From Process to Outcome: A Joint Book LaunchAs the pace of global change accelerates — ecologically, socially, and technologically — design is emerging as an essential partner to science and technology. This event marks the launch of two new books that capture design’s role across scales.THE BOOKSDesigning the X: Shaping an Unknown Future, by Dennis Frenchman, Svafa Grönfeldt, and Sigurdur Thorsteinsson, examines how design enables us to move with complexity, not against it, shaping futures beyond the limits of the present. Grounded in praxis and research — including interviews with designers, technologists, and educators — it makes the case for design as an essential partner to science and technology: integrative, inventive, and profoundly human.Value of Design, by Dr. Andrea Chegut, Minkoo Kang, Helena Rong, and Juncheng “Tony” Yang, asks a different question: can design be quantified? Drawing on years of research at MIT’s Real Estate Innovation Lab, the book reveals how design leaves measurable traces in the built environment — economic, social, and environmental — that can be captured through data and correlated with real outcomes in our cities.Together, the books highlight two stages of design: the process of generating new possibilities, and the outcomes that design makes visible and measurable. The evening will include conversations with contributors, hands-on activities, and book sales.

Tuesday, October 21 2025 -- astronomical twilight -- 6:53pm -- MIT Sailing Pavilion Dock Thursday, November 20 2025 -- nautical twilight -- 5:56pm --MIT Sailing PavilionThe new moon is a time of darkness, rest, creativity, and gestation. Join MIT's Indigenous Spirit Community in a centering ceremony honoring the interior quiet time needed for discernment, regeneration and incubation.Meet us at astronomical twilight for smudging with sage. A short ceremony will be followed by a guided meditation and a ritual of focus and release. Together we will watch the sky darken, letting the new moon, meandering current, and autumn breeze refresh our spirits.Then, we will all come indoors for a little something hot and a slice of cake.Please RSVP. This event is sponsored by Indigenous Spirit at MIT and is open to the MIT community and friends.

Silent Meditation in the Chapel on Thursdays 6-8pm, open to everyone in the MIT Community. Some sessions include Guided Meditation at 6:30pm.

Time:Location: Philadelphia, PA / Temple University

Time:Location: Philadelphia, PA / Temple University

Time: 5:00 PMLocation: Cambridge, MA