The Urban Naturalist: How to Make the City Your Scientific Playground

Join evolutionary biologist Menno Schilthuizen to explore a new dawn of natural history, practiced by community scientists in their own urban jungle. Imagine taking your smartphone-turned-microscope to an empty lot and discovering a rare mason bee that builds its nest in empty snail shells. Or a miniature spider that hunts ants and carries their corpses around. With a team of citizen scientists, that's exactly what Menno Schilthuizen did — one instance in the evolutionary biologist's campaign to take natural science to the urban landscape where most of us live today. In this delightful book, The Urban Naturalist, Schilthuizen invites us to join him, to embark on a new age of discovery, venturing out as intrepid explorers of our own urban habitat — and maybe in the process do the natural world some good. Copies of The Urban Naturalist will be available for purchase onsite from the MIT Press Bookstore. Buy Tickets <a href="https://tickets.mitmuseum.org/events/0194d7ff-22a9-babd-0bf3-0a9a5f70f7d8">Here</a>.

MIT Museum

The Story Collider: Fractures

Join us at the Museum for five true, personal stories about the ruptures in our lives, and how science sometimes triggers, and sometimes heals those breaks. Hosted by Ari Daniel and Bart Thompson. Speakers: Meenakshi Garodia is a multimedia artist, storyteller, ceramicist, writer/director and experimental filmmaker working in digital, installation, and 16mm film. She has written and directed multiple well received plays and short films with an emphasis on women’s agency. Her work explores women’s lives within the patriarchy and the immigrant experience. She is passionate about working with analog cameras that shoot with physical film that you can touch. Meenakshi is an Affiliate Faculty at Emerson College where she got her MFA in Film and Media Arts. Iman Moawad is a pediatric clinical pharmacist by day and an aspiring storyteller by night. Growing up as a third culture kid between the US and the Middle East, she learned early on the power of storytelling as a way to connect with people and build a sense of community and understanding with people from different walks of life. When she's not saving babies one antibiotic dose at a time, you can find her hanging on the Esplanade with friends or searching for the cutest coffee shop in Boston. Joseph Ntaimo is an MIT mechanical engineering graduate student. He studied at MIT for undergrad as well in mechanical engineering with a focus in musical robotics. He enjoys teaching, designing new musical instruments, and is a professional DJ, along with his expertise in PCB design, mechatronics, and controls. Zakiya Whatley is a scientist turned storyteller who uses audio, video, and live events to bring science to life. She’s passionate about making science accessible and engaging. She hosts two Webby-nominated podcasts — Breakthrough from Boston Children’s Hospital and Dope Labs where science meets pop culture. Zakiya has trained scientists and researchers to share their stories effectively, helping them bridge the gap between their expertise and the broader public. Whether in front of the mic or behind the scenes, she believes storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for connection, understanding, and change.

Making Studio: Root Patterning

What if we could grow materials? In this experimental two-part workshop, you'll use tessellations and digital fabrication to create a self-woven tile made from grass roots. Learn about tessellations and digital design techniques to create a 3D-printed tiling pattern. Then, assemble your tile and plant your grass seeds above it. Watch the roots grow to follow your pattern over time! Participants must be available for both sessions. No prior experience necessary. This is an 18+ workshop series. $80/person Workshop Dates: April 7 April 14

After Dark: Oceans

Come to the MIT Museum this April as we unravel the mysteries of the deep sea and explore the great unknown. Join artist Keith Ellenbogen for an extraordinary journey beneath the waves as he unveils a window into our local waters through photography. Catch a talk with MIT Professor Julien De Wit on how scientists are searching for signs of oceans (and life!) beyond our solar system. Plunge into the world of aquatic robotics with MIT Sea Grant or experience the dawn of sight as you journey through the ocean's history with the MIT Media Lab's Camera Culture group. Tasty Spanish and Japanese inspired eats from <a href="https://www.gopagu.com/">Pagu</a>, and local beer from <a href="https://www.smallchangebrewing.com/">Small Change Brewing Company</a> will be available for purchase.

In Pursuit of Innovation: A Fireside Chat with Robert S. Langer and Michael John Gorman

Join us for an inspiring evening with scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur Robert Langer, as he discusses his early influences, his groundbreaking advancements in health and medicine, and the latest discoveries in drug delivery research. The conversation will also explore the future of innovation in today's research ecosystem. Langer will be joined by MIT Museum Director Michael John Gorman. Robert Langer is one of nine Institute Professors at MIT. Being an Institute Professor is the highest honor that can be awarded to a faculty member. He has written over 1,600 articles, which have been cited over 442,000 times; his h-index of 330 is the highest of any engineer in history and the 6th highest of any individual in any field. His patents have licensed or sub-licensed to over 400 companies; he is cofounder of a number of companies including Moderna. Dr. Langer served as Chairman of the FDA's Science Board (its highest advisory board) from 1999-2002. His over 220 awards include both the United States National Medal of Science and the United States National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Thursday, April 17 6-8pm $15 General Admission | $5 MIT ID Holders

Live Letters: The Future is Typing...

Join us for a companion event to the Museum’s Future Type exhibition and explore the live dimensions of typographic research. Featuring a spoken word performance by Shantell Martin, the evening will showcase artists utilizing computer code to generate music, visuals, and other media in real-time. Artists include Sadnoise, Char Stiles, Jessica Stringham, Switch Angel, and Vera Van De Seyp. Organized by the <a href="https://www.media.mit.edu/groups/future-sketches/overview/">Future Sketches</a> group at the MIT Media Lab, the exhibition and program are part of an ongoing investigation into how technology can extend creative expression, particularly in how we visualize and interact with language in digital environments. The experience offers a glimpse into how tomorrow's designers might approach the fundamental building blocks of written communication. April 18 6-8pm $15 General Admission | $5 MIT ID Holders

April School Vacation Week

Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. Free with admission unless otherwise noted. Monday, April 21<ul><li>11:00am-12:30pm, Exchange: Microscopy</li><li>1:30-4:00pm, Maker Hub: Fiber Arts</li></ul>Tuesday, April 22<ul><li>11:00am-12:30pm, Exchange: Microscopy</li><li>1:30-4:30pm, Maker Hub: Fiber Arts</li><li>3:00-4:00pm, Family Workshop: Social Robots &amp; AI</li></ul>Wednesday, April 23<ul><li>11:00AM-12:30pm, Exchange: Microscopy</li><li>1:30-4:30pm, Maker Hub: Fiber Arts</li><li>3:00-4:30pm, Family Workshop: Stop Motion</li></ul>Thursday, April 24<ul><li>11:00AM-12:30pm, Exchange: Microscopy</li><li>1:30-4:30pm, Maker Hub: Fiber Arts</li><li>2:30-4:30pm, Learning Lab: Exoplanet Drop-in</li></ul>Friday, April 25<ul><li>11:00am-12:30pm, Exchange: Microscopy</li><li>1:30-4:30pm, Maker Hub: Fiber Arts</li><li>2:00-3:00pm, Gallery Cart: Cat or Dog?</li></ul>Saturday, April 26 - DNA Day!<ul><li>Learn more about DNA Day and view the full schedule <a href="https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/dna-day">here</a>.</li></ul>Sunday, April 27<ul><li>10:30am-12:00pm, Exchange: Microscopy</li><li>12:30-4:30pm, Maker Hub: Chain Reaction</li></ul>

DNA Day

Come celebrate MIT Museum's Inaugural DNA Day Celebration on April 26, 2025. National DNA Day commemorates both the discovery of DNA's double helix structure in 1953 and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. Join us to learn about and celebrate advances in genomic research and explore how those advances impact our lives. See if you can complete our DNA scavenger hunt - can you find some of the equipment used to sequence the human genome for the very first time? Next: code your name into a DNA bracelet, try some bioengineering by designing a plasmid, or share your stance on today's hot topics in genetics in a conversation-sparking card game. Plus! Explore the work of bio-artists raising questions about the future of genetic editing in our Gene Cultures exhibit or ask your own questions of MIT scientists. All activities are free with museum admission. Full Schedule: 10am - 4pm Museum-wide: DNA Scavenger Hunt Pick up a DNA scavenger hunt from the front desk. Find items on display in our exhibits and complete tasks throughout the museum. Open to museum visitors of all ages. 10:30am - 12:30pm, 2:00pm - 4:00pm Lobby: Ask a Scientist! MIT scientists are ready to answer questions like: What do you do all day? and What's the big deal about DNA anyway? Open to museum visitors of all ages. 12:30 - 4:30pm Maker Hub: DNA Bracelets Code your name into the alphabet of DNA using beads! Open to museum visitors of all ages. 1:00 - 1:45pm The Exchange: Introduction to Personal Genetics with PGED Learn about how genetics has evolved since the completion of the Human Genome Project with an interactive presentation from Personal Genetics Education and Dialogue. Recommended for museum visitors age 14+. 2:00 - 4:00pm Learning Lab 1: Share Your Stance! with PGED Play a conversation-sparking card game to share your thoughts on today's hot topics in genetics! Recommended for museum visitors age 14+. Please note: the Share Your Stance game will be ticketed upon admission to reserve seating. Drop-in spots may be available after 2:30pm. 2:00 - 4:00pm Learning Lab 2: Design a Plasmid Solve a problem using genetic engineering! Play with the building blocks of life by putting together a puzzle that mimics how bio-engineers assemble genes. Recommended for museum visitors age 14+.

Empowering Society: Designing Empathetic AI Solutions

Our next Design Redefined explores how empathy-driven AI can positively impact society. Through a panel discussion and hands-on activities, participants will discover how designing AI with compassion can support mental well-being, enhance social connections, and address real-world challenges. By focusing on the human side of technology, this event aims to show how AI solutions, designed with empathy at their core, can empower communities and transform lives. Free with museum admission. Free for teens.

Not Here, Not Now: Speculative Thought, Impossibility, and the Design Imagination

Join us at the MIT Museum as we welcome award-winning designers Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby to discuss their new book, Not Here, Not Now, in conversation with John Ochsendorf, Founding Director of MIT Morningside Academy of Design. The event will be moderated by MIT Musuem Director Michael John Gorman. When reality fails us, what can designers do? Question design’s relationship to reality, as Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby do, in this exhilarating, yet thoughtful, journey to the edges of science, philosophy, and literature to find new ways of thinking about the possible—and about the meaning, function, and place of design in that speculative world of “not here, not now.” A conceptual travelogue of sorts,&nbsp;<a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049665/not-here-not-now/">Not Here, Not Now</a>&nbsp;brings together words, images, and objects that capture, in design form, some of the ideas encountered along the way. Itself a design experiment, the richly illustrated book explores ways to bring these ideas into conversation with objects through imagined archives, libraries, glossaries, taxonomies, lists, tales, and essays. Copies of&nbsp;Not Here, Not Now&nbsp;will be available for purchase onsite from the MIT Press Bookstore. May 7 6-8pm $5 <a href="https://tickets.mitmuseum.org/events/0195ba30-4460-8636-e12b-11574b326858">Buy Tickets Here</a>

Optiker Gallery Talk

Experience Stephen Benton's "rainbow" holograms in Optiker, an intimate exhibition that examines the intersection of light and vision. The tour will be led by MIT Museum Studio Director Seth Riskin. Free with museum admission.

Letterlocking: The Hidden History of the Letter

Join us at the MIT Museum as we welcome scholars Jana Dambrogio and Daniel Starza Smith to discuss their new book, Letterlocking: The Hidden History of the Letter. The presentation will be followed by a letterlocking making activity. Before the invention of the gummed envelope in the 1830s, how did people secure their private letters? The answer is letterlocking—the ingenious process of securing a letter using a combination of folds, tucks, slits, or adhesives such as sealing wax, so that it becomes its own envelope. This almost entirely forgotten practice, used by historical figures ranging from Elizabeth I and her spies to Japanese samurai lords, was an everyday activity for centuries, across cultures, borders, and social classes. In&nbsp;<a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049276/letterlocking/">Letterlocking</a>, Jana Dambrogio and Daniel Starza Smith, experts who have pioneered the field over the last ten years, tell the fascinating story of letterlocking within epistolary history, drawing on real historical examples from all over the world. Copies of&nbsp;Letterlocking&nbsp;will be available for purchase onsite from the MIT Press Bookstore. June 13 6-8pm $5 <a href="https://tickets.mitmuseum.org/events/0195be35-1877-7147-34cf-cdfae0c094ee">Buy Tickets here</a>.

STEAM Adventures Week 1

Join us at the MIT Museum for a week-long engineering design challenge! Get inspired by the museum galleries and MIT's campus with our staff and learn new skills through hands-on workshops and activities in our education suite. Finish the week off with a showcase and a chance to show off what you and your team have created. This is a week-long program for youth ages 12-15 (entering 7th-9th grade) with limited spots available. Students must be at least 12 years old to participate. STEAM Adventure Week Dates: Week 1: June 23 - June 27 Week 2: August 18 - August 22 Please note that both sessions of STEAM Adventures Week offer the same activities, so participants should choose only one week to attend. $550 per single student, $500 per student for siblings

STEAM Adventures Week 2

Join us at the MIT Museum for a week-long engineering design challenge! Get inspired by the museum galleries and MIT's campus with our staff and learn new skills through hands-on workshops and activities in our education suite. Finish the week off with a showcase and a chance to show off what you and your team have created. This is a week-long program for youth ages 12-15 (entering 7th-9th grade) with limited spots available. Students must be at least 12 years old to participate. STEAM Adventure Week Dates: Week 1: June 23 - June 27 Week 2: August 18 - August 22 Please note that both sessions of STEAM Adventures Week offer the same activities, so participants should choose only one week to attend. $550 per single student, $500 per student for siblings

Family Workshop: Holograms & 3D Perception

How is it possible for our eyes and brain to perceive depth when viewing a flat surface? Explore several types of 3D images, including some that are often confused with holograms, and learn what makes holograms unique. Then create your own hologram of a small object! Choose from items provided or bring your own (items must be less than 2 inches tall, smooth or shiny objects work best). This workshop is designed for families and friends working in small groups. Children must be age 13 and above and must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Workshop prices include museum admission. Please feel free to explore the museum with your group before or after the workshop. March 29, 2025 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Free with museum admission

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.