Events, Social Activities & Groups

CfA Scientific Events

There are numerous events around the CfA at any given time, on a wide variety of topics, including (as of March 2025):

• Black Hole Initiative (BHI) seminars (typically Mondays @ 9:30) and colloquia (typically Mondays @ 11:00) 

• CfA Galaxy Cluster seminars (typically Tuesday@ 10:00) 

• CfA Colloquia (typically Tuesdays @ 1:30) 

• High Energy Astrophysics (HEA) seminars (typically Wednesdays @ 12:30) 

• Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) seminars (typically Thursdays @ 11:00) 

and many more!

Once you have access to your CfA email you can view the CfA Calendar of Events on the intranet.

Museums

With your SAO/HCO ID, you *may* (depending on the museum) have discounted or complimentary entrance at multiple local and national museums. Commonly visited sites include:

Local Museums - Massachusetts

• DeCordova Museum - Lincoln, MA

• Franklin Park Zoo (+ Guests) - Boston, MA

• Harvard University Museums - Cambridge, MA

• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (+ Guest) - Boston, MA

• MIT Museum - Cambridge, MA

• Museum of Fine Arts (+ Guest) - Boston, MA

• Museum of Science - Boston, MA

• Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, MA

National Museums

• Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

• California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, California

• Cooper Hewitt Museum (+ Guest) - New York City

• Frick Collection (+ Guest) - New York City

• Huntington Gardens and Gallery - Los Angeles

• Intrepid Air and Space Museum - New York City

• Maryland Science Center - Baltimore, Maryland

• Metropolitan Museum of Art (Donation Suggested) - New York City

• Museum of Modern Art (+ Guest) - New York City

• Robie House - Chicago, Illinois

CfA Community Social Resources & Events (MA / some virtual options)

• Multiple seminar series and social events (see: public events site, events on intranet [requires wifi or VPN connection): 

  • CfA-wide Meetings

  • CfA Colloquium

  • CfA Seminar

  • ITC Discussion and Luncheon

  • HEAD Seminar

  • Exoplanet Pizza Lunch

  • Annual SRC CfA BBQ, & Oktoberfest

• The CfA has a community garden, Asgard, book clubs, and groups for tennis, knitting, chess and more. See CfA Social and Recreational Clubs for more information.

• Harvard has several identity-based groups, which CfA fellows are eligible to join. Details can be found at About the Employee Resource Groups | employeeresourcegroups.

• For predocs, student organizations can also be a source of community: List of Student Organizations. 

• Outings & Innings: Harvard’s site to receive discounted tickets to local museums, events, and regional sports. (HarvardKey required)

• SRC Message Board

• HCO Tennis Club

• CfA Green Team

• CfA Morning Coffee – Weekdays @ 10:00 AM (donuts on Friday), 60 Garden St. Lobby. Typically during school semesters. 

• SSP Coffee – Weekdays @ 10:30 AM, 3rd Floor Perkin Bridge ($1 weekly donation gets you coffee, snacks, and conversation)

• Weekly Colloquium Tea – Thursdays @ 3:30 PM, Phillips Auditorium. Informal tea that welcomes everyone at CfA prior to the weekly colloquium.

• Movable Feast – Fridays @ 5:30 PM 

• LGBTQ+ Identity Group – Interest Form (to be added to mailing list for events)

• International Community Identity Group – Interest Form (to be added to mailing list for events)

• Other opportunities for local recreation can be found in the City of Cambridge Guide for Visitors.

Local Area Events (MA)

• Events in Huron Village: https://www.facebook.com/huronvillage 

• Events in Observatory Hill: https://www.facebook.com/ObservatoryHill 

Events for Postdocs

• Harvard provides opportunities for HCO postdocs which are open to SAO postdocs as well. See Harvard postdoc event & workshop calendar 

Telescope Training

• Clark telescope - contact Jonathan McDowell (jmcdowell@cfa.harvard.edu). 

• For the other smaller telescopes - contact Purvang Pate (purvang.patel@cfa.harvard.edu). Generally, these scopes aren’t available for use except for observatory nights.

CfA Slack

Link: cfa.enterprise.slack.com (required CfA Google account)

The CfA Slack portal includes a variety of groups on work and non-work related topics!