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We hope you can join us for the 12th annual conference of the MIT Golub Center for Finance and Policy (MIT GCFP), this year on the timely theme of better measuring government assets and liabilities. Globally, growing government debt burdens and structural imbalances threaten fiscal sustainability. Yet projections based on official statistics reveal only part of the picture. A reevaluation of fiscal sustainability through the lens of financial economics can better inform policymakers and the public about the true magnitude of imbalances and the risks they entail. The conference will bring together leading academic, policymakers and practitioners to discuss these challenges and policy options for mitigating them, and to explore the implications for interest rates, financial markets, and the macroeconomy.The conference, co-sponsored by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, will be held in-person in at the Boston Marriott Cambridge in the heart of Kendall Square and will also be livestreamed. Attendance is free, but registration is required to join in person and space is limited.

Writing Together Online offers the structured writing time to help you stay focused and productive during the busy fall months. Join our daily 90-minute writing sessions and become part of a community of scholars who connect online, set realistic goals, and write together in the spirit of accountability and camaraderie. We offer writing sessions every workday, Monday through Friday. The program is open to all MIT students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and affiliates who are working on papers, proposals, thesis/dissertation chapters, application materials, and other writing projects.Please register for any number of sessions:Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00–10:30am (EST) Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00–9:30am and 9:30-11:00am (EST)For more information and to register, go to this link or check the WCC website. Please spread the word and join with colleagues and friends. MIT Students and postdocs who attend at least 5 sessions per challenge will be entered into a gift-card raffle.

Chemistry Student Seminar (CSS) is a student-organized seminar series that host graduate students and postdocs to share their research in a friendly and informal environment. Free donuts and coffee are provided.

Janet Echelman's Remembering the Future widens our perspective in time, giving sculptural form to the history of the Earth's climate from the last ice age to the present moment, and then branching out to visualize multiple potential futures.Constructed from colored twines and ropes that are braided, knotted and hand-spliced to create a three-dimensional form, the immersive artwork greets you with its grand scale presiding over the MIT Museum lobby.This large-scale installation by 2022-2024 MIT Distinguished Visiting Artist Janet Echelman, was developed during her residency at the MIT Center for Art, Science & Technology (CAST). Architect, engineer and MIT Associate Professor Caitlin Mueller collaborated on the development of the piece.The title, Remembering the Future was inspired by the writings commonly attributed to Søren Kierkegaard: "The most painful state of being is remembering the future, particularly the one you'll never have."As the culmination of three years of dedicated research and collaboration, this site-specific installation explores Earth's climate timeline, translating historical records and possible futures into sculptural form.Echelman's climate research for this project was guided by Professor Raffaele Ferrari and the MIT Lorenz Center, creators of En-ROADS simulator which uses current climate data and modeling to visualize the impact of environmental policies and actions on energy systems.Learn more about Janet Echelman and the MIT Museum x CAST Collaboration.Learn more about the exhibition at the MIT Museum.

Speaker: Weijie Su (University of Pennsylvania)Title: Do Large Language Models (Really) Need Statistical Foundations?Abstract: In this talk, we advocate for developing statistical foundations for large language models (LLMs). We begin by examining two key characteristics that necessitate statistical perspectives for LLMs: (1) the probabilistic, autoregressive nature of next-token prediction, and (2) the inherent complexity and black box nature of Transformer architectures. To demonstrate how statistical insights can advance LLM development and applications, we present two examples. First, we demonstrate statistical inconsistencies and biases arising from the current approach to aligning LLMs with human preference. We propose a regularization term for aligning LLMs that is both necessary and sufficient to ensure consistent alignment. Second, we introduce a novel statistical framework for analyzing the efficacy of watermarking schemes, with a focus on a watermarking scheme developed by OpenAI for which we derive optimal detection rules that outperform existing ones. Time permitting, we will explore how statistical principles can inform rigorous evaluation for LLMs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate how statistical insights can effectively address several pressing challenges emerging from LLMs.Biography: Weijie Su is an Associate Professor in the Wharton Statistics and Data Science Department at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a co-director of Penn Research in Machine Learning (PRiML) Center. His research interests span statistical foundations of generative AI, privacy-preserving machine learning, high-dimensional statistics, and optimization. He serves as an associate editor of Journal of the American Statistical Association, Journal of Machine Learning Research, Annals of Applied Statistics, Harvard Data Science Review, Foundations and Trends in Statistics, Operations Research, and Journal of the Operations Research Society of China, and he is currently guest editing a special issue on Statistics for Large Language Models and Large Language Models for Statistics in Stat. His work has been recognized with several awards, such as the Stanford Anderson Dissertation Award, NSF CAREER Award, Sloan Research Fellowship, IMS Peter Hall Prize, SIAM Early Career Prize in Data Science, ASA Noether Early Career Award, ICBS Frontiers of Science Award in Mathematics, IMS Medallion Lectureship, and Outstanding Young Talent Award in the 2025 China Annual Review of Mathematics. He is a Fellow of the IMS.

The Mobility Forum with Prof. Jinhua Zhao showcases transportation research and innovation across the globe. The Forum is online and open to the public.

*Special Seminar: unusual time and locationSpeaker: Andreas Swerdlow (U. of Manchester)Title: A graphical calculus for microformal morphismsAbstract: Microformal or thick morphisms, introduced by Th. Voronov, are a generalisation of smooth maps between manifolds that still give rise to pullbacks on functions. These pullbacks are in general nonlinear and formal, and in special cases they define L-infinity morphisms between the algebras of functions on homotopy Poisson or homotopy Schouten manifolds. In this talk, I will give a brief introduction to thick morphisms (of which there are so called classical and quantum versions), and describe a graphical calculus which calculates all terms in the formal power series that result from their pullbacks. The method is heavily inspired by the work of Cattaneo-Dherin-Felder on formal symplectic groupoids, which itself is based on techniques from the numerical analysis of ODEs, with the resulting expansions resembling the expansions over Feynman diagrams of perturbative QFT.Zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/j/93615455445. For the Passcode, please contact Pavel Etingof at etingof@math.mit.edu.

Ten minutes for your mind@2:50 every day at 2:50 pm in multiple time zones:Europa@2:50, EET, Athens, Helsinki (UTC+2) (7:50 am EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88298032734Atlantica@2:50, EST, New York, Toronto (UTC-4) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85349851047Pacifica@2:50, PST, Los Angeles, Vancouver (UTC=7) (5:50 pm EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85743543699Almost everything works better again if you unplug it for a bit, including your mind. Stop by and unplug. Get the benefits of mindfulness without the fuss.@2:50 meets at the same time every single day for ten minutes of quiet together.No pre-requisite, no registration needed.Visit the website to view all @2:50 time zones each day.at250.org or at250.mit.edu

Speaker: Vasya Krylov (Harvard)Title: Hikita conjectures for quiver theories and related structuresAbstract: Higgs and Coulomb branches of quiver gauge theories form two rich families of Poisson varieties that are expected to be exchanged by 3D mirror symmetry. The Hikita conjectures relate the algebra and geometry of these branches in a nontrivial way, allowing one to extract new structures on one side by studying its mirror. In this talk I will attempt to give an overview of the current state of the Hikita conjecture, with an emphasis on its interplay with other important structures such as representations of loop groups, the geometric Satake equivalence, the Riemann–Roch isomorphism, and twisted traces (time permitting). I will illustrate how the picture works in the ADE case (where a lot can be proved) and formulate conjectures that generalize these observations to arbitrary quivers. Time permitting, I will explain a construction that extends some results beyond ADE. Talk will be based on joint works with Dinkins, Dumanski, Karpov, Lance, and Perunov as well as the results of many great mathematicians working in this field.Zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/j/93615455445. For the Passcode, please contact Pavel Etingof at etingof@math.mit.edu.

ABSTRACTThe gastrointestinal (GI) tract presents a uniquely challenging but highly promising environment for biomedical innovation. Its mechanical dynamics, variable chemistry, and rich neurohormonal signaling have traditionally posed barriers to therapy and sensing. Our research program seeks to transform these challenges into opportunities by applying core principles of mechanical engineering, materials science, and electronics to create next-generation biomedical systems with translational impact. In this presentation, I will highlight recent advances across several domains. We have engineered biomaterials and architected systems including, GI resident systems capable of supporting prolonged drugs, synthetic epithelial linings and extremophile-inspired protective coatings that enable drug and biologic delivery under harsh GI conditions. Leveraging machine learning and high-throughput screening, we are developing optimized lipid and polymer nanoparticle formulations for RNA and protein therapeutics . We have created ingestible and implantable electroceutical devices, such as bioinspired fluid-wicking capsules for gut–brain modulation, and ingestible electronic platforms capable of recording gastric electrophysiology and neural signals in freely moving animals. These systems open avenues for closed-loop monitoring and therapy. By bridging mechanical design, drug delivery, electronics, and translational engineering, our work demonstrates how fundamental engineering principles can be harnessed to overcome physiologic barriers, advance oral and mucosal therapies, and establish new frontiers in diagnostics and treatment.BIOGRAPHYGiovanni Traverso, MB, BChir, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, Director of the Laboratory for Translational Engineering (L4TE), a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and an Associate Member of the Broad Institute. His work bridges mechanical engineering, materials science, medicine, and electronics to develop next-generation biomedical systems that transform drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. Raised in Peru, Canada, and the UK, Traverso earned his BA at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, his PhD in at Johns Hopkins, and his medical degrees at Cambridge. He completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and gastroenterology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. During his postdoctoral training at MIT he pioneered ingestible and implantable devices for drug delivery and physiological sensing. Traverso’s research program has advanced ultra-long-acting drug delivery systems, ingestible and implantable electronic devices, biodegradable biomaterials, and biosensors for disease detection. His early work on cancer diagnostics contributed to the development of Cologuard, the first FDA-approved non-invasive DNA test for colon cancer. His team’s inventions have led to multiple clinical trials and the founding of multiple biotech companies focused on accelerating translational medicine. He has received international recognition for his contributions, including election as a Fellow of the Controlled Release Society, the National Academy of Inventors, and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. In 2025, he was elected Membre étranger of the Académie royale de Médecine de Belgique.View our colloquia schedule at meche.mit.edu/meche-colloquia.

Speaker: Sheila Sundaram (University of Minnesota)Title: On a variant of Lie_nAbstract: This talk will discuss a curious variant of the celebrated representation Lie(n) of the symmetric group on the multilinear component of the free Lie algebra on n generators. Introduced by the speaker a few years ago, the variant Lie(n,2) satisfies the analogue of almost every known property of Lie(n).As one example, the exterior powers of the variant Lie(n,2) decompose the regular representation of the symmetric group. The classical free Lie algebra counterpart of this result is the 1942 theorem of Robert Thrall which also follows from the earlier Poincar\'e-Birkhoff-Witt theorem: it is the well-known decomposition of the regular representation given by the symmetrised powers of the representations Lie(n), that is, the higher Lie modules.The talk will survey this and other properties of the variant, including some recent developments.

Bhagavad Gita Fall Lecture SeriesJoin HG Sadananda Dasa, MIT Vaishnava Hindu Chaplain, for a weekly journey into the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. Explore profound questions about identity, purpose, karma, yoga, love, and selfless service, and discover practical insights for living a meaningful and spiritually grounded life. Each session combines reflection, discussion, and practical tools for self-realization.RSVP: tinyurl.com/mitgita25

The MIT Disabilities ERG is proud to present a series of events for Disability Employment Awareness Month this October.Join us for Festival Henge, a community participation art project that involves, absorbs and reflects the community of artists at and associated with MIT by Gearóid Dolan. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we will be jamming on 10/3, 10/10 and 10/17.Festival Henge is a dynamic installation composed of eight freestanding, translucent hand-made LED video panels arranged in an octagonal formation. Each low-resolution video screen displays imagery visible from both sides, while also allowing the surrounding environment to be visible between the LED pixels, inviting viewers into a 360° audiovisual environment with sixteen-channel surround sound.The installation runs silent 24/7, playing a video loop of content that evolves over time, as community members submit new video content that gets added to the loop. Add your content, join the Loop!Gearóid says, "Every Friday after sundown I hold “Friday Night Jam Sessions”, 7:30pm to 11pm, when the Festival Henge is activated by community sound artists, DJs and audio visual artist performances. It is a fun participatory environment where artists and community members gather and celebrate community in a festive and welcoming space. Come join us, experience the art, hang out, play the participatory synthesizer, dance with us to beats in celebration of each other.The “Big Knob 303” synthesizer is built for people who don’t have music skills or knowledge to participate: it is very popular and a lot of fun. My computer plays the notes and accompanying drums and you play the 6 large knobs that effect the quality and timbre of the sounds. Created so people with low vision or who are blind can participate with minimal instructions, and for all to try and to enjoy.During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we will be jamming on 10/3, 10/10 and 10/17, which will also be the closing event of the project and coincides with the 99 Fridays dance party on the 6th Floor."This work is made possible by Arts At MIT, Artfinity Arts Festival, The Art Culture & Technology Program & Media LabOther events in this series10/6 -Making Inclusion and Accessibility Part of All Your Work with Rachel Tanenhaus10/8 -Disabled Artists in Conversation10/15 - Building Inclusive Workplace Practices: A talk with Laura Beretsky