Category Archives: Events

Sidney-Pacific is having its June Brunch, on Sunday the 16th at 12pm in the Multipurpose Room (NW86). Come out and enjoy great food while gathering with friends. If you have any questions, please contact sp-brunch-chair@mit.edu/. Photo by By Katrine Thielke from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Dragon Boat Festival is a very important festival for Chinese people. Join MIT-CAST to celebrate the festival, have fun, eat chinese food and the traditional dessert “Zongzi” on June 15 from 6-9:30pm in w20-407. Then go out to enjoy dragon boat racing at the Charles River near Harvard square. For more information, please contact: cast-board@mit.edu.

On Saturday June 15th at 1:00pm Graduate Hillel will be having a Shabbat picnic lunch at the Kresage BBQ Pits. Food and drink will be provided. Come out and enjoy a wonderful meal. For more information please contact: oderberg@mit.edu.

Immerse yourself in a tapestry of glass-blown music! Hear members of the MIT Glass Band together with Mark Stewart, Glass Lab Artist-in-Residence, create unique symphonies of sound. On Friday June 14 from 5-8pm at the MIT Museum (265 Mass Ave), three 30 minute performances will be presented at the following times: 5:15pm, 6:15p, and 7:15pm all of which are free. The artist residency is sponsored by MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology. For more information, please visit the MIT Museum Calendar Website or contact brindha@mit.edu.

Start on awesome summer in Cap Cod with the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. We’ll cover two games of bowling, shoes, food, and drinks. The event will be held at the Trade Center Bowling in Falmouth, MA on June 13th from 6pm -9pm. For more information please contact jp-contact@mit.edu.

On Wednesday, June 12th from 8-10pm in 4-231, there will be a film screening and discussion of “Brides”. This award winning movie, displays the custom of arranged marriages and immigration to America through brilliant pictures and captivating music. Food will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact: vfounta@mit.edu.

What should the MIT grad student experience be like in 2030? The task force on the future of MIT Education seeks your input! The event is occurring jointly with Sidney Pacific’s coffee hour and delicous pastries from Flour will be provided. The event will take place on Wednesday June 12 from 9-10pm in the Sydney Pacific (NW86) Multipurpose room. If you have any questions, please contact gsc-mitx@mit.edu. Photo by adamgregor.

The student art summer term begins Monday, June 10th consisting of various activities (i.e.: Ceramics, Photo, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking) and will be held in W20-429. The session lasts ten weeks along with eight studio classes. Members have 24 hour access to the studio and is a great deal for MIT Students. Please contact Sam Magee at sammagee@mit.edu for more information.

The Consulting Club of MIT is organizing a summer kickoff session for case practice that consists of several short presentations by the CCM executive team followed by a practice session. The event is tailored to individuals who are curious about management consulting as a career as well as for people who want to learn how to effectively prepare for interviews in the Fall. It will take place on Wednesday June 12 at 5:30pm in building 56-154. If you want to join, please RSVP to wherbert@mit.edu as space may be limited. Read more for the outline of the program. Read more

To the graduates of 2013: Congratulations! I know I am the last thing standing between you and your diplomas – so, even though I have a great deal I want to tell you, I will be brief…

• To everyone who has come here this morning to celebrate the graduates of 2013 – welcome to MIT!
• And to the parents and families of today’s graduates – congratulations to you as well!

It is great to have you all here on Killian Court on this wonderful day, for this tremendously important occasion. Read the full charge at MIT News.

On Saturday June 8, 2013 from 5-8pm the Graduate Christian Fellowship will be having a summer kick off barbecue. The event will take place at the Sidney Pacific BBQ pits and all graduate students are welcome. For more information please contact: pengshi@mit.edu. This event is cosponsored by the GSC Funding board and MIT GCF.

The entire graduate community is welcome to celebrate the summer and Commencement with free food and music on Thursday June 6 from 5-7pm on Tang Lawns. For more information please contact: tang-social-chair@mit.edu. Photo by Michiel1972 

Join us for another MIT Comedy Night with Justin P Drew, Adam Elmachtoub, Kevin Harrington, Adam Langlois, and Steve McConnon. It will take place at the Thirsty Ear Pub on Tuesday June 4th at 8pm (show starts at 8:30). The headliner is Dan Boulger who has appeared on Comedy Central, Craig Ferguson and won the 2006 Boston Comedy Festival. Attendees must be 21+ and a government ID is required for entry. Snacks, free soda and beer available. The event is sponsored by the GSC Funding Board, Peter de Florez ’38 Humor Fund, and GradRat. For more information please contact Thirsty Ear Executive Committee at teec-comedy@mit.edu.

MIT, GSC Sustainability Subcomittee, ZipCar, and Working Green are sponsoring a Bike Show and Market on June 2, 2013 from 9am – 2pm at N4, Albany Garage (N4) and N10 Annex Lot. Show off your bike whether its fancy, creative, or has lots of spirit, for a chance to be voted the best in show or buy and sell parts. Come check out the variety, enter a raffle, and have fun. General Admission is $1(children 12 and under are free), Bike Registration is $5 (comes with commemorative token), and vendor spots are $20/spot. All proceeds will go to the Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund. For more information visit http://bikeshowmarket.weebly.com or contact bikeshowandmarket@gmail.com.

Networking has gotten a really bad name these days. I take your card, you take my card and then we don’t call each other. The Office of the Vice President for Research is sponsoring a workshop designed to reintroduce you to how strong professional relationships can be necessary for most people to succeed in their careers. On Monday June 10 from 3-4:30pm at the Singleton Auditorium, Building 46-3002, Dr. Joanne Kamens speaks  about building relationships for success. Registration to attend is required. The workshop will provide practical tools for meeting people and for nurturing new and established connections.

Dr. Joanne Kamens received her PhD in Genetics from Harvard Medical School then spent 15 years at BASF/Abbott where she led discovery research projects on small molecule and antibody approaches to inflammatory diseases, ultimately serving as Group Leader in Molecular Biology. In 2007 she joined RXi Pharmaceuticals as Director of Discovery and concluded there as Senior Director of Research Collaborations. In 2011, Dr. Kamens became the Executive Director of Addgene, a mission driven, non-profit dedicated to helping scientists around the world collaborate. Dr. Kamens founded the current Boston chapter of AWIS. She was the Director of the HBA Boston Mentoring Program for 3 years and serves on a number of other boards. In 2013 she was elected as a fellow to the Massachusetts Academy of Science for service to science and the community. Photo  by StockMonkeys.

The PBS affiliate WGBH Boston/Channel 2 will air the MIT music documentary “Awakening: Evoking the Arab Spring Through Music” on Friday, May 31 at 10:30 p.m. Several firsts are involved in this event: the broadcast marks the first time PBS has shown an MIT music documentary; this is the first work that MIT Video Productions has produced specifically for broadcast television; and the 30-minute program features the world premiere of “Awakening,” by composer and MIT alumnus Jamshied Sharifi. The work debuted in March 2012, performed by the MIT Wind Ensemble led by Dr. Frederick E. Harris, director of wind and jazz ensembles for MIT Music and Theater Arts.

The music, and ultimately the documentary film, were set in motion by conductor Harris’ vision for engaging his MIT music students with the momentous events of the Arab Spring. To encourage his students to contemplate and understand the historical context for the Arab Spring, Harris proposed to Sharifi that he compose a piece that related to the movement sweeping Egypt and other Arab countries. Read more.

MITaly and the Hellenic Students Associsation (HSA) are hosting a Mediterranean Mixer on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the Muddy Charles Pub. The time of the event is to be announced. The event will have delicious Greek and Italian food and olive oil tasting. Attendees must be 21 years or older and are required to being a government issued ID. For more information, please contact Christos Samolis at csamolis@mit.edu.

Tired and have nothing else to do? Step away from work for an afternoon of cold and delectable ice cream with the Graduate Association of Aeronautics. The social will be held on Monday, June 3, 2013 at 3pm at Aero/Astro Graduate Lounge. For more information, please contact David Clifton at dclifton@mit.edu.

ART SHOW and EVENTS by Art, Culture and Technology graduate students is holding an exhibit on May 25 through June 10 with open hours of 4-6pm. The event consists of exploring silence, ambivalence, non-knowledge, and psychodynamic interaction. It will also feature diagrams for living, Sausage Tank, a signifying baseball cap, and dynamic video displays. Join us at the former Salvation Army thrift store, 328 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

MIT and Imperial College London are jointly offering an intensive 4 ½ day Global Fellows Program for PhD students.  Through presentations, interactive work and hands-on activities, PhD students from Imperial (20) and MIT (20) will develop professional skills required to launch and manage a successful research career.  Emphasis will be on creating and sustaining successful international research collaborations.  The program will take place from Monday, June 24th through Friday, June 28th, 2013 in Sharon, Massachusetts.  Morning programs will begin at 9:30am, and evening programs should be completed by 9:00pm.  Participants must commit to the entire program, which includes full day events and some evenings.  The Fellowship covers the cost of travel, the program, and some meals.  Topics covered will include building successful working relationships and global collaborations, team and project development, global intercultural skills and communication.  Participants will work in small groups with either an MIT or Imperial facilitator.  Faculty members from each university will present on the topic of developing and managing international collaborations as an integral part of a research career.  Eligibility is restricted to PhD students with a preference for students who have passed their qualifying exams and have a few years remaining before completing their PhD program.  Apply soon!  Application available here.  For more information, contact Kim Benard in the GECD at globalphd@mit.edu.

Practice your presentation skills to a non-expert audience, to network with alumni, and even find someone who can give further insights on your projects!  The Grad Alumni Poster Session will take place Saturday, June 8, 2013, from 5:30pm-8:00pm in MIT Building E15, first floor hallway. All presenters will get feedback from attending alumni and students.  Prizes will be given to best presenters.  Free appetizers and open bar for all presenters and attendees.  Register as a presenter here.

MIT students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the second performance of UP: The Umbrella Project on the evening of Sunday, May 19th, 2013, at 7:45pm in Jack Barry Field.  A collaboration between CSAIL’s Distributed Robotics Lab and internationally acclaimed dance company Pilobolus, UP will bring together members of the MIT community to participate in a large-scale live performance piece using umbrellas outfitted with LED lights.  Each UP participant will be provided with an umbrella equipped with red, green and blue LED lights.  Using hand controllers, participants will be able to independently change the color of their umbrella.  Guided by the Pilobolus creative team, UP participants will traverse the field and manipulate the hue of their umbrellas, creating a colorful and ever-changing display of live art.  All members of the MIT community, including students, faculty and staff, are invited to participate.  Those willing to participate must be at the field by 7:45pm.  The performance will be photographed and filmed for promotional purposes.  Participants must be at least 18 years of age and must be affiliated with MIT.  Visit this site for more information on UP.

The MIT Muslim Students Association and the MIT Arab Students Organization will be hosting a BBQ and Volleyball fundraiser on Saturday, May 11th, 2013, from 11:00am to 4:00pm at the MIT Kresge BBQ Pits.  Registration is $5 per person for the volleyball tournament.  All proceeds will go to UNICEF in Syria.  Contact msa-ec-current@mit.edu for more information.

Later in the day, there will be another BBQ from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Kresge BBQ Pits organized by Christians on Campus. Enjoy a relaxing time of singing, bible reading, games, food, and snacks.  Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences of Christ and encourage each other to pursue God together at MIT.  All are welcome to attend, regardless of faith; contact christiansoncampus-info@mit.edu for more information.

Light bulbs, paper clips and even tea bags are catching the attention of the media and the arts community.  Come to this new exhibition through September 1, 2013 at the MIT Museum which explores every day objects and shines a light on their inventors.  Learn more and view photos in this WBUR/NPR review. Admission to the MIT Museum is always free for MIT students.

MIT Concert Choir is going to be at Kresge Auditorium in MIT with Conductor William Cutter, Assistant Conductor and Pianist Joseph Turbessi, Soprano Kerry Deal, and Baritone Robert Honeysucker on Saturday, May 11th, 2013 beginning at 7:30pm.  Music includes Vaughan Williams’s Toward the Unknown Region and Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem.  Free advanced tickets are available here, or they are $5 at the door.

Come to the Radius Ensemble concert on Saturday, May 11th, 2013 at 8:00pm in Pickman Hall at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, 27 Garden Street in Harvard Square.  This concert features Mozart (String duo in B-flat major, K.424), Morrison (Lonesome Whistle for solo flute), and MIT’s own Harbison (Woodwind Quintet) and Southworth (JAMU for ensemble and Balinese Gamelan World Premiere).  When Michael Haydn, younger brother of Franz Joseph, found himself in hot water with the Archbishop of Salzburg for not completing a commission, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart quickly stepped in as an ally for his friend.  He composed two duos for violin and viola, sent them to Haydn, and sanctioned plagiarism by instructing Haydn to include them in the collection as his own.  John Harbison’s Wind Quintet is embroidery in sound, “mixtures rather than counterpoints,” to quote the composer.  A single strand of melody winnows from a flute in John Howell Morrison’s Lonesome Whistle—exploring the intricate tie between performer and instrument.  The concert will close with a world premiere, Christine Southworth’s alchemic Jamu for ensemble and Balinese Gamelan.  Student admission is $10; general admission is $20.  Buy tickets here.

Composer and electronic music innovator James Dashow will give a special presentation (The Dyad System) about his musical compositions and theories on Monday, May 6th, 2013 at 4:00pm in the MIT Media Lab (E14-244).  “The Dyad System” will focus on the integration of pitch structures into electronic sounds.  This system describes the basis and methods for embedding specific pitches into electronic sounds that are generated by the pitches themselves through various techniques that James Dashow will feature.  There will also be an excursion into the spatialization of sound, for which Dashow has a double approach: movement IN space, and movement OF space.  A variety of audio examples and a couple of pieces will be played.  For further information about this program, please contact Simone Ovsey at sovsey@media.mit.edu.

Come view The Rest I Make Up, a reading of “Fefu and her Friends” with original video footage of Michelle Memran, a homage to the work of Maria Irene Fornes, Cuban playwright, feminist, and activist.  This is directed by Anna Kohler, MIT Music and Theater Arts, and is presented as part of “It’s Alive.”  This event will take place on Monday, May 6th, 2013 at 7:30pm in Killian Hall, MIT.

In commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, several Greater Boston educational, historical, and cultural organizations are collaborating to present Freedom Rising: The 150th Anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation and African American Military Service in the Civil War from Thursday through Saturday, May 2nd through 4th, 2013.  RSVP here.  The sequence of events are as follows:

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