Cambridge, Boston and region

MIT will be offering employees free MBTA passes for local bus and subway service to encourage more people to use public transportation and reduce the environmental impact of commuting, Inside Higher Ed reports.

In an article for The Boston Globe, Steve Annear writes that MIT is rolling out several new benefits for faculty and staff commuting to campus, including free, unlimited subway and local bus usage. “By providing employees with the pass, the school hopes to ease the demand for parking near campus and help reduce carbon emissions,” Annear writes. 

In a Boston Magazine article about six city squares in Boston, Joseph Mendolia writes that MIT’s plan for Kendall Square, “which is slated to bring 740 apartments—not to mention additional office, retail, and research space—to the square,” could help bring a neighborhood feel to the the area. 

Tim Logan writes for The Boston Globe that MIT has received approval to develop new buildings, open spaces, restaurants, research and commercial spaces in Kendall Square. “We want to create a greater sense of place,” says Provost Martin Schmidt. “A greater place to live and learn, not only for our community, but also for our neighbors.”

MIT celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the Institute’s move from Boston to Cambridge with an innovative parade by land and water, the Boston Herald reports. “MIT alumnus Oliver Smoot, class of ’62 — of the “smoot” unit of measurement — led the parade over the bridge as Grand Marshal, and Car Talk’s Ray Magliozzi, class of ’73, was on hand.”

FOX 25’s Kerry Kavanaugh reports on MIT’s Moving Day parade, which celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the Institute’s move from Boston to Cambridge. “More than 50 boats, floats and vehicles designed by students, faculty and alumni took part,” Kavanaugh reports. 

A Boston.com slideshow highlights photographs of MIT’s Moving Day celebrations, which featured a parade of boats, floats and other creations crossing the Charles River by land and water. The parade commemorated the ceremonial journey of MIT’s charter, which was transported across the river by a barge in 1916. 

As part of a special section on Kendall Square, The Boston Globe highlights key milestones in MIT’s 100-year history in Cambridge. “In 1912, the Kendall Square T station opened, and that year MIT’s leaders purchased 46 acres in Cambridge for $775,000. Ever since that move, Kendall Square has been on a centurylong roll that shows no signs of slowing down.”

Prof. John Ochsendorf speaks with Boston.com reporter Allison Pohle about MIT’s Moving Day celebrations. Ocsendorf notes that the celebrations are a “once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate MIT and bring it to the larger community.”

Under the Dome: MIT’s Open House was featured in The Boston Globe’s top picks for activities to do this weekend. The Globe notes that "the 100-year-old campus opens its doors to any and all who want to see some science. Whether you’re thrilled by 3-D printing or down for some DNA repair, this is prime access.”

As part of the centennial celebration of MIT’s move from Boston to Cambridge, the Institute is hosting a campus-wide open house on Saturday, April 23^rd, the AP reports. The open house will feature more than 350 activities, including “robotic demonstrations, science exhibits, laboratory tours and talks by professors.”

Tech reporter Katherine Nazemi writes about MIT’s “Frontiers of the Future” symposium, which provided an in-depth look at current research across campus. Nazemi writes that the symposium offered a glimpse at research on everything from “studying financial systems based on mobile phones in Africa to finding genetic pathways to improve the efficiency of biofuel production.”

In an article for The Boston Globe, Jeremy Eichler highlights MIT’s open house on Saturday April 23^rd as part of his top picks for Boston-area classical music events. Eichler writes that, “researchers from the MIT Media Lab — incubator of operatic robots, city symphonies, and many other arts-related projects — will offer demos of their current research.”

On April 23^rd, MIT will host an open house featuring 380 activities across campus, The Tech reports. Michael Berry ‘10, program coordinator for MIT 2016, explains that the open house offers visitors a chance to explore the “important and fun work done on MIT’s campus and how it impacts the world.”

Boston Globe correspondent Terry Byrne writes about “Arcadia,” which is being presented in part by the Catalyst Collaborative @MIT, a collaboration between Central Square Theater and MIT. “As we started on our second decade of the Catalyst Collaborative, we decided to go back to the three plays that really defined the genre,” explains director Lee Mikeska Gardner.