Artificial Intimacy: Who Do We Become When We Talk to Machines?
MIT Alumni Association
MIT Alumni Association
MIT Alumni Association
Wednesday, April 30, 3:00pm - 4:00pm (America/New_York)
Event Details
Members of the Cardinal & Gray Society, Emma Rogers Society, and School of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences (SHASS) alumni are invited to hear from Sherry Turkle, the Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology in the Program in Science. She will discuss her work at the intersection of psychology and AI and its effects on human connection.
Contact
Lizzie Army - earmy@mit.edu
Learn MoreMIT Alumni Association
Friday, May 2, 6:00pm - Sunday, May 4, 2:00pm (America/New_York)
MIT Alumni Association
Saturday, May 3, 11:45am - 9:00pm (America/New_York)
Club of Northern California
Thursday, May 8, 6:00pm - 8:30pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Event Details
Join us for a relaxed and enjoyable happy hour with Stanford South Bay Alumni, Dartmouth Alumni, Yale Club of Silicon Valley, MIT Club of Northern California!
Whether you're looking to catch up with old friends, make new connections, strengthen your local alumni network, or simply enjoy a casual evening out, this event is for you. With delicious food, drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere, it's the perfect way to unwind and engage with the vibrant multi-school alumni community in the South Bay.
This is a self-hosted event so food and drinks are available for purchase at the venue. There are 20-30 rotating beers on tap, 3-4 wines, kombucha, Detroit-style Pies, & more!
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Learn MoreClub of Hong Kong
Friday, May 16, 12:30pm - 2:00pm (Asia/Hong_Kong)
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🌟 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 Northern California
Friday, May 16, 7:30pm - 10:00pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Event Details
Come join our fellow MITCNC dance performance enthusiasts to enjoy Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet’s 2025 Spring Season featuring Alonzo King’s first collaboration with acclaimed jazz trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire, whose music blends beauty, virtuosity, and profound emotion. The program also includes the long-awaited return of King’s Scheherazade, a reimagining of the ancient One Thousand and One Nights, featuring a mesmerizing score by Grammy-winning tabla master Zakir Hussain. With LINES Ballet’s exquisite dancers bringing these works to life, the season promises an immersive experience of artistic innovation and transformative storytelling.
If interested, we can arrange to have a bite to eat in the area before the performance.
Deadline to purchase: Sat, April 26th
Note: No refund will be given once tickets are purchased
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Learn MoreClub of Northern California
Saturday, May 17, 2:15pm - Saturday, June 21, 8:00pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Event Details
“True creativity and innovation come from being able to stand at the intersection of art and science.”
—Walter Isaacson
The MIT Club of Northern California (MIT-CNC) invites you to Tango Saturdays—an inspiring series of Argentine Tango classes and live music events designed to awaken your creativity, deepen connection, and foster community. Whether you're stepping onto the dance floor for the first time or looking to refine your skills, this program offers a warm, inclusive environment to explore the art of tango.
All events take place at a beautiful home art studio in Palo Alto (1680 Bryant Street), where you'll enjoy small class sizes and an inviting space designed to support your learning and creativity, supplemented by an online space at the MIT Dancers LinkedIn Group.
Time: Saturdays, 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Dates: May 17, 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21
Location: 1680 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
Cost: $99/person or $179/couple
Syllabus & Details: http://feelingflow.org/syllabus-tango-foundations-i
Learn the elegant and grounded movement of Argentine Tango in this beginner-friendly series. We’ll cover core vocabulary, musical connection, and improvisational tools to get you moving confidently in any social dance setting.
Time: Saturdays, 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Dates: May 17, 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21
Location: 1680 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
Cost: $99/person or $179/couple
Syllabus & Details: https://www.feelingflow.org/syllabus-university-foundations-ii
For those with tango experience or graduates of Tango Foundations I, this class explores deeper musicality, navigation, and expression. Build fluency with circular movements, elegant pauses, and the joyful interplay of lead-follow dynamics.
Note: Tango Foundations I & II can be taken simultaneously.
Time: Saturdays, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Dates: May 17, 24, 31, Jun 7, 14, 21
Location: 1680 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
Cost: Free for class participants on non-concert weeks
Event Info: https://www.feelingflow.org/tea-tango
Unwind and practice your tango in a relaxed, welcoming environment, with live tango concerts on May 31st and June 21st.
Karn Verma is a passionate dance instructor specializing in Argentine tango and Cross Step Waltz, with roots in social dance from Stanford and professional training in Buenos Aires and Rome. He has taught at venues like Stanford’s Bechtel Center, Friday Night Waltz, and the Oshman Family JCC. In 2022, he founded Feeling Flow, a school that blends dance, meditation, and community through events like live music milongas and structured tango series. Outside of dance, Karn works in tech and healthcare innovation and practices Zen and Japanese tea ceremony.
Feel good: Experience the powerful blend of movement, music, and mindfulness.
Find your flow: Develop improvisational confidence and creativity.
Build community: Meet others who love to move and connect.
Other Dances?
Waltz Foundations I and II will be offered at the Menlo Park Community Center from April 9 to April 23. These three-week series are a great way to build or deepen your waltz skills in a supportive and engaging environment. Waltz Foundations I is ideal for beginners, while Waltz Foundations II is designed for dancers with some prior experience, both can be taken simultaneously. (enrollment is through the City of Menlo Park).
Spots are limited—reserve early to guarantee your place.
MIT alumni may bring up to three guests.
Questions? Email clubadmin@mitcnc.org or join the MIT Dancers LinkedIn Group.
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Learn MoreClub of Northern California
Saturday, May 17, 4:30pm - 4:30pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Event Details
By Popular Demand, MBA/Ivy+ Pickleball Social #2 at Bay Club Santa Clara!
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and there’s no better way to experience it than in a lively, social setting! Whether you're an advanced player or a first-timer, we've got a spot for everyone to jump in and enjoy the action. Snacks and refreshments will be included in your ticket.
Led by Derek Rungsea, the Bay Area’s #1 top rated and certified pickleball coach, you’ll not only get to learn the game or improve your skills, but also have a ton of fun in a high-energy, social setting!
This event will be co-hosted by Harvard Business School Association of Northern California, Stanford Peninsula Club, Stanford GSB Alumni Association, Dartmouth Alumni Association of Silicon Valley, Penn Club of Silicon Valley, Kellogg Alumni Club of San Francisco Bay Area, Columbia Alumni Association NorCal, Yale Club of Silicon Valley, Yale Club of SF, UCLA Bay Area Bruins Network, Oxford Alumni Network of NorCal, UC Berkeley Haas, UC Berkeley International, Brown Club of Greater San Francisco, Wharton Club of Northern California, Cornell NorCal, London Business School, MIT Club of North California, Chicago Booth Club of Northern California, Carnegie Mellon SF Bay Area Network, Harvard Club of Silicon Valley, INSEAD Alumni Association of SF Bay Area, Michigan Ross Alumni Club of SF Bay Area, Cambridge Alumni of the Bay Area and many others.
Join us for an unforgettable pickleball social! Spots are limited to 100 guests and will fill up fast.
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. PT (Social starts at 1:30pm, Pickleball at 2:00pm)
Location: Bay Club Santa Clara - 3250 Central Expy, Santa Clara, CA 950511
**Registration closes on Friday, May 16 at 12pm (or when sold out).
Tickets (includes entry, Pickleball play, snacks and refreshments):
Affiliated Clubs: $70
General Public: $80
**Buy in advance online before attending. No tickets sold at the door. No cash or check payments to be accepted.
Register (on external website)
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Learn MoreClub of Northern California
Sunday, May 18, 10:00am - 4:30pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Event Details
Join MIT Bay Area alums for this first “Angel Island hike or bike”, around beautiful Angel Island. The island is located in the middle of SF Bay, w/ great views of San Francisco and surrounding areas. Angel Island is a California State Park with an interesting history. Learn more on the Angel Island State Park website here.
Hikers/Walkers:
You have many options. Here is a Strava link to a ~5 mile <600’ vertical gain hike around the paved Perimeter road… w/ lots of opportunities for side trips, views and snacks. This is a self-paced hike, so be sure to return to the ferry terminal in time to catch the 3:20pm departure (or wait until 4:50pm).
Bikers:
A suggested Strava route (link) is a ~11.5 mi <1200’ ride around the outer paved Perimeter road, then the inner gravel loop. There are many opportunities to explore other areas of the island, just pay attention to trails that don’t allow bikes. It is recommended to have 35mm+ tires for the gravel sections, so Gravel or Mountain Bikes are recommended. Road bikes are OK, but you may want to stay on paved roads & bring spare tubes or patch kit if you ride the gravel trails. A bike lock is recommended if people want to take the North Ridge Trail to the Mt Livermore Summit or other hikes, so pack appropriate shoes if that sounds interesting.
Bike Rentals:
The “Angel Island Company” web site says they rent bikes on the island, and bikes are first-come, first-serve. We will arrive on the 1st ferry of the day. People are on their own if they want to rent a bike, so this is shared for awareness only. Per their web site, a mountain bike rents for $64/day or e-bike for $99/day. (link)
What to Bring:
Weather can change quickly on the Bay, so bring layers in case winds pick up, and sunscreen and/or hats are recommended. Bring water and snacks to meet your needs. There are restrooms and water on the island, and a café & catina near the Ferry Terminal.
Note: Dogs are not allowed, per the Angel Island Web site (link)
Parking Near Ferry Building:
There are many choices, but one option is the Clay Street Garage (250 Clay Street San Francisco, 415.956.8002 or 628.219.3906). Their web site shows $10 on Sunday after 7am and <12 hrs. (link)
Car pools are encouraged. Reach out to people you may know to coordinate.
Ferry Schedule & Payment:
We plan to take 10:15am San Francisco Ferry (terminal gate B), and return on the 3:20pm ferry, so ~4 hours on the island. (Weekend Schedule). There is a 4:50pm departure if needed.
For Ferry Payments, a clipper Clipper Card or mobile wallet is required. They can be purchased on-line (recommended) or at the terminal (there may be a waiting line). Price listed is $15.50 each way. Details at the Golden Gate web site (schedule, fares & payment). It is recommended to get to the terminal by ~9:45-10am to ensure you get a seat, especially if it is a nice day. Bikers load their bikes on the lower deck when boarding (the crew will guide you).
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Angel Island is a CA State Park. A brief summary of the park with a map can be found here.
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Learn MoreMIT Alumni Association
Tuesday, May 20, 1:00pm - 2:00pm (America/New_York)
Event Details
Join researchers from MIT’s K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center as they share cutting-edge water and agriculture projects underway across the MENA region. Focused on creating solutions that can feed a growing society in the face of water stress, climate change, and energy limitations, the Yang GEAR Center has realized low-cost, renewable-powered technologies in drip irrigation and desalination that dramatically cut water and energy use while being cost effective for farmers. Now it’s time to bring them to market! Learn how the center’s pioneering approach is building resilience across the region—and how MIT alumni and friends can help drive lasting impact for low-resource communities across MENA.
Amos Winter
Germeshausen Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Director, K. Lisa Yang GEAR Center at MIT
Amos Winter leads MIT’s Yang GEAR Center, where he and his team engineer bold, high-performance, low-cost technologies that tackle critical challenges in water, agriculture, health, and energy in resource-limited settings. His work blends deep technical expertise with user-centered design and global partnerships to deliver real-world impact. Winter earned his PhD in MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department before joining the faculty in 2012.
Mohamed Naouri
Hock E. Tan Postdoctoral Fellow, K. Lisa Yang GEAR Center at MIT
Mohamed Naouri designs smart, sustainable irrigation and desalination systems for smallholder farmers in North Africa and beyond. With a background in agricultural sciences and hands-on engineering and policy experience across Africa, Asia, and Canada, he brings a deep commitment to water access, farmer-led innovation, and scalable solutions tailored to local needs. Naouri holds dual PhDs from L'École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique d'Alger and Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II.
Fiona Grant
PhD candidate, Mechanical Engineering
Fiona Grant is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering focused on designing solar-powered drip irrigation systems that meet the needs of farmers in resource-constrained and water-stressed environments. Before joining the Yang GEAR Center, she earned her SB and SM degrees in mechanical engineering at MIT. Grant has previously conducted research on small-scale desalination for villages in India, underwater vehicle propulsion, and the effects of dust deposition on solar plant production in the Atacama Desert. Her research interests include system optimization, controls, and human-centered design, and she is excited about bringing a multi-disciplinary engineering approach to address global climate challenges.
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Learn MoreClub of Northern California
Tuesday, May 20, 6:30pm - 9:30pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Event Details
In-Person Event - Open to the Public
In a time of intensifying climate change, aging infrastructure, and increasing water demands, current water systems are unsustainable. The National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) is an energy-water research hub funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, working to make water systems more affordable and sustainable. NAWI is a growing consortium of researchers from nine national laboratories, 45 universities, and more than 80 industry partners, water agencies, and regulators to develop new solutions that could transform our water systems.
Join Dr. Peter Fiske, Executive Director of NAWI, for a fascinating look at the technologies and ideas that are shaping the future of water. Dr. Fiske will share lessons on innovation in the water sector and address how academic research and business entrepreneurship combine to create impactful breakthroughs.
Featured Innovations will include:
Novel membranes that resist damage from chlorine and make water treatment more efficient
Smart sensors that use machine learning to detect water quality problems
Direct potable reuse of purified recycled water without reverse osmosis
Electrodialysis technology to recover resources from desalination brine
The presentation will be followed by a discussion about the challenges and opportunities in the evolving water innovation space.
Schedule:
Dinner: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Program: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Dr. Peter Fiske is the founder and executive director of the National Alliance for Water Innovation and the Director of the Water-Energy Resilience Research Institute at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.
He is a seasoned executive with more than 2 decades of experience leading technology organizations and initiatives across industries such as Water, Renewable Energy, Defense, and Natural Resources. He has successfully commercialized several technologies including Reactive Atom Plasma (RAP) processing for optics and semiconductor manufacturing, biomimicry-inspired high-efficiency fluid mixing and process control technology (PAX Water) and has served as a board member or advisor to a number of technology start-ups. As CEO of PAX Water Technologies, he led the development, marketing and sales of three lines of premium process control technologies for the municipal water market, maintaining unusually high gross margins in a cost-sensitive industry with stiff competition. Under his leadership, his team of talented industry outsiders won several major industry awards for advertising and design, and maintained profitable growth of >20% per year, culminating in the acquisition of the company in January 2017 in an all-cash transaction. But he is most proud of the many talented professionals he has had the opportunity to recruit and coach throughout his career.
Dr. Fiske is also a nationally-recognized author and lecturer, teaching innovation, entrepreneurship and personal career strategy to scientists and engineers in industry and research. He is a regular contributor to Nature and a past columnist for Science. His articles have also appeared in The New Scientist. Dr. Fiske is the author of Put Your Science to WORK!, a widely-read career strategy guide for early-career scientists and engineers. He is a frequent keynote speaker and lecturer at leading research universities such as MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Caltech and has given his acclaimed 2-hour workshop to over 25,000 scientists and engineers in the US, Europe and the Middle East.
Dr. Fiske earned a BA in Geology and BSE in Civil Engineering from Princeton in 1988, a PhD in Geochemistry and Materials Science from Stanford in 1993, and an MBA from UC Berkeley in 2002.
Antone K. Jain is an environmental engineer with two decades of experience in leading initiatives, designing infrastructure, and advancing knowledge to protect public health and unlock sustainable growth.
At Apple from 2019 to 2024, Mr. Jain led Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) initiatives across a global portfolio. He managed Apple’s EHS Due Diligence and Engineering Program to assess and mitigate impactful risks in real estate and company acquisitions, led the Safe Water Program to protect water quality during the pandemic-induced global facilities shutdowns, and spearheaded the COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Pilot, pioneering new methods to monitor safety and inform Return-to-Office decisions.
Prior to Apple, Mr. Jain held engineering and research roles at EKI Environment & Water, the University of Michigan, Protech Services, and MIT. He is a Professional Engineer in California and earned ScB and ScM degrees in Environmental Engineering from MIT.
Reserve Now (You must be registered to attend.)
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Learn MoreClub 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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