21st Annual Broad Institute Scientific Retreat
Monday, December 15 - Tuesday, December 16, 2025
 

Location

General FAQs

Accessibility

Other

 

Location

What is the address of Kresge Auditorium on MIT's campus?
Kresge Auditorium is located at 48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139. 
 

How do I get to Kresge? How long does it take to get from Broad to Kresge?
Kresge is 0.6 miles away from the Merkin building (415 Main), or about a 12-minute walk. Commute to Broad how you would any other day of the week, and walk over. 

  

Are there bike racks available?
Yes, there are bike racks available outside of the Campus Activities Complex, right next door to Kresge. 
 

What time should I arrive at Kresge to hopefully get a seat? Or should I plan to go straight to Broad?
We highly suggest arriving well before 9:00 am if you hope to get a seat in Kresge. We will fill Kresge to its full capacity before pushing guests to overflow in Little Kresge and back on Broad’s campus in the Merkin Auditorium. We will use the retreat Slack channel to keep everyone abreast of the seating situation. Please refer to the channel before making the call to head directly to Broad.

 

General FAQs

How do I register? Will I need to register ahead of time?
Members of the Broad community will receive an email to register in early fall. Please register before Monday, December 15 so there is not a delay with gaining access to the program at Kresge, Broad’s campus, or online. Those that wait and register the day of the retreat will experience a significant delay between registering and entering the talks, which means you will most likely miss portions of the schedule you were hoping to attend. 

 

How do I determine the correct registrant type? Am I a Broad employee? Am I a member of an Affiliate Faculty, Associate or Institute Member's lab? Do I fall into another category?
During the registration process, after entering your Broad or participating institution email address, you'll be asked to select a registrant type. For example, "I am a member of an Institute Member, Associate Member, or Affiliate Faculty's lab from a Broad participating institution and am not a Visiting Scientist." Next to each of these statements you'll find a "More Info" link that gives a definition. Please take the time to select the most appropriate registrant type to ensure you'll gain access to the Broad Retreat. 
 

I have a new hire that would like to attend the retreat. Can they register if they've yet to set up an email account?
New hires who do not yet have a Broad email address may register by emailing retreat@broadinstitute.org with their first and last name, program/platform/group, and supervisor's name.


Where do I check in for the retreat?
You can check-in on both retreat days at registration in the Kresge Foyer or outside the Merkin Auditorium (if you are planning to watch the livestream). You will receive a wristband to identify your approval to attend. Please keep this wristband on for both days of the retreat.

 

Do I need to keep my wristband for Day 2?
You do! Please leave your wristband on for the duration of the retreat. 

 

Is there WiFi?
Yes. Attendees may connect to MIT's and Broad’s guest networks. No password is required for either. At MIT, go to “Settings” on your mobile device, select the “Wi-Fi” option and click on “MIT GUEST.” At Broad, go to “Settings,” select “Wi-Fi,” and click on “Broad-Guest.” 

 

Will the talks be livestreamed or recorded?
Due to the limited seating capacity of Kresge Auditorium, the talks will be livestreamed via Swoogo, the registration site. A "watch live" button will appear in the upper right hand corner of the registration site the morning of the retreat. While the talks are being livestreamed this year, they are not recorded.



Is there space for everyone at Kresge?
With a capacity of just over 1,000 people, the Kresge Auditorium wouldn't be able to accommodate our entire community in-person. Due to the limited capacity, the retreat will be live streamed. Watch the live stream with your colleagues in Little Kresge on MIT's campus or back at Broad in the Merkin Auditorium, or watch from anywhere via Swoogo, the registration site. Please help us plan the best viewing experience for everyone by answering the "how you plan to participate in this year's retreat" question during registration.  


Will there be breaks in the programming for people to walk back and forth between Broad and Kresge?
Yes, there are 15-20 minute breaks scheduled throughout the retreat, including an hour break for lunch and scheduled time for everyone to transition to the Broad for the poster session on Monday.

 

Are there breakout sessions?
Due to space limitations and every effort to be fiscally responsible, there will not be breakout sessions at this year's retreat.
 

 

How can I become a poster judge?
Judging posters is an exciting opportunity to engage with Broad scientists and highlight the excellent work of the Broad community. If you would like to participate in poster judging, please make sure you will be available to attend the poster session in person and review the judging guidelines. During retreat registration, there is an opportunity to elect to be a poster judge. The retreat poster subcommittee will follow up with those that respond "yes" closer to the retreat. If you missed this step during registration, please email posterjudgingretreat@broadinstitute.org to sign up by Monday, December 8. 

 

When and where can I view posters?
The poster session will be held at Broad's Merkin and Stanley buildings: in the Merkin building lobby as well as Monadnock and Yellowstone conference rooms. The poster session will run 3:00-6:00 pm on Monday, December 15. Specific breakdown of presentation times TBD. 

 

When are scientific poster submissions due? How do I submit my poster information?
All poster submissions with complete title, author(s), and abstract are due by Wednesday, October 22 by 5:00 pm. The physical poster that you will display does not have to be ready until arrival at the retreat on Monday, December 15. You should register your poster during your registration for the event. If you are already registered, click the link to modify your registration from the confirmation email you received from "Broad Retreat."  

 

I have a new hire that would like to attend the retreat. Can they register if they've yet to set up an email account?
New hires who do not yet have a Broad email address may register by emailing retreat@broadinstitute.org with their first and last name, program/platform/group, and supervisor's name. 

 

Is there lunch or other food available?
Yes, there will be a light breakfast, coffee, and boxed lunch on Monday, and a light breakfast and coffee available on Tuesday at Kresge, Little Kresge, and the Merkin Auditorium. During the poster session and reception at Broad on Monday, passed appetizers, non-alcoholic beverages, beer and wine will be available.

 

Accessibility

What accommodations will be provided during the retreat?

We strive to create a retreat that is inclusive and accessible, and that enables all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To this end, the retreat offers the following accommodations:

* Please email Joana Quintal at retreat@broadinstitute.org to coordinate this accommodation or if any other accommodation is needed. 

 

Is there a lactation room onsite?
Yes. The lactation room is located in Room 011 on the basement level of Kresge. The room has a refrigerator and private bathroom, and is available by appointment only. You may store your equipment in the room. Please contact retreat@broadinstitute.org to make an appointment.

On Broad's campus, lactation rooms can be found in Room 4047 and Room 4049 of the Merkin building (415 Main) and Room 11002 of the Stanley building (75 Ames). These rooms are available by appointment as well.

*Please note that special accommodations may be made for individuals with a medical need for a private space. In these cases, the individual will be given access to the lactation room, but they will need to reserve the room as usual. 

 

I would be unable to make the walk between campuses and need accommodations. What should I do?
Please email Joana Quintal at retreat@broadinstitute.org to coordinate an accommodation.

 

Will there be accommodations for food allergies/special requests?
If you require a certified kosher meal, vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free option, please indicate this during registration. Meals at the retreat will also take into account common food allergies (e.g., peanuts and shellfish). 

 

Other

What assistance for caregivers is Broad providing?
BroadLife has a number of childcare benefits that benefits-eligible Broadies can take advantage of during the retreat, including reserving subsidized back-up care days through Care.com or Bright Horizons. Additional caregiving resources can be found in the BroadLife parent resource guide. 

 

What sustainability measures are there at the retreat?
We encourage attendees to bring their own mugs and water bottles. 

Events works with Kendall Press to ensure all of our smaller signage is printed on Eaglecell, a 100% recyclable material.

Broad Retreat

Broad Retreat