Artificial Intimacy: Who Do We Become When We Talk to Machines?
MIT Alumni Association
MIT Alumni Association
Club of Dallas and Fort Worth
Tuesday, May 13, 6:00pm - 9:00pm (America/New_York)
Event Details
This opportunity is courtesy of MIT Club of Chicago which is allowing us to participate remotely to support the efforts of the Science Committee at the Dallas Makerspace (DMS) to build a volunteering and STEM outreach partnership between the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at UNT, the MIT Club of DFW, and DMS.
Please register for MIT Club of Chicago virtual ticket to the lecture BEFORE registering for the in-person event at DMS (free to dues paid members).
1. DMS-MIT Special Guest Lecture:
On May 13th, the Dallas Makerspace and the MIT Club of DFW will jointly host an remote special guest lecture featuring Professor Moungi Bawendi from the MIT Chemistry Department. Professor Bawendi will share about his groundbreaking work on quantum dots—nanoscale semiconductor materials that have revolutionized a wide range of applications including medical imaging, consumer electronics, and solar energy. There will be opportunities for questions at the end of the lecture.
About Professor Bawendi: Dr. Moungi Bawendi is the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 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. In 2023, Professor Bawendi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry as a co-recipient for his "discovery and synthesis of quantum dots."
2. Tour of the Dallas Makerspace + Demos/Activities:
A guided tour of the Dallas Makerspace will be provided. DMS offers a wide variety classes, equipment and resources including a machine shop, a hot glass shop, a metal shop, 3D printing, printmaking presses, a woodshop, science laboratory space, creative arts tools, a blacksmithy, an automotive shop, a ceramics studio, a jewelry studio and more. Demos and limited hands-on crafts and activities will be available (more details to come). A special discount on the first month of membership for MIT Alumni will be available for attendees.
About the Dallas Makerspace: Dallas Makerspace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community workshop and laboratory sharing a 36,000sqft shop in Carrollton, TX. We are an organization of local artists, engineers, makers, and thinkers working together to provide tools and learning resources to the public. We use these resources to collaborate on individual and community projects in order to promote science, technology and art; while working and experimenting on innovative ideas to encourage learning within our community.
3. STEM Outreach Volunteering Information:
Both the MIT Club of DFW and the Science Committee at the Dallas Makerspace are looking to expand their STEM outreach activities. We need your help! If you are interested in volunteering, this is a great opportunity to meet people already involved in these activities as well as STEM educators and student leaders. Together we can make a real impact.
Light refreshments and food will be provided.
The exact room(s) for each part the event will be announced later. Information will be posted on the Science Committee area whiteboards on the day of the event.
MIT Alumni: To attend the in-person event at DMS, please register for both this event AND the virtual option ticket from MITCOC ($25): https://alumcommunity.mit.edu/networks/events/123570
Registration for DMS Members: https://calendar.dallasmakerspace.org/events/view/24544
Local STEM Educators: Please reach out to science@dallasmakerspace.org for an invitation (limited availability).
Contact
greenorbs@dallasmakerspace.org
Learn MoreClub of Cape Cod
Thursday, May 15, 11:30am - 2:30pm (America/New_York)
Event Details
Prescription For Bankruptcy:
America's Failing Health Care "non-system"
Why do Americans pay more than citizens of any other country for health care and yet have, at best, mediocre health outcomes? Dr. Edward Hoffer will discuss this topic, and suggest both global solutions and practical things you can do to pay less and get better care.
Our speaker, Edward Hoffer MD
Edward Hoffer MD is a graduate of MIT and Harvard Medical School and did his residency and fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Hoffer has held faculty academic appointments at Harvard, the University of Massachusetts, and Boston University. He has also held appointments at several Boston hospitals (Peter Bent Brigham, Beth Israel, Boston Hospital for Women), at many Boston metro-west hospitals (in Worcestor, Natick, and Framingham), and at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington. He has either authored or co-authored over 80 publications, including 8 books and dozens of refereed journal articles, many of which deal with the application of computers to various aspects of medicine and with issues within the American healthcare system (insurance, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, etc.).
For 45 years he combined clinical practice of Internal Medicine and Cardiology with research on the applications of computers and AI to medical care, and continues to work half-time at the MGH Lab of Computer Science.
He has written and lectured extensively on the problems of the American healthcare "non-system."
Lunch at Alberto's Ristorante
We will be returning to Alberto's Ristorante in Hyannis because of the many rave reviews we received for the food and service in the past.
There will be a cash bar and we will be offering the same entrees as before (gluten-free is available upon request). All meals include a house salad and Tartuffo dessert.
Contact
Learn MoreClub of Hong Kong
Friday, May 16, 12:30pm - 2:00pm (Asia/Hong_Kong)
Event Details
🌟 Reinventing Retirement: AI, Longevity, & New Ventures with Dr. Ronjon Nag – May 16 LunchMIT Club of Hong Kong is excited to invite you to the next Sloan Futures Series – an exclusive lunch talk with a true pioneer at the intersection of AI, longevity, and entrepreneurship: Dr. Ronjon Nag.Join us on May 16, 2025, at 12:30 PM at The Square, Exchange Square, Central, Hong KongThis thought-provoking session, Reinventing Retirement: AI, Longevity, and Entrepreneurial Opportunities, will explore how artificial intelligence and advances in genetics are redefining what it means to retire and creating new opportunities for founders and investors in a world of 100-year lives.🗓️ Event Details
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Club of Hong Kong
Tuesday, May 20, 12:00pm - 2:00pm (Asia/Hong_Kong)
Event Details
The MIT Club of Hong Kong invites you to an exclusive, invitation-only event with 30 participants to explore the latest trends in education and reflect on our collective actions. Join friends from the alumni community of Harvard, Stanford and others as part of the Global Education Futures series hosted by the Yidan Prize Foundation.
Global Leaders - How is the International Baccalaureate (IB) adapting to the future of education?
Fifty years after their successful collaboration, United World College (UWC) and IB are piloting a Systems Transformation Pathway (STP) curriculum to empower educators and parents worldwide to help the next generation navigate and shape the future. Faith Abiodun, Executive Director of UWC International, will join us in Hong Kong to share the promise and implications of this collaboration. Click here to see what the Director General of IB said about the pilot last month.
Brilliant Youth - What do the youngest scientist featured by the HKSAR government 25th anniversary channel and one of last year’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons have in common?
They are classmates from Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong’s only boarding school, which has welcomed students from over 90 countries annually since its founding in 1992. Principal Dr. Spencer Fowler will share how the faculty is innovating beyond the IB curriculum to ensure the two years before college build an exceptional foundation for guiding students’ lifelong pursuits.
Thriving Kids - How can parents and concerned citizens counter the growing forces shaping children into passive consumers and spectators?
Learn about how Bloom Academy, Hong Kong’s first bilingual school of innovation, is nurturing social innovators and compassionate creators. With the launch of its secondary program campus this academic year, the school now offers a through-train journey for its expanding family community. Renee Boey, Head of School at Bloom Academy, will moderate a conversation with Faith and Spencer, unpack their visions and actions regarding Education Futures, connecting them to the Here and Now.
Please find event details below:
Date: 20 May 2025 (Tuesday)
Time: 12 PM to 2 PM (Program starts at 12:30 PM)
Venue: 28/F, 9 Queen’s Road, Central (Yidan Prize Foundation)
Registration Fees: HK$100 (Light lunch will be provided)
Please feel free to bring a guest. Space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For inquiries, contact Michael at michael@lpcuwc.edu.hk or Stephanie at stephanie_lau@alum.mit.edu.
Learn More
Club of Hong Kong
Thursday, May 22, 9:30am - 5:00pm (Asia/Hong_Kong)
Event Details
Given the overwhelming response from our last visit, we are excited to invite you on an exclusive tour that will take you behind the scenes of two leading robotics companies: UBTECH 优必选and Huayan Robotics 华沿机器人 (previously known as 大族机器人) on May 22, 2025 (Thu). Tour Details: ~8:45 am High Speed train from HK (or earlier) 9:30 am Gather near Starbucks @ Shenzhen Futian High Speed Rail Station 9:45 am Bus leaves train station 10:15 -12:00 am UBTECH visit 12:00 -2:30 pm Lunch & travel to next company 2:30 - 4:15 pm Huayan Robotics 4:30 pm bus to Futian High Speed Rail Station Cost: US$60 per person (includes lunch and bus only.) Pls purchase your own train tickets. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn about latest development of robotics industry and network with industry leaders, gain insights into innovative practices, and explore potential collaborations. Spaces are limited, so please reserve your spot today! if you have any questions, please contact lgao@alum.mit.edu or karen_ng@alum.mit.edu. We look forward to seeing you in Shenzhen!
About the Companies UBTECH ROBOTICS, founded in March 2012, is a pioneering company specializing in humanoid robots and smart service robots. On December 29, 2023, it successfully listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 9880.HK. We are honoured to have the opportunity to tour their facilities and meet with their CFO and other key executives. Join us as we explore how UBTECH is committed to creating an integrated intelligent ecosystem, leveraging intelligent robots as the core platform and AI technology as the driving force, combining hardware, software, services, and content to achieve this vision.
Huayan Robotics, formerly known as Han's Robot, is a leading developer and manufacturer of intelligent collaborative robots, serving diverse industries including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, education, and services. With a global presence spanning over 100 countries and regions, Huayan Robotics is renowned for its innovative solutions. We are excited to visit their showroom and engage in an interactive discussion with the founder and key executives to delve deeper into the dynamic world of industrial robots and explore future trends.
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Club of Cape Cod
Wednesday, June 11, 5:00pm - 8:30pm (America/New_York)
Event Details
The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project
Wôpanâak was the language spoken by the indiginous people living in this region when the Pilgrims arrived in 1620.
After a couple hundred years of colonial laws, wars, and diseases, hundreds of Wôpanâak tribes were reduced to four small fragmented communities, and the last people for whom Wôpanâak was their first language passed away in the mid 1850's. It took only a few more generations for all traces of spoken Wôpanâak to completely fade away, with the decendants speaking only English after that.
OUR SPEAKERS:
Jessie (Little Doe) Baird
Jessie (Little Doe) Baird is the Director of Linguistics, Lead Linguist, and a co-founder of the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project.
In the early 1990's she had dreams in which people were speaking in an unfamiliar language, and soon after that she thought that the language might be Wôpanâak, the language spoken by her ancestors.
This inspired her to start researching everything she could find out about the original Wôpanâak language, and in 1993 she co-founded the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project with the long-term goal of revitalizing the language, which had not be spoken for seven generations, for the people now living within the remaining anoag tribes.
Because something like that had never been done before, there were many who thought that it was not even possible. But Jessie was undeterred. In her quest, she gained admission to MIT where she learned how to apply modern linguistic techniques coupled with historical records in order to understand original Wôpanâak grammar and to create a dictionary of 10,000 Wôpanâak words. (And she did all this while commuting between her home on Cape Cod and Cambridge while also raising four children).
For this seminal work, Jessie was granted a Masters in Linguistic Science from MIT in 2000.
In recognition of this and other brilliant achievements ...
Jessie also serves as the vice-chairwoman of the Mashpee Wôpanâak Indian Tribal Council.
Tracy Kelley
Tracy Kelly is the Director of Programming for the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project. She was granted a Master in LInguistic Science from MIT in 2020.
Our Annual Education Event
Prior to our presentation, Carol Bogin, our club's VP for Education Programs, will briefly report about all the education activities and awards for this year, highlighting the many ways we support the MIT Club of Cape Cod's primary missions to promote STEM education on the Cape and the Islands, including:
Lunch at Alberto's Ristorante
We will be returning to Alberto's Ristorante in Hyannis because of the many rave reviews we received for the food and service in the past.
There will be a cash bar and we will be offering the same entrees as before (gluten-free is available upon request). All meals include a house salad and Tartuffo dessert.
Contact
Learn More