# Research ## FAS Research Researchers in Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences are exploring big questions, from treating genetic diseases to increasing sustainable agricultural productivity, that have a positive impact on the world. Even in the face of major funding losses, FAS researchers remain at the forefront of innovation, shaping knowledge and creating solutions that matter. The stories on this page bring this work to life, showing how FAS research drives breakthroughs, sparks new ideas, and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. ![Two people observe and point at an octopus in a tank.](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-06/061225_Octopus_0003-min.jpg?itok=QaXWY9kq) ## Driving Discovery ### With College Math Stuck in the 20th Century, Work Begins on a New Formula Scholars from around the United States recently gathered at Harvard to crack an unsolved problem in mathematics: how to make the subject more relevant to undergraduates. The traditional ways of math instruction no longer add up. Many students spend hours laboring over problems that could be solved instantly by the phones in their pockets. Math curricula must adapt to advances in artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, and myriad other disciplines. [ Looking at the effort to reform math curriculum arrow\_circle\_right ](https://current.fas.harvard.edu/stories/college-math-stuck-20th-century-work-begins-new-formula) ![Carrie Diaz Eaton, professor of digital and computational studies at Bates College, at a whiteboard](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-06/FT9A5875.jpg?itok=8_rr6YWd) [### How Venom Kills — And Can Lead to Cures ](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/06/mande-holford-how-venom-kills-and-can-lead-to-cures/)Mandë Holford uncovers the secrets of deadly marine mollusks, how their toxins work with such targeted efficiency ![Mandë Holford](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/011226_Mande_Holford_07-2.jpg?itok=Y6w6UMWG) [### “Climate Uncertainty Is Bad for the Economy” ](https://current.fas.harvard.edu/stories/climate-policy-uncertainty-bad-economy)Analysis reveals unhappy marriage of lower productivity and higher prices amid wobbly regulation ![A Texas landscape featuring oil drills and wind turbines in close proximit](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/AdobeStock_468810910.jpg?h=eb83b414&itok=9_e7CELn) [### Lives Saved by Sociologist’s Fix for Skin Tone Bias ](https://current.fas.harvard.edu/stories/lives-saved-sociologists-fix-skin-tone-bias)The Monk Skin Tone scale, devised in 2019 by Professor Ellis Monk, helps create more accurate medical diagnostic tools for patients with dark skin ![A card showing all 10 skin tones of the Monk Skin Tone scale](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/FT9A5727.jpg?itok=aHFPPGsf) ## People Powering Progress [### Cancer Turner Her into a Scientist ](https://current.fas.harvard.edu/stories/cancer-turned-her-scientist)Diagnosis transformed Mary Cipperman ’26 into a hyperproductive student researcher with diverse interests in physics, medicine, and AI ![Mary Cipperman ’26](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/FT9A3856.jpg?itok=6IyelVgt) [### Surviving San Quentin ](https://gsas.harvard.edu/news/surviving-san-quentin)Johnny Smith studies the impact that higher education can have on formerly incarcerated people like him, so that others can hold onto their freedom and lead full, productive lives. ![Johnny Smith](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/IMG_9507.jpeg?itok=UZ8OX_QB) [### Seeing What You See ](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/09/seeing-what-you-see/)New faculty Cécile Fromont is a visual problem solver ![Cécile Fromont](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/IMG_1042.png?itok=lWa7F5R6) ### Veritalk A new video series that spotlights groundbreaking research taking place across the FAS. Faculty share what drives their curiosity and the possibilities of what they study. [ Steve Ansolabehere on Elections, Public Opinion, and Identity Politics arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv-GppSz5qg&list=PLSDtyiztTqyPfwCzfO_WgYUJD0v34Nnrz) [ Stephen Greenblatt on Artificial Intelligence and Human Creativity arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SYymF7HJx8) [ Doug Melton on His Journey From Developmental Biology to Diabetes Research arrow\_circle\_right ](https://youtu.be/UINy6sxhoVY?si=b7Qja958knITY5nn) ![Veritalk logo](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-08/Screenshot%202025-08-11%20at%2012.37.42%E2%80%AFPM.png?itok=nUWcexOK) ## Spotlighting Student Research [### Better Data Amidst Disaster ](https://seas.harvard.edu/news/better-data-amidst-disaster)SEAS juniors design new collection tool for humanitarian aid ![15 Harvard SEAS juniors with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative Executive Director Irini Albanti holding a blue counting tool](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-01/2025_ES96-2.jpg?h=3246dfef&itok=E4cSrwsc) [### "Critical Tipping Point" for Cameroon's Indigenous Languages ](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/12/at-a-loss-for-words/)Displacement and forced migration trigger alarm about language attrition in Cameroon ![Harvard students Sam Lyczkowski, Xiaotian (Alice) Wang, and Lexi Williams interview a research participant during a trip to Cameroon.](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Cameroon-trip-9.jpg?itok=IOEM5OAX) [### On the Sea or in the Lab, Olivia Hogan-Lopez Knows the Value of Perseverance ](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/11/on-the-sea-or-in-the-lab-olivia-hogan-lopez-knows-the-value-of-perseverance/)Senior is researching how PFAS chemicals impact humans and the environment. ![Olivia Hogan Lopez '26 in the lab](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Olivia-Hogan-Lopez_lab.jpg?itok=H8AZ-IvS) [### ‘Like We’re Reaching a New Period of Human History’ ](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/05/like-were-reaching-a-new-period-of-human-history-ai/)Fascination with artificial intelligence pulls Muqtader Omari back to his scholarly first love: Science. ![Muqtader Omari sitting](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-06/040425_CommencementProfile_MuqtaderOmari_362-1920.png?itok=NdJak3bi) ## Innovation and Business ### Shining a Light on the Dark Matter of Our Genome New research unveils powerful mapping tool that may help transform treatment of genetic disease [ Learn more about this illuminating new technology arrow\_circle\_right ](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/10/shining-a-light-on-the-dark-matter-of-our-genome/) ![Heejin Roh (left), Brian Liau, and Simon Shen](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-10/101525_BrianLiau_015.jpeg?h=dd8a9d3a&itok=bTKjyoh8) ### Physicist, Heal Thyself Nabiha Saklayen hopes to transform medicine with lasers and stem cells. [ Learn more about Nabiha Saklayen’s work arrow\_circle\_right ](https://gsas.harvard.edu/news/physicist-heal-thyself) ![Nabiha Saklayen standing in front of a colorful mural.](/sites/g/files/omnuum716/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-06/Nabiha%20Saklayen%20%28356%29.jpg?itok=7W1DKlMv) ## Support the FAS Harvard remains a place of unlimited possibility because of our dedicated community. Alumni, parents, and friends make it possible for the FAS to invest in talented students and faculty and to ensure they have what they need to do their best work. [**Learn how to support the FAS**](/support-fas "Support the FAS")