The second annual Cambridge Science Festival, an annual citywide celebration of science and technology, will take place Saturday, April 26, through Sunday, May 4. The festival will feature more than 200 events ranging from lunch with a different Nobel Laureate each weekday, to building and launching your own rocket, to theatrical and opera performances.
The festival kicks off with a free Science Carnival at Cambridge City Hall from noon until 4 p.m. on April 26.
The Cambridge Science Festival showcases Cambridge as an internationally recognized leader in science and technology. A multifaceted, multicultural event modeled on art, music and movie festivals, the event promises to make science accessible, interactive and fun, highlighting the impact of science and technology in all our lives.
This year's festival-spanning nine days-will include more than 200 events open to the public and held at different venues throughout the city of Cambridge. Festivalgoers can participate in workshops, behind the scenes tours, talks, performances, debates and film festivals.
Many of the events are interactive and geared to kids and their families. But there will also be adult-focused events, such as exploring whether neuronal enhancements could or should be used to make you smarter with Neuroscientist and Harvard Provost Steve Hyman, Picower Institute Director Mark Bear and MIT Neuropharmacology Professor Richard Wurtman.
Some MIT-centric events during the festival include "A Hack's How-To; MIT Museum Family Day" all day on Sunday, April 27, featuring hands-on fun family activities; the Arts & Science Mixer on Thursday, May 1, and the Energy Night Mixer on Friday night, May 2-both at the MIT museum and free for the MIT community.
Last year the event drew an estimated 15,000 people from across New England.
"The festival aims to make world-class science and technology-and the people who do it-directly accessible to the community," said Festival Executive Director and MIT Museum Director John Durant. "Science is relevant to absolutely everyone; but we hope that in particular our festival will inspire curious young minds to explore the world about them in new ways."
The Cambridge Science Festival is a collaboration among MIT, Harvard University, the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Schools, Cambridge Public Library, WGBH and the Museum of Science. The festival is generously supported by MIT, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the City of Cambridge, Larry and Diane Bock, Wyeth Research, Biogen Idec, Harvard University, Novartis, Genzyme, Merck, Millennium, Pfizer, Vertex, Alnylam, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Boston Properties, Draper Labs, MathWorks, Shire, the Cambridge Community Foundation, CDM, Cubist and Schering-Plough.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on April 16, 2008 (download PDF).
