Imagine combining tech and your passion for a change in society! Well, it sounds like a dream come true.
MIT senior Ananya Gurumurthy is breaking barriers by combining her passion for music with her studies in mathematics and computer science to advocate for social and economic justice through the power of data. Her inspiring journey highlights the potential of interdisciplinary approaches in driving meaningful change.
Growing up in Edgemont, New York, Gurumurthy was deeply influenced by her South Asian immigrant parents, who instilled in her a sense of social responsibility. Her parents’ stories of overcoming adversity and their bravery in seeking a better life in the United States fueled Gurumurthy’s desire to make a difference. She recognised the importance of her own identity as a South Asian American and a woman of colour, which prompted her to critically examine existing institutions and seek ways to reform them.
During her high school years, Gurumurthy began working for New York Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, combining her musical talents with her growing interest in politics. This experience taught her the importance of mobilising constituents and influencing legislative change at the grassroots level. It was a watershed moment that ignited her interest in using data and analytics to drive social improvement.
Gurumurthy joined MIT in 2019 with the goal of bridging the fields of maths, computer science, and music to affect change. Her degrees in mathematics and computer science prepared her to analyse data and create digital tools for social and economic justice initiatives. She collaborated with organisations such as Fair Fight Action and MIT’s ethics department to analyse voter suppression practises.
As a lead analyst for the Democratic National Committee, she harnessed data analytics and an interactive activation-competition (IAC) model to understand voting patterns in the 2018 and 2020 elections. Her work empowered historically disenfranchised groups, enabling them to participate in municipal, state, and federal elections. She witnessed firsthand the impact of mathematical analysis in inspiring individuals to use their voices and advocate for change.
Gurumurthy has actively worked with the MIT community, recognising the potential of technology as a vehicle for resistance against injustice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she pushed campaigns for grade transparency and equal access to online education materials as co-chair of the Undergraduate Association’s education committee. Her commitment to elevating student perspectives prompted her to establish Insite, an initiative at MIT centred on centralised data collection to inform policy decisions.
Ananya Gurumurthy’s remarkable journey demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary approaches in driving social change. By combining her musical talents with her expertise in math and computer science, she has effectively harnessed data to empower communities and advocate for social and economic justice. Her narrative inspires others by demonstrating the revolutionary power of combining technology and creativity to create a more equal and inclusive society.