Sometimes It Pays to Disobey

 

Most people would say they disapprove¹ of breaking rules. But one highly respected university in America is offering a big prize for exactly that.

The Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge will award $250,000 to an individual or a group for breaking rules. One condition, however: the disobedience must help society.

The MIT Media Lab is seeking nominations² for candidates from all over the world. The best candidates are doing or have done difficult and important work that is not always recognized.

The award is open to people in all fields, including science, politics, law, journalism³, medicine and human rights. The Media Lab is looking for rule breakers who have taken a personal risk to help society.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology students gather around a monitor in an overflow⁴ area on the MIT campus to watch an update by scientists on the discovery of gravitational waves, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology students gather around a monitor in an overflow area on the MIT campus to watch an update by scientists on the discovery of gravitational waves, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016,

The award is the first of its kind at the school.

Joi Ito directs the Media Lab at MIT. He says, "You don't change the world by doing what you're told."

But, he says he is not suggesting people break laws or rules without reason.

"Sometimes we have to go to first principles and consider whether the laws or rules are fair, and whether we should question them," he says.

Ito suggests that history shows disobedience has served society.

"The American civil rights movement wouldn't have happened without civil disobedience. India would not have achieved independence without the pacifist but firm disobedience of Gandhi and his followers⁵. The Boston Tea Party, which we celebrate here in New England, was also quite disobedient."

Media Lab says the award will not support acts of violence, terrorism or dangerous behavior.

Reid Hoffman is an entrepreneur and co-founder of the social network, LinkedIn. He is donating the $250,000 in prize money.

The nominating period will be open until May 1. Anybody may nominate an individual or group for the award. Self-nomination is not permitted. Nominations will be accepted on the MIT Media Lab Rewarding Disobedience webpage.

Media Lab will present the winner or winners with the prize at a ceremony July 21. A short list of candidates will be announced before the event in Massachusetts.

I'm Dorothy Gundy.

Dorothy Gundy reported on this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver⁶ was the editor.

 

Words in This Story

principles – n. a moral rule or belief that helps you know what is right and wrong and that influences your actions

achieved - v. to have gotten or reached (something) by working hard; to have become successful by reaching a goal

pacifist - n. someone who believes that war and violence are wrong and who refuses to participate in or support a war

New England - n. region in the U.S. including the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut

network - n. internet-based programs used for making connections with friends, family, classmates, customers and clients.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

1 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

2 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

3 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

4 overflow   

v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出

参考例句：

• The overflow from the bath ran on to the floor.浴缸里的水溢到了地板上。
• After a long period of rain,the river may overflow its banks.长时间的下雨天后，河水可能溢出岸来。

5 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

6 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。