy, technology and accessibility, automated and reproducible data analysis, healthcare IT, economic fair division, public health, conservation and equity/fairness. We have had the honor of supporting innovative researchers, fostering crucial dialogue, and building an interdisciplinary community of researchers and scholars committed to computing for society.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all who have contributed to our work and making CRCS a success over the years including my preceding CRCS Faculty Directors, Stuart Shieber, Greg Morrisett, Salil Vadhan, Margo Seltzer, and Jim Waldo. Over the years, talented affiliated faculty and dedicated staff provided expertise and support to our numerous students and trainees. Our postdocs made the center a vibrant space intellectually and physically, first in Maxwell Dworkin and then in the Science and Engineering Complex. Our affiliated faculty, community partners, generous supporters, and friends have made this work rich and impactful. Your efforts - your ideas, enthusiasm, and collaboration have been impressive.
The activities at CRCS have inspired social impact research and collaboration far beyond our center and community. We look forward to watching this work continue as the need for creative and rigorous research and partnerships becomes all the more important.
With gratitude,
Milind Tambe
