Artificial Intimacy: Who Do We Become When We Talk to Machines?
MIT Alumni Association
MIT Alumni Association
Club of Chicago
Tuesday, May 13, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (America/Chicago)
Event Details
Have you ever wondered how technologies like LEDs, solar cells, and biomedical imaging became so advanced? The answer lies in a groundbreaking discovery in quantum dot research by Professor Moungi Bawendi, one of the most influential chemists of our era.
Quantum dots—tiny semiconducting crystals with remarkable optical and electronic properties—have transformed numerous industries. Central to this revolution was Professor Bawendi's pioneering hot-injection synthesis method, which enabled the production of high-quality, uniform quantum dots on a large scale. This innovation gave scientists an unprecedented ability to fine-tune these materials, tailoring their properties with precision for specific applications.
Today, Professor Bawendi's work drives advancements in a wide array of technologies, from vibrant LED displays to life-saving biomedical imaging tools. His research exemplifies how visionary science can open up limitless possibilities across industries.
Professor Moungi Bawendi, the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at MIT, has dedicated his career to exploring the science and applications of nanocrystals, particularly semiconductor nanocrystals—better known as quantum dots. Born in Paris, he moved to the United States as a child and went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees from Harvard University, followed by a PhD in chemistry from the University of Chicago. After completing postdoctoral research at Bell Labs, he joined MIT's chemistry faculty in 1990. In 2023, Professor Bawendi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry as a co-recipient for his "discovery and synthesis of quantum dots."
Professor Bawendi’s groundbreaking contributions continue to inspire and shape the future of science and technology.
join us for an evening with Professor and Nobel Prize winner Moungi Bawendi on May 13th from 6-8pm at McAndrews Held and Malloy, 500 West Madison, 35th Floor, Chicago, IL. A wine and cheese reception to follow. Registrants that want to participate virtually will receive details on May 10th.
Please register by May 10th.
Not a member of MITCOC? MIT alums, current students, and parents can join here.
Learn MoreClub of Switzerland
Saturday, May 17, 10:00am - 5:00pm (Europe/Zurich)
Event Details
It is again time for the MIT Club of Switzerland’s annual general meeting! The board is excited to welcome you to attend the AGM near Zurich on Saturday, May 17, 2025, hosted at the Umwelt Arena Switzerland, an exhibition and competence center for all things sustainability and environment. The event kicks off with a private behind-the-scenes tour of the sustainable design, architecture, and energy use of the Umwelt Arena building. Afterwards we'll enjoy a relaxed lunch together before heading to a meeting room to discuss the MIT Club. There is time before and after the official program to explore the exhibitions on your own. The event is modular - you can sign up for some or all additional activities as you wish!
As the forms of advanced eduction evolve at MIT and around the world, we too need to keep our club up-to-date. This year we will be considering revisions to our Club Statutes regarding the definition of membership. The AGM is your opportunity to participate in the Club’s review of last year and add your voice to our planning for the future. We hope you’ll join us!
Date: Saturday, May 17
Location: Umwelt Arena Switzerland, 8957 Spreitenbach (near Zurich, maps)
Opening time: 10:00-17:00
Program:
from 10:00 up to 11:00: individual arrival and exploration of the exhibitions
11:00 - 12:00: MIT private tour: "Behind the Scenes at Umwelt Arena" *
12:00 - 14:00: 3-course lunch at Restaurant Klima
14:00 - 16:00: AGM in meeting room "Bircher-Benner" **
16:00 - 17:00: individual exploration and departure
*The tour is limited to 20 participants. Tickets available first-come, first-serve.
**Participation in the AGM is limited to MIT community members. Your guests may continue exploring the exhibitions during this time. Please remember that only alumni who have paid Club dues this or last year (2025 or 2024) may vote at the AGM.
Costs:
Entry Ticket+Tour | Lunch | |
MIT community members who have paid membership fee | free of additional charge | free of additional charge |
MIT community members without active membership and guests | CHF 14.80 per person | CHF 31.55 per person |
Registration:
To attend, sign up via the registration button on the website by Saturday, 3 May 2025. Note that cancellations after this date cannot be refunded.
Accommodation:
If you are coming from further away...
There are plenty of hotels in Zurich, and the venue also highlighted 2 partner hotels nearby:
Our partner hotel “Hilton Garden Inn” offers you favorable rates via this link: Available Rooms - Hilton Garden Inn Zurich Limmattal
Our partner hotel “harry's home” offers you special prices with the booking code: UWA
https://harrys-home.com/zuerich-limmattal/
Attachments:
will be sent by email no fewer than 21 days ahead of the AGM
Contact
Learn MoreClub of France
Tuesday, May 20, 7:00pm - 9:30pm (Europe/Paris)
Event Details
Dear Alumni,
We are very honored to welcome MIT Prof Moungi Bawendi 2023 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in Paris https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moungi_Bawendi
Quantum dots, one of the first engineered nanomaterials, have become ubiquitous in displays and other applications. Professor Bawendi's talk will discuss their origin story, their development, and their applications. This is a story of curiosity-based science driving innovation and technological progress.
Moungi Bawendi is the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at MIT. His lab focuses on the science and applications of nanocrystals, especially semiconductor nanocrystal (aka quantum dots). Born in Paris, Bawendi emigrated to the United States as a child, and earned his bachelor's and master's Degrees from Harvard University. He went on to achieve a PhD in chemistry from the University of Chicago. After conducting postdoctoral research at Bell Labs, he joined the MIT Chemistry faculty in 1990. In 2023, Bawendi was named a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots".
We will have a sitting dinner with a composition of 3 themes to go along with the service - Each theme will have a presentation by the professor to be followed by questions from the assembly
1) Apetizer - the Early life and education
2) Entries - the Researcher life and The Quantum dots
3) Dessert: the Nobel Prize, MIT and the path forward
Frédéric Hannoyer and the MIT CdF Board
Bio:
Professor Moungi Bawendi, born in Paris, France, in 1961, is a distinguished chemist recognized for his groundbreaking work on quantum dots. After spending his early years in France and Tunisia, he moved to the United States, where he pursued higher education. He obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1988 and later conducted postdoctoral research at Bell Labs.
In 1990, Bawendi joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he became a professor in 1996. His most notable scientific contribution is the hot-injection synthesis of quantum dots, a breakthrough that enabled precise control over their size and properties, leading to wide-ranging applications in electronics, photovoltaics, and biomedical imaging.
For his pioneering work, Bawendi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, alongside Louis E. Brus and Alexey Ekimov, for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. These nanomaterials are now essential in high-definition displays, energy-efficient lighting, medical diagnostics, and solar energy technology, revolutionizing modern technology and holding great potential for future innovations in medicine, renewable energy, and quantum computing,
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Club of France
Thursday, May 22, 7:30pm - 7:30pm (Europe/Paris)
Event Details
Dear Alumni,
Invitation to the HumAIn Salon: Exploring AI, People, and the Future of Work
We are pleased to invite you the 4th edition of our NEW AI event : the HumAIn Salon. This is a recurring series of human-size in-person events dedicated to exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, human factors, including the future of work. This intimate gathering (~30p max) will occur every one to two months, bringing together a small group of participants for in-depth discussions on these critical topics.
Theme: “HumAIn Intelligence: AI, People, and the Future of Work”
Format: Serial meetups featuring a blend of expert presentations and interactive exchanges
Salon Host : Léa Peersman, MIT Sloan graduate, researcher, founder of HI Lab,
Guest Speakers: Every session will feature a guest speaker from the fields of AI research, cognitive sciences, sociology, and startups, sparking the discussions and guiding our exploration.
This is a conference where we expect you to participate and share your vision! The HumAIn Salon is a collaborative forum where every voice matters, and your insights are critical to shaping our understanding of the intersection between AI and human experiences.
Join us for an engaging discussion and dinner
We look forward to welcoming you to this enriching and thought-provoking series.
Specific Mar 25th Event Details:
Date: 25 March 2025
Time: 19:30 – 22:30
Venue: Restaurant Vauban, facing Les Invalides, 7th arrondissement, Paris
Guest Speakers:
This session will explore the core question:
“Rethinking Resilience: Fostering Ingenuity in a World of Crises and AI”
In a world facing crises on every level—wars in Europe, climate change — are we, as a Nation, truly prepared to become resilient? Is our generation ready to invent in a world without abundance? To create using only what is available?
In the era of Artificial Intelligence, what is the defining value of humanity? Is it not creativity, the ability to invent, to be ingenious, to think outside the box? We think through our bodies, our space, our emotions. Our perception is the key to our ability to evolve by acting upon the world—it forces us to confront reality and, therefore, compels us to invent.
I deeply believe that, given the current context, we must rethink our societies — from a model of hyper-specialization of skills to a world of well-rounded individuals. This shift has already begun through the widespread adoption of soft skills training for better collective living. Today, it is time to train our future generations of engineers to become modern-day MacGyvers.
Over an informal dinner, Clement and Lea will share their vision and let us exchange and share.
Registration: To attend, you only pay for your dinner (3 course-meal) - please register on the MIT website. Limited Seating the dinner is at 55€ and you pay forward to reserve your seat - We'll refund you if you cannot attend and tell us upfront.
We look forward to your participation in this important discussion.
Best regards,
Lea Peersman and Frédéric Hannoyer
MIT CdF Board member & MIT CdF President
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Club of France
Thursday, June 12, 6:30pm - 10:00pm (Europe/Paris)
Event Details
Dear Friends,
You are cordially invited to join us for the American University Clubs of France's Annual Embassy Reception and Summer Cocktail on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the historic Hôtel Talleyrand. Your presence will contribute to the success and festivity of this AUC signature event.
Location: Hôtel Talleyrand, 2 Rue Saint-Florentin, 75001 Paris
Time: The entrance will be only be between 18:30 to 19:30. Our cocktail with Champagne and aperitif will begin at 19:00 and will end at 22:00. There will be a welcome speech at 19:00.
Security Information: Please remember to bring a valid picture ID with you (Passport or Carte d'Identité only). Your ID is mandatory to enter the reception and admission is by guest list only. All attendees must be on the guest list. For security reasons, the entrance will only be between 18:30 to 19:30. Please do not bring laptop computers.
Registration ends Monday June 2nd at midnight, or when tickets sell out. https://www.helloasso.com/associations/auc-france/evenements/auc-annual-embassy-reception-and-summer-cocktail-2025
Please note that the Hôtel de Talleyrand is a spectacular example of a late 18th-century Parisian mansion. We thank you in advance to take great care of its environment, floors, walls, and furniture.
We are looking forward to seeing you soon!
The AUC Board with the support of the Embassy of the United States of America in France
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Please note that ticket sales are final and no refunds are possible. Thank you for your understanding.
By registering for this event, you consent to the AUC sharing your details with the AUC Member Presidents of Alumni Clubs for the sole purpose of coordinating and contacting you in relation to this event.
By registering for this event you agree to be filmed or photographed with materials that may be used by the AUC on social media and in the promotion of its activities.
Club of Chicago
Saturday, June 14, 9:30am - 11:30am (America/Chicago)
Event Details
Join us for our Family Friendly Bike and Brunch in the suburbs on Saturday June 14th at 9:30am to 11:30am. We will bike the Forest Preserve, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering miles of scenic trails for biking, hiking, and running. Located just a short distance from the River Forest Metra stop, it's the perfect place for an easy bike ride through the woods. Along the way, we may see deer, foxes, and other wildlife.
Please RSVP to let us know if you are going to make it. If it is raining we will reschedule. Please also bring a bike lock and water to hydrate.
This will be an intermediate bike ride and suitable for all skill levels. The trails are smooth, well-maintained and run along the Des Plaines river. We will follow along the Des Plaines River to Robinson Park. The park is named after Alexander Robinson, the English name of Potawatomi chief Chee-chee-pin-quay, born in 1787.The trek will be 20 miles and will take us up to Park Ridge where we can stop for brunch.
The group will start off at 9:30 from Thatcher Wood a short 5-'min ride north from the River Forest Train Station. For those arriving by car, you can park in the Thatcher Woods parking lot off of Chicago Avenue. If you are coming from Chicago, take the Union Pacific West line to River Forest, arriving at 8:50 in River Forest.
We hope to see you there!
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Learn MoreClub of Chicago
Sunday, August 31, 9:30am - 12:00pm (America/Chicago)
Event Details
MITCOC members are gathering for the 2025 Bike the Drive event on August 31st at 9:30am. If you are interested in joining the group for an easy ride on Lake Shore Drive, please join us.
Chicago's annual Bike the Drive event is an iconic event and not to be missed. The Active Transportation Alliance has once again organized a great event and registration is open. You can register at https://bikethedrive.org/register/. The event takes bikers of all skill levels.
Meeting Location: NW corner of Jackson and Lake Shore Drive, 235 S. Columbus Dr. Chicago, IL 60604.
Please RSVP to let us know you will be coming.
We'll ride North up to the Lincoln Park Zoo taking rests to have unobstructed pictures of the Centennial Ferris Wheel and other Chicago Icons as we ride car-free. Please make sure you register, bring a helmet, and a bottle of water.
Recommendations:
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