The Koch Institute is committed to fostering an interest in science and engineering in young people. As part of this mission, we invite groups of middle and high school students to visit our facilities, meet researchers who work every day to solve the cancer problem, and learn interactively about the science and technology of cancer research.
FALL 2020 UPDATE: Due to physical distancing measures on the MIT campus, in-person field trips are temporarily suspended through March 2021 and likely into the spring as well. At this time, we do not have the capacity to lead hands-on activities; however, we are happy to connect interested groups with Koch Institute researchers for remote learning experiences such as presentations, career panels, or demonstrations (pending researcher availability and lab space access). Please email requests to kigalleries@mit.edu and be sure to include the number and grade level of students along with the desired date(s). Preference is given to organizations serving underrepresented minorities. For online resources from MIT's wider K12 community, check out Full STEAM Ahead.
The information below applies to pre-2020 programs, and will be updated once more is known about the current safety guidelines for on-campus programs.
Koch Institute outreach programs last anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the activities chosen, and are generally open to groups of up to 10-50 students at a time. The standard program for middle and high school students begins with an introductory discussion "What is Cancer?" and can be customized to include:
Tours & Talks
Hands-on activities
What else?
In addition to the customizable programs for middle and high school students described above, we also offer the following:
Visits to the Koch Institute can optionally be paired with other activities at MIT, including hands-on workshops at the MIT Museum. In particular, we recommend:
Please book MIT Museum workshops directly through the MIT Museum (link).
To schedule an educational program at the Koch Institute or to request additional information, please contact us at kigalleries@mit.edu. Our capacity is limited, so we recommend reaching out early to reserve a spot. Please note that we cannot assist in arranging MIT campus tours or information sessions. Student-focused gallery activity guides are available upon request for those groups exploring the KI Public Galleries exhibits on their own.
Program Description | Length of Program | # of Participants | Service Charge |
Standard program (choose from activities above, note age limit on laboratory tours) | 60-90 minutes | up to 25 | $150 |
1-5 additional participants (maximum 50) | $25 | ||
Tour of the Koch Institute Public Galleries & conversation with a cancer researcher | 45-60 minutes | up to 20 | $100 |
1-5 additional participants (maximum 35) | $15 | ||
Cancer Research Short Course | 1.5-2 hours | up to 25 | $200 |
1-5 additional participants (maximum 30) | $25 | ||
Workshop for grades 4-5 | 60-90 minutes | up to 25 | $100 |
1-5 additional participants (maximum 30) | $25 | ||
Self-guided visit of the KI Public Galleries | 30-45 minutes | up to 25 | no charge |
The Koch Institute has limited funding available to support field trip visits for local public schools and community organizations with demonstrable financial need (Title 1, free/reduced lunch, etc.) and history of serving populations underrepresented in STEM. To access these rates, please email kigalleries@mit.edu with a description of the group, the need, and how the visit fits in with the organization's mission and/or curriculum. All requests will be confidentially reviewed and you will be notified of the appropriate charge for your visit.
Other Logistics
Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Program hours are typically Monday through Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm. We are closed on all MIT holidays. All groups must be accompanied by chaperones (see ratios below) that must stay with the group during the entire visit.