MIT Museum

Thank you to everyone who visited us today to welcome our new director, Michael John Gorman (and a big thank you to Toscanini's for supplying the sweet treats)!

Tim the beaver even made an appearance! 🦫

Join Lemelson-MIT Program and friends at the MIT Museum for a Student Inventor Showcase and featuring local young inventors. Learn what inspired them to develop solutions to problems that are important to them and their communities. The Showcase will be followed by a screening of the award-winning documentary, Pathways to Invention. https://bit.ly/3MvH49X

Great for all ages, this inspirational 60-minute documentary explores the age-old question of whether inventors are born or made. Through up-close profiles, it highlights the impactful contributions of inventors across various disciplines, including biotech, medical diagnostics and prosthetics, sustainable agriculture, food production, software development, and materials science. After the film, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and meet inventors.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/3MvH49X

We are one week out from Cambridge Science Festival 2024! ⏱🧬🎉📣

We can't wait to welcome you in for FREE admission all week long, plus a packed schedule of morning, lunchtime, afternoon, and evening programs. Our full schedule of events is live on our website -- mark your calendars folks, and let the countdown to CSF 2024 begin!
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/cambridge-science-festival-at-a-glance

We can't wait to see our Exchange space look like this all week long during Cambridge Science Festival 2024 (less than 2 weeks away!). Which program are you most excited for?

And don't forget the museum is FREE the entire week of CSF, September 23-29. We can't wait to see you!

📸 Michael J Clarke
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/cambridge-science-festival-at-a-glance

Announcement: 📣

We will be CLOSED tomorrow, 9/11, for a staff away day. We can't wait to welcome you back on Thursday, 9/12!

Grab your lunch and join us as we get up close and personal with the popular Charles River Floating Wetland!

Whether you are new to the project, or a fan since it was installed in 2019, this session will share personal stories of this innovative green infrastructure project. Discover key research findings, enjoy images from an underwater fish camera, and learn about new hydroponic tomato plants. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch into the Exchange for this special program!

September 24
12 - 12:45pm

This program is presented as part of Cambridge Science Festival 2024! The MIT Museum is free during the festival.

Learn more here: https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/whats-afloat-on-the-charles-river-floating-wetland

Ahoy! ⚓️

For today's , we're featuring this incredible model of a 16th-century Korean armored warship: The Turtle.

Designed with a flat-bottom, lapstrake-planked hull, this vessel features high bulwarks, ports for archers, and a fully enclosed spiked, armored deck. The fierce dragon head at the bow adds a powerful touch!

Special thanks to Chang W. Shin, an MIT alum from of the Class of '65, who handcrafted and donated this model while studying Naval Architecture.

Who's excited for brains!?

McGovern Institute for Brain Research neuroscientists are back at Cambridge Science Festival this year to talk about the latest discoveries in brain science -- and yes, they are bringing brains.

Explore cutting edge research, get up-close with real brains, and discover the secrets behind our body's most complex organ.

September 25
2:00 - 4:45pm

This program is presented as part of Cambridge Science Festival 2024. The MIT Museum is free during the festival.

Interested in attending? Letting us know is strongly encouraged --> https://hubs.la/Q02NZj-k0

We are officially welcoming our new director in a big way!

Stop by the museum on September 19th for free admission, plus a special treat in our lobby from 2:30-4pm, while supplies last.

🔽 Here is a photo of him at our August After Dark: Color!
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/meet-the-new-director-day

Join us at the Museum for an Ig Nobel Prize companion event, Ig Nobel: Face to Face.

Ig Nobel: Face to Face brings 2024 Ig Nobel Prize winners together, in-person, with the opportunity to ask each other questions about their work, and answer questions from the audience. The event will be hosted by Improbable Research Founder Marc Abrahams.

September 14
This program will be 3 brief events, each 30-40 minutes long. Sessions begin at 12:20pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm.
Free with museum admission.

Check out our website to learn more about the Ig Nobel Prize and our companion event -> https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/ig-nobel-face-to-face

There has been widespread discussion of the potential dangers posed by AI to our democratic processes, including through the weaponization of disinformation. But could AI actually help democracy? Focusing on the potential of AI tools to increase participation in democratic processes, this panel explores new technological approaches to giving voices to those who are commonly excluded from public discourse. How can AI help empower varied and nuanced opinions to combat the polarization of political discourse? Will AI provide amplification for a larger set of voices and offer new insights into the issues that shape our political allegiance?

Democracy in the Age of AI is presented by Cambridge Science Festival and the MIT Museum, and will be moderated by the museum’s newly appointed Director Michael John Gorman. Following the discussion, guests will have an opportunity to participate in technology-enhanced small group deliberation.

🗓️: Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7 PM

📍To register, visit https://cambridgesciencefestival.org/festival-guide-2024/

Write Science is back! Join us on September 13 for an evening conversation with MIT Professor David Mindell and renowned computer scientist Neil Lawrence as they discuss Lawrence's new book, The Atomic Human: What Makes Us Unique in the Age of AI.

Copies of The Atomic Human will be available for purchase onsite from the MIT Coop.

Tickets on sale now!

Write Science | MIT Museum Join renowned computer scientist Neil Lawrence for a conversation with MIT Professor David Mindell.

Venture into the third dimension at our September After Dark! Join us for a night of drinks, eats, and music while catching a talk on holograms, checking out 3D-printed wonders, and diving into brand new VR experiences. Plus, visit our Maker Hub to create your own 3D illusion.

Lola's Pinoy Pastry and Arlington Brewing Company will have eats and drinks available for purchase.

Tickets are on sale now! https://tickets.mitmuseum.org/events/0190d08c-ba8a-efa9-5c3b-3b16450b6340

After Dark Series | MIT Museum Enjoy a lively evening of entertainment, science, and tinkering for the 21+ crowd! Monthly.

Cambridge Science Festival is an innovative, week-long celebration of science in all its forms. This year’s festival comprises more than 250 free events and activities between Monday, September 23 and Sunday, September 29.

“Science festivals have the power to bring together a staggering and inspirational variety of people and ideas,” Michael John Gorman, Director of the MIT Museum, told the City of Cambridge (Official). “I couldn’t be more pleased to be joining an institution with such a strong legacy of producing the Cambridge Science Festival, and I look forward to welcoming the community to our exciting lineup of over 200 free events.”

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3AGbweX

Happy ! Today we're taking a closer look at Katsukawa Shuntei's "Shinagawa Oki no Kujira Takanawa yori Mita Zu [Seeing the whale in Shinagawa Bay at Takanawa]"

The appearance of whales in Shinagawa Bay became a huge event in 1789 Japan, attracting crowds from all over the country. The artist Shuntei captured this spectable in a print, highlighting the social aspects of the event, including courtesans, onlookers, and boat passengers eager to see the whales. His work reflects the community's fascination and how this extraordinary event became part of everyday life. This print also helped establish the stylized depiction of whales in Japanese art, influencing whale iconography in the ukiyo-e tradition for years to come.

Image from our collection.

We are officially 1 month away from Cambridge Science Festival 2024! 🥽💫🧬🧪

Mark your calendars for September 23-29 and join us in this week-long celebration of ingenuity, creativity, and innovation. There will be special programming and events all around the city, as well as at the Museum. And did we mention admission to the Museum is FREE all week long?

Learn more about what's happening during Cambridge Science Festival 2024 --> https://cambridgesciencefestival.org/

Photos by Michael J. Clark

Did someone say... ?

We'll take any excuse to share some photos of our favorite radios in our collection!

Image 1: Super radio crystal set (1940)
Image 2: "Oatmeal canister" ham radio (1922)

Free admission all day TOMORROW, 9/20!

Highland Street Foundation We're committed to addressing the needs and concerns of children and families. For more information v

Plankton Painting is back!

Local artist and scientist Jess Holz will be hosting another experimental photography workshop where you'll get to create "paintings" of local plankton.

Using microscopes and chrono-photography, capture photos of the trails created by these microscopic creatures, plus learn about microcopic pond life while getting a fascinating glimpse into their dynamic behavior.

Saturday, August 24
11am-1pm
Free with Museum admission

Please note that though this workshop is open to all ages, it is geared for ages 13 and up. Space and materials are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Plankton Painting | MIT Museum Join us for an experimental photography workshop led by a local artist/scientist!

As the 2024 Paris Olympics come to a close, we're taking a look back at an MIT Olympian: Joseph Levis (Class of 1926).

All images from our collection.

Image 1: From our Harold E. Edgerton Collection, Joseph Levis and Hrant Isbenjian 1939 Fencing team
Image 2: Joseph Levis fences at an Olympic event in 1939
Image 3: Joseph Levis runner-up in 1932 Olympic foil, Los Angeles

This , we're flashing back to MIT Lincoln Laboratory's 1968 ultrastable CO2 laser.

What does a CO2 laser do? It's a powerful tool that generates intense, precise beams of infrared light using carbon dioxide gas. CO2 lasers are used in a variety of applications, from cutting and welding materials to medical treatments and scientific research. Their ability to produce high-energy, focused beams makes them incredibly versatile and essential in modern technology.

What's more -- this particular laser was used in the 1968 first experimental demonstration of the Schawlow-Townes 1958 linewidth prediction.

You can explore more of our science collection objects online here: https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/collections/collection/science

You may have seen the car in our lobby, but did you know that it's an actual working vehicle? 🏎

In fact, Nimbus took 1st place in the 2021 American Solar Challenge, covering over 1,100 miles in 32 driving hours. Nimbus went on to win first place again in the 2022 race, driving over 1,700 miles across the Oregon National Historic Trail. Nimbus was succeeded by the team's first multi-occupant vehicle, Gemini, who just won 4th place in this year's American Solar Challenge!

You can learn more about our Driven by Sun exhibition at the link in our bio.
MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team

Cambridge Science Festival is returning Monday, September 23 - Sunday, September 29, 2024!

Cambridge Science Festival (CSF), the first of its kind in the United States, is an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). A multifaceted, multicultural event, the festival makes science accessible, interactive and fun, highlighting the impact of STEAM in all our lives.

Sign up for our newsletter so you can be the first to know our 2024 themes in the coming weeks: https://bit.ly/CSF24newsletter

AI -- let's talk about it.

The irony of artificial intelligence is that it inspires new perspectives on human intelligence.

From AI in the home to robots in the workplace, AI is all around us and it urges us to question its potential but also recognize the risks.

Visit our AI: Mind the Gap exhibition that aims to shine a light on the tremendous promise, unforeseen impacts, and everyday misconceptions of AI.
https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/exhibitions/ai-mind-the-gap

We are pleased to offer a dedicated morning for visitors who would benefit from a sensory-friendly experience!

Visitors will be able to enter the Museum an hour before opening to enjoy our galleries with a limited number of visitors as well as a making activity for children and adults in our Maker Hub. Guests can also access our sensory maps and a social narrative to assist in planning a Museum visit, and our welcoming staff will be present to answer questions and lead several special drop-in activities.

To learn more about the modifications we'll be making to our space and register for your visit, head to our website --> https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/sensory-friendly-morning

August 16
9-11am
Free
Registration required

MIT Museum Open daily 10am-5pm
314 Main Street, Cambridge MA.

We love seeing the different ways our visitors interpret our Maker Hub activities, like Jennifer Turliuk's Balance Sculpture project!

For her sculpture, Jenn chose to represent the balance between climate change issues and solutions.

Have you made something cool in our Maker Hub space? Share it and tag us -- we'd love to see it! Check out our Drop-in activity calendar for more information about what's happening in the Maker Hub -> https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/on-now/drop-in-activities/maker-hub

Congrats to the MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team on their 4th place win at the American Solar Challenge! You can see their 2021 and 2022 winning vehicle, Nimbus, on view now in our lobby. https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/exhibitions/driven-by-sun

In honor of the Olympic Games starting today, here's a photo of members of the first United States Olympic Team from our collections. 🏅

This image was sent to the 1896 Olympic Games by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA). Standing in the back row are (from left to right): Thomas Burke, Thomas P. Curtis (who attended MIT), and Ellery Clark. Seated in the front row are: William Hoyt, Sumner Paine, John Graham, John B. Paine, and Arthur Blake.