With the December festivities kicking into high gear, it’s inevitable that our personal agendas are getting quite full. Still, there’s a slew of tech-related events in the city this month that our worth your while.
Now is the time to close out the final days of the decade with a bang. Want to keep it professional? Learn about the newest sustainability startups or explore life in deep space. If you're looking for something lighter, there's space to spice it up—paint with bacteria or attend a murder mystery dinner.
Here are the top tech, innovation and entertainment events this December.
Monday, Dec. 2
Searching for Life in Deep Space: The possibility of life on Mars has been the subject of countless books and movies. In this speech, Harvard University professor Avi Loeb will explore the scientific tools working to pinpoint extraterrestrial life beyond this nearby planet. Register here to learn about complex, Earth-like ecosystems deep in other solar systems. 6 p.m., 1 Broadway St., Cambridge, $15+
Tuesday, Dec. 3
13th Annual Clean Energy Prize Kickoff Event: The country’s largest and longest-running student cleantech competition kicks off this month. At the opening ceremony at Greentown Labs, budding entrepreneurs from MIT will pitch their sustainability startups and rub shoulders with industry veterans. Find out more here. 6:30 p.m., 444 Somerville Ave., Somerville, free
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Symposium on Blockchain for Robotics and AI Systems: The number of blockchain startups has grown exponentially in recent years—nearly 700 launched in 2018 alone. That’s why the MIT Media Lab is hosting scientists, engineers and other stakeholders to talk about how blockchain can be used in artificial intelligence going forward. Buy your ticket for the one-day summit here. 9 a.m., 75 Amherst St., Cambridge, $250
Lesbians Who Tech & Allies Holigay Happy Hour: In a relaxed meetup at the Aeronaut Brewing Company, network with other members of the queer community interested in tech. Attendees are invited to bring their own food or games. Learn more here. 6 p.m., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, free
Thursday, Dec. 5
Come Paint with Bacteria!: BosLab is inviting aspiring artists to create microbe masterpieces. In their own petri dish paintings, lovers of bacteria can mix and match different kinds to produce individual colors and designs. Try your hand at art made with living, breathing microorganisms. Buy your ticket here. 6:30 p.m., 10 Harvey St., Cambridge, $20
Mobility Innovation Night: Transforming our Transportation Future: Greater Boston is riddled with traffic and congestion. Entrepreneurs, academics and concerned citizens will get together at Venture Café to try to solve the crises of our car-ridden metro. Explore advances in autonomous vehicles, micromobility and public transit. Get details here. 3 p.m., 1 Broadway St., Cambridge, free
Friday, Dec. 6
Pizza and Minecraft for Science: Using software created by University of Texas Dallas students, Minecraft fans can now take part in social science experiments inside the action-adventure game itself. The creators are partnering up with Northeastern University’s Lazer Lab to try out the mod, titled "Polycraft World," in a night filled with gaming and pizza. Sign up here. 6 p.m., 177 Huntington Ave., Boston, free
Monday, Dec. 9
Intro to 3D Modeling for Adults: HATCH Makerspace is appealing to everyone’s 3D-printing desires. Learn how to design and print anything you want—action figures, bowls and even jewelry—using browser-based software in this free workshop. Find out more here. 7 p.m., 20 Summer St., Watertown, free
Tuesday, Dec. 10
AgConnect Social Innovation Ecosystems: LifeHub Boston is providing a platform for entrepreneurs to pitch their community-focused passion projects. In the fourth and final event of the AgConnect Sustainability Series, innovators will mingle and offer feedback to each other at the mic. Register for the event here. 4 p.m., 610 Main St., Cambridge, free
Wednesday, Dec. 11
Brown Bag Lunch: Can Minerals Be Sustainably Harvested from the Ocean?: A number of minerals are mined from the ocean: limestone, cobalt and titanium, among others. At a time when the ocean’s health is deteriorating due to pollution and climate change, Dr. Maha Haji will discuss the ways these mining practices can continue sustainably via offshore mining systems. Sign up here to learn about the future of clean energy. noon, 50 Milk St., Boston, free
Kickoff Event for TiE Boston Digital Catalyst: How are today’s companies using software to treat physical and behavioral health conditions? At TiE Boston Digital Catalyst’s opening event, listen to panelists from Alkili Interactive, Learning Corp. and AbleTo discuss the newest advancements in digital therapeutics. Reserve your ticket here. 6 p.m., 101 Main St., Cambridge, free
Thursday, Dec. 12
Missing M in STEM: American students’ math proficiency lags behind other students around the world, and what's more, STEM curriculums focus on engineering and science over mathematics. So educators and organizers are getting together to talk about the best ways to teach math in all communities and create a more equitable tech pipeline in Massachusetts. Learn more here. 6:30 p.m., 1 Broadway St., Cambridge, free
Friday, Dec. 13
Boston Bollywood Showcase: Watch dancers donning brightly colored, traditional garb take the stage at the annual Boston Bollywood showcase. Hundreds of dancers will break down to the music that lives in India’s massive film industry. Get your tickets here. 8 p.m., 685 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, $20+
Monday, Dec. 16
Providence Women In Tech Mixer: Take a little trip out of Boston to mingle with women and nonbinary folks in the tech industry. Held at AS220, a diner that doubles as a gallery and performance space, the mixer poses the perfect time for a Rhode Island getaway. Find out the details here. 7 p.m., 115 Empire St., Providence, free
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Code for Boston Demo Night: The volunteer civic technology group Code for Boston is revisiting the work done by its cohort of analysts and designers this year. Over snacks and pizza, the organization will debut the results of its software on migrant services in Massachusetts, safe drinking water initiatives and more. Reserve your free ticket here. 6 p.m., 50 Milk St., Cambridge, free
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Tech The Halls: It’s the holly, jolly holiday season! The Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council is bringing the tech community together for a casual, carnival-like celebration—think drinks, music, giveaways and festive sponsor booths—at DryDock Hall. Snag your ticket here. 6 p.m., 19 DryDock Ave., Boston, $30+
Thursday, Dec. 19
How to Gamify Mobile Health Apps: Learn how to boost customers’ engagement and attention on mobile health apps, like Mammosphere, which are rising in popularity today. Led by Kat Usop, chief designer of the HEAR app, the workshop will touch on the ways to improve the latest mobile health solutions. Sign up here. 7 p.m., online, $37+
Friday, Dec. 20
Boston Holiday Pops: For a handful of dates in December, the Boston Symphony Orchestra pulls out every sing-along-worthy holiday classic from its repertoire. Take the final Friday before Christmas to join in on the fun, and brace yourself for a visit from Santa Claus himself. Buy your tickets here. 4 p.m., 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, $45+
Monday, Dec. 23
Office-Themed Trivia: Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica. Test your knowledge of The Office: Michael’s slipups, Jim’s shenanigans and Stanley’s quips. At the Friendly Toast, go head-to-head to find out who is truly the biggest sitcom fan. Find out more here. 7 p.m., 35 Stanhope St., Boston, free
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Blink! at Faneuil Hall: What better day to revel in the free light show at the center of the city? See the historic building illuminated with string lights and cheery music playing in the background to celebrate the final days of the decade. Learn more here. various times, 1 Faneuil Hall Sq., Boston, free
Wednesday, Dec. 25
Stay in and snooze!
Thursday, Dec. 26
Climate Change in Cambridge: Peer into the global effects of climate change at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. This multimedia exhibit allows people to test their climate change knowledge at an interactive station, step into storm simulations and watch the rise and fall of the world’s oceans. Find out the details here. various times, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge, $15+
Friday, Dec. 27
Wonders of the Night Sky: At the Museum of Science, indulge in the sight people have been enamored with forever: the night sky. A presenter will take guests through the stars, planets and nebulae that constitute all that exists around our blue planet. Book your ticket here. various times, 1 Museum of Science Dr., Boston, $10
Monday, Dec. 30
Thinkful Webinar: Data Science v. Data Analytics: Find out the differences between a career in data science and one in data analytics and puzzle over which one might be right for you. In this live webinar, the coding bootcamp Thinkful takes attendees through the skills required to work in both professions. Register for the session here. 8 p.m., online, free
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Maggiano’s New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Dinner: Substitute a normal New Year’s Eve party for something with a little bit more intrigue. Guests can enjoy southern Italian cuisine while looking for a "murderer" and solving the classic whodunit. Welcome the new year like never before. Snag your tickets here. 6 p.m., 4 Columbus Ave., Boston, $125
