“Cambridge Science Festival is a touchpoint for everyone to find joy, meaning, and human connections” said Keelin Caldwell, Director of Engagement and Cambridge Science Festival at the MIT Museum. “Take the time to explore the many options for free programming all across Cambridge and find your inner scientist, no matter what your background is.”

Michael John Gorman, the new Mark R. Epstein (Class of 1963) Director of the MIT Museum, and Yi-An Huang, Cambridge City Manager, recently met at the MIT Museum to reflect on the importance of Cambridge Science Festival throughout the community.

“The Cambridge Science Festival represents an opportunity for inquisitive visitors of all ages to celebrate our diverse, creative community and experience our rich innovation,” said Yi-An Huang, Cambridge City Manager. “This has become one of Cambridge’s signature events of the year and we are thrilled to once again partner with the MIT Museum for this special week-long showcase.”

The Cambridge Science Festival showcases the newest ideas and innovations in science, art, technology, engineering, design, and more, that spark conversations about the role of science and innovation in our society and for all humankind. The festival includes four thematic days as well as a slate of one-time events that are presented by organizations and venues across Greater Boston and are designed for a wide range of audiences. All Cambridge Science Festival events are free of charge, and in addition, the MIT Museum will also provide free admission to all during the week of the festival.

FESTIVAL SERIES & EVENTS
Below are a sampling of some of our exciting programs; explore the full list of 300 programs here.

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Monday, September 23 - Sunday, September 29 | City-wide

100+ festival events taking place in neighborhoods across the city, in local libraries, open labs and a whole host of public spaces. Workshops, panels, lectures and more. Highlights include:

Democracy in the Age of AI

Tuesday, September 24, 7pm | MIT Museum

There has been widespread discussion of the potential dangers posed by AI to our democratic processes, but are there ways in which AI could actually help democracy? Hear from global experts Former Minister of Digital Affairs of Taiwan Audrey Tang, Professor of Media Arts and Sciences Deb Roy and Founder and CEO of DemocracyNext Claudia Chwalisz in conversation with MIT Museum Director Michael John Gorman and experience the promise of shared listening and deliberation.

Discovery after Dark

Wednesday, September 25, 6pm | Broad Discovery Center

You are invited to a night of discovery, celebration, and scientific wonders at "Discovery After Dark," brought to you by the Broad Discovery Center and BroadIgnite. This is an exclusive, after-hours party during the week of the Cambridge Science Festival. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. This year’s party is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Broad Institute.

LUNCH & LEARN
Bitesize lunchtime events throughout the city. Topics range from renewable energy to medical science, AR experiences to digital music, astrophysics and more. Highlights include:

Don’t Be Intimidated: Explore Ancient Assyria in AR
Monday, September 23, 12pm | Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

Step into history with The Art of Intimidation: Journey to Ancient Assyria - an augmented-reality Snapchat lens that brings to life the royal palaces of ancient Nineveh and Nimrud (in what is now Iraq). Witness a variety of scenes, from the celebratory to the violent: all designed to demonstrate the political landscape around 640 BC. Use your phone to try the app in the galleries, then meet the curator to discuss this unique blend of science, history, and creativity.

Astrophysics Science Slam
Tuesday, September 24, 12pm | Marlar Lounge, MIT Building 37

At this Lunch and Learn event, come listen to researchers and post-docs from the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Sciences share short and interesting stories about their research! Each presenter will give a 5-10 minute talk on their research covering topics from exoplanets to stars to galaxies and beyond. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions of any/all of the presenters.

For the Win: Games, Puzzles, and the Science of Play
Thursday, September 26, 5-9pm

Multiple evening events clustered around the Kendall/MIT Open Space. Highlights include:

Game On!
Thursday, September 26, 6-8pm | MIT Museum

Join an experiential after-hours session at the MIT Museum, offering the full spectrum of game-related activities, from the scientific to the downright silly. Meet Tik-Tok bio-engineers Malik and Miles George, enjoy a performance from MIT’s innovative laptop orchestra, try out a giant size strategy game and more.

Game Matters
Thursday, September 26, 6-7pm | MIT List Visual Arts Center

Join artist Jeremy Couillard and researcher Mikael Jakobsson for an exciting and timely conversation on the social value of play. Their conversation will explore why games are important, from both a critical and design point of view, and delve into the anthropological consequences of gamified technology.

Frontiers: A New Era of Space Exploration
Friday, September 27 - Saturday, September 28

Two days of space-themed events and activities for all ages, co-curated by The Space Consortium, organizers of Massachusetts Space Week. From lab tours to book signings, panel discussions to star-gazing, opportunities to ‘ask-an-astronaut’ and more. Highlights include:

Space, Drinks, and Trivia: An Evening with an Astronaut at the Aeronaut!
Friday, September 27, 6pm | Aeronaut Brewery and Taproom

Visit the Aeronaut for an entertaining evening of space-themed activities. Enjoy a captivating talk and Q&A session with former astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman on the possibility of life on Mars with Happy Hour from 6-7pm, followed by a Space Trivia event from 8-9pm. Co-hosted by Astronomy on Tap Boston and The Boston Space Network. Age 21+.

Is Anyone Out There?
Saturday, September 28, 7pm | MIT Welcome Center

This expert panel explores the latest research and theories about the existence of extraterrestrial life, the tools we use to search for it, and what discovering life beyond Earth could mean for humanity. Featuring Sara Seager from MIT AeroAstro, Kim Arcand from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and Michael Hecht from the MIT Haystack Observatory. Moderated by Alissa J. Haddaji, planetary protection expert and founder/director of The Space Consortium and Massachusetts Space Week.

Electric Skin: Wearable Tech and the Future of Fashion
Saturday, September 28, 10am - 10pm | The Foundry

CSF teams up with Boston Fashion Week and AFFOA - Advanced Functional Fabrics of America to co-curate an exploratory day of discovery and demonstration. Join industry leaders from the fashion, fabric and wearable-tech worlds, meet the next generation of artists, designers and engineers, and experience the cutting-edge innovations that will define what we wear in the coming decades.Highlights include:

AI and Imagination: Enhanced Creativity
Saturday, September 28, 10am | The Foundry

Generating imagery, video and music with AI is already commonplace, but how are garment designers using AI tools to enhance their creative process? This inspiring panel introduces the leading-edge in AI-assisted fashion design, exploring the many possibilities presented by generative technology. Find out how AI is already influencing artists and creators, and join the discussion about what’s coming next.

Moderated by Fiorenzo Omenetto (Tufts, Silklab). Panelists include: Norma Kamali (Designer), Behnaz Farahi (MIT Media Lab), Onur Yüce Gün (New Balance), Zoey Zhu (IDEO).

What Are We Wearing In 50 Years' Time?
Saturday, September 28, 1pm | The Foundry

Join leading thinkers, designers and engineers as they imagine the future of fashion. Will climate conditions dictate the evolving priorities of the fashion and fabric industries? Will wearable tech enter the mainstream? Will fast-fashion fall out of favor, and will AI contribute to new models and ways of thinking?

Moderated by MIT Museum Director Michael John Gorman. Panelists include: Sasha Stolyarov (AFFOA), Petra Slinkard (Peabody Essex Museum), Norma Kamali (Designer), Randall Harward (Reju), Diana Jaye Coluntino (UMass Lowell Fabric Discovery Center).

The Science Carnival
Sunday, September 29, 12-4pm | Kendall/MIT Open Space

A family-friendly science extravaganza, Carnival is a beloved regular fixture of CSF and annually attracts more than 15,000 visitors. Featuring over 100 activity booths, demonstrations, live music and events, Carnival is a STEAM-themed playground for inquisitive visitors of all ages – we can’t wait to see you there and celebrate our diverse, creative community together.

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CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Monday September 23 - Sunday September 29, 2024
CambridgeScienceFestival.org

IMAGERY
A selection of images from CSF 2023+24
Promotional assets for CSF 2024

FACTS & FIGURES

• 300+ events and activities in 7 days

• 75+ venues across Cambridge and beyond

• More than 500 programmatic partners

• Every event free and open to the public

• Many events aimed at adults, as well as families
  

About Cambridge Science Festival - Cambridge Science Festival, the first of its kind in the United States, was founded by the MIT Museum in 2007 with the support of MIT, Harvard and the City of Cambridge. The first Festival drew 15,000 attendees and has grown over the years into a week-long, city-wide STEAM celebration receiving more than 50,000 annual visitors, offering more than 300 individual events in more than 75 venues across Cambridge and beyond. Modeled on community centered art, music, and film festivals, the Cambridge Science Festival offers activities, demonstrations, workshops, tours, debates, contests, talks, and behind-the-scenes glimpses to illuminate the richness of scientific inquiry and the excitement of discovery. This year's Festival runs from Monday September 23 - Sunday September 29. Find out more about CSF at cambridgesciencefestival.org.

About the MIT Museum - The MIT Museum “turns MIT inside-out,” offering compelling examples of ongoing and past research that raise questions of how science and innovation will shape the future of society. The museum makes innovation available to all, by presenting the best of STEAM in its newly designed space in the heart of the Kendall Square Gateway on MIT’s campus. Highlights include exhibitions on a range of topics featuring objects from the Museum’s prodigious collections of over 1.5 million objects, along with loans of art and artifacts; the Lee Family Exchange event space for public dialogue and conversation; a hands-on Heide Maker Hub, where audiences can experiment with putting scientific ideas into action; and a Store of memorable STEAM and MIT-inspired items.

The MIT Museum is open daily 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information, including accessibility and amenities, please visit mitmuseum.mit.edu.

FESTIVAL SPONSORS

The 2024 Cambridge Science Festival (CSF) is produced by the MIT Museum with support from our premier sponsor The British International School of Boston. CSF is presented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the City of Cambridge with media partner WBUR. CSF receives major support from the Biogen Foundation and Takeda Pharmaceuticals; additional support from Akamai, Alnylam, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Evolv Technology, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, MilliporeSigma, MITIMCo, Murata Manufacturing, Russian School of Mathematics, Sanofi, Siena Construction, and Snapdragon Chemistry: A Cambrex Company. Support from MathWorks.

Press Contact

Leah Talatinian, MIT Museum | leaht@mit.edu | 617-253-5351

Contact for Further Information

Brooke Ciardelli, Festival Producer | brookec@mit.edu | 917-370-6823