Long before stepping into the lab, Ananda Santos Figueiredo was enchanted by the night sky in Brazil. With an insatiable curiosity fueled by pop culture, literature, and the internet, she discovered her passion for astrophysics—a unique fusion of visual marvels and intricate mathematics.
From a young age, Ananda felt the stirrings of ambition that transcended her hometown. “I’ve always had a yearning for STEM,” she reflects. “It was clear to me that my journey was meant to take me beyond, to learn more, explore, and make an impact.”
Her parents recognized her aspirations as a gateway to a brighter future. So, during the summer before her sophomore year in high school, they made the bold decision to relocate from Brazil to Florida. “It was a leap of faith into the unknown,” she recalls, “but I was resolute—I wanted a rigorous education that also embraced my varied interests.”
At MIT, she discovered the community and curriculum that truly resonated with her curiosity and ambition. “I’ve always associated MIT with groundbreaking innovation, striving for humanity’s highest potential,” Santos shares, highlighting the transformative power of technology and science on society. “It’s a place where dreaming big is not just encouraged—it’s pursued vigorously.”
As a first-generation college student, Ananda faced the challenges of financial strain and navigating unfamiliar academic territory. Yet, she found a strong sense of belonging within the MIT community. “Being a first-generation student has been a growth experience,” she says. “It pushed me to seek opportunities and motivate others along the way.”
She directed this drive into student leadership, participating in the undergraduate residence hall government. Through the Dormitory Council (DormCon) and her home within Simmons Hall, she helped shape the residential experience. Starting as reservations chair, she eventually became the dorm president, later serving as dining chair and vice president of DormCon, orchestrating improvements in dining operations and planning major community events like Simmons Hall’s 20th anniversary and DormCon’s first Field Day.
Now, as a senior nearing her bachelor’s degree, Santos reflects on MIT’s motto, “mens et manus”—“mind and hand”—that has deeply resonated with her. “Learning here transcends traditional education,” she emphasizes. “I’ve been surrounded by passionate individuals whose drive inspires me. That energy is contagious; it has transformed my self-perception and aspirations.”
Charting Her Path
Initially a physics major, Santos’ academic trajectory shifted dramatically after a life-changing internship at the World Bank’s data science lab during the summer between her sophomore and junior years. There, she harnessed her coding skills to analyze the effects of heat waves in the Philippines—a revelation that dislodged her strict view of STEM careers. “I realized I wanted to do more than study the universe; I aimed to change it,” she states. “I aspired to integrate systems thinking with my humanistic interests to forge a better world.”
When MIT unveiled a new major in climate systems science and engineering (Course 1-12) in 2023, Santos was the first to declare it. The program’s interdisciplinary focus—melding climate science, engineering, energy systems, and policy—offered her a pathway to connect her technical abilities with real-world sustainability issues.
She carefully selected coursework that mirrored her passions and career ambitions, utilizing her physics background (now a minor) to confront challenges in climate, energy, and sustainable systems. “The major’s breadth is astonishing,” she notes. “Even non-primary classes have broadened my perspective.”
Hands-on fieldwork has been a vital component of her learning journey. During MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP), she examined climate impacts in Hawai’i as part of the IAP Course 1.091 (Traveling Research Environmental Experiences, or TREX). This year, she delved into sustainable polymer system designs in Course 1.096/10.496 under MISTI’s Global Classroom program, which brought her into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest to explore the future of eco-friendly plastic production. “That experience was immensely enlightening,” she explains. “It helped bridge my personal background with the challenges I aim to tackle.”
Beyond academics, Santos finds joy in the arts. A member of the MIT Shakespeare Ensemble since her first year, she took the stage in her final spring production of “Henry V,” playing both the Chorus and Kate. “The ensemble’s collaborative essence and how it brings timeless texts to life has been transformative,” she shares.
Her love for the arts also intersected with her work at the MIT Lecture Series Committee. She helped facilitate a special screening of the film “Sing Sing,” in partnership with MIT’s Educational Justice Institute (TEJI). That partnership led her to enroll in a TEJI course, illustrating the unexpected yet profound connections within MIT’s vibrant ecosystem. “That’s one of MIT’s beauties,” she reflects. “You encounter experiences that genuinely alter your path.”
Throughout her MIT journey, the community of passionate, sustainability-driven individuals has been a profound source of motivation. She actively engages in the initiatives of the MIT Office of Sustainability, contributing to their decarbonization efforts and participating in the Climate and Sustainability Scholars Program.
Recognizing the weight of the sustainability challenges ahead, Santos candidly remarks, “The urgency for impactful change can sometimes feel daunting. Yet, being surrounded by those who are actively addressing these issues is far more comforting than facing them alone.”
Looking to the future, she plans to pursue graduate studies in technology and policy, aiming to influence sustainable development through avenues such as academia, global organizations, or diplomacy.
“The moments most gratifying at MIT have been those in which I tackle tough challenges while introspecting on the kind of individual I wish to become, the future I aspire to create, and how we can foster kindness among one another,” she conveys. “That’s what drives me—solving real-world problems that truly matter.”
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
