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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Hi all,<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">It is my great pleasure to let you know that the 2021-2022 Siegel Teaching Prize winner is Rijul Kochhar. The Siegel Teaching Prize was established 16 years ago to recognize HASTS graduate students
who have excelled in their commitment to and performance in MIT’s undergraduate teaching program.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">The prize committee, Sherry Turkle and Chakanetsa Mavhunga, prepared the following prize citation:<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">“The 2021-2022 Siegel Teaching Prize is awarded to Rijul Kochhar for his exceptional contribution to STS 21A.500/STS.075 “Technology and Culture” offered in Fall 2021, taught by Professor Stefan
Helmreich. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">This subject examines relationships among technology, culture, and politics in a range of social and historical settings. In Fall 2021, Helmreich and Kochhar worked with 56 enrolled students during
the first on-campus semester since the Covid outbreak. Students and faculty needed to find new rhythms after a period of considerable anomie and alienation. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Working together, they developed a hybrid teaching method involving in-class lectures, outdoor meetings before and after lectures, and online conversations. Kochhar used Slack to respond to student
questions and to guide class time and outdoor discussions. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Professor Helmreich praises Kochhar as “a model of rigor and generosity,” with a presence both “vital and affirming” to students. Kochhar, says Helmreich was as good at listening as he was at
gentle “prompting and questioning.” And Kochhar did more than carry the standard administrative burden. He also checked in on students who began to miss class to make sure there was nothing amiss. It was a stressful semester. Kochhar rose to the occasion with
competence and grace. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Students’ subject evaluations reflect their appreciation of Kochhar’s knowledge and support. He received a 6.7 overall rating. Their support was expressed in their comments about their teacher:
“Rijul helped keep discussions moving on an interesting track, and he did a great job of encouraging students to participate too,” and “Rijul always shared such profound insights.”<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Rijul Kochhar richly deserves the 2021-2022 Siegel Teaching Prize “for excellence in teaching that both instructs and inspires.””<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Please join me in congratulating Rijul for this wonderful and much deserved honor. I am also grateful to Sherry and Chakanetsa for serving on the prize committee.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class=""> <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">best,<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Deborah</span></div>
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<div>Deborah Fitzgerald<br class="">
Leverett Howell and William King Cutten Professor of the History of Technology<br class="">
Head, Program in Science, Technology, and Society<br class="">
MIT, 77 Massachusetts Avenue<br class="">
Bldg. E51-296A<br class="">
Cambridge, MA 02139<br class="">
<a href="mailto:dkfitz@mit.edu" class="">dkfitz@mit.edu</a><br class="">
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