Second Fridays

Starbound with Joe Haldeman

Join MIT author Joe Haldeman and other members of MIT's Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies an evening of literature and conversation at the MIT Museum. Professor Haldeman will read from his latest work, Starbound, and discuss what it takes to become an award-winning science fiction author. Haldeman is a five-time recipient of both the Nebula and the Hugo Awards, the two most prestigious science fiction honors; in 2010 he received the Damon Knight Grand Master award from the Science Fiction and Science Fantasy Writers of America.

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Feel the Heat

Presenters from MIT Lincoln Laboratory present an evening of hot science and engineering.
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Hot Science

What is heat? How is it measured? How is it transferred from one object to another? How can it be used to run an engine? How can you keep heat out of your house during the summer and keep heat in during the winter?
Presented by Mark Hanson, Lincoln Laboratory

Hot Competition

See a showcase from the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST®) competition. Meet competition robots and control their movements. Robots from FIRST® LEGO® League, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition will be on display.
Presented by Robotics Outreach at Lincoln Laboratory

Lights, Cameras, Actions

Celebrate the intersection of art and technology with hands-on demonstrations and light projection experiments at the MIT Museum. Relax among the exhibits as you enjoy 'moving' displays of physics in action, inspired by Otto Piene's Lichtballett, on display at the List Center for Visual Arts from October 21 - December 31, 2011.

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

A Farewell to MIT 150

Join us for a final celebration of the MIT 150 Exhibition during our monthly free evening. Hear stories and memories from the Museum team, nominate your favorite objects for the MIT 150 Yearbook Awards and look ahead to MIT's next 150 years!

5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Ready, Set, ZOOM!

Zoom into the new year with a showcase of high-speed engineering projects by MIT students. See the latest models and talk with MIT Motorsports, the MIT Rocket Team, MIT's Design/Build/Fly Team, and others about race cars, rocket ships and more!

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Spacewar! Turns 50

In 1961, Digital Equipment Corporation gave MIT a PDP-1 computer and the games began. From discussions about "interesting displays" to new lessons in interactive programming, MIT's Kludge Room became the birthplace of Spacewar! Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this momentous occasion with a larger-than-life celebration of this influential game. From 5:30 p.m., you will be able to play a new iteration of Spacewar! by the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab on a giant mockup of the PDP-1 monitor. At 6:30 p.m., GAMBIT's US Executive Director Philip Tan will give a short lecture on the game's development and impact.

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Nautical Night

Celebrate MIT and the sea at MIT Museum's third annual Nautical Night. Activities and demonstrations abound as you chart your course through MIT's rich history of ocean science, technology and engineering. Further details to be announced.

5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Rivers of Ice (view video)

The MIT Museum welcomes to you to the public unveiling of Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya. Take a special opening day tour of the exhibition with MIT faculty and staff knowledgeable about such topics as glaciology, water rights, geology, and then join a fast-paced discussion about how your exhibit experience was influenced by your guide’s scientific perspective.
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Documenting Science: Berenice Abbott at MIT

Be among the first to explore the Museum's newest public space, the Kurtz Gallery for Photography. Get an insider's view of the gallery's inaugural exhibition, featuring revolutionary physics imagery from American photographer Berenice Abbott. Walk and talk with exhibition curators Gary Van Zante and Julia Van Haaften, and MIT physics professor Krishna Rajagopal as they share their insights on the "essential unity" between physics and photography, and MIT's contributions to science education in the post-Sputnik era. Museum educators will be also available to assist you in creating your own versions of Abbott's iconic images.

No special programs

Due to MIT Commencement activities, ONLY the first floor exhibits will be open to the public. Please join us in July and August for our regularly scheduled summer Second Fridays!