Join us at the MIT Museum in Cambridge for five true, personal stories about how science helps us navigate our journeys—from start to finish.
Hosted by Ari Daniel and Katherine J. Wu.
Please note that this show will be indoors. You must be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines to attend, and masks are welcome.
Stories By:
Elio Challita is a microrobotics researcher at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. Born and raised in the village of Qartaba, Lebanon, Elio was drawn to exploration and discovery from a young age, always dreaming of becoming a researcher.
In 2016, he moved to the United States to pursue his aspirations. He earned his PhD in Bioengineering at Georgia Tech, where he studied how invertebrates grapple with challenges at small scales. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Schmidt Science Fellowship.
Cara Giaimo is a science journalist who likes to learn, think and write about other species. She’s an alum of the MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing and her writing can be found in The New York Times, Atlas Obscura, The Plant, and a bunch of other places. Cara lives in Somerville with her wife Lilia and their two cats, Peppercorn and Poppyseed, and plays guitar in local band sidebody. Her next book, “Atlas Obscura: Wild Life,” comes out in September 2024.
Jared Todd Littlejohn has been studying acting and public speaking for over 25 years now, and serves communities through a business of his own. His company, Jared Todd Littlejohn LLC, combines Music & Improvisation for creative ways of helping people problem solve, sharpening his skills over at THE Improv Asylum in the North End of Boston. He earned his Bachelors at Bowdoin College, and when he’s not on the stage, he is running with Black Men Run Boston on Saturdays in Ashmont. Or scheming up ways to get to Martha’s Vineyard.
Beatriz Perez is a Mexican-American computer engineer working in Massachusetts. She thrives on finding new things to try out and putting herself outside of her comfort zone. She has a deep passion for empowering women and young girls in STEM. During the weekends you’ll find her traveling to a random country, crafting, working on a new project, or reading a good book.
Don Picard has worked in the Boston area for 30 years as a software developer. He was a double major in Theatre Arts and Computer Science at Cornell, and chose to work as an engineer in order to be able to live in Cambridge and feed his family. Don enjoys telling live stories about his kids, husband, and extended family as it is fun, therapeutic, and allows him to exercise the other half of his college degree so he doesn't become bitter.