August 2026 Newsletter
An All-New Website and Summit, and a Refreshed Hub
SAVE THE DATE: NOV. 6, 2026
2nd ANNUAL SUMMIT
Join us on November 6th for A Need for Roots in a Digital Society, MISI’s second annual summit. In a twenty-first century digital society, what does it mean to be rooted? In the midst of jarring technological change — and overlapping crises of climate, politics, and attention — how do we maintain ties to what is essential to human flourishing? As thinkers and civic leaders, how do we keep human needs at the forefront as our society grapples with emerging technologies? The summit will gather scholars, journalists, scientists, community leaders, influencers, technologists, and others to reckon with these growing challenges. Confirmed speakers include Marshall Ganz, Catherine D’Ignazio, Chaplain Clementina Chéry, Anthony Townsend, Peter Schmidt, Nathan Matias, Ngozi Okidegbe, Fran Berman, Peter Levine, and more!
NEW WEBSITE!
This summer, MISI’s website underwent a BIG refresh. The new site has a cleaner look and a clearer structure, so it’s easier to find our people, our work, and our upcoming events all in one place. Huge thanks to our website designer, Tyler Prendergast, for bringing it to life.
On September 10th, come on over to 704 Commonwealth Ave., the shared home of MISI and the Communication Research Center (CRC). Our doors will be open for a tour of the refreshed hub where you’ll meet members of both centers and check out all of the resources available to faculty, fellows, staff, and students. Enjoy refreshments and food too.
FOR BU STUDENTS
MISI Graphic Designer and Communications Assistants
MISI is hiring a team of students for the 2026-2027 academic year. They will be involved in day-to-day communications as well as MiSIP, MISI’s practice-oriented course taught by Eric Gordon, the Truth + Storytelling Fellowship, MISI’s second annual summit titled The Need for Roots in a Digital Society, and more.
Communications Assistants:
The students will be creative and strategic and have a dynamic understanding of branding, marketing, social media, and design. Reporting to MISI’s Director and Programs Manager, and working with the current CA, they are expected to bring their ideas to the table and work hard to build internal and external communications through its content and platforms.
Graphic Designer:
The ideal candidate has a solid grasp of visual design fundamentals — typography, layout, color, and composition — along with working knowledge of user interface (UI) principles and how design choices shape usability and user experience. Proficiency with standard design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite or Figma) is expected, and experience with both print production (posters, publications, brochures) and digital deliverables (web graphics, social media assets, UI mockups) is highly valued. Prior experience in illustration is a plus and will be considered a strong asset for candidates who can bring original visual style to campaigns and materials.
Apply via the Student Job Board
Research Assistant: Climate Communication
Dr. Michelle Amazeen, a 2025-26 Fellow, is seeking a research assistant to join her climate communication research team at Boston University.
The RA will support research examining how fossil fuel and agricultural companies shape climate narratives in news media, particularly through native advertising and sponsored content. The ideal candidate is a student with Python and web-scraping experience who is interested in climate, media, and communication research.