The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Podcast

MIT News Update: Summer Events, Basketball Academy, AI & Education Summit, and History Highlights – August 4, 2025

Good afternoon, MIT community! It's Monday, August 4, 2025, and here's what's happening around campus.
First, let's talk about the weather. Today in Cambridge, it's partly sunny with a current temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit. As the day progresses, expect hazy sunshine with temperatures reaching up to 88 degrees by mid-afternoon. So, if you're planning to be outdoors, stay hydrated and wear sunscreen.
In campus news, the MIT men's basketball team is hosting its annual Basketball Academy this coming weekend, August 9 and 10. The sessions will run from 10 AM to 2 PM each day at Rockwell Cage. This is a fantastic opportunity for prospective student-athletes to engage in competitive games and interact with the MIT coaching staff, as well as current and former players. For more information and to register, visit the MIT Athletics website.
Looking ahead, the MIT AI & Education Summit 2025 is scheduled for later this year. The summit will feature a lineup of distinguished speakers, including H.E. Salima Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation for Sierra Leone; Rod McLeod, Vice President of Social Impact at Braze; and Susan Goldberg, President and CEO of GBH. This event promises to be an insightful exploration of the intersection between artificial intelligence and education. Stay tuned for more details as the date approaches.
In other news, the MIT History Department has been active with several notable events and appointments. Professor Hiromu Nagahara curated a digital exhibit titled "From Samurai into Engineers: Eiichirō Honma and MIT’s First Japanese Students," now live on the MIT Libraries website. Additionally, Professor Sana Aiyar has been appointed Interim Head of the Program in Women’s and Gender Studies. Congratulations to both professors on their contributions to the MIT community.
That's all for today's update. Stay cool, stay informed, and have a great day!

MIT Campus News: Weather, Research Breakthroughs, Upcoming Events, and a Summer Philharmonic Concert – July 28, 2025

Good afternoon, and welcome to the latest episode of our campus news podcast. Today is Monday, July 28, 2025, and here's what's happening at MIT.
Let's start with the weather. Currently, it's mostly sunny in Cambridge, with temperatures around 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect the warmth to continue throughout the afternoon, with highs reaching up to 89 degrees. So, if you're heading out, don't forget your sunscreen and stay hydrated.
Last week, MIT hosted several notable events. On July 22, the Environment-Vulnerability-Decision-Technology, or EVDT, Community held its monthly meeting. The session featured Dr. Rajeswari Balasubramaniam from the University of Michigan, who provided an overview of the CYGNSS mission and discussed the capabilities of GNSS-Reflectometry for Earth remote sensing applications.
Looking ahead, there's a variety of events on the horizon.
Tomorrow, July 29, from 12 to 1 PM Eastern Time, MIT Professional Education is hosting a Virtual Open House for their Climate Change: Science, Solutions, and Sustainability course. This session is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to drive meaningful sustainability initiatives.
On Wednesday, July 30, the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, or EAPS, is organizing a Community Coffee Break from 9:45 to 10:15 AM in the Building 55 Atrium. It's a great opportunity to grab a cup of coffee or tea, enjoy a donut, and connect with fellow EAPS colleagues.
Later that day, at 1:30 PM, EAPS will host a Doctoral Thesis Defense by Lesly Franco in room 55-110. Lesly will present her research on "Comprehensive laboratory studies of organic oxidation across a range of photochemical ages and peroxy radical conditions."
In research news, MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science has made significant strides. On July 22, researchers discovered that special kinds of neural networks, known as encoders or "tokenizers," can perform tasks beyond their previously understood capabilities. This advancement could have broad implications for image editing and generation.
Additionally, on July 21, MIT researchers developed the PhysicsGen system, a simulation-based pipeline that tailors training data for dexterous robots. This innovation aims to enhance robots' ability to handle items in homes and factories by customizing training data to specific machines.
For those interested in the arts, the MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra is set to perform on Friday, August 1, at 8 PM. This year's concert celebrates the extraordinary beauty of our planet through captivating music. The event is sponsored by MIT Professional Education and will feature works by renowned composers Jonathan Dove and Gustav Mahler.
That's all for today's update. Stay tuned for more news and events happening around campus. Remember to check the MIT events calendar and departmental websites for the latest information. Have a great day!