Caltech Alumni Weekend: A Comprehensive Schedule of Events

Caltech's Alumni Weekend offers a diverse array of activities designed to reconnect alumni with the Institute, its faculty, current students, and each other. From academic symposia and research presentations to social gatherings and campus tours, the weekend provides something for everyone.

Getting Started: Arrival and Check-In

Upon arrival, the first stop for alumni should be the Alumni House (345 S.). Here, attendees can check-in to pick up their program and an access badge, which is required for entry to all registered events. For those arriving via air travel, consider using Catalina Express to book a roundtrip ferry ride to Avalon. Advance reservations are a must and should be made directly with Catalina Express. A complimentary Caltech shuttle will be available to provide transport to campus from the Catalina Express Long Beach Ferry Station, departing at 12:00 pm on Friday, 10/18.

Exploring Caltech's Past and Future

Campus Tours

Those interested in seeing the changes to the Caltech campus can join tours hosted by Undergraduate Admissions Student Ambassadors, departing from the Admissions House (383 S.).

"Crossing Over: Art and Science at Caltech, 1920-2020" Exhibition

Throughout the weekend, alumni can visit "Crossing Over: Art and Science at Caltech, 1920-2020", an exhibition spanning 100 years of Caltech history. From 1920, when Caltech assumed its current name, to the present, it explores the rich imagery in the Institute’s historic collections and complements it with contemporary artworks. The exhibition unfolds across Caltech’s campus in six outdoor and indoor venues, some rarely seen by the public. The exhibit features scientific drawings, paintings, photographs, films, instruments, molecular models, and rare books from the histories of Caltech and JPL, which Caltech operates for NASA.

Friday Events

Applied Physics and Materials Science Department Symposium

A full-day symposium allows alumni to reconnect with friends and learn about new research in the Applied Physics and Materials Science Department. The event will feature talks from faculty and alumni, a panel discussion, and a poster session. The day will conclude with a late afternoon reception for all attendees. The keynote speaker is Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, former Caltech postdoctoral scholar and incoming president of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

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GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Alumni Reception

For recent graduates, a special reception is held specifically for GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) alumni. A Friday GOLD Alumni Ticket or GOLD Weekend Ticket is required to attend.

Saturday Events

Caltech Y Hike

For those who enjoy the outdoors, join a morning hike. Since the Eaton Canyon trail is currently inaccessible due to the recent fires, another easy to moderate trail in the area will be explored; the exact location is to be determined. Meet at the Caltech Y for a light pre-hike snack and to board the shuttle.

Alternatively, enjoy a student-led hike to the Eaton Canyon Waterfall via the Pinecrest Gate. Most of this beautiful hike is manageable for most, though it gets a little more rugged closer to the falls, with some mild boulder-hopping across the stream in several spots. Enjoy views of the San Gabriel Mountains and soak up the beauty of the 40-foot waterfall and pool. Meet at the Caltech Y for a pre-hike snack and to arrange carpools or rideshare to the trailhead (five-mile / 15-minute drive, transportation is not provided). Generally considered an easy trek (1.9 miles, 606 feet of elevation gain, an average 47 minutes out-and-back), come prepared with suitable footwear and attire for hiking, hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

Division Updates

Stop by your Division to hear the latest updates on academics and research, with time to network with fellow alumni, faculty, and current students.

SURF Student Research Presentations

Attend presentations by SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) students as they present their summer 2025 research findings. Since 1979, SURF students have had the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of experienced mentors working at the frontier of their fields. This session is specially curated for Alumni Weekend, featuring speakers from every academic division.

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House Happy Hour

Take a stroll down memory lane on Olive and Moore Walk as you join classmates from your House and current student residents during this fun Saturday afternoon happy hour.

All-Alumni Celebration

Join this celebration for Techers of all years and generations and hear from fellow Techer and new Chief Scientist at JPL, Jonathan Lunine, PhD (PhD ’85). Hear him share outstanding examples of what makes JPL science and its link to space missions so exciting!

| All-Alumni Celebration featuring President Thomas F. Celebrate with fellow alums and hear from Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum as we honor the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and mark the 100-year anniversary of the mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. Thomas F. Rosenbaum is Caltech’s ninth president and the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and professor of physics.

Milestone Reunion Celebrations

Congratulations to milestone class members of 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990, 1985, and 1980! This dinner is open to all class members and alumni who want to celebrate this year’s 15th to 45th class reunions!

Caltech Athletics Hall of Honor

Gather with friends, former teammates, fellow Techers, and guests to recognize the newest members entering the Caltech Athletics Hall of Honor. Enjoy a pre-ceremony reception and gallery featuring trophies, photos, and memorabilia from Caltech Athletics, followed by the Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony in Brown Gym.

Huang Yi & Kuka

Huang Yi and Kuka weaves together the art of modern dance and the science of mechanical engineering in a series of stunning vignettes between live dancers from the Huang Yi Studio and Kuka, a robot conceptualized and programmed by Yi, an acclaimed Taiwanese choreographer, dancer, and inventor. A seamless synthesis of human movement and innovation, Huang Yi and Kuka is a groundbreaking work that celebrates the future of humanity and technology and has captivated global audiences.

Sunday Events

Election Integrity Discussion

How do we know if an election has been conducted with a high degree of integrity and that we should trust the results? What are the misconceptions about election administration and technology in the United States that commonly lead people to have concerns about election integrity? In this talk and Q&A moderated by current Caltech undergraduate, Sulekha Kishore (BS ’25), R.

Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) Events

Enjoy a lively roundtable discussion featuring the 2024 DAA recipients David Brin, PhD (BS ’73), Louise Chow, PhD (PhD ’73), Bill Coughran, PhD (BS ’75, MS ’75), and Timothy Swager, PhD (PhD ’88), in conversation with 2001 DAA recipient Sandra Tsing Loh, MFA (BS ’83).

Enjoy a lively roundtable discussion featuring the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) recipients Deborah D.L.

An exclusive invitation for Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) recipients past and present and their guests. Join MCE faculty and students to hear about new research and educational projects, followed by lab tours.

Immediately following the panel, all distinguished alumni honorees past and present and their guests are invited to a luncheon celebrating their contributions to the Institute and to the world.

Astronomy on Tap

Enjoy a Sunday Funday with the Caltech Astronomy Department and Astronomy on Tap, a global phenomenon where professional astronomers give informal science talks in local bars.

Student Life Panel

Enjoy a continental breakfast as you hear about today’s Caltech student life from current student leaders in a panel discussion moderated by Kevin M.

Before Heading Home

Before you head back home, enjoy a family style brunch and family-friendly activities at your Alumni House.

Additional Information

Caltech Store Discount

Head over the Hameetman Center to visit the campus store and enjoy a 20% alumni discount on insignia merchandise during Alumni Weekend! Show your badge during store hours to stock up on your Caltech swag.

Braun Athletic Center Access

All registered guests qualify to purchase Day Passes to Braun Athletic Center, available for $10, during Alumni Weekend. Day Passes give full access to the Braun Athletic Center and its amenities each day of purchase. To purchase a day pass, present your Alumni Weekend badge to the Braun Athletic Center.

Provost's Lunch

Enjoy lunch with Provost David Tirrell, PhD, as he updates you on the groundbreaking work at the Institute and Divisions, and the pathway to an impressive tomorrow. Tirrell is the Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Caltech’s 10th Provost, and holder of the Carl and Shirley Larson Provostial Chair.

Enjoy lunch with Provost David Tirrell, PhD, as he shares updates on current research and initiatives across the Institute. Tirrell is the Ross McCollum-William H.

KNI-Wheatley Scholar in Nanoscience

Rebecca Voorhees has been selected as the 2024 KNI-Wheatley Scholar in Nanoscience for her proposal to “use single particle cryo-EM to study two recent biological discoveries from [her] lab: how membrane proteins are made in mitochondria, and how unassembled protein subunits are degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

AI and Science at Caltech

AI is already changing how science gets done at Caltech. These tools have begun to help automate literature reviews, generate hypotheses, and enable faster, more accurate simulations. As computational power and algorithms develop, their impact will expand, reshaping nearly all scientific and engineering disciplines. Join us to learn how Caltech faculty are leveraging the power of AI. Zachary E. Sergei Gukov, the John D.

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