Take a closer look at Surveillance: From Vision to Data, on view at Harvard’s Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. Join the curators for a talk introducing select objects, the multiple legacies of surveillance through data, and critical artworks that have resisted now ubiquitous data-driven surveillance. Then tour the exhibit to see for yourself how data shapes the nature of surveillance.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

In this lecture, we will provide an overview of how Intellia is leveraging its CRISPR-based technologies to develop novel, potentially curative therapeutics. To fully realize the transformative potential of CRISPR-based technologies, Intellia is pursuing two primary approaches. The company’s in vivo investigational programs use intravenously administered CRISPR as the therapy, in which proprietary delivery technology enables highly precise editing of disease-causing genes directly within specific target tissues. Intellia’s investigational ex vivo programs use CRISPR to create the therapy by using engineered human cells to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases.

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

The City of Cambridge offers curbside food scrap collection to 30,000 households. Learn how the program developed, and how anaerobic digesters process our food scraps. Find out more about our community’s efforts to meet our zero waste goals.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

In 2015, nearly 100 years after Albert Einstein predicted their existence, gravitational-waves were discovered by the LIGO observatories. Eight years later, tens of gravitational-wave sources have been discovered, changing the way we can explore the Universe and some of its most extreme objects. Come hear the latest news about gravitational waves and black holes.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

Tough Tech is transformative technology that solves the world’s most important challenges through the convergence of breakthrough science, engineering, and leadership. Come learn more at The Engine!

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

Together, we will learn about the environmental, social, and economic benefits of green roofs; green roof system types and FAQs; and why waterproofing, proper design, and maintenance are some of the most important aspects of a green roof. Learn about some of our exciting local green roofs, such as Fenway Farms at Fenway Park, the Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm, Community Architecture Landscape Art (CALA) in Somerville, and many more.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

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.

Hear local musicians’ original electronic music designed for quadraphonic surround sound.

The MIT Spatial Sound Lab is a community studio for making immersive sound productions, including music, sound art, sonifications, accessible technology, sensory ethnography and more.

This mixtape presentation in 4.1 sound aims to highlight possibilities of listening from the margins, hearing a multiplicity of voices in new ways, and generating soundscapes to explore in relation to changing environments.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

Have you ever wondered why forgetting is so common? Why you can be confident about a past event, yet wrong about the details? Why you can study hard for an exam yet be unable to retrieve the content? Why you can forget someone’s name almost as soon as they’ve told it to you?

This talk, by Professor Elizabeth Kensinger, Chairperson of the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience at Boston College, will explain why these occurrences are so common, and may challenge some of your ideas about why we forget.

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

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

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.

Why do we age? Does every living thing age? How can some organisms live for over a century while others die in mere weeks? These questions have been on the minds of almost every natural philosopher for the past few thousand years, but modern advances in evolutionary biology and gerontology have only just given us satisfactory explanations. In this presentation, I will share some of the insights that brought aging from the realm of the supernatural to the realm of science. I’ll also talk about some remarkable organisms that appear not to age at all and what these organisms may be able to teach us about our own chances at combating the diseases of aging.

Christopher Rodriguez, Graduate Student, Reddien Lab, Whitehead Institute

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

There is an ever-growing demand for larger structures in space: Larger solar panels achieve greater power output, larger antennas achieve higher gain and resolution, and larger solar sails achieve faster propulsion. However, the state-of-the art approach for deploying such systems in space limits their size to tens of meters, due to issues with reliability, precision, and other challenges unique to the space environment. To overcome these challenges, we are developing a method for manufacturing large structures in space from raw feedstock. Our approach relies on deformation processing, solid-state joining, and electrostatic actuation to fabricate truss structures for various space applications. In this lecture Harsh Bhundiya will describe the proposed manufacturing process, our research progress, and our vision for manufacturing large structures in orbit.

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

Koch Institute cancer research spans all stages of the research pipeline—from bench to bedside. Our researchers ask fundamental questions about basic biological processes and invent new technologies to address critical cancer challenges. They launch startups as well as partnering with clinicians and companies to translate groundbreaking research into transformative tools and treatments.

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

Join Museum curators for a behind-the-scenes look at a few of their favorite objects from our vast collection.

During these talks, we’ll explore early synthetic material from the Arthur D. Little Company, including the first seamless garment and a lead balloon that was able to float. Learn about a nautical chart from the 1820s and dig into the citizen science and data collection behind early mapping efforts on the ocean. Find out how six French architectural drawings caused an international sensation when they were brought to MIT in 1902.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

Human longevity potential colliding with our adoption and use of AI, automation and other technologies is collectively disrupting how we live, work, learn, and play. In this session at the Cambridge Senior Center, join MIT AgeLab researchers for a discussion exploring our current understanding of the evolution of the longevity economy. They will share key insights from existing projects focused on topics like the adoption of smart technologies for aging-in-place, research with the ‘oldest old’ of older adults and family caregivers, and use of an age empathy suit for education and learning. Learn from MIT-driven insight to maximize your 100 years of life. Light refreshments will be provided.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

In this workshop participants will learn how to understand and be able to respectfully use terminology relevant to gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality. Additionally, participants will learn tools for advocating for queer, trans, and gender diverse youth & adults. Participants will leave the workshop with a list of resources to further their education.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

MIT Assistant Professor Marzyeh Ghassemi has been at the forefront of bias in medical machine learning for several years. In this talk, she covers how we can prevent artificial intelligence (AI) from replicating the inequities and harms of human biases and why we shouldn’t be afraid of AI in health.

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

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.

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.

Join us as we explore the intersection of science, innovation, and ethics. Genetics research is progressing at a feverish pace and increasingly impacting people’s lives and society as a whole. Can gene editing technology improve health equity or will it worsen existing inequalities? What is the impact of altering microbial, plant, animal, and human DNA on global health challenges?

Speakers from the Personal Genetics Education Project at Harvard Medical School will address the risks and rewards of using gene editing tools to change the world around us.

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.

This interactive presentation showcases projects that combine traditional materials with modern tech like robotics, 3D printing, and Arduino inventions. See firsthand how technology enhances the creative process, inspiring innovation and pushing boundaries.

Whether you are an artist, engineer, educator, or simply someone who is curious about the intersection of these fields, this presentation is sure to inspire and captivate. Come join us as we explore the exciting possibilities of art and engineering in the modern age!

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

Youth should be the centerpiece of climate education since they are the key stakeholders. It’s time to ensure that youth feel included, represented and invited to engage in curriculum and conferences as well as in the classroom. Hear from a young person about what their demands look like, how youth would like to plug in, and what institutions can do to support them.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

The lecture is an engaging exploration of the transformative power of artificial intelligence in the field of cancer research. Discover how AI is revolutionizing cancer treatment and gain insights into the groundbreaking advancements that are shaping the future of cancer therapy. Prepare to be inspired as you witness the potential of AI to revolutionize the fight against cancer.

*** Organizer will provide lunch. ***

In fiction, writers and readers often focus on the hero’s journey. But protagonists don’t always start as heroes. They’re reluctantly shaped and molded by the obstacles they face along the way. What’s a good story without an equally strong antagonist? Join MIT MLK visiting scholar Christine Taylor-Butler for a discussion on the role of villains in children’s storytelling and the multiple forms used in advancing the plot and raising the stakes. The motivations or lack thereof might surprise you.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

Come to the List Center for your lunch break and join exhibiting artist Nancy Valladares as we consider the components of analog photography through looking at her work on view in List Projects 27: fields harrington and Nancy Valladares. PHOTO/SYNTHETIC is an ongoing series and investigation which unpacks the environmental and economic impacts of the use of silver in analog photography. During the hour, we will view the works in the galleries and move to discussion with Valladares over lunch combining an opportunity to learn and socialize.

Bring your lunch and beverages will be provided.

*** Attendees should provide their own lunch. ***

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Computer scientist and artist Jane Adams describes how to leverage artificial intelligence tools to design fabric prints, including data sourcing and infinite tiling.

Join Call To Action® at The Foundry on September 30 for an electrifying event as the founders proudly present Boston Smart Fashion Week; Call To Action, “Science is Sexy”. This extraordinary showcase will feature Boston’s emerging company, Call To Action®, and some of the work that they are doing to move the needle for smart + sustainable solutions in fashion.

During the session, you will immerse yourself in ethereal imagery that reimagines traditional swimwear. Hear from the founders Jill Palese and Dan Rakauskas of the Boston based clothing brand as they present their own “calls to action” towards a greener and more sustainable future in the world of fashion. The interactive session allows an opportunity to meet the founders and ask questions about the work.

Mark your calendars, because this event promises to be a dazzling celebration of fashion, consciousness, and the irresistible allure of “Science is Sexy”!

Photography credit: Alyssa M Fortin Photography