# MIT students bridge tech and humanities in Tulsa tribal health project Interns develop maternal health survey while gaining cultural perspective through Code.Tulsa program. - **Source:** [MIT News — AI](https://news.mit.edu/topic/artificial-intelligence2) - **Published:** 2026-09-25 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/cb105713-af07-4b57-97ed-093ed7df3d94 ## Unexpected curriculum shift MIT engineering student Daphne Wang anticipated coding work but instead engaged with Muscogee tribal history while developing a pregnancy risk assessment survey. The project required analyzing historical contexts and data sovereignty issues specific to the Muscogee Nation. Wang describes this as a 180-degree shift from MIT's typical technical focus, highlighting the absence of cultural dimensions in standard engineering education. ## Data with cultural context The interns created the Muscogee Nation's first Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey, tailoring questions to capture maternal health data relevant to tribal women. Their work involved literature reviews, dataset analysis, and careful consideration of governance structures. Epidemiologist Breanna McNaughton-Long credited the students with accelerating progress while maintaining cultural sensitivity in data collection methodologies. ## Code.Tulsa program structure Now in its second year, the PKG Center initiative places 10 MIT undergraduates with tribal nations and local nonprofits. Students live at University of Tulsa while completing technical projects, supplemented by seminars on regional history. The program emphasizes integrating engineering problem-solving with humanist perspectives on social challenges, according to PKG Center director Alison Badgett. ## Student-led STEM initiative Cherokee Nation member Jack Carson conceived the Tulsa Advanced Sciences Camp (TASC) to address STEM access gaps for rural Native students. The weeklong program at University of Tulsa serves 25 students from 10 tribes, featuring tracks in AI engineering and DNA technology. Carson implemented a nomination system that yielded 160 applications from 25 Native nations for the selective camp. ## Philosophical STEM approach TASC curriculum developer Allie Zong emphasizes teaching curiosity and self-learning skills rather than pure knowledge. The program combines technical workshops with sessions helping students envision their long-term potential. This approach inspired participants like Alyssa Theofanidis to self-study calculus and return as a teaching assistant, demonstrating the program's multiplicative impact. ## Tribal leadership endorsement Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. addressed TASC campers, framing technology as a tool requiring ethical stewardship. He highlighted the reciprocal relationship between MIT and Cherokee Nation, praising Carson's leadership. Campers reported increased ambition after interactions with guest speakers like MIT physicist Alexandra LeViness from Commonwealth Fusion Systems. ## Career perspective shifts Electrical engineering student Chenise Harper credits Code.Tulsa with renewing her commitment to social impact, which initially motivated her MIT application. Computer science junior Elvis Chipiro realized social responsibility isn't separate from mainstream tech but embedded in daily engineering choices. These reflections demonstrate the program's success in reshaping professional outlooks. ## Model for technical education The Tulsa initiatives demonstrate how technical training gains depth through cultural immersion. By centering tribal perspectives in AI and data projects, MIT students develop systems with built-in empathy. The programs create pipelines for Native students while proving STEM excellence and social consciousness aren't mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing. ## Sources covering this story - https://news.mit.edu/2026/mit-students-gain-humanist-lens-technical-innovation-tulsa-oklahoma-0925 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._