All events

Janet Echelman's Remembering the Future widens our perspective in time, giving sculptural form to the history of the Earth's climate from the last ice age to the present moment, and then branching out to visualize multiple potential futures.Constructed from colored twines and ropes that are braided, knotted and hand-spliced to create a three-dimensional form, the immersive artwork greets you with its grand scale presiding over the MIT Museum lobby.This large-scale installation by 2022-2024 MIT Distinguished Visiting Artist Janet Echelman, was developed during her residency at the MIT Center for Art, Science & Technology (CAST). Architect, engineer and MIT Associate Professor Caitlin Mueller collaborated on the development of the piece.The title, Remembering the Future was inspired by the writings commonly attributed to Søren Kierkegaard: "The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have."As the culmination of three years of dedicated research and collaboration, this site-specific installation explores Earth's climate timeline, translating historical records and possible futures into sculptural form.Echelman's climate research for this project was guided by Professor Raffaele Ferrari and the MIT Lorenz Center, creators of En-ROADS simulator which uses current climate data and modeling to visualize the impact of environmental policies and actions on energy systems.Learn more about Janet Echelman and the MIT Museum x CAST Collaboration.Learn more about the exhibition at the MIT Museum.

Practice your engineering skills in this hands-on family workshop, as you compete to build the best protective capsule for an egg drop!This workshop is designed for families and friends in small groups. Children must be age 11 and above, and must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop.October 4 10:30am - 12pm Free with Museum admission

MIT is not a place so much as it is a unique collection of exceptional people. Its experimental culture and collaborative spirit drive innovations that encompass global issues and improve our daily lives.Join Exhibit Developer Lindsay Bartholomew for a tour of Essential MIT and learn how the MIT community works. Asking questions others may not ask, and trying the unexpected in pursuit of a greater solution, is essential.

Celebrate autumn in the Kendall/MIT Open Space! Enjoy a relaxed afternoon with lawn games, face painting for all ages, hands-on activities, sweet treats, and feel-good harmonies from Fly By Brass Band!

Ten minutes for your mind@2:50 every day at 2:50 pm in multiple time zones:Europa@2:50, EET, Athens, Helsinki (UTC+2) (7:50 am EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88298032734Atlantica@2:50, EST, New York, Toronto (UTC-4) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85349851047Pacifica@2:50, PST, Los Angeles, Vancouver (UTC=7) (5:50 pm EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85743543699Almost everything works better again if you unplug it for a bit, including your mind. Stop by and unplug. Get the benefits of mindfulness without the fuss.@2:50 meets at the same time every single day for ten minutes of quiet together.No pre-requisite, no registration needed.Visit the website to view all @2:50 time zones each day.at250.org or at250.mit.edu

SHASS and the de Florez Fund for Humor present Stand Up Comedy Live! with comedian Atsuko Okatsuka at 7 pm on Saturday, October 4 in MIT's Kresge Auditorium.Atsuko Okatsuka is an award winning comedian and actress making waves across the globe with her one-of-a-kind humor, boundless energy, and infectious charm. Her highly anticipated second stand-up special, FATHER, recently premiered on Hulu and internationally on Disney+. FATHER. It quickly occupied the top ten on the streamer and had multiple clips go viral, making it one of the most talked about specials to debut on the Hularious brand. Following the success of FATHER she recently announced The Big Bowl tour, which will hit multiple cities across North America.Her previous special THE INTRUDER (HBO), won a Gracie Award for “Best Comedy Special”, The New York Times called the “Best Debut Special of 2022” and Vulture and Variety named one of the “Best Specials of 2022.” Atsuko's unique style of comedy — blending joy with vulnerability and unforgettable storytelling — is captivating audiences worldwide.Outside of her stand-up career, Atsuko is taking over Hollywood with roles in two films that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival—ALL THAT WE LOVE directed by Yen Tan and GROUP THERAPY directed by Neil Berkely, produced by Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Productions. She also wrapped filming OUTCOME (Apple+), a comedy featuring Jonah Hill and Keanu Reeves and made her Pixar debut in the Disney film ELIO.

Nik Bärtsch's Ronin w/special guest Sumie KanekoSaturday, October 4th at 8pmThomas Tull Concert Hall, MIT Linde Music Building201 Amherst Street, Cambridge MA 02139This event is in-person only and will not be live-streamed.Swiss pianist-composer Nik Bärtsch has been creating ‘zen-funk,' fusing electronica and minimalism with soul, jazz, funk, and new classical music with his Ronin ensemble since 2001. “Our music is somewhere between jazz and modern composition, progressive pop, ritual music, groove music in general,” says Bärtsch. The concert will feature the world premiere of a Bärtsch’s new duo for himself and koto/shamisen master Sumie Kaneko, along with selections from Ronin’s latest album Spin.Personnel:Nik Bartsch, pianoKaspar Rast, drumsJeremias Keller, bassSha, bass clarinetSumie Kaneko, koto & shamisenSeating PolicyAs seating in Thomas Tull Concert Hall is limited, we encourage you to reserve seats as soon as possible. Free tickets for MIT ID holders are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the door on the day of the event.Your registration through Eventbrite guarantees you a seat until the event start time. After the concert start time, we will release open seats to the standby list. If you were not able to register through Eventbrite, you may join the physical standby line in the Thomas Tull Concert Hall Lobby up to one hour before the concert start time.Don't miss a downbeat! Click here to subscribe to the Events Newsletter.