Flying Mortarboard Drone: Mark Rober Tells MIT 2023 Graduates To Throw Themselves Into the Unknown

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In his closing speech at the 2023 MIT Commencement ceremony, Mark Rober staged a dramatic finale by attaching his graduation cap to a drone and flying it over the famous Great Dome. His performance received thunderous applause from the audience. Image credit: Gretchen Ertl

The accomplished engineer and YouTube personality imparted the class of 2023 with valuable lessons on optimism and teamwork.

During the OneMIT Commencement ceremony on June 1, Mark Rober — an engineer, inventor, and prominent YouTuber — passionately implored the MIT graduates to foster an optimistic outlook and a spirit of teamwork, urging them to choose the best path they see and bravely navigate through the uncertainties of the world.

With the backdrop of a vibrant Killian Court basked in warm sunlight, the event was bursting with energy, witnessing the gathering of thousands of graduates accompanied by family, friends, and members of the MIT community. Rober motivated the graduates to create a positive impact on the world by embracing “optimism combined with dedication” and nurturing their relationships with others.

Demonstrating innovative thinking, Rober replaced the traditional tossing of the mortarboard at the end of the speech by attaching his to a drone and sending it soaring over the Great Dome of MIT.

“Anyone can toss their hat in the air, a sight common to every graduation, but only a few dare to make it actually fly,” Rober commented before his hat took flight. His grand finale attracted a standing ovation from the crowd.

Rober’s address was succeeded by a speech from MIT President Sally Kornbluth, who inspired the Institute’s new graduates to develop “curiosity and a sense of larger purpose” as they pursue their careers.

Rober is an experienced engineer who dedicated nearly a decade of his career to NASA, including being part of the team that successfully landed the Curiosity rover on Mars in 2012. Apart from working for Apple, Rober also runs a YouTube channel with more than 24 million subscribers, where he shares videos that explore a broad spectrum of topics, from his NASA work to squirrel behavior, toothpaste explosions, shark activity, the properties of Jell-O, and much more.

Rober’s words of wisdom for MIT’s graduates revolved around three key themes – fostering naive optimism to bypass self-doubt and discouragement, learning from failures without allowing them to cause undue stress, and nurturing relationships.

A significant part of Rober’s address was dedicated to his mother, who was his most profound influence. Despite her passing over a decade ago due to ALS, he believes her teachings still profoundly influence his life.

The MIT Class of 2023, consisting of 3,735 students receiving 1,146 undergraduate and 2,613 graduate degrees, participated in the OneMIT Commencement ceremony, which included all graduates. Separate ceremonies were held for MIT’s undergraduates and graduate students where they were called by name as they walked across the stage.

At the ceremony, Diane B. Greene SM ’78, chair of the MIT Corporation, commended Rober for his unique take on the commencement speech and celebrated the remarkable Class of 2023.

The event kicked off with a parade for the alumni from the class of 1973, celebrating their 50th reunion, and a traditional procession of administration and faculty, accompanied by the Killian Court Brass Ensemble, conducted by Kenneth Amis.

Adam Joseph Miller, president of the Graduate Student Council, and Anna T. Sun, president of the undergraduate Class of 2023, also delivered inspiring remarks filled with optimism and determination.

Mark Rober, engineer, inventor and popular YouTuber, encouraged graduates at the OneMIT Commencement ceremony on June 1, 2023 to step confidently into the uncharted territories of the future, armed with optimism and a spirit of teamwork. Rober’s unconventional departure from tradition in the final act of his address, involving a drone-powered graduation hat soaring above the Great Dome, won him a standing ovation.

In the backdrop of a vibrant and sunny Killian Court, the ceremony drew thousands of graduates, family, friends, and members of the MIT community. Rober emphasized the power of positivity and persistent dedication in shaping a better world, as well as the importance of forging and maintaining strong relationships.

As an example of daring innovation, Rober attached his mortarboard to a drone and let it fly above the Great Dome after his address. This unconventional act, in contrast to the typical tossing of graduation hats in the air, was met with enthusiastic applause.

Following Rober’s speech, MIT President Sally Kornbluth commended the graduates for their curiosity and sense of greater purpose, even as they venture into new domains and confront emerging opportunities.

Rober, a former NASA engineer who played a key role in landing the Curiosity rover on Mars in 2012, has also worked at Apple. He is also the creator of a successful YouTube channel with over 24 million subscribers that features a variety of content from science and engineering explorations to fun and quirky experiments.

During his address, Rober offered three pieces of advice to the graduating class. He advocated for “naive optimism” to fend off doubts and discouragement, framing failures as opportunities for growth, and nurturing relationships. He acknowledged the challenges of maintaining close friendships in the fast-paced adult life, encouraging the graduates to use confirmation bias to positively interpret the actions of friends and family.

Rober’s address was also colored by personal stories, including one of his mother who passed away from ALS more than a decade ago. He credited her as the biggest influence in his life and drew upon her values in his ongoing work.

A month into her role as the 18th president of MIT, Kornbluth addressed the graduates, recognizing their resilience in overcoming the adversities posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. She appreciated their contributions to maintaining the vibrant culture, traditions, and values of MIT, despite the distance and virtual mode of operation.

Kornbluth likened curiosity and a sense of purpose to “infinitely renewable sources of energy” and encouraged the graduates to pursue these as they navigate the world. She concluded her address with a heartfelt congratulations and anticipation for their future achievements.

The MIT Class of 2023 consisted of 3,735 students, who received 1,146 undergraduate and 2,613 graduate degrees. The event was graced by the attendance of the Class of 1973, celebrating their 50th anniversary reunion, and included additional separate ceremonies for the graduates to individually cross the stage.

The ceremony featured Diane B. Greene SM ’78, Chair of the MIT Corporation, among the speakers, who praised Rober’s novel approach to the commencement speech and lauded the Class of 2023. The ceremony also included a performance by the Chorallaries of MIT, the campus a cappella group, and inspiring words from Adam Joseph Miller, president of the Graduate Student Council, and Anna T. Sun, president of the undergraduate Class of 2023. In their speeches, they echoed the messages of hope and determination.

The commencement concluded with Stephen D. Baker ’84, MArch ’88, welcoming the graduates to the MIT Alumni Association, followed by a performance by the Chorallaries and closing remarks from Greene. She highlighted the world’s beauty and potential, expressing her confidence in the graduates’ the list of waiting tasks is too long.

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• MIT News: Mark Rober’s Commencement Speech
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• MIT Commencement
• MIT President Sally Kornbluth’s Remarks