This chapter explores the establishment of the Institute of Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) at MIT, which was founded on the principles of the DSS transdiscipline. It provides a historical overview of the various components of DSS at MIT and describes how the new institute built upon this foundation. The chapter delves into the creation of a robust statistics effort within IDSS, emphasizes the importance of strong connections with the social sciences and humanities, and discusses the need to embed the institute across various domains. It also examines the rationale behind the creation of new academic programs designed to prepare students proficient in this transdiscipline while simultaneously focusing on specific domains. In addition, the chapter outlines the breadth of academic programs offered by IDSS, including considerations for online educational programs.

The chapter offers a thorough description of the unique administrative architecture of IDSS and how it was designed to support the transdiscipline’s growth and development. It addresses MIT’s approach to hiring and promoting faculty within IDSS and highlights the professional challenges faced by junior faculty members.

The chapter concludes with an overview of the launch of the Initiative on Combating Systemic Racism within IDSS, highlighting why the institute is well-suited to nurture such initiatives within MIT.