11:00 a.m.

Explore the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments

The Putnam Gallery, Science Center, 1 Oxford Street

Home to more than 20,000 instruments dating from about 1400 to the present, the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments invites you to step inside the workshop of science itself. 

On Alumni Day, anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., you can explore tools in the Putnam Gallery that shaped Harvard’s groundbreaking research in the natural, physical, and social sciences—from astronomy and navigation to geology, medicine, psychology, electricity, and communication.

Guided tours with Josh Gorman, Executive Director of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, will be at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

Open House at the Harvard University Archives

Pusey Library

Join the Harvard University Archives in the Lammot du Pont Copeland Gallery in Pusey Library to learn about the Archives’ programs, connect with staff and visitors, and explore our current exhibitions. 

Starting at 1:00 p.m., introductions to the Archives will be offered at the top and bottom of each hour, with staff available throughout the open house. 

The reading room will be open to browse yearbooks and class reports. Current exhibitions include: “Harvard and the American Revolution,” exploring the many complex and influential ways Harvard participated in the American Revolution, and “Harvard Lives,” featuring collections that highlight the diverse individuals who have shaped—and been shaped by—the University.

2:00 p.m.

Harvard Art Museums Open House

Harvard Art Museums

Drop in between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Alumni Day to explore the galleries at your own pace, and celebrate the shared Harvard legacy through art. Stop by the Alumni Welcome Table in Calderwood Courtyard for a special giveaway and information about alumni contributions featured throughout the museums.

3:00 p.m.

Shared Interest Group Meetups

Various Locations

Harvard Alumni Association Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) connect you with fellow alumni from all over the globe who share your interests, professions, and passions. Following the Yard party, many SIGs are hosting meetup events that all Alumni Day attendees are welcome to join.

Browse SIG Meetups

3:00 p.m.

Harvard & America 250

Science Center B (Note: seating is first-come, first-served)

Join us for Harvard and America 250, a program co-hosted by the Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization and Harvard University Archives, where we will explore Harvard’s pivotal role in the American Revolution more than 250 years ago. 

Through expert talks and archival materials, this event will highlight how Harvard’s people, ideas, and campus helped shape the struggle for independence.

Speaker: 
Robert Allison ALB '87, PhD '92
Jennifer Griffin AB '91
Virginia Hunt ALM '09
Samuel “Bo” Mahaney NSF ’08
Bert "Ret" Mizusawa MPP '89, JD '89

The views expressed in these programs are those of the speakers only, and do not represent the views of the Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development, Harvard University, or any of its affiliates.

3:00 p.m.

Stories from Fellow Alums

Science Center C (Note: seating is first-come, first-served)

If you think you are the only Harvard graduate who has faced failure, you are not alone. This event explores how people experience and overcome adversity in both their professional and personal lives. Join our distinguished speakers as they share personal stories of failure, resilience, and recovery.

Speakers: 
David Battat AB '91
Jules Berrera AB '16, EdM '24
Elizabeth Comen AB '00, MD '04
Janet Cooper Nelson MDiv '80
Nadeem Karimbux MD '90, MMSc '93, PD '93
Christina Wallace MBA '10

The views expressed in these programs are those of the speakers only, and do not represent the views of the Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development, Harvard University, or any of its affiliates.

3:00 p.m.

The State of Climate Science and Adaptation to Climate Change with the Salata Institute

Science Center A (Note: seating is first-come, first-served)

Harvard University is forging ahead with ambitious climate research that is driving real-world solutions. As global temperatures continue to rise and the effects of climate change, including extreme heat, flooding, and drought, become more frequent and severe, adaptation is increasingly important. The Salata Institute invites you to a faculty panel on the current state of climate science, the impacts we’re facing, and how Harvard is advancing work on climate resilience.

Closing remarks will be made by Peter Tufano will highlight the Salata Institute’s collaboration with alumni groups and how alumni can get involved in advancing climate solutions through the Harvard network. 

Speakers: 
Satchit Balsari MPH '02
Peter Huybers
Wolfram Schlenker
James Stock
Peter Tufano AB '79, MBA '84, PhD '89

The views expressed in these programs are those of the speakers only, and do not represent the views of the Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development, Harvard University, or any of its affiliates.

3:30 p.m.

Radcliffe Institute Open House

Radcliffe Yard

The Radcliffe Institute invites all to an open house in Radcliffe Yard to reconnect with friends and classmates and to learn more about their work today. Light refreshments will be provided in Fay House, selections from the Radcliffe College archives will be on display in the Schlesinger Library, and the Institute’s current gallery exhibitions will be on view.

Radcliffe Open House Registration

4:30 p.m.

The Future of the Arts and Harvard University: A Conversation with Diane Paulus AB '88 and Darren Aronofsky AB '91

Science Center C (Note: seating is first-come, first-served)

Paulus & Aronofsky engage in a conversation moderated by Maiya Williams Verrone AB '84 reflecting on how their Harvard education impacted their artistic journeys, and where they see the arts heading, including a sneak preview of the new David E. And Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance at Harvard University.

Speakers: 
Darren Aronofsky AB '91
Diane Paulus AB '88
Maiya Williams Verrone AB '84

The views expressed in these programs are those of the speakers only, and do not represent the views of the Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development, Harvard University, or any of its affiliates.

4:30 p.m.

Kempner Institute: Unlocking Intelligence

Science Center B (Note: seating is first-come, first-served)

Join the Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence Co-Directors, Bernardo Sabatini SB '91, PhD '99 and Sham Kakade, to learn about the progress and future of intelligence research. 

They will share how the Kempner Institute aims to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of natural and artificial intelligence, advance AI technologies, and apply these advances for the benefit of humanity. 

The panel will also feature short research presentations from Kempner faculty: Kanaka Rajan on “Cognitive Flexibility in Intelligent Systems,” and Yilun Du on “Building Physical Intelligence through World Modeling."

Speakers: 
Yilun Du
Sham Kakade
Kanaka Rajan
Bernardo Sabatini SB '91, PhD '99

The views expressed in these programs are those of the speakers only, and do not represent the views of the Harvard Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development, Harvard University, or any of its affiliates.