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Essential MITOngoing

MIT is not a place so much as it is a unique collection of exceptional people.

What is essential at MIT is asking questions others may not ask, trying the unexpected in pursuit of a greater solution, and embracing distinctive skills and combinations of talents. Whether encompassing global issues, ventures into space, or efforts to improve our daily lives, stories told in this exhibit showcase the process of discovery that sits at the heart of MIT.

Delve into the experimental culture and collaborative spirit of the MIT community in this dynamic and interactive exploration of groundbreaking projects and ongoing innovation.


MIT’s greatest invention may be itself—an unusual concentration of unusual talent, forever reinventing itself on a mission to make a better world.

President L. Rafael Reif

Located in the Brit J. (1961) and Alex (1949) d'Arbeloff Gallery

Supported by the Biogen Foundation