Winter 2014 / Spring 2015 1

MIT Club of New YorkWinter 2014/Spring 2015 Newsletter for the Alumni and Alumnae of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Michael G. Johnson CP ’97

In 2015, we are looking to leverage the strength of our alumni base. We will introduce a new Club series called MIT+NYC, which will focus on strengthening professional connections among alumni in the New York City metropolitan area involved in various business practices, disciplines and industries.

Our alumni are valuable, and we want to create forums that interest them while highlighting their great work. Continuing our MIT Comes to NYC lecture series, we will feature: Shep Doeleman from the Haystack Observatory; Christine Ortiz, Dean of Graduate Education; and Seth Alexander, President of the MIT Investment Management Company. We look forward to an exciting year!

A CONVERSATION WITH BOB METCALFE Michael G. Johnson CP ’97

The Club’s 2014 kickoff featured one of the world’s most innovative thinkers: Robert Metcalfe—a co-inventor of Ethernet and the founder of 3Com. In an auditorium filled with alumni, colleagues and guests, Metcalfe shared his story, explaining how he became an accomplished engineer, businessman and venture capitalist.

Most importantly, he explained to the audience his theory of Packet Communication and the invention of Ethernet. Now in his sixth career as a research professor, he is inspiring young minds to think outside of the box, but with practicality. Joined by K.T. McFarland, the two energized the stage with their depth of knowledge on topics such as cybersecurity, nanotechnology and technological frontiers in health care and education. Bob’s impressive story was punctated with moments of humor—he informed the crowd that his admission to MIT was a mistake—clearly a “mistake” for which all of us should be thankful.

UPCOMING EVENTSJanuary 22 Toast to IAP

January 25 Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company’s Lunar New Year Celebration

February 21 Club Brunch @ URBO

March 14 FIRST Robotics Guided Tour for MIT Families

March 21 Volunteer Opportunity: Mystery Women 2015 for EYO STEM conference

April CitiBike Tour

April 13 MIT Comes to NYC at the Hayden Planetarium

April 20 Annual Membership Meeting

June Tour of Javits Center Green Roof

2014-2015 MEMBERSHIPSign up online at www.mitclub.org, or print and mail the form at the end of this newsletter.

EDITORSYiting Shen GM ’07 Kenneth Namkung AR ’03 Charlene Chuang ’05

ONLINEClub Website: www.mitclub.org Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS Michael Johnson CP ’97

What does it take to be a volunteer for the Club of New York? Just three things: an appreciation for the MIT experience, a desire to take on new challenges and an interest in our alumni. If you would like to volunteer, please contact mgjohnson@alum.mit.edu or damask@alum.mit.edu.

Above: Bob Metcalfe and K.T. McFarland at the CUNY Graduate Center. Photo Credit: MIT Club of New York

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MIT CLUB OF NEW YORK OFFICERS: 2014–2015President Michael G. Johnson CP ’97

Executive Vice President Jay Damask ’90, SM ’93, PhD ’96

Vice President, Educational and Cultural Programs Rubi Rajbanshi ’04

Vice President, Social Programs and Inter-Club Relations Dominic Ricci ’99

Vice President, Professional Programs Malinda Foy ’87

Vice President, Community Service Programs Sarah Kaspers ’85

Vice President, Membership Jeremy Gerstle ’99, MNG ‘01

Vice President, Communications Yiting Shen GM ’07

Secretary Charlene Chuang ’05

Treasurer Charlene Chuang ’05

Club Counsel Pierre Yanney ’87, SM ’88

Nominating Committee Chair Gregory Arenson ’70

Officers-at-Large Karen Ho ’94 Arthur Katz ’61 Kenneth Namkung AR ’03 Liora Sukhatme ’98

Below: MIT alumni and families help at a community garden in the Bronx.

ENGINEERING NEW DIRECTIONS IN WOMEN’S HEALTH Michael G. Johnson CP ’97 & Charlene Chuang ’05

On October 29, 2014, MIT alumni came together to witness the strength of a partnership. Dr. Linda Griffith, Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering at MIT, and Padma Lakshmi, host of Top Chef and co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, gave a joint talk hosted by the Museum of the City of New York, focusing on their efforts to fight endometriosis, a disease that affects 176 million girls worldwide.

Lakshmi started the talk by explaining her struggle with the illness and the difficulty she had receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment. Griffith followed by discussing MIT’s Center for Gynepathology Research, which she directs, and its clinical work in endometriosis, infertility, sexually transmitted diseases and other pathologies of the female reproductive tract.

While this disease plagues women, it affects all those who surround them. Fortunately, Griffith is working to make endometriosis not just a women’s issue, but an MIT issue, and putting our best scientists and clinicians to the task of better understanding.

Learn more on the web or on social media: Online MIT CENTER FOR GYNEPATHOLOGY RESEARCH Twitter @MITCGR ENDOMETRIOIS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA @ENDOFOUND

PARTED WATERS: A PLAY BY ROBERT BENJAMIN ’73 Michael G. Johnson CP ’97

In September 2014, MIT alumni were given an exclusive opportunity to see a powerful concert reading by one of its own, Robert Benjamin ’73. A physicist by training, Benjamin has been a playwright for many years. His latest work, “Parted Waters,” explores three generations of a Hispanic family with deep and hidden roots in the Judaic faith. The story centers on a grandfather sworn to preserving Jewish customs and religion, a son looking to erase his family’s history and a grandson who learns of his past and questions his future. Alumni agreed that “Parted Waters” revealed to them the juxtaposition and complexities of family, faith, culture and religion.

MEMBERSHIP MATTERSOne of the crucial ways you can engage with the Club is through membership.

Not only does it support Club operations, but it allows us to provide special discounts and members-only events throughout the season.

A strong membership demonstrates our strength, depth and diversity. Your connection to the Club means connections to other New York area alumni, and connections to MIT.

If you haven’t joined the Club, please consider doing so!

BREAKING THE MEDIEVAL CODE Jay Damask ’90

The MIT Club of New York’s fall 2014 programming continued to expand its horizons with “Breaking the Code on Medieval English Literary Form and Text,” presented by Professor Arthur Bahr on November 24. The sold-out event was an interactive evening where Bahr elicited the audience’s observations and views on the text and art of several manuscript pages. Of particular focus was a 14th century polychrome manuscript page inked on vellum that instructed the reader, in Latin, on how to pray the rosary, while also illustrating iconic idioms of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. These beautiful medieval manuscripts intertwine text and form to bring life to the page in ways that are lost today.

Above Right: Arthur Bahr Above Left: A medieval text from Bahr’s lecture. Photo Credit: MIT Club of New York

Winter 2014 / Spring 2015 3

ALUMNI GAME NIGHT Rubi Rajbanshi ’04

On November 3 2014, twelve MIT alumni participated in Escape the Room, an interactive mind game in which participants have 60 minutes to earn their freedom by solving various puzzles touching on a wide range of topics including logic, mathematics and even history.

While the success rate is around 15%, the alumni group put their wits and MIT-honed skills to the test, successfully breaking free in a mere 30 minutes—the second fastest time on record (and no, the record holders were neither Harvard nor Caltech alumni, but a group of friends)!

VOLUNTEER IN STEM WITH OTHER MIT ALUMNI Sarah Kaspers ’85

There are many fun ways to volunteer with the MIT Club of New York. Please consider helping at one of the following:

Harlem Academy A K–8 school located at 110th Street and Fifth Avenue where you can: mentor a student each week, or teach a lab class on chemistry or physics and share some of your work experiences.

FIRST Robotics Events and Finals For a series of competitions à la 2.70 contests, the committee needs volunteers to serve as judges and pit crew on a number of dates leading up to the finals on March 14.

Be a Mystery Female Scientist or Engineer This coming spring there will be a conference in Riverdale for seventh grade girls to explore career paths in STEM. The students will interview the mystery women in a contest to discover their identities.

Please contact sarah.kaspers@alum.mit.edu to find out more and get involved!

MITCNY LINKEDIN GROUP Since our launch of the MIT Club of New York LinkedIn Group (LINK), we’re growing tremendously with 300+ members strong. Will you not want to be part of this MIT alumni community? Join us now and share your thoughts, ask questions, start discussions and share relevant event info with the likeminded. Please also invite your fellow MIT friends—the more, the merrier!

Above: MIT alumni at Escape the Room. Photo Credit: Escape the Room NYC

UPCOMING: 2015 TOAST TO IAPOn Thursday, January 22, the MIT Alumni Association’s annual Toast to IAP touches down in New York City. In addition to the traditional refreshments, drinks and clinking of glasses at this global celebration of the MIT spirit, alumna Cristina Dolan MAS ’94 will share her first-hand experiences bringing our MIT values to life through Dream It. Code It. Win It., her non-profit initiative to foster computer science education.

UPCOMING: FIRST ROBOTICS GUIDED TOUR FOR MIT FAMILIES Sarah Kaspers ’85

The Club is offering an exclusive guided tour of the NYC FIRST Robotics Championship event for our MIT alumni families. The tour will be guided by Iffat Mai ’89, founder of the Forest Hills Robotics League and a veteran robotics coach. Families who attend can learn about the different robotics leagues available through FIRST, and will be able to watch some exciting robot competition games!

The FIRST championship event will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. For more information about the event please visit the FIRST website (LINK).

The event is FREE and open to the public. The tour is also provided free of charge, but spaces are limited to a first-come, first-served basis. Please RSVP to Iffat Mai online (LINK).

CLUB ANNUAL SOCIAL & HOLIDAY GATHERING Dominic Ricci ’99

Couldn’t make the Club’s annual autumn social event? We heard alumna and executive director Purnima Kapur CP ’89 explain how the Department of City Planning is working to keep New York City a livable, thriving metropolis.

Couldn’t make the Club’s holiday gathering? We enjoyed festive socializing, networking opportunities, and some fun and games.

Below: Purnima Kapur CP ’89 addresses alumni at Aleo. Photo Credit: MIT Club of New York

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