MENA

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Our programs across MENA

In this time of evolving challenges in the MENA region, it is more crucial than ever for MIT’s researchers, faculty, and students to understand and engage with the region. Through innovative programming, fellowships, and seed funding, CIS fosters collaboration and research on pressing issues such as climate, water security, conflict, immigration, and health.

MIT faculty bring decades of experience in leveraging science, technology and the humanities to promote concrete work on key regional issues and offer invaluable insights into the complexities of the MENA region. To support this vital work, CIS has awarded close to a hundred Global Seed Fund grants to faculty and facilitated over 1,000 transformative global experiences for MIT students.

MIT-Israel

MIT-MENA

Understanding Different Perspectives on International Relations in MENA

An upcoming online mini course for the MIT community with Peter Krause (PhD '11). Second session: October 27, US, Gaza, and the Future for Palestinians

Register here

Our Experts

Staff

David Dolev

Lead, MENA

Senior Associate Director, MISTI

Managing Director, MIT-Israel Program, MIT-MEET Program, MIT-MENA Program

Staff

Maye Elqasem

Program Administrator, MIT-MENA Program

Faculty and Researchers

Richard Nielsen

Faculty Director, MIT-MENA Program

Associate Professor of Political Science

Faculty and Researchers

Eran Ben-Joseph

Faculty Director, MIT-Israel Program

Professor, Department of Urban Studies and Planning

Faculty and Researchers

Philip Khoury

Ford International Professor of History

Faculty and Researchers

Christine Ortiz

Faculty Advisor, MIT-Israel Program

Morris Cohen Professor in Materials Science and Engineering

Faculty and Researchers

Daniel Jackson

Faculty Director, MIT-MEET Program

Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Faculty and Researchers

Roger Petersen

Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science, Emeritus

Faculty and Researchers

Jim Walsh

Senior Research Associate, Security Studies Program

Faculty and Researchers

Peter Krause

Affiliate, Security Studies Program

Associate Professor of Political Science, Boston College

M3 MENA

M3 strengthens ties between colleagues across the Institute who share research interests in a particular region or discipline. Join our mailing list to receive news and updates on research across the Middle East and North Africa in all disciplines and research topics, but especially around global challenges such as climate and sustainability, health, AI and computing, democratic stability, inequality, and human development.

Join our mailing list

Events

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Oct 27

US, Gaza, and the Future for Palestinians (Zoom)

Peter Krause, Associate Professor of Political Science, Boston College

Visions of Conflict: Scenes from Syria and Sudan

Moises Saman, Photojournalist

The Axis of Upheaval: How Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea Seek to Change the World

Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Director and Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Security Program, Center for a New American Security

Carol Saivetz, Senior Advisor, Security Studies Program

Elizabeth Wood, Ford International Professor of History

Politics, Power, and Money: Steering the Future of Global Health

Vanessa Bradford Kerry, MD, Associate Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

CEO of Seed Global Health

Special Advisor to the World Health Organization

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Location

Building 10 - 105

Opportunities

See all opportunities

MISTI

MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) is MIT’s principal international education program. MISTI matches MIT students with tailored internship, research, and teaching opportunities abroad.

Explore MISTI programs

Global Seed Funds

The MIT Global Seed Funds grant program enables new collaborations between faculty and research scientists at MIT and their counterparts in the MENA region and around the world.

Browse seed funds

Launch a new research collaboration

The next round of the MIT Global Seed Funds opens in September 2025.

Learn more

Student Spotlights

CIS makes it possible for MIT students to experience the world while advancing knowledge, tackling tough challenges, and preparing for lives of impact, service, and leadership in an interconnected global society.