My 2019 HubWeek Highlights, Boston: Day 3
“The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm S. Forbes
What is HubWeek?
HubWeek, a fall festival in Boston, Massachusetts, was created by The Boston Globe, Harvard University, MIT, and Massachusetts General Hospital in 2014. HubWeek features innovative thought leaders in art, science, and technology, who are building a better future.
Cannabis curiosity
I kicked off the final day of HubWeek by attending The Cannabis Conundrum: Understanding the Truth from the Hype. People I know have benefited from medical marijuana. Others have utilized the products as recreation. I was curious to see how the discussion would flow.
The panel promoted the benefits of medical marijuana. One of the speakers donated millions of dollars to top, Boston universities to research the ways in which cannabis can be helpful to those in need. Fireworks exploded in my mind, as I processed the speakers’ words. The discussion was intellectually stimulating, and I was happy I attended.
Friends
During another session, my friend, Laura, joined me with two of her sisters, Donna and Tina. We watched their other sister, Linda, moderate Open Doors: Voices of the City. Linda interviewed Matthew Boyes-Watson, owner, Bow Market, Stephanie Lee, co-founder & CEO, SpaceUs, and J. Justin Pasquillero, executive director, East Boston Social Centers.
This discussion was of interest to me because one of my high school friends, Louie, has a place in Bow Market, Create. I have been there for drinks on multiple occasions. The place has a super cute, creative vibe, with its unique cocktails and art.
The owner of Bow Market, Matthew, explained how the rents are more affordable, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to create a community. I really liked the message. I thought of Louie and how he brings people, funky cocktails, art, and fun together at Create.
An escape game
Afterwards, I joined Laura and her family in a game of skill, Breaking Through Impossible: The Escape Game. Leaps by Bayer hosted this fun activity, where we had to solve puzzles to advance through each room. We were able to complete all the challenges before the clock ran out. Not everyone could. If you have never done an escape room before, I highly recommend it.
GlobeDocs
My last highlight of the day was watching a GlobeDocs documentary, which was independent of Hubweek. Although Laura left, I joined her family for the movie.
“With GlobeDocs, The Boston Globe furthers its reach as an organization dedicated to shedding light on the truth by presenting the work of filmmakers near and far who are also focused on telling important stories, large and far.”
“GlobeDocs holds free monthly screenings leading to the annual festival. The annual GlobeDocs Film Festival is a five-day documentary festival designed to engage, promote, and celebrate film and production talent. The festival, which takes place in select theaters across Boston and Cambridge, is specifically curated to include a lively, hosted post-film conversation with Boston Globe journalists to turn screenings into an opportunity for the community to come together and have an open dialogue.”
Augmented
The film we saw was Augmented. “Augmented shares the personal journey of Hugh Herr, a double-amputee and MIT scientist who creates brain-controlled robotic limbs. At age 17, Herr’s legs were amputated due to frostbite, after he and a friend got lost in a blizzard and nearly died while climbing New Hampshire’s Mount Washington. Hugh was stunned by the primitive prosthetic legs he was given, and he set out to do something about it. His audacious goal is to eliminate disability, to create a world where designer limbs are as desirable and common as designer eyeglasses. Hugh and Dr. Matthew Carty, a top surgeon at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, are creating a radical new way of performing amputations that allows bionic limbs to move and feel like the real thing. Along the way, they might just redefine what it means to be human.”
The film was extremely powerful. educational, and hopeful. I truly enjoyed watching it. I was unaware of GlobeDocs and their complimentary screenings. In the future, I hope to attend more GlobeDocs documentaries.
A fantastic experience
I had an amazing three days at HubWeek. Kudos to everyone who organized, facilitated, and presented at the event. I loved all the teachings, the controversial topics, talking with strangers, and bumping into old friends. HubWeek fostered a community, knowledge, and curiosity. I hope to attend many more HubWeek events.
Check out my other HubWeek blogs:
- Silent Disco at HubWeek 2017, Boston
- A Night at HubWeek 2018, Boston
- My 2019 HubWeek Highlights, Boston: Day 1
- My 2019 HubWeek Highlights, Boston, Day 2
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