Students toured Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A pivotal contributor to modern technological developments, MIT is a private research university with research labs that can be seen from various corridors of its buildings. The campus also features interactive exhibits, an athletics complex, and an art gallery—all of which the students visited during the tour.
The "Flow" exhibit is always a hit with students, who enjoy interacting with its various computer simulations. Located in the Stata Center, this interactive art installation was created by Karl Sims, who made the exhibit with the intention of visitors' movements triggering fluid visual effects on the screen of the installation. Students stood in front of it and marvelled at the changing patterns their movements brought to the screen.
Next, observing swimmers in the university swimming pool, students toured the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center, where they also went through the Wang Fitness Center, saw the Rockwell Cage (a basketball court), and admired the du Pont Athletic Center (where people were lifting weights and running on treadmills). Finally, they exited the central athletics facility and observed a soccer game at one of the university's outdoor fields.
Later, the students visited the MIT List Visual Arts Center. Constructed in the 1950s, the arts center houses MIT's contemporary art museum. Students took a look at the work of Elif Saydam, whose exhibit is on display there from now until August 31st. Saydam, an artist based in Berlin, Germany, views painting as a projection of fantasy. His paintings refer to the history of painting, like illuminated manuscripts and miniature paintings. Saydam's works sample eclectic textual sources. Also, he likes to paint on unconventional surfaces.
Overall, the students had a great time exploring MIT. Its engaging, diverse, and aesthetically pleasing installations, buildings, and works of art made it an excellent source of interaction, learning, and entertainment.
