03/04/2026
MISTI-India Global Classroom 2026 🇮🇳 | Merging Science and Service by Treating Blind Children 💫
This IAP, we brought 12 MIT undergraduates to India for the MISTI Global Classroom — a faculty-led, immersive learning experience beyond campus. Led by Prof. Pawan Sinha, the course centered on Project Prakash, an initiative that provides sight-restoring surgeries to blind children while advancing fundamental research on brain plasticity and learning.
Over two weeks, students experienced every dimension of the work. They participated in rural outreach at a screening camp, observed live eye surgeries via CCTV, learned about neuroscience research using EEGs and fMRIs, and visited partner organizations supporting rehabilitation and education after surgery.
But the heart of the program? Spending time with the children — playing games, making art, and witnessing the incredible moment when they gained sight during our time there.
Through this immersive program, students saw a powerful model of MIT’s ethos—bringing about real-world change while advancing fundamental science.
In students’ own words:
“Being in the blooming, buzzing confusion that is India has been one of the best experiences I’ve had at MIT. The trip was truly special and inspired me every day. I’ve been thinking about the message that it is our duty to help the world somehow. I don’t know how yet, but this trip was the first time I believed I could.”
“Observing this integrated model of science, medical care, service, and education showed me exactly the direction I would like to pursue in my career. It taught me that science and service can go hand in hand and that a career in science does not limit my work to the Western world.”
“Whether tasting panipuris, admiring the Taj Mahal, or haggling in Delhi markets, each experience revealed a snapshot of India’s vast tapestry. This program was a powerful intersection of research, service, and cultural immersion. It reshaped how I see the world and reaffirmed why I am drawn to medicine and service.”
Staying on the campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and celebrating Lohri with students and faculty made the experience even richer.
