Speaker: Evita Nestoridi (Stony Brook)Title: Shuffling via transpositionsAbstract: In their seminal work, Diaconis and Shahshahani proved that shuffling a deck of $n$ cards sufficiently well via random transpositions takes $\frac{1}{2} n \log n$ steps. Their argument was algebraic and relied on the combinatorics of the symmetric group. In this talk, I will focus on a generalization of random transpositions and I will discuss the underlying combinatorics for understanding their mixing behavior and indeed proving cutoff. The talk will be based on joint work with S. Arfaee.

Are you a sophomore (or first year) and considering a career in medicine? Join Prehealth Advising for an info session on how to develop a strong application for medical school and other health profession programs. Attendees will learn receive an overview of the medical school application process along with information on MCAT timelines and test prep, strategies for volunteering & shadowing, and the pros & cons of applying as a junior or taking a gap year.This event will focus on sophomores, but ALL students & alumni are welcome to attend!

A Special Lecture Series Presented by the MIT Program in Science, Technology, and Society and the Knight Science Journalism ProgramJoin us on Wednesday, April 2nd, from 5:15-6:45 pm in E51-145 for a special talk by Usha Lee McFarling.Radical Collaborations and Entrepreneurial Energy: Building a Thriving Science Journalism EcosystemFrom the moon landing to the sequencing of the human genome, science journalists have chronicled technology’s most transformational moments and its thorniest debates. Today, despite the critical need for such illumination and discussion, the field of science journalism faces threats both economic and political. In this talk, Usha will discuss the current landscape, and explore ways the field and its dedicated community of practitioners can meet these challenges through powerful new collaborations, an entrepreneurial spirit, and by embracing some of the central tenets of the humanities such as creativity, a focus on values, and deeper explorations of ambiguity. These new pathways are needed to ensure accurate information about science and technology reaches the general public for informed decision-making, an essential part of a functioning democracy, but also to allow that public to explore science more fully and to experience its beauty, joy, and wonder.About Usha Lee McFarlingUsha Lee McFarling is a national science correspondent for STAT. She previously reported for the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Knight Ridder Washington Bureau, and the San Antonio Light. Her work on the diseased state of the world's oceans earned the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism and a 2006 Polk award. Her reporting has also earned the Victor Cohn prize for excellence in medical science reporting, the Bernard Lo, MD award in bioethics, and numerous other awards. Usha graduated from Brown University with a degree in biology and later earned a master's degree at UC Berkeley after spending years studying the behavior of desert woodrats. She was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow from 1992-3.To Attend the LecturePlease fill out this RSVP form if you plan to attend in-person. The talk is free and open to all members of the MIT community. We hope to see you there!

Every Wednesday night you are invited to come to The Table for peaceful Christian worship in the Chapel at 5:15 pm and dinner in the Main Dining Room of W11 at 6:30 pm.We worship with beautiful songs, open conversation about the Scriptures, prayers and a simple sharing of communion around the altar. Then we enjoy dinner together and good company together. Whether you come every week or just drop by once in a while, there is a caring community for you at the Table.You are truly welcome to come as you are: undergrad, grad, or post-doc; sure of your faith or wondering what it is all about; gay, straight, bi, trans*, questioning. Please join us for no-pressure worship and fellowship.Hosted by the Lutheran Epsicopal Ministry @ MIT. For more information, or to verify gathering times during holiday and vacation periods, please contact chaplains Andrew Heisen (heisen@mit.edu) and Kevin Vetiac (kvet246@mit.edu).

Many people think gentle yoga is too easy and not an effective form of fitness. Think again! You can practice yoga in ways that are both active and gentle at the same time.Come enjoy the many known benefits of yoga through:the practice of active yet gentle, rhythmic movementheld yoga poses and vinyasa flow (moving from pose to pose via the breath)pranayam (breath work)relaxation and meditationIn this well-rounded class, Celeste LeMieux, 500 hr certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor, provides clear instructions and modifications, making it accessible and beneficial to practitioners of all ages and stages of yoga practice and life.You will leave class feeling both stretched and strengthened while also feeling more calm and relaxed. This class is the perfect mid-week reset for body and mind. Come see how less really can be more!Registration is required on our wellness class website. If you do not already have an account on this website, you'll need to create one. This is fee-based class and open to the entire MIT community.

Refuge @ MIT. Join our weekly gathering for Christian students and seekers as we have worship, prayer and Bible study each Wednesday evening. We share some food and enjoy an in depth Bible study, open to all students at MIT.