The Cambridge Science Festival

Robots at the MIT Museum

Photograph courtesy of the Cambridge Science Festival

Viewings through a solar telescope at the Museum of Science

Photograph courtesy of the Cambridge Science Festival

The twelfth annual Cambridge Science Festival offers more than 200 events, promising something for all ages—“Science Carnival and Robot Zoo,” “Astronomy on Tap,” “You’re the Expert”—in locations across Greater Boston. Founded by MIT Museum director John Durant, the 10-day event was the “first of its kind in the United States,” says festival manager MaryCat Chaikin: “You get to engage in hands-on, creative activities directly with scientists” working in a world-class research hub.

Also unique is the fair’s breadth, from math challenges, lab experiments, citizen-driven data drives, and philosophical debates to activities that underscore the essential roles of math and science in food, the arts, business, education, human development—and even comedy. “You’re the Expert” is a hilarious attempt by comedians to guess scientists’ areas of research through a 20 Questions-style game. The Boston Public Market hosts a daylong focus on science and edibles, while Red’s Best opens its Boston fishery to explain technologies used by sustainable seafood markets. At “Be A Medicine Hunter,” the Novartis open house, visitors can talk with researchers; meanwhile, the City of Cambridge offers “How Cambridge Works—Science at City Hall.” Harvard events range from “Cambridge Explores the Universe,” at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, to “The Invisible Chef”—ferreting out microbes in food with the Harvard Microbial Sciences Initiative.

Most activities are free, accessible by public transportation, and open to families. But it’s adults-only at “Astronomy on Tap,” where postdocs present their research over pints. The challenge mounts as the night wears on. 

Click here for the March-April 2018 issue table of contents

Read more articles by Nell Porter-Brown

You might also like

Harvard Releases Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Task Force Reports

University publishes findings from thorough examinations of campus conditions.

Harvard Renames Diversity Office

The decision follows pressure from the Trump administration to eliminate DEI practices. 

Centralizing University Discipline

Harvard establishes new disciplinary procedures for campus protest violations.

Most popular

Harvard Renames Diversity Office

The decision follows pressure from the Trump administration to eliminate DEI practices. 

Harvard Releases Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Task Force Reports

University publishes findings from thorough examinations of campus conditions.

The New Gender Gaps

What to do as men and boys fall behind

Explore More From Current Issue

The Trump Administration's Impact on Higher Education

Unprecedented federal actions against research funding, diversity, speech, and more

89664

Jessica Shand—Math and Music at Harvard

Jessica Shand blends math and music.

89677

Paper Peepshows at Harvard's Baker Library

How “paper peepshows” brought distant realms to life

89684