Talk Title: How to Grow a Lexicon: Evidence from Babies & their WorldsAbstract: While a longstanding view in language development holds that infants don't understand words until they begin talking (around age 1), recent research in our lab and others has revealed that infants begin understanding words months earlier. In this talk I will explore two branches of my lab’s work that tackle the mechanisms of early language development, largely focused on building the early lexicon. First, I will discuss eyetracking data revealing infants’ initially imature expectations about how words sound and what they mean, and how their representations eventually become more adult-like over infancy and toddlerhood. Synthesizing across studies, I will discuss recent results showing a robust, non-linear, and arguably qualitative improvements in infants’ real-time word comprehension just after the first birthday. Second, drawing from SEEDLingS, my lab’s audio and video corpus of home recordings, I will argue that this “comprehension boost” is not well-explained by changes in language input for common words, but rather, by postulating that infants learn to take better advantage of relatively stable input data. I will propose complementary theoretical accounts of what makes older infants “better learners.” Finally, I will also discuss the dynamics of language learning in infants who are blind and infants who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, considering how their unique perceptual experiences dovetail with their accruing linguistic knowledge.Bio: Dr. Bergelson is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences in Harvard University’s Psychology Department. She received her PhD in 2013 from UPenn, completed postdoctoral work at the University of Rochester, and was a professor at Duke prior to Harvard (where she moved in 2023). Her work has been funded by the NSF, NIH, NEH, and FDA as well as various intramural and extramural foundations. She has published over 50 articles, and has received early career awards from the Fed. of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, the American Psychology Foundation, the International Society for Infant Studies, the Association for Psychological Science, and Forbes Magazine, among others. Her work focuses on how young children learn language from the world around them, with a particular focus on experimental and observational measures of infants’ during the early phases of word learning.I am happy to send copies of any of our articles upon email request (or you can snag them from my Publications page).Followed by a reception with food and drink in 3rd floor atrium

Francesca Molinari (Cornell University)

Speaker: Jeck Lim (Caltech)Title:Abstract:

Speaker: Søren Galatius (Columbia)Title: Graphs complexes and K-theoryAbstract:I will recall a version of Kontsevich's graph complexes, and explain a relationship to algebraic K-theory. Based on joint work with Brown, Chan, and Payne.*Preceded by refreshments at 4pm in the common room.

Speaker: George Barbastathis (MIT)Title: Darker, smaller, faster: Machine learning regularizers for imaging at the extremesAbstract: The notion of data-driven regularizers for ill-posed imaging has been around since at least the invention of “dictionaries” by Donoho and Elad in 2003. Deep neural networks, as in many other application domains, have enhanced the scope that this notion can be useful.For the past 9 years, my group has been working on imaging at extreme conditions, which include: low photon incidence, down to a single photon per pixel; strong attenuation and scattering, as occurs to coherent x-rays (generated by a synchrotron) when they propagate through complex objects such as integrated circuits; and, more recently, phenomena faster than the camera frame rate and with motion range that is a fraction of a pixel, i.e. severely undersampled in both space and time domains. I will present and critique the methods that we used to make progress in these difficult problems, followed by a more general outlook on how machine learning-inspired methods can be useful in the physical sciences and engineering.Biography: George Barbastathis received the Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1993 from the National Technical University of Athens (Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο) and the MSc and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1994 and 1997, respectively, from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). After post-doctoral work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he joined the faculty at MIT in 1999, where he is now the Ralph E. and Eloise F. Cross Professor of Manufacturing and Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He has held sabbatical appointments at Harvard University and the University of Michigan – Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (密西根交大学院), and has been one of the longest-serving Principal Investigators with the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART). His research interests are in machine learning and optimization for computational imaging and inverse problems; and in optical physics, including statistical optics, scattering theory, and artificial optical materials and interfaces. He is presently leading the AFOSR MURI “Searching for what’s new: the systematic development of dynamic x-ray microscopy,” whose goal is to combine dynamical principles and machine learning for imaging extreme phenomena with sub-microsecond and sub-nanometer dynamics. He is member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE) and the American Mathematical Society (AMS), a Fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA), which was recently rebranded as Optica, and a Fellow of the Society for Photo Instrumentation Engineering (SPIE). He has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of the Optical Society of America A and the journal Optica, as a committee member, chair and co-chair of numerous conferences, and in several co-founding and consulting capacities for incumbent and start-up companies, as well as law firms. In his free time, he enjoys arthouse movies, urban art and design, and he aspires to become more fluent in Thai and Mandarin Chinese.

Have you ever wondered what truly shapes the future you’re working toward—whether in a project, passion, or everyday decision?In this interactive workshop, hosted by the Global Health Alliance in collaboration with MIT Radius, you’ll explore what drives your work and where your decisions take you. Using a simple yet powerful framework, we’ll reflect on:The futures you’re envisioning (big or small)The people your actions touchThe values behind your choicesThe moments when small decisions really matterBring a passion, project, or activity you care about, and we’ll guide you through thought-provoking questions designed to open up new perspectives and possibilities. You’ll leave with sharper insight into how your actions fit into the bigger picture and a clearer understanding of what truly matters to you.

Silent Meditation in the Chapel on Thursdays 6-8pm, open to everyone in the MIT Community. Some sessions include Guided Meditation at 6:30pm.

Time: 7:00 PMLocation: Springfield, MA / Springfield College

Pulso: An Alternative Tango Event Thursday, October 30, 2025 8:00-11:00pmFREEFeaturing music by DJ Fidan!Location: Room 407, 4th Floor, W20 MIT Stratton Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139

The irony of artificial intelligence is that it often reveals more about human intelligence than machines themselves.From AI in the home to robots in the workplace, the presence of AI all around us compels us to question its potential and recognize the risks. What has become clear is that the more we advance AI technology and consider machine ability versus human ability, the more we need to mind the gap.Researchers at MIT have been at the forefront of this evolving field. The work presented in this exhibition builds on the pioneering contributions of figures such as Claude Shannon and Seymour Papert, while highlighting contemporary research that spans computer science, mechanical engineering, neuroscience, and the social sciences.As research probes the connections between human and machine intelligence, it also underscores the profound differences. With AI now embedded in everyday life — from smart assistants in our homes to robots in the workplace — we are challenged to ask critical questions about its potential, its risks, and the boundaries between machine ability and human capability.Join us in shining light on the tremendous promise, unforeseen impacts, and everyday misconceptions of AI in this riveting, interactive exhibition.Learn more about the exhibition.

Imagine different worlds in Cosmograph: Speculative Fictions for the New Space Age, an exhibition that brings art and science together to examine possible futures where outer space is both a frontier for human exploration and a new territory for exploitation and development by private enterprise.We are living at the dawn of a New Space Age. What will the future hold? Will space elevators bring humanity's space junk to turn it into useful material here on Earth? Will asteroid mining be the next frontier in prospecting? Will the promise of geo-engineering turn into a nightmare of unintended consequences?Explore these possibilities and more in our new exhibition that blurs the lines between fact and fantasy, and art and science.

MIT is not a place so much as it is a unique collection of exceptional people.What is essential at MIT is asking questions others may not ask, trying the unexpected in pursuit of a greater solution, and embracing distinctive skills and combinations of talents. Whether encompassing global issues, ventures into space, or efforts to improve our daily lives, stories told in this exhibit showcase the process of discovery that sits at the heart of MIT.Delve into the experimental culture and collaborative spirit of the MIT community in this dynamic and interactive exploration of groundbreaking projects and ongoing innovation."MIT’s greatest invention may be itself—an unusual concentration of unusual talent, forever reinventing itself on a mission to make a better world." — President L. Rafael ReifLocated in the Brit J. (1961) and Alex (1949) d'Arbeloff GallerySupported by the Biogen Foundation

How can code be used as a creative tool by artists and designers?This question motivates the work of the Future Sketches group at the MIT Media Lab. Led by artist and educator Zach Lieberman, the group aims to help us “see” code by using it to make artistically controlled, computer-generated visuals.Explore some of the latest research from the group that uses typography and digital tools to create interactive, creative, and immersive work.Located in our Martin J. (1959) and Eleanor C. Gruber Gallery.

Experience the captivating work of Arthur Ganson, where his perceptions of the world are choreographed into the subtle movements and gestures of his artistic machines."These machines are daydreams condensed into physical form, computer programs manifesting in three-dimensional space." - Arthur GansonArthur Ganson's medium is a feeling or idea inspired by the world he perceives around him – from the delicate fluttering of paper to the sheer scale of the universe. Combining engineering genius with whimsical choreography, he creates machines to encode those ideas into the physical world. But he invites everyone to draw their own conclusions on the meaning behind the subtle gestures of the machines.Currently on display are a select group of Arthur Ganson's works from our MIT Museum Collection. We expect to exhibit his work in large numbers in the future.

MIT Collects features objects and other media from the museum's vast collection, arranged in areas that tell stories, explore themes, and dive into subject areas.Modeling Everything:Models and model-making, both the objects and the action, are vital to every research area at MIT and to the life of the Institute itself. Explore a wide array of models for teaching, discovery, research, and documentation, from ships to crystal structures to architectural design.Radical Atoms:Hiroshi Ishii and the Tangible Media Group at the MIT Media Lab have pioneered new ways for people to interact with computers, with the invention of the “tangible user interface.” It began with a vision of “Tangible Bits,” where users can manipulate ordinary physical objects to access digital information. It evolved into a bolder vision of “Radical Atoms,” where materials can change form and reconfigure themselves just as pixels can on a screen.This experimental exhibit of three iconic works—SandScape, inFORM, and TRANSFORM—is part of the MIT Museum’s ongoing efforts to collect the physical machines as well as preserve the user experience of, in Ishii’s words, making atoms dance.A Sequence of Actions:Developed and operated at MIT, the Differential Analyzer, Whirlwind Computer, and Apollo Guidance Computer were massive and complex projects that involved thousands of people. See historical components and artifacts from this critical era in programming during the mid-20th century and explore how these early programmers influenced today’s digital culture.Technology and the Dream:Through recordings of students, staff, researchers, and community members, listen to personal reflections and gain a sense of the Black experience at MIT. This dynamic audio installation is co-curated with the MIT Black History Project.Totally Useless Things:Toys, puzzles, and play are a significant part of the creative process. Playful activity can shape a research agenda or an entire discipline. Extracurricular play — like MIT's famous hacks — enhances creativity and community. And play itself is a rich field for scientific research. Jump in and learn how curiosity is the fuel that discovery runs on.Located in the Edward O. Thorp Gallery

How can you investigate something you cannot see?The challenge of understanding the unknown motivates scientists today, just as it has inspired curious people for centuries.Using material from the Allen Forbes Collection, this exhibit traces the scientific process of observing, measuring, and describing that turned whales from monsters into mammals.Using prints from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries, Monsters of the Deep examines how European knowledge about the creatures of the sea was informed by new information from sailors, scholars, and beachcombers, and how that knowledge transformed what people understood about the natural world.Want a closer look at what we have on view? You can explore digitized versions of exhibition objects here.On view through January 2026.

Hiroshi Ishii and the Tangible Media Group at the MIT Media Lab have pioneered new ways for people to interact with computers, with the invention of the “tangible user interface.”It began with a vision of "Tangible Bits," where users can manipulate ordinary physical objects to access digital information. It evolved into a bolder vision of "Radical Atoms," where materials can change form and reconfigure themselves just as pixels can on a screen. This experimental exhibit of three iconic works — SandScape, inFORM, and TRANSFORM — is part of the MIT Museum's ongoing efforts to collect the physical machines as well as preserve the user experience of, in Ishii's words, making atoms dance.Learn more about the exhibits here, or watch the YouTube video of Hiroshi Ishii's talk at the MIT Museum below.This is an ongoing exhibition in our MIT Collects exhibition.

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.

The Neurotech 2025 symposium presents six talks by neurotechnology pioneers whose cutting-edge innovations are changing the face of neurobiological research from molecules to cognition. There will also be short talks by MIT students and postdocs. The Symposium is open to the public, but seating is limited, and registration is required. Lunch will be provided while supplies last. For more information and to register for this event, visit the Neurotech 2025 website and click "Register Here" to be sent to the Eventbrite registration page.This year’s lineup includesSPEAKERS INCLUDE:ANNA DEVOR BOSTON UNIVERSITYMICHAEL FOX HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL / BWHJEFF W. LICHTMAN HARVARD UNIVERSITYMADELEINE OUDIN TUFTS UNIVERSITYXIAO WANG MIT / BROAD INSTITUTEXIN YU HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL / MGH