Zoom link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/92182352856Speaker: Alicia ChenAffiliation: SaxeLabTitle: Signaling social identity in referential communicationAbstract: The words we use don’t just convey information about the world, they also convey information about who we are as speakers, marking our social identity. Yet formal models of referential communication have focused on the trade-off between informativity and efficiency, rather than how these considerations might also compete with a goal to signal social affiliation. In this project, we investigate how speakers intentionally signal in-group membership through their choice of referential expressions. Across three experiments, we measure the systematic interaction between audience (who we are talking to) and goal (what we want to accomplish in the social interaction). We find that the observed behavior is best explained by a model where speakers consider not only whether listeners will understand their message, but also whether their choice of words will mark them as an in-group member.

Are you interested in applying for a faculty position this fall or in the future? Join this workshop to learn about the academic job search process, including: an overview of the search timeline and expectations, understanding different position and institution types, and preparing your CV and cover letter.This CAPD event is open to MIT PhDs and postdocs.

It's a good time to get creative and finish that project! The Fiber Crafts Group offers the space to craft online with friends. Meetings will be held via Zoom. Feel free to sign in at any time over the session, and stay for as long as you like. For a Zoom invite, please email Claudia James (nonnajames@gmail.com) or Olimpia Caceres-Brown (olimpia@mit.edu)

MIT Free English Class is for international students, sholars, spouses. Twenty seven years ago we created a community to welcome the nations to MIT and assist with language and friendship. Join our Tuesday/Thursday conversation classes around tables inside W11-190.

Have some fun(nel) on a tunnel or sun(nel) walk! Join us for a 30-minute volunteer-led walk either through MIT’s famous tunnel system or around Killian Court. As the weather gets warmer, walk leaders may choose to take the group outside. Is the weather warm and you missed the start? Find the group on Killian Court and join in!Sun(nel) Walk Leaders will identify themselves by holding a white flag at the meeting location.Location details: Meet in the atrium by the staircase. [See image below]Prize Drawing: Attend a walk and scan a QR code from the walk leaders to be entered into a drawing for a getfit canvas boat tote bag at the end of the getfit challenge. The more walks you attend, the more entries you get. Winner will be drawn and notified at the end of April. Winner does not need to be a getfit participant.Disclaimer: Tunnel walks are led by volunteers. In the rare occasion when a volunteer isn’t able to make it, we will do our best to notify participants. In the event we are unable to notify participants and a walk leader does not show up, we encourage you to walk as much as you feel comfortable doing so. We recommend checking this calendar just before you head out.Getfit is a 12-week fitness challenge for the entire MIT community. These tunnel walks are open to the entire MIT community and you do not need to be a current getfit participant to join.

The Whitehead Innovation Initiative is pleased to host AI: Advancing Foundational Biology on April 8, 2025. This symposium will explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming foundational biological research, featuring insights from pioneering computational biologists and AI experts.This half-day event includes talks from leaders successfully integrating AI into biological discovery, a discussion with Innovation Initiative co-founder, Michael Chambers, and a poster session that offers attendees an opportunity to engage with cutting-edge AI applications in research.AI: Advancing Foundational Biology Tuesday, April 08, 2025 2:00 - 5:00 pmWhitehead Institute 455 Main Street Cambridge, MA 02142Symposium followed by poster session and receptionRegister today! For questions, email events@wi.mit.edu.Featured Speakers: Elham Azizi - Professor of Cancer Data Research, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University Peter Koo - Associate Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories Na Sun - AI Fellow, Whitehead Institute Caroline Uhler KEYNOTE - Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Engineering, MIT; Core Institute Member, Broad Institute; Director, Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center Bo Wang - Assistant Professor, Departments of Computer Science and Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto; Chief Artificial Intelligence Scientist, University Health Network