Festival Guide

Festival Guide

Festival Guide

Welcome to Cambridge Science Festival 2023!

 

Here you can find a listing for every event at this year’s Festival. Simply click on listings to find out more, including information about the organizer, the venue, and how to reserve your ticket! Every event is free and open to the public, but many have limited capacity. Get your tickets soon to avoid missing out.

Use the dropdown menus to search for events on specific dates, or in different categories. If you’re not sure where to start, click here to find out more about this year’s themes and series.

DATE
EVENT
ORGANIZER
SERIES
TAGS
START TIME
Monday
Sep 25
Sep 25, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
MIT Press Bookstore
MIT Press Bookstore
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Complete the scavenger hunt, available throughout CSF week at mitpressbookstore.mit.eduthen pick up your prize at the MIT Press Bookstore and enter a drawing for a chance to win a $50 bookstore gift card!

Scan this QR code to get started!

LOCATION
Kendall/MIT Open Space
292 Main Street
Cambridge
MA 02142
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

MIT Press Bookstore is the bookselling arm of the MIT Press, located in the lower level of 314 Main St. in Kendall Square.

Find out more about MIT Press Bookstore.
Monday
Sep 25
Sep 25, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
Richard Binzel
Richard Binzel
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Be a planetary explorer! Take a self-guided tour of our Solar System from the Sun to Pluto, precisely scaled to the length of MIT’s Infinite Corridor, created by ​MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place every day, from Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1

LOCATION
MIT Building 7
3rd Floor
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA
02139
Monday
Sep 25
Sep 25, 10 am - 3 pm
In the Neighborhood
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Step into the world of cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation at the Broad Discovery Center, right in the heart of Kendall Square! Explore engaging exhibits, learn about the mysteries of human diseases, and witness first-hand how scientists from around the globe are joining forces to tackle psychiatric conditions, cancer, infectious diseases, and more. Admission is free and no registration is required.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Guided tours
Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience with guided tours led by knowledgeable museum staff and actual Broad scientists! Join a tour at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm to delve deeper into the exhibits, gain insider insights, and get answers to your burning questions from the experts themselves. Tours are free and no registration is required.

For further information please email discoverycenter@broadinstitute.org

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 10am
Tuesday September 26, 10am
Wednesday September 27, 10am
Thursday September 28, 10am
Friday September 29, 10am

LOCATION
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Merkin Building Lobby
415 Main Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
3 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Broad Discovery Center is a free, public science museum that launched last Fall. The exhibits at Broad Discovery Center focus on human health, and showcase how scientists here in Cambridge, the Greater Boston area and beyond are working tirelessly to understand and treat the diseases that affect us all.

From uncovering the causes of mental health conditions and cancer to developing new treatments for infectious diseases, researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and their partner institutions are breaking new ground in the fight against human disease. Explore the exhibits at the museum to learn more.

Monday
Sep 25
Sep 25, 1 pm - 2:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
The Hidden Music of Amino Acids
The Hidden Music of Amino Acids
The Orchestra On The Hill
The Orchestra On The Hill
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

Join The Orchestra on the Hill’s Thomas Palance and Chris Florio as they offer compositions they have written based on the vibrations of amino acids.

The practice, using exact and approximate measured vibrations of amino acids as equated to the equal tempered musical scale, results in interesting possibilities in musical composition not yet explored.

The demonstration will be followed by an open discussion about the many possibilities for the use of this technique in new music and STEAM education.

Audience participation will be welcomed!

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
2:30 pm
Find out more about The Orchestra On The Hill.
Monday
Sep 25
Sep 25, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Make your own Automata
Make your own Automata
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
2:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

Explore and experiment with mechanical motion as you create your own moving art. Along the way, discover how simple mechanisms like cams, linkages, and levers work to generate different types of movement.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 2.30pm
Thursday September 28, 2.30pm
Friday September 29, 2.30pm
Saturday September 30, 10am
Sunday October 1, 2.30pm

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
2:30 pm

END TIME
4:30 pm
Find out more about MIT Museum.
Monday
Sep 25
Sep 25, 4 pm - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Tin Foil Boats
Tin Foil Boats
Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge Public Library
4 pm
DESCRIPTION

Think you have what it takes to build an unsinkable ship? Join us for some stories, and then we will build boats out of tin foil. If your boat floats we’ll add pennies to see how much weight they hold! For children ages 5 and up and their caregivers.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, O'Connell Branch
48 Sixth Street
Cambridge MA
02141
START TIME
4 pm

END TIME
5 pm
Find out more about Cambridge Public Library.
Monday
Sep 25
Sep 25, 4 pm - 6 pm
In the Neighborhood
Deep Time Walk
Deep Time Walk
Nancy Lowe
Nancy Lowe
4 pm
DESCRIPTION

Weather permitting, we will meet outside the front of the Museum of Science and walk approximately 4.6km, learning 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history along the way. This is a nearly three-mile walk along Cambridge Street to Cambridge Common. Wear comfortable shoes and prepare to be outdoors for a few hours.

Event organizer Nancy Lowe is an artist interested in the rich ecotone — the boundary territory — between art and science. She makes art with science themes, teaches art-science workshops, curates art-science exhibits and performances, guides art-science residency programs, and leads citizen science projects and other activities for creative science engagement. She worked for over a decade as a technician in labs focusing on pollination biology, insect-plant interactions, and large-scale ecology.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 4-6pm
Saturday September 30, 10am-noon
Sunday October 1, 10am-noon

LOCATION
Outside of Front Entrance
Museum of Science
1 Science Park
Boston MA
02114
START TIME
4 pm

END TIME
6 pm
Tuesday
Sep 26
Sep 26, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
MIT Press Bookstore
MIT Press Bookstore
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Complete the scavenger hunt, available throughout CSF week at mitpressbookstore.mit.eduthen pick up your prize at the MIT Press Bookstore and enter a drawing for a chance to win a $50 bookstore gift card!

Scan this QR code to get started!

LOCATION
Kendall/MIT Open Space
292 Main Street
Cambridge
MA 02142
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

MIT Press Bookstore is the bookselling arm of the MIT Press, located in the lower level of 314 Main St. in Kendall Square.

Find out more about MIT Press Bookstore.
Tuesday
Sep 26
Sep 26, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
Richard Binzel
Richard Binzel
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Be a planetary explorer! Take a self-guided tour of our Solar System from the Sun to Pluto, precisely scaled to the length of MIT’s Infinite Corridor, created by ​MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place every day, from Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1

LOCATION
MIT Building 7
3rd Floor
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA
02139
Tuesday
Sep 26
Sep 26, 10 am - 3 pm
In the Neighborhood
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Step into the world of cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation at the Broad Discovery Center, right in the heart of Kendall Square! Explore engaging exhibits, learn about the mysteries of human diseases, and witness first-hand how scientists from around the globe are joining forces to tackle psychiatric conditions, cancer, infectious diseases, and more. Admission is free and no registration is required.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Guided tours
Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience with guided tours led by knowledgeable museum staff and actual Broad scientists! Join a tour at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm to delve deeper into the exhibits, gain insider insights, and get answers to your burning questions from the experts themselves. Tours are free and no registration is required.

For further information please email discoverycenter@broadinstitute.org

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 10am
Tuesday September 26, 10am
Wednesday September 27, 10am
Thursday September 28, 10am
Friday September 29, 10am

LOCATION
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Merkin Building Lobby
415 Main Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
3 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Broad Discovery Center is a free, public science museum that launched last Fall. The exhibits at Broad Discovery Center focus on human health, and showcase how scientists here in Cambridge, the Greater Boston area and beyond are working tirelessly to understand and treat the diseases that affect us all.

From uncovering the causes of mental health conditions and cancer to developing new treatments for infectious diseases, researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and their partner institutions are breaking new ground in the fight against human disease. Explore the exhibits at the museum to learn more.

Tuesday
Sep 26
Sep 26, 2 pm - 4:45 pm
In the Neighborhood
Decoding the Brain with the McGovern Institute
Decoding the Brain with the McGovern Institute
McGovern Institute
McGovern Institute
2 pm
DESCRIPTION

Meet neuroscientists from MIT’s McGovern Institute to talk about their latest discoveries in brain science, including new tools built from viruses and bacteria to repair the brain and listen to what neurons are saying to each other. Have fun interacting with brain-machine interfaces and artificial intelligence, and see real brains.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Featuring:

Jordan Harrod, Mikey Segal, Lace Riggs, Lia Washington, Henry Hall, Ryan Kast, Chaoyi Zhang, Nicki Driscoll, MJ Antonini, Miranda Dawson, Fernanda de la Torre, Camille Osumah, Haoyu Du, Chris Shallal, Harrison Canning, Eva Lendaro, Nancy Tsai and Bryan Medina.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
2 pm

END TIME
4:45 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The McGovern Institute houses a group of neuroscientists studying how brains work and how we can make them work better.

Find out more about McGovern Institute.
Tuesday
Sep 26
Sep 26, 2 pm - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Sea Life and Sea Perch! Come and tour MIT Sea Grant!
Sea Life and Sea Perch! Come and tour MIT Sea Grant!
MIT Sea Grant
MIT Sea Grant
2 pm
DESCRIPTION

MIT Sea Grant Marine Biology and Robotics Labs will be hosting tours of our facilities and hands-on activities, including driving a Sea Perch ROV as well as microscopes with local marine life and a touch tank with live animals to interact with!

LOCATION
MIT Sea Grant
12 Emily St, Suite 1
Cambridge MA
02139
START TIME
2 pm

END TIME
5 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The MIT Sea Grant College Program is a Federal-Institute partnership that brings the research and engineering core of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to bear on ocean-related challenges. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Sea Grant College Program promotes the conservation and sustainable development of marine resources through research, education, and outreach.

Find out more about MIT Sea Grant.
Tuesday
Sep 26
Sep 26, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Make your Own Optical Illusion
Make your Own Optical Illusion
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
2:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

There are so many fun ways to trick your eyes and brain! Create your own optical illusion and explore how we take in and process visual information.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
2:30 pm

END TIME
4:30 pm
Tuesday
Sep 26
Sep 26, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Eyes in the Field – Community-based Participatory Science to Help Conservation Research
Eyes in the Field – Community-based Participatory Science to Help Conservation Research
Earthwise Aware
Earthwise Aware
6:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

The recent discovery of a marbled salamander larva by EwA volunteers in the Middlesex Fells illustrates the importance of participatory science to conservation research. In addition to collecting critical data, these science programs can foster a robust research community of scientists, field leaders, and local experts.

We invite you to attend EwA’s dynamic presentation and experience the power of conservation-action communities. Let us capture your attention and make you realize that you can help protect urban natural systems effectively.

FURTHER INFORMATION

In February 2023, the Middlesex Fells Reservation north of Boston reached an important milestone: the first recorded marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) larva since the species became locally extinct in the 20th century. Zoo New England has led a reintroduction program in the Middlesex Fells over the past several years– and this record, the first evidence since 1932 of a successfully reproductive adult– was submitted to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP).

This observation occurred during an Earthwise Aware (EwA) participatory science event and involved community members of every stripe, from a first-time attendee to onsite field leaders, to experts in EwA’s network. The discovery is symbolic of the potential of participatory science in the Middlesex Fells and beyond. Only with the collaboration of naturalists, scientists, and trained volunteers can we create a body of data and knowledge up to the task of reckoning with the global biodiversity crisis.

In habitats of the Greater Boston Area, EwA’s data-driven participatory science programs have begun to tell a rich story of this area’s natural history and the effects of land use and climate change on these ecosystems. EwA’s democratic approach has created a connected community around collecting essential data and closing the ecological knowledge gap that typifies most modern societies.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Valente Branch
826 Cambridge St
Cambridge MA
02141
START TIME
6:30 pm

END TIME
7:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Earthwise Aware (EwA) runs a nature conservation program that supports biodiversity and climate research while advancing the democratization of science.

EwA promotes a form of scientific contribution and experiential learning that is systems-based focusing on in situ species interactions. The program covers various habitats in the Greater Boston Area and fills essential data gaps, revealing a continuous natural history of these habitats.

Since 2018, EwA’s participatory scientists have collected more than 270,000 dedicated phenological observations and over 130,000 biodiversity records of a great variety of animal and plant species. The data is aggregated into open and global databases. To drive societal change, comprehensive annual reports tell a rich story of communities invested in understanding species diversity, their habitats, and the effects of land use and climate change.

The program empowers its participants and contributes critical information to local, national, and global projects. EwA’s model is successful because it deeply connects all involved by making nature science accessible while having a great community and scientific impact.

Find out more about Earthwise Aware.
Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
MIT Press Bookstore
MIT Press Bookstore
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Complete the scavenger hunt, available throughout CSF week at mitpressbookstore.mit.eduthen pick up your prize at the MIT Press Bookstore and enter a drawing for a chance to win a $50 bookstore gift card!

Scan this QR code to get started!

LOCATION
Kendall/MIT Open Space
292 Main Street
Cambridge
MA 02142
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

MIT Press Bookstore is the bookselling arm of the MIT Press, located in the lower level of 314 Main St. in Kendall Square.

Find out more about MIT Press Bookstore.
Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
Richard Binzel
Richard Binzel
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Be a planetary explorer! Take a self-guided tour of our Solar System from the Sun to Pluto, precisely scaled to the length of MIT’s Infinite Corridor, created by ​MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place every day, from Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1

LOCATION
MIT Building 7
3rd Floor
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA
02139
Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, 3 pm - 4:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Family Workshop: Biomaking Seaweed String
Family Workshop: Biomaking Seaweed String
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
3 pm
DESCRIPTION

Can biomaterials build a more sustainable future? Decide for yourself in this hands-on workshop as you create colorful string from seaweed-derived polymers. Work together with your family, experiment with different formulas and extrusion methods, and put your creative skills to the test!

Supported by the Biogen Foundation.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
3 pm

END TIME
4:30 pm
Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Fresh Pond Fungi Tour
Fresh Pond Fungi Tour
Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge Public Library
3:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

Join the local mycologist Lawrence Millman for an educational walking tour of Fresh Pond Reservation. Millman is the author of Fascinating Fungi of New England, the first guidebook dedicated to understanding New England mushrooms. Together we will learn about existing species, the history of different species, and their role in our ecosystem.

Registration is mandatory.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Collins Branch
64 Aberdeen Avenue
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
3:30 pm

END TIME
5:30 pm

This event is at reservation capacity, but there will be a number of tickets available in person. Arrive early to avoid missing out!

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

At the Cambridge Public Library, we welcome all, inspire minds and empower community. We support a Cambridge where everyone has equitable opportunities to learn, people live their best lives, and democracy thrives.

Find out more about Cambridge Public Library.
Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, 4 pm - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Pop! Astronomy: Explore The Science Behind Popular Brand Names
Pop! Astronomy: Explore The Science Behind Popular Brand Names
MIT Physics Department
MIT Physics Department
4 pm
DESCRIPTION

Have you ever eaten a Milky Way candy bar? Have you noticed how many everyday products are named after astronomy terms? Ever wonder about the science behind these popular consumer brand names?

For example, the candy bar “Milky Way” was named after our home galaxy — one of the many countless galaxies in the universe! POP! Astronomy is an educational video series and online science communications campaign featuring scientific presentations made by undergraduate students at MIT.

Join MIT Professor Anna Frebel for an interactive presentation or participate online by creating your own Pop! Astronomy graphic. Produced in collaboration with STEM on Stage.

www.popastronomy.com

LOCATION
MIT Kavli Institute (Marlar Lounge)
70 Vassar Street
Building 37-252
Cambridge MA
02139
START TIME
4 pm

END TIME
5 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Anna Frebel is a professor of physics at MIT. In collaboration with undergraduates in her class and STEM on Stage, they created Pop! Astronomy as an interactive media project exploring the use of astronomy terminology in consumer products (e.g. Starburst candy — What is a starburst?).

Find out more about MIT Physics Department.
Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, 5 pm - 7 pm
In the Neighborhood
Plant Propagation Party
Plant Propagation Party
Sasaki Foundation + Sasaki
Sasaki Foundation + Sasaki
5 pm
DESCRIPTION

Bring yourself, plant clippings (if you have them), and lots of excitement to the new home of Sasaki & the Sasaki Foundation in downtown Boston. Meet some new friends, learn about the science of propagation, have a drink, and celebrate Cambridge Science Festival. Never propagated plants before? No worries. Here is a useful guide for propagating common houseplants in water. Don’t have any houseplants? That’s okay, too! You can still participate, hang out, and go home with a new plant.

To ensure we have enough soil, planters, and snacks, please RSVP if you plan on attending.

LOCATION
Sasaki
110 Chauncy Street
Boston MA
02111
START TIME
5 pm

END TIME
7 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

We strive to bring equity to the design industry through sponsoring youth employment & engagement initiatives, funding community-led design initiatives, and hosting educational & discussion opportunities.

Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
A Fossil Fuel-Free Cambridge
A Fossil Fuel-Free Cambridge
Cambridge Community Development Department
Cambridge Community Development Department
6 pm
DESCRIPTION

Find out how the City of Cambridge is preparing to enter a new era of sustainable development! Come learn about our methods and strategies, and what our ambitious goal of fossil-fuel free construction means for our city’s residents.

LOCATION
The Cambridge Foundry
101 Rogers Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
6 pm

END TIME
7:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Community Development Department is the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. Our mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. Our Environmental and Transportation Planning division supports this mission by planning for sustainable energy in the city, climate resiliency, and sustainable transportation.

Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, 6:30 pm - 7 pm
In the Neighborhood
Evening Family Story Time – Stories About Scientists
Evening Family Story Time – Stories About Scientists
Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge Public Library
6:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

We invite children and their caregivers to join us for a special evening story time event: learning fun things about the lives of famous scientists like Jane Goodall and George Washington Carver. This program will be held indoors at the O’Connell Branch Library and will run 20-25 minutes. Please call 617-349-4019 for more information.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, O'Connell Branch
48 Sixth Street
Cambridge MA
02141
START TIME
6:30 pm

END TIME
7 pm
Find out more about Cambridge Public Library.
Wednesday
Sep 27
Sep 27, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Are you smarter than an MIT graduate student? Trivia Night
Are you smarter than an MIT graduate student? Trivia Night
MIT Graduate Womxn in Biology
MIT Graduate Womxn in Biology
7:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

Test your knowledge of the life sciences and the scientists behind these discoveries at a Trivia Night hosted by the MIT Graduate Womxn in Biology. There will be prizes for the winners!

Please note that Lamplighter’s taproom is 21+ after 5 pm and all guests must show a valid, government-issued photo ID. All space is first come first serve – make sure you reserve a spot for your team and come early to get a good seat.

LOCATION
Lamplighter Brewery
284 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02139
START TIME
7:30 pm

END TIME
9:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

MIT Graduate Womxn in Biology is a student group at MIT for women and women-identifying graduate students in the biology department to build community, engage in outreach efforts, and advance our professional development.

Find out more about MIT Graduate Womxn in Biology.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
MIT Press Bookstore
MIT Press Bookstore
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Complete the scavenger hunt, available throughout CSF week at mitpressbookstore.mit.eduthen pick up your prize at the MIT Press Bookstore and enter a drawing for a chance to win a $50 bookstore gift card!

Scan this QR code to get started!

LOCATION
Kendall/MIT Open Space
292 Main Street
Cambridge
MA 02142
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

MIT Press Bookstore is the bookselling arm of the MIT Press, located in the lower level of 314 Main St. in Kendall Square.

Find out more about MIT Press Bookstore.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
Richard Binzel
Richard Binzel
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Be a planetary explorer! Take a self-guided tour of our Solar System from the Sun to Pluto, precisely scaled to the length of MIT’s Infinite Corridor, created by ​MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place every day, from Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1

LOCATION
MIT Building 7
3rd Floor
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA
02139
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 10 am - 11:30 am
In the Neighborhood
Fresh Pond Nature Walk
Fresh Pond Nature Walk
Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge Public Library
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Join us for a relaxing walk of Fresh Pond with Park Ranger Tim Puopolo! No two weeks are the same in nature, and Tim will share his insights about what’s growing, changing, and blooming in the neighborhood.

We will meet in the courtyard of the Collins Branch Library (64 Aberdeen Ave.) and leave together towards the pond. Registration is required. To register, call 617-349-4021.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Collins Branch
64 Aberdeen Ave
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
11:30 am
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

At the Cambridge Public Library, we welcome all, inspire minds and empower community. We support a Cambridge where everyone has equitable opportunities to learn, people live their best lives, and democracy thrives.

Find out more about Cambridge Public Library.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 10 am - 3 pm
Health Equity,In the Neighborhood
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Step into the world of cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation at the Broad Discovery Center, right in the heart of Kendall Square! Explore engaging exhibits, learn about the mysteries of human diseases, and witness first-hand how scientists from around the globe are joining forces to tackle psychiatric conditions, cancer, infectious diseases, and more. Admission is free and no registration is required.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Special health equity-themed guided tours
Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience with guided tours led by knowledgeable museum staff and actual Broad scientists! These tours will focus on the efforts to improve equity in biomedical research that are showcased in the Broad Discovery Center. Join a tour at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm to delve deeper into the exhibits, gain insider insights, and get answers to your burning questions from the experts themselves. Tours are free and no registration is required.

For further information please email discoverycenter@broadinstitute.org

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 10am
Tuesday September 26, 10am
Wednesday September 27, 10am
Thursday September 28, 10am
Friday September 29, 10am

LOCATION
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Merkin Building Lobby
415 Main Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
3 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Broad Discovery Center is a free, public science museum that launched last Fall. The exhibits at Broad Discovery Center focus on human health, and showcase how scientists here in Cambridge, the Greater Boston area and beyond are working tirelessly to understand and treat the diseases that affect us all.

From uncovering the causes of mental health conditions and cancer to developing new treatments for infectious diseases, researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and their partner institutions are breaking new ground in the fight against human disease. Explore the exhibits at the museum to learn more.

Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 1 pm - 2 pm
In the Neighborhood
Introduction to Offshore Wind
Introduction to Offshore Wind
LAUTEC
LAUTEC
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

This is a quick introduction to offshore wind covering the fundamentals of wind energy, main components of the offshore wind farm, how it works, and an overview of the US offshore wind development.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Limited capacity. Reserve your ticket now to avoid disappointment.

LOCATION
Singapore Room
11th floor
1 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
2 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

LAUTEC prides itself on its diverse background and profound passion for renewable energy; enabling public and private sectors to develop, execute, and operate wind power projects.

Find out more about LAUTEC.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 2 pm - 3 pm
In the Neighborhood
Charles River Conservancy Floating Wetland Design Session
Charles River Conservancy Floating Wetland Design Session
Charles River Conservancy
Charles River Conservancy
2 pm
DESCRIPTION

The Charles River Floating Wetland was installed in 2020 to enable important research on artificial wetland technology. The pilot project met both climate resilience goals and created connections to the Charles River. Learn about the success of this pilot from the Charles River Conservancy and help design a look into the future by creating a vision for additional wetlands in the Charles.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
2 pm

END TIME
3 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Charles River Conservancy (CRC) strives to make the Charles River and its parks a well-maintained network of natural urban places that invite and engage all in their use and stewardship. The CRC engages in ecological initiatives that support the river’s health, provides educational programs for communities to increase their understanding and knowledge of the river’s ecosystem, and creates recreational opportunities to support fun and emotional connections to the Charles.

The Charles River Floating Wetland initiative embodies the CRC’s mission, boldly exploring an ecological intervention to reduce harmful algal blooms in the Charles, which threaten the river’s health and limit the feasibility of swimming. Reducing nutrient pollution from reaching the river remains a vital method for preventing blooms, but this approach depends on increasingly complex upland solutions. In-stream interventions like floating wetlands offer a complementary strategy that can absorb and remove nutrients from the water, increase biodiversity, support local ecological changes, and provide other co-benefits, like additional green space. The floating wetland is located in the Charles River along Cambridge Parkway, just downriver of the Longfellow Bridge near the mouth of the Broad Canal.

Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Make your own Automata
Make your own Automata
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
2:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

Explore and experiment with mechanical motion as you create your own moving art. Along the way, discover how simple mechanisms like cams, linkages, and levers work to generate different types of movement.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 2.30pm
Thursday September 28, 2.30pm
Friday September 29, 2.30pm
Saturday September 30, 10am
Sunday October 1, 2.30pm

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
2:30 pm

END TIME
4:30 pm
Find out more about MIT Museum.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 3:30 pm - 4 pm
In the Neighborhood
Preschool Science Story Time
Preschool Science Story Time
Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge Public Library
3:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

We invite children and their grown-ups to join us for 20-25 minutes of stories and songs about science, with a craft to take and make at home, while supplies last.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, O'Connell Branch
48 Sixth Street
Cambridge MA
02141
START TIME
3:30 pm

END TIME
4 pm
Find out more about Cambridge Public Library.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 4 pm - 8 pm
In the Neighborhood
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
4 pm
DESCRIPTION

The Harvard Plate Stacks is presenting a special exhibition, Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard, in the rotunda and dome of the Great Refractor at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Free and open to the public, the exhibition celebrates the legacy of the Women Astronomical Computers and will illuminate to audiences the various disciplines and fields of study that have been inspired by these women and the astronomical photographs that they studied.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:

Thursday September 28, 4pm
Friday September 29, 1pm
Saturday September 30, 1pm
Sunday October 1, 1pm

LOCATION
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
60 Garden Street
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
4 pm

END TIME
8 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Harvard College Observatory’s Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics is the largest collection of astronomical glass plate negatives where many pioneering women broke barriers in Astronomy, Science, and at Harvard. We are charged with preserving the objects in the collection and elevating the individual and collective legacies of over 146 women who worked here from 1870-1960.

Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 4 pm - 6 pm
In the Neighborhood
Transforming AI with iFp Emerging Innovators: Equity, Justice and You
Transforming AI with iFp Emerging Innovators: Equity, Justice and You
Innovators for Purpose
Innovators for Purpose
4 pm
DESCRIPTION

Get ready to be part of an exclusive behind-the-scenes reveal of iFp Emerging Innovators’ latest project: “Transforming AI: Equity, Justice, and You.”

Our Innovators, all aged 14 and up, are excited about the potential of AI tools. However, they are also deeply concerned about the rising mistakes and harms that come with the technology. Join us for a special open house event where you’ll get an insider’s look into our early research.

Your feedback will play a pivotal role in shaping the final version of “Transforming AI” which will run throughout the school year for students in grades 7-12.

We’re wrapping up the event with a fireside chat, moderated by iFp Innovators themselves. If you’re passionate about making AI more equitable and just for all, we can’t wait to welcome you!

This program is appropriate for adults and teens.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
4 pm

END TIME
6 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Innovators for Purpose (iFp) is a BIPOC-led non-profit design and innovation studio in Cambridge, MA that empowers young people, especially those from historically marginalized groups, to become innovators who create a positive impact in the world, changing their communities and their own lives for the better.

Find out more about Innovators for Purpose.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 5 pm - 9 pm
In the Neighborhood
ArtsThursdays at the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
ArtsThursdays at the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
5 pm
DESCRIPTION

Join us for a free arts + science night at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology! This month we are partnering with Harvard’s Brain Science Initiative to explore our senses—from understanding our ability to perceive and process visual, smell, touch, sound, and taste stimuli to exploring how our brain “knows” when we feel hungry, thirsty, or excited. How does it all work? Meet Harvard scientists and students who are figuring it all out!

Come with a date, come with friends, or make new friends while learning about the brain and strolling through the galleries. Participate in activities, enter raffles to win museum gifts and memberships.

Handcrafted cocktails and mocktails by CraftHouse Bartending will be available for purchase. Valid government ID is required to consume alcoholic beverages.

Free and open to the public. Visit the event website for details.

Photo Courtesy of the Harvard Brain Science Initiative.

ArtsThursdays is a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts (HUCA).

LOCATION
Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford Street
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
5 pm

END TIME
9 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture (HMSC) is a partnership of four Harvard museums designed to coordinate captivating programming, permanent galleries, and dynamic rotating exhibits for everyone! HMSC invites you to connect with Harvard University’s distinctive collections and vital research on human civilizations, biodiversity, and the history of Earth and science.

Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 6 pm - 8 pm
In the Neighborhood
Discovery After Dark
Discovery After Dark
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
6 pm
DESCRIPTION

Get ready for a night of discovery, celebration, and scientific wonders at the inaugural ‘Discovery After Dark’ event, hosted by the Broad Discovery Center! Embrace the night with an atmosphere of excitement and curiosity as you explore the museum’s galleries and engage with interactive displays that spark the imagination. You’ll have the opportunity to network with museum staff and Broad scientists, who are eager to share insights and stories about the museum’s journey and the work in their labs.

Enjoy music by DJ Backspin, science-themed mocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cotton candy dessert cart, and a fun photo booth.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.

Further information at broad.io/AfterDark

LOCATION
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Merkin Building Lobby
415 Main Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
6 pm

END TIME
8 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Broad Discovery Center is a free, public science museum located in Cambridge, MA. The exhibits at Broad Discovery Center focus on human health, and showcase how scientists here in the Greater Boston area/Cambridge and beyond are working tirelessly to understand and treat the diseases that affect us all.
From uncovering the causes of mental health conditions and cancer to developing new treatments for infectious diseases, researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and their partner institutions are breaking new ground in the fight against human disease.

Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Cyberfeminism Index: Performative Book Reading and Discussion
Cyberfeminism Index: Performative Book Reading and Discussion
MIT List Visual Arts Center
MIT List Visual Arts Center
6 pm
DESCRIPTION

MIT List Visual Arts Center will host the book launch for designer and editor Mindy Seu’s Cyberfeminism Index. The event will feature a performative reading by Seu and conversation with Kendra Albert.

In Cyberfeminism Index, hackers, scholars, artists, and activists of all regions, races and sexual orientations consider how humans might reconstruct themselves by way of technology. When learning about internet history, we are taught to focus on engineering, the military-industrial complex, and the grandfathers who created the architecture and protocol, but the internet is not only a network of cables, servers, and computers. It is an environment that shapes and is shaped by its inhabitants and their use.

Edited by designer, professor, and researcher Mindy Seu, it includes more than 700 short entries of radical techno-critical activism in a variety of media, including excerpts from academic articles and scholarly texts; descriptions of hackerspaces, digital rights activist groups, and bio-hacktivism; and depictions of feminist net art and new media art. Both a vital introduction for laypeople and a robust resource guide for educators, Cyberfeminism Index—an anti-canon, of sorts—celebrates the multiplicity of practices that fall under this imperfect categorization and makes visible cyberfeminism’s long-ignored origins and its expansive legacy.

LOCATION
MIT List Visual Arts Center, Bartos Theatre
20 Ames Street
Building E15
Cambridge MA
02139
START TIME
6 pm

END TIME
7:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The List Visual Arts Center is a creative laboratory that provides artists with a space to freely experiment and push existing boundaries.

As the contemporary art museum at MIT, the List Center has three gallery spaces where curators present a dynamic program of six to nine contemporary exhibitions annually.

Find out more about MIT List Visual Arts Center.
Thursday
Sep 28
Sep 28, 8 pm - 8:45 pm
In the Neighborhood
Guided Tour of NeuraFutures Installation
Guided Tour of NeuraFutures Installation
MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
8 pm
DESCRIPTION

Explore the NeuraFutures installation at Cambridge Public Library with a captivating 30-minute tour, offering a glimpse into the future of brain-computer interfacing.

Building on Braini‘s 15 years of experience in designing and creating the most cutting edge interaction – fusion between the brain and computer – this guided installation tour will touch upon the following questions: is it possible to implant memories? Read your dreams while you sleep? Communicate a thought between two different people on different continents?

FURTHER INFORMATION

To learn more about this technology and how it is used, please visit braini.io and neurafutures.com.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge
MA
START TIME
8 pm

END TIME
8:45 pm
Find out more about MIT Media Lab.
Friday
Sep 29
Sep 29, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
MIT Press Bookstore
MIT Press Bookstore
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Complete the scavenger hunt, available throughout CSF week at mitpressbookstore.mit.eduthen pick up your prize at the MIT Press Bookstore and enter a drawing for a chance to win a $50 bookstore gift card!

Scan this QR code to get started!

LOCATION
Kendall/MIT Open Space
292 Main Street
Cambridge
MA 02142
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

MIT Press Bookstore is the bookselling arm of the MIT Press, located in the lower level of 314 Main St. in Kendall Square.

Find out more about MIT Press Bookstore.
Friday
Sep 29
Sep 29, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
Richard Binzel
Richard Binzel
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Be a planetary explorer! Take a self-guided tour of our Solar System from the Sun to Pluto, precisely scaled to the length of MIT’s Infinite Corridor, created by ​MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place every day, from Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1

LOCATION
MIT Building 7
3rd Floor
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA
02139
Friday
Sep 29
Sep 29, 10 am - 3 pm
In the Neighborhood
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Tour of the Broad Discovery Center
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Broad Discovery Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Step into the world of cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation at the Broad Discovery Center, right in the heart of Kendall Square! Explore engaging exhibits, learn about the mysteries of human diseases, and witness first-hand how scientists from around the globe are joining forces to tackle psychiatric conditions, cancer, infectious diseases, and more. Admission is free and no registration is required.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Guided tours
Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience with guided tours led by knowledgeable museum staff and actual Broad scientists! Join a tour at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm to delve deeper into the exhibits, gain insider insights, and get answers to your burning questions from the experts themselves. Tours are free and no registration is required.

For further information please email discoverycenter@broadinstitute.org

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 10am
Tuesday September 26, 10am
Wednesday September 27, 10am
Thursday September 28, 10am
Friday September 29, 10am

LOCATION
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Merkin Building Lobby
415 Main Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
3 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Broad Discovery Center is a free, public science museum that launched last Fall. The exhibits at Broad Discovery Center focus on human health, and showcase how scientists here in Cambridge, the Greater Boston area and beyond are working tirelessly to understand and treat the diseases that affect us all.

From uncovering the causes of mental health conditions and cancer to developing new treatments for infectious diseases, researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and their partner institutions are breaking new ground in the fight against human disease. Explore the exhibits at the museum to learn more.

Friday
Sep 29
Sep 29, 1 pm - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

The Harvard Plate Stacks is presenting a special exhibition, Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard, in the rotunda and dome of the Great Refractor at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Free and open to the public, the exhibition celebrates the legacy of the Women Astronomical Computers and will illuminate to audiences the various disciplines and fields of study that have been inspired by these women and the astronomical photographs that they studied.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:

Thursday September 28, 4pm
Friday September 29, 1pm
Saturday September 30, 1pm
Sunday October 1, 1pm

LOCATION
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
60 Garden Street
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
5 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Harvard College Observatory’s Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics is the largest collection of astronomical glass plate negatives where many pioneering women broke barriers in Astronomy, Science, and at Harvard. We are charged with preserving the objects in the collection and elevating the individual and collective legacies of over 146 women who worked here from 1870-1960.

Friday
Sep 29
Sep 29, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Make your own Automata
Make your own Automata
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
2:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

Explore and experiment with mechanical motion as you create your own moving art. Along the way, discover how simple mechanisms like cams, linkages, and levers work to generate different types of movement.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 2.30pm
Thursday September 28, 2.30pm
Friday September 29, 2.30pm
Saturday September 30, 10am
Sunday October 1, 2.30pm

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
2:30 pm

END TIME
4:30 pm
Find out more about MIT Museum.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
The Curie Society Science Sleuth Scavenger Hunt
MIT Press Bookstore
MIT Press Bookstore
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Complete the scavenger hunt, available throughout CSF week at mitpressbookstore.mit.eduthen pick up your prize at the MIT Press Bookstore and enter a drawing for a chance to win a $50 bookstore gift card!

Scan this QR code to get started!

LOCATION
Kendall/MIT Open Space
292 Main Street
Cambridge
MA 02142
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

MIT Press Bookstore is the bookselling arm of the MIT Press, located in the lower level of 314 Main St. in Kendall Square.

Find out more about MIT Press Bookstore.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 9 am - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Guided Tour of NeuraFutures Installation
Guided Tour of NeuraFutures Installation
MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
9 am
DESCRIPTION

Explore the NeuraFutures installation at Cambridge Public Library with a captivating 30-minute tour, offering a glimpse into the future of brain-computer interfacing.

Building on Braini‘s 15 years of experience in designing and creating the most cutting edge interaction – fusion between the brain and computer – this guided installation tour will touch upon the following questions: is it possible to implant memories? Read your dreams while you sleep? Communicate a thought between two different people on different continents?

FURTHER INFORMATION

To learn more about this technology and how it is used, please visit braini.io and neurafutures.com.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge
MA
START TIME
9 am

END TIME
5 pm
Find out more about MIT Media Lab.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab Experience
Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab Experience
Thorlabs
Thorlabs
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

The Thorlabs mobile photonics lab brings the science of light to you. We will demonstrate measuring light at different colors to identify materials (spectroscopy), image inside the body with light (biomedical optics), transfer electrical signals through the air with laser beams (optical communications), and show what the inside of optical fiber looks like and how it works. Come inside to be introduced to the world of photonics!

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge
MA 02138
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Thorlabs researches, designs, and manufactures equipment and components to service the photonics industry. We have also created a new education division that is focused solely on leveraging our collective expertise to expand our educational offering for students around the world.

Find out more about Thorlabs.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
Richard Binzel
Richard Binzel
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Be a planetary explorer! Take a self-guided tour of our Solar System from the Sun to Pluto, precisely scaled to the length of MIT’s Infinite Corridor, created by ​MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place every day, from Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1

LOCATION
MIT Building 7
3rd Floor
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA
02139
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 9 am - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Control a Robot Using Your Brain!
Control a Robot Using Your Brain!
MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
9 am
DESCRIPTION

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) allow interactions with a computer system by means of one’s brain activity. The most common type of BCIs measure the electrical activity of the brain through non-invasive electrodes. To build a BCI, a person is instructed to perform one or more mental actions (e.g. imagine you are moving your hand), after which an alogrith is trained to recognize the activity and then a computer system ties an assocaited physical action with a mental one. This system can be a wheelchair, a microwave or …a robot! Come and try it out!

FURTHER INFORMATION

To learn more about Braini technology and how it is used, please visit braini.io and neurafutures.com.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge
MA
START TIME
9 am

END TIME
5 pm
Find out more about MIT Media Lab.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 10 am - 12 pm
In the Neighborhood
Make your own Automata
Make your own Automata
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Explore and experiment with mechanical motion as you create your own moving art. Along the way, discover how simple mechanisms like cams, linkages, and levers work to generate different types of movement.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 2.30pm
Thursday September 28, 2.30pm
Friday September 29, 2.30pm
Saturday September 30, 10am
Sunday October 1, 2.30pm

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
12 pm
Find out more about MIT Museum.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 10:30 am - 12 pm
In the Neighborhood
OctoStudio Play Time
OctoStudio Play Time
MIT Media Lab Lifelong Kindergarten Group and Public Library Innovation Exchange
MIT Media Lab Lifelong Kindergarten Group and Public Library Innovation Exchange
10:30 am
DESCRIPTION

Come try out a new family-centric creative play and coding app on the phone, brought to you by the developers of Scratch.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
10:30 am

END TIME
12 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Creative STEM Learning in Public Libraries

Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 10 am - 12 pm
In the Neighborhood
Deep Time Walk
Deep Time Walk
Nancy Lowe
Nancy Lowe
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Weather permitting, we will meet outside the front of the Museum of Science and walk approximately 4.6km, learning 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history along the way. This is a nearly three-mile walk along Cambridge Street to Cambridge Common. Wear comfortable shoes and prepare to be outdoors for a few hours.

Event organizer Nancy Lowe is an artist interested in the rich ecotone — the boundary territory — between art and science. She makes art with science themes, teaches art-science workshops, curates art-science exhibits and performances, guides art-science residency programs, and leads citizen science projects and other activities for creative science engagement. She worked for over a decade as a technician in labs focusing on pollination biology, insect-plant interactions, and large-scale ecology.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 4-6pm
Saturday September 30, 10am-noon
Sunday October 1, 10am-noon

LOCATION
Outside of Front Entrance
Museum of Science
1 Science Park
Boston MA
02114
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
12 pm

This event is at reservation capacity, but there may be a number of tickets available in person. Arrive early to avoid missing out!

Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 11 am - 2 pm
Fashion,In the Neighborhood
Fixit Clinic @ The Foundry
Fixit Clinic @ The Foundry
The Foundry Consortium, The Cambridge Department of Public Works, and Fixit Clinic
The Foundry Consortium, The Cambridge Department of Public Works, and Fixit Clinic
11 am
DESCRIPTION

Learn to mend your clothing and fix broken electronics, appliances, computers, toys, sewing machines, bicycles, etc. at the Fixit Clinic. Fixit Coaches will share their time, tools and expertise to consult with you on the disassembly, troubleshooting, and repair of your item. Gain the confidence and knowledge to make repairs and teach others to do the same. This event takes place at The Foundry, located at 101 Rogers St, Cambridge.

Open to all ages, registration is required.

This event is brought to you by The Foundry, The Cambridge Department of Public Works, and Fixit Clinic.

LOCATION
The Cambridge Foundry
101 Rogers Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
11 am

END TIME
2 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Creative arts, STEAM, and sustainable practices.

Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 11 am - 1 pm
In the Neighborhood
BOSLab’s Mushroom Foray
BOSLab’s Mushroom Foray
Boston Open Science Laboratory (BOSLab)
Boston Open Science Laboratory (BOSLab)
11 am
DESCRIPTION

Whether you are a seasoned forager or a curious nature lover, this Mushroom Foray is an event not to be missed. Explore the fascinating world of fungi while we traverse the Middlesex Fells Reservation collecting mushrooms. Then, we will regroup to immerse ourselves in the art of mushroom identification.

Food and refreshments will be served.

LOCATION
Middlesex Fells Reservation
4 Woodland Road
Stoneham MA
02180
START TIME
11 am

END TIME
1 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

BOSLab is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to make science accessible to everyone in the community. We support science exploration and discovery in an innovative, fun and inclusive environment.

Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 11 am - 12 pm
In the Neighborhood
LEAP Lab: Isabel and the Invisible World
LEAP Lab: Isabel and the Invisible World
MIT Open Space Programming
MIT Open Space Programming
11 am
DESCRIPTION

Join us to celebrate Isabel and the Invisible World, the second book from renowned physicist and New York Times best selling author Alan Lightman, with colorful, hands-on activities and a reading of the book. This event is presented in collaboration with MIT Kids Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press, the MIT Press Bookstore.

Young readers rejoice! Free copies of Isabel and the Invisible World will be distributed at the event, while supplies last. Please choose “Free Ticket + Book” to reserve your copy, limited to one per household.

All ages are welcome but activities are geared towards ages 3-10. All minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Responsible adults, please keep a close eye on your kids.

LOCATION
Kendall/MIT Open Space
292 Main Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
11 am

END TIME
12 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

We offer free public programs designed to engage the MIT, Cambridge, and Kendall Square communities. Warm, quirky, and playful, these programs create connections and energize the space in creative and enduring ways.

Find out more about MIT Open Space Programming.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 12 pm - 4 pm
In the Neighborhood
Cambridge Explores the Universe
Cambridge Explores the Universe
Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
12 pm
DESCRIPTION

Become an astronomer for a day! Come visit us on Observatory Hill, and see what the Center for Astrophysics has been up to. Enjoy exploration stations that include hands-on activities, telescope tours, and solar observing. There’s even an opportunity to ask our scientists all of your burning space questions at our “Ask an Astronomer” tables.

Find out the latest discoveries about the sun, exoplanets, and black holes and take your own telescope images using our robotic telescopes, or go on a virtual tour of space using the World Wide Telescope visualization lab- It’s out of this world!

LOCATION
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
60 Garden Street
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
12 pm

END TIME
4 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between Harvard and Smithsonian designed to ask — and ultimately answer — humanity’s greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe.

Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 12 pm - 1:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
The Conductor’s Jacket
The Conductor’s Jacket
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
12 pm
DESCRIPTION

A conductor’s jacket able to measure the physiology and movements of musicians was created by Teresa Nakra during her doctoral research at the MIT Media Lab with Professors Tod Machover and Rosalind Picard. Conductor Keith Lockhart wore the jacket during Tech Night at the Boston Pops in 1998, with animated sensor data projected above the orchestra. It is now part of the Museum’s collection.

In this presentation, explore the ideas embedded in the jacket design and watch a demonstration of the signals generated by a professional classical musician.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
12 pm

END TIME
1:30 pm
Find out more about MIT Museum.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 12 pm - 1 pm
In the Neighborhood
Bridging cultural Identity and Research Passion: Exploring Microplastics in India
Bridging cultural Identity and Research Passion: Exploring Microplastics in India
Nikhita Varma
Nikhita Varma
12 pm
DESCRIPTION

Some people might think of scientific research to be something only related to textbook facts. While that is true to some extent, the great passion that you bring to the research can be even more powerful. My research in India about microplastics helped me bridge the gap between my research and cultural background. Through cultural identity or even interactions in daily life, scientific research can be something that brings out your true identity and passion.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
12 pm

END TIME
1 pm
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 12 pm - 4:45 pm
In the Neighborhood
Light Painting Photo Booth
Light Painting Photo Booth
Jess Holz
Jess Holz
12 pm
DESCRIPTION

In this interactive art project, participants create light paintings, viewable in real time, using a variety of light sources such as fiber optics and smart LEDs. At the end, a flash is triggered, illuminating participants in their painting.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Once you’ve visited the Light Painting Photo Booth, you can view the photos on Instagram or, for those without Instagram, here.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
12 pm

END TIME
4:45 pm
Find out more about Jess Holz .
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 1 pm - 6 pm
In the Neighborhood
The Science of the Charles River (a kayaking experience)
The Science of the Charles River (a kayaking experience)
Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

Discover the history of the Charles River from the cockpit of a kayak and learn how to get involved with local restoration efforts. Observe wildlife living along the riverbank and explore your city with a new perspective. No paddling experience required.

Three tours available:

    • 1pm-2:30pm
    • 2:45pm-4:15pm
    • 4:30pm-6:00pm

Registration required. Participants will receive additional information including waivers that will need to be filled out electronically prior to the program.

Program meets at the Cartop Launch at Magazine Beach Park.

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Parking is available but please avoid driving if possible.

LOCATION
Magazine Beach Park
668 Memorial Drive
Cambridge MA
02139
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
6 pm
Find out more about Mass Audubon.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 1 pm - 4:45 pm
In the Neighborhood
Where Will it Go? Movement of Pollutants in the Atmosphere and Ocean with Glenn R. Flierl
Where Will it Go? Movement of Pollutants in the Atmosphere and Ocean with Glenn R. Flierl
Glenn Flierl
Glenn Flierl
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

Did you know that pollutants move across the globe in complex and even chaotic patterns? Utilizing a large-scale interactive globe, join MIT Professor Glenn Flierl to explore how the jet stream and the weather systems affect these movements in both ocean and the atmosphere.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
4:45 pm
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 1 pm - 2 pm
In the Neighborhood
Mind Tricks: The Magic of Neuroscience
Mind Tricks: The Magic of Neuroscience
Mind Tricks
Mind Tricks
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

Are you interested in neuroscience, or want to learn more about how your brain operates? Do you want to pursue a career in STEM, or neurology? Do you enjoy watching magic tricks? If so, join Sabrina Welch in the magic of neuroscience as she shares the fascinating world of the brain using magic tricks to illustrate neuroscience concepts! This program is great for kids, students, and families to come and watch an exciting magic show, and to learn about the brain in a fun, memorable, and engaging way! So bring your friends and family members, and come to immerse yourself in the magic of neuroscience!

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
2 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Mind Tricks: The Magic of Neuroscience is a youth initiative that focuses on providing opportunities for children to engage in neuroscience. Our aim is to break through the barriers of the lack of accessibility youth have to neuroscience resources by providing an opportunity for children to immerse themselves in neurology in a fun and engaging way. We believe that children can learn about the wonders of the brain and how it works in a way that is both educational and entertaining. Our team is dedicated to providing quality resources and support to help children grow their understanding of neuroscience.

Find out more about Mind Tricks.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 1 pm - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

The Harvard Plate Stacks is presenting a special exhibition, Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard, in the rotunda and dome of the Great Refractor at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Free and open to the public, the exhibition celebrates the legacy of the Women Astronomical Computers and will illuminate to audiences the various disciplines and fields of study that have been inspired by these women and the astronomical photographs that they studied.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:

Thursday September 28, 4pm
Friday September 29, 1pm
Saturday September 30, 1pm
Sunday October 1, 1pm

LOCATION
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
60 Garden Street
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
5 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Harvard College Observatory’s Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics is the largest collection of astronomical glass plate negatives where many pioneering women broke barriers in Astronomy, Science, and at Harvard. We are charged with preserving the objects in the collection and elevating the individual and collective legacies of over 146 women who worked here from 1870-1960.

Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Fueling Forest Fires: From a Woman in Wildfire
Fueling Forest Fires: From a Woman in Wildfire
Eco Circle International
Eco Circle International
1:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

With climate change increasing wildfire frequency and our wildland-urban interface (WUI) expanding, wildfire fuel management is more important than ever. Learn about the science and reality of wildfires and fuel reduction methods from Georgia Scarr – a young wildland firefighter, environmental non-profit co-founder, and wildfire researcher at the Stanford Bill Lane Center for the American West. This workshop includes hands-on demonstrations modeling wildfire behavior, first-hand accounts of fuel reduction case studies, and a chainsaw maintenance lesson.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
1:30 pm

END TIME
2:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

A youth-led non-profit bridging the gap between intersectional environmental education and sustainable action, through international fellowships and educational platforms.

Find out more about Eco Circle International.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 2 pm - 3:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Ice Cream Science is -321 degrees COOL!
Ice Cream Science is -321 degrees COOL!
Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream
Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream
2 pm
DESCRIPTION

Interactive experiments showing States of Matter, Ideal Gas Law, Density, Pressure, Wavelength then the final experiment, making ice cream with liquid nitrogen right before your eyes!

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
2 pm

END TIME
3:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

We are a nitrogen ice cream shop at 808 Memorial Dr., Cambridge who also does STEM enrichment programs for groups, schools, Scouts, etc.

Find out more about Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 2 pm - 4:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Hands-on entomology with Professor Bugman
Hands-on entomology with Professor Bugman
Professor Bugman Entomology Adventures
Professor Bugman Entomology Adventures
2 pm
DESCRIPTION

How do you inspire a new generation of entomologists and scientists? With hands-on fun, of course! Stop by and see some of the amazing arthropods featured in educational kids’ enrichment programs from Professor Bugman Entomology Adventures!

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, O'Neill Branch
70 Rindge Avenue
Cambridge MA
02140
START TIME
2 pm

END TIME
4:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Hands-on entomology enrichment events for kids

Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 2 pm - 4 pm
In the Neighborhood
Science educators meetup with equipment
Science educators meetup with equipment
EnergyTeachers.org Inc
EnergyTeachers.org Inc
2 pm
DESCRIPTION

Science educators of all levels, bring a portable demo or instrument to share how your students are learning about science phenomena. Tabletop wind turbines, cell-phone-based electrophoresis kit, fossil collections, chaotic pendulums, your best paper airplane design, home titration kit, whatevs. EnergyTeachers.org will bring doppler radar, a handheld oscilloscope, a solar cooker, and more from our lending library for teachers.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Valente Branch
826 Cambridge Street
Cambridge MA
02141
START TIME
2 pm

END TIME
4 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

We provide networking and resources to teachers interested in energy and electronics. We have a tiny lab/library in Huron Village, and we lend equipment and books to teachers. We collaborate with other science education organizations.

Find out more about EnergyTeachers.org Inc.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 3 pm - 4 pm
In the Neighborhood
Protecting Yourself Online – A Quick and Simple Guide to Information Security
Protecting Yourself Online – A Quick and Simple Guide to Information Security
Joseph Guarino
Joseph Guarino
3 pm
DESCRIPTION

The digital world is full of promise but it also holds risks untold for the every day computer user. Malware, ransomware and surveillance lurk in every corner of the Internet. Data breaches and financial fraud are now an unfortunate daily occurrence. We will explore the risks of the digital realm from apps, to social media, email and then-some. Learn real world tools and techniques to minimize your risks, protect your privacy/identity and shield your financial health – all while getting the most out of your digital tools. We will explore the risks to you as a computer user from your desktop to the ever-expanding world of smart phones, tablets, and the world of cloud computing. The digital realm can be a dangerous place; this presentation will give you the practical knowledge to protect yourself.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
3 pm

END TIME
4 pm
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 3 pm - 5:15 pm
In the Neighborhood
CUA Kids Day
CUA Kids Day
Center for Ultracold Atoms
Center for Ultracold Atoms
3 pm
DESCRIPTION

The CUA will present several hands-on demonstrations for kids and families. The event will kick off with an introduction by MIT Professor Martin Zwierlein on the nature of cold. Kids can then explore a tornado machine, a demonstration of an ion trap, a station to make your own holograms, and a liquid nitrogen demo by CUA researchers.

LOCATION
MIT Room 26-214
60 Vassar Street
Room 26-214 (walk down the driveway next to the Stata Center to access)
Cambridge MA
02139
START TIME
3 pm

END TIME
5:15 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

CUA research focuses on research at the frontiers of ultracold science including the nature of high-temperature superconductors, the origin of quantum magnetism, and the nature of entanglement and correlations in few-particles systems.

Find out more about Center for Ultracold Atoms.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Youth Involvement in Energy
Youth Involvement in Energy
Energy Terminal
Energy Terminal
3:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

There are many misconceptions about the energy industry. Many believe it to be slow moving and dominated by old, white men. However, this isn’t true. There are opportunities for young people of all backgrounds and interests, from policy to tech, to get involved in the clean energy transition. This event is all about educating young people on energy and how they can connect their passions to the topic. Energy doesn’t just come from a hole in the wall, there is a world of innovation and exciting opportunities to get involved with!

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
3:30 pm

END TIME
4:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Energy Terminal is a community and media platform with the mission to build the next generation of leaders and to bridge the gap between youth and the energy industry. We provide content, community, and career opportunities to break down barriers to energy careers.

Find out more about Energy Terminal.
Saturday
Sep 30
Sep 30, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
‘The Artist & the Astronaut’ Film Screening
‘The Artist & the Astronaut’ Film Screening
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
6 pm
DESCRIPTION

The museum is proud to present selections from the acclaimed Woods Hole Film Festival, a showcase of independent film and the oldest independent film festival on Cape Cod and the Islands.

The Artist & the Astronaut tells the unlikely love story between the artist Pat Musick, a civil rights activist, and the Apollo astronaut Jerry Carr as they participate in some of the most historic events in human history. The film is filled with never-before-seen footage of the early space pioneers and features interviews with key figures from that era. It chronicles Pat’s and Jerry’s vastly different paths as they traverse uncertain times, eventually coming together to render some of America’s most enduring art. The Artist & the Astronaut is an uplifting love story proving that curiosity, perseverance, and empathy for others can be powerful agents of change.

The story of the making of this documentary is as unlikely as the story depicted in the film. Bill Muench, a full-time teacher, and basketball coach, at the urging of his wife, decides to make a documentary on a local Vermont couple. He embarked on this journey with no plan or budget. In the next six years, he traveled to nine states and two continents to interview numerous Apollo Astronauts, their wives, award-winning authors, artists, art historians, and even NASA directors of mission control. Eventually teaming with music legend Todd Hobin, they produce a story that otherwise would have never been told.

A Q & A with filmmaker Bill Muench and composer Todd Hobin will follow the screening.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
6 pm

END TIME
7:30 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Find out more about The Artist & the Astronaut.

Find out more about MIT Museum.
Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, ALL DAY
In the Neighborhood
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
MIT’s Infinite Solar System
Richard Binzel
Richard Binzel
ALL DAY
DESCRIPTION

Be a planetary explorer! Take a self-guided tour of our Solar System from the Sun to Pluto, precisely scaled to the length of MIT’s Infinite Corridor, created by ​MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place every day, from Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1

LOCATION
MIT Building 7
3rd Floor
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA
02139
Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, 10 am - 12 pm
In the Neighborhood
Deep Time Walk
Deep Time Walk
Nancy Lowe
Nancy Lowe
10 am
DESCRIPTION

Weather permitting, we will meet outside the front of the Museum of Science and walk approximately 4.6km, learning 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history along the way. This is a nearly three-mile walk along Cambridge Street to Cambridge Common. Wear comfortable shoes and prepare to be outdoors for a few hours.

Event organizer Nancy Lowe is an artist interested in the rich ecotone — the boundary territory — between art and science. She makes art with science themes, teaches art-science workshops, curates art-science exhibits and performances, guides art-science residency programs, and leads citizen science projects and other activities for creative science engagement. She worked for over a decade as a technician in labs focusing on pollination biology, insect-plant interactions, and large-scale ecology.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 4-6pm
Saturday September 30, 10am-noon
Sunday October 1, 10am-noon

LOCATION
Outside of Front Entrance
Museum of Science
1 Science Park
Boston MA
02114
START TIME
10 am

END TIME
12 pm

This event is at reservation capacity, but there may be a number of tickets available in person. Arrive early to avoid missing out!

Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, 12 pm - 4 pm
In the Neighborhood
Explore with the Laser Museum
Explore with the Laser Museum
Laser Museum
Laser Museum
12 pm
DESCRIPTION

Explore the science of lasers with demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more! Learn about optics and the endless possibilities of laser technology.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
12 pm

END TIME
4 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Educating people on lasers and the photonics industry.

Find out more about Laser Museum.
Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, 1 pm - 2 pm
In the Neighborhood
DataWagashi: Multisensory Data Experience
DataWagashi: Multisensory Data Experience
DataWagashi
DataWagashi
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

Data visualization is a powerful tool for making sense of complex information, but it often relies solely on our visual sense to communicate insights. In this event, multidisciplinary designer Tiange Wang shares a different approach to creating and sharing data stories by incorporating additional sensory elements like taste, smell, texture and physical interaction into the mix. Engage in a hands-on design workshop where you can start to sketch out your own set of data wagashi to make and share.

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
2 pm
Find out more about DataWagashi.
Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, 1 pm - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Harvard College Observatory's Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

The Harvard Plate Stacks is presenting a special exhibition, Her Luminous Distance: The Legacies of Women Astronomical Computers at Harvard, in the rotunda and dome of the Great Refractor at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Free and open to the public, the exhibition celebrates the legacy of the Women Astronomical Computers and will illuminate to audiences the various disciplines and fields of study that have been inspired by these women and the astronomical photographs that they studied.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:

Thursday September 28, 4pm
Friday September 29, 1pm
Saturday September 30, 1pm
Sunday October 1, 1pm

LOCATION
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
60 Garden Street
Cambridge MA
02138
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
5 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Harvard College Observatory’s Plate Stack Collection at the Center for Astrophysics is the largest collection of astronomical glass plate negatives where many pioneering women broke barriers in Astronomy, Science, and at Harvard. We are charged with preserving the objects in the collection and elevating the individual and collective legacies of over 146 women who worked here from 1870-1960.

Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, 1 pm - 5 pm
In the Neighborhood
Guided Tour of NeuraFutures Installation
Guided Tour of NeuraFutures Installation
MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
1 pm
DESCRIPTION

Explore the NeuraFutures installation at Cambridge Public Library with a captivating 30-minute tour, offering a glimpse into the future of brain-computer interfacing.

Building on Braini‘s 15 years of experience in designing and creating the most cutting edge interaction – fusion between the brain and computer – this guided installation tour will touch upon the following questions: is it possible to implant memories? Read your dreams while you sleep? Communicate a thought between two different people on different continents?

FURTHER INFORMATION

To learn more about this technology and how it is used, please visit braini.io and neurafutures.com.

LOCATION
Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch
449 Broadway
Cambridge
MA
START TIME
1 pm

END TIME
5 pm
Find out more about MIT Media Lab.
Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
In the Neighborhood
Make your own Automata
Make your own Automata
MIT Museum
MIT Museum
2:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

Explore and experiment with mechanical motion as you create your own moving art. Along the way, discover how simple mechanisms like cams, linkages, and levers work to generate different types of movement.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event has multiple listings as it takes place at the following times:
Monday September 25, 2.30pm
Thursday September 28, 2.30pm
Friday September 29, 2.30pm
Saturday September 30, 10am
Sunday October 1, 2.30pm

LOCATION
MIT Museum
314 Main Street
Building E-28
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
2:30 pm

END TIME
5:30 pm
Find out more about MIT Museum.
Sunday
Oct 1
Oct 1, 4:30 pm - 5:15 pm
In the Neighborhood
Luminaries of Innovation Photo Opportunity
Luminaries of Innovation Photo Opportunity
The Innovation Trail
The Innovation Trail
4:30 pm
DESCRIPTION

The Innovation Trail is thrilled and honored to bring together over a dozen of the most trailblazing entrepreneurs and innovators to emerge from the Boston/Cambridge area. The Innovation Trail is gathering these luminaries to take a historic photo that we want Cambridge Science Festival school-age participants to be a part of! School-age participants will have a chance to have their photo taken with our group of innovators at the Urban Park (UP) Roof Garden located in Kendall Square (325 Main St, Cambridge). This will be the first time these extraordinary pioneers will be in the same place, at the same time, and back in the place where it all started for them. Come be a part of innovation history! We’ll have a professional photographer there, but you’re also welcome to take your own photos.

LOCATION
Urban Park (UP) Roof Garden
325 Main Street
Cambridge MA
02142
START TIME
4:30 pm

END TIME
5:15 pm
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Innovation Trail is a way to experience, learn about, and be inspired by four centuries of world-changing breakthroughs from Boston and Cambridge. In-person and virtual tours are available to stroll through the history of science, medicine, entrepreneurship, and technology. We want the Trail to inspire the next great innovation!

Find out more about The Innovation Trail.