Speaker: Vasily Dolgushev (Temple University)Title: The action of Grothendieck-Teichmueller (GT) shadows on child's drawingsAbstract:Grothendieck-Teichmueller (GT) shadows can be thought of as approximations of elements of the mysterious Grothendieck-Teichmueller group GT introduced by V. Drinfeld in 1990. GT-shadows are morphisms of a groupoid GTSh whose objects are certain finite index normal subgroups of the Artin braid group. The groupoid GTSh is closely connected to group GT and to the absolute Galois group $G_Q$ of rational numbers. GTSh acts on Grothendieck's child's drawings and this action is compatible with those of the groups $G_Q$ and GT. In my talk, I will present the hierarchy of orbits of child's drawings with respect to the actions of $G_Q$, GT and GTSh, give selected examples and say a few words about future directions of this research. This talk is loosely based on my paper "The Action of GT-Shadows on Child's Drawings" (J. of Algebra, 2025). In many respects, the exploration of the action of GT-Shadows on child's drawings is inspired by a paper written by D. Harbater and L. Schneps in 1997.

Description of The Founder’s Pillars: The Founder’s Pillars is an augmented reality memorial that reimagines the six columns at MIT’s iconic Building 10. The building bears the name of William Barton Rogers—founder of MIT—yet also carries a less visible history: Rogers once enslaved six individuals in his household in Virgina. Drawing on six African regions, each reflected in a distinct textile and myth, the project merges classical architecture with African artistry to weave decolonial perspectives and narratives of freedom-making into six richly layered textile films. By activating these pillars, The Founder’s Pillars becomes a living tribute to the African diaspora’s ancestral roots and an acknowledgment of the Institute’s links to slavery.Meghna’s bio: Meghna Singh is an artist and visual anthropologist with a Ph.D. from the University of Cape Town. Her work explores themes of human migration, globalization, critical mobilities, and decolonization of the digital through immersive public art using video, sculpture, and XR. She blends documentary and fiction to address issues of humanism and colonial legacies in urban spaces. Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Aarhus University (2023–2025), she is also a National Geographic Explorer, an honorary fellow at the University of Hull’s Wilberforce Institute, and affiliated with several global creative and academic institutions. She co-directed the acclaimed VR installation Container: Witness the Invisibilised, which links slavery and capitalism and has been showcased at major international festivals, including Venice and Tribeca. It was also screened at the Nobel Week Dialogue in 2021. Singh’s work has been exhibited worldwide and supported by prestigious institutions like the Wellcome Trust, British Council, and Smithsonian. At the MIT OpenDocLab, she’s developing Enacting Futures: Occupying the Digital, an immersive project exploring speculative occupations in real and imagined worlds.

Prof. Olivier de WeckApollo Program Professor of Astronautics and Engineering SystemsAssociate Department Head of Aero Astro (Course XVI)Explore cutting-edge methods for assessing the economic potential of emerging technologies. Learn key financial tools like Net Present Value (NPV), Real Options Analysis (ROA), and Portfolio Management to make informed R&D investment decisions. Gain insights into risk assessment, resource allocation, and strategic financial planning to optimize technology portfolios and drive innovation sustainability. Don't miss this opportunity to align technology strategy with business success and gain a competitive edge in the market!

"Do you ever feel that life holds a deeper meaning beyond what you currently understand? The truth is profound—there are countless mysteries of existence, divinity, and the self that lie beyond our awareness. There is so much we don’t know, and even more that we don’t realize we don’t know."Join us on this exciting journey of Discover Your Self to explore the unknown territories of life and delve into the science of spirituality. This course, based on the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, will equip you with proven methods to achieve true inner joy and answer your deepest questions about life's higher principles. This Course explains Proven methods to attain the true inner joy of heart and gives answers to all the Inquiries about Higher Principles in life like the pathway for unlimited and everlasting happiness from the eyes of scriptures like Bhagavad Gita in a scientific perspective.Salient Features:Discover the Game of LifeDiscover Inner SelfDiscover The Ultimate GeniusDiscover Manual of LifeDiscover Lasting SolutionDiscover Sublime Joy Through SoundDiscover The Real Eternal LoveDiscover The Happy PlanetYou are invited to join us every Tuesday 6:00-7:00 pm. To your pleasure we have free delicious sattvik vegetarian dinner is available after every session.Event details:6:00 pm-6:10 pm: Mantra Meditation and kirtan6:10 pm-6:50 pm: : Session7:00pm : Dinner along with Q&A.Venue: MIT Room 56-180, 32 Vasaar Steeet, Cambridge MA Kindly RSVP here https://forms.gle/DEXUz6ig6dJZoU1k7Regards, MIT Vedic Vision Forum

This yoga practice provides the opportunity to relax and de-stress as well as to stretch, strengthen, and balance your body. The practice begins with a meditative centering followed by warm-ups, a posture flow, and a restful final relaxation. We conclude with a closing and some time for connecting with your fellow yogis.The yoga postures are led at a moderate intensity. Lower intensity modifications are always offered and there is absolutely no obligation to do any posture. The goal is to make the class accessible to beginners as well as experienced practitioners. Listening to your body is the key to safety, especially in this online format.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.

A celebration of creativity and community at MITArtfinity is a new festival of the arts at MIT featuring 80 free performing and visual arts events, celebrating creativity and community at the Institute. Artfinity launches with the opening of the new Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building on February 15, 2025, continues with a concentration of events February 28-March 16, and culminates with the Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts public lecture by 2025 recipient artist and designer Es Devlin on May 1, 2025, and a concert by Grammy-winning rapper and Visiting Professor Lupe Fiasco on May 2, 2025. Artfinity embodies MIT’s commitment to creativity, community, and the intersection of art, science and technology. We invite you to join us in this celebration, explore the diverse events, and experience the innovative spirit that defines the arts at MIT.About the Artists Artfinity features the innovative work of MIT faculty, students, staff, and alumni, alongside guest artists from the Greater Boston area and beyond.About the Activities & Events All 80 events are open to the public, including dozens of concerts and performances plus an array of visual arts such as projections, films, installations, exhibitions, and augmented reality experiences, as well as lectures and workshops for attendees to participate in. With a wide range of visual and performing arts events open to all, Artfinity embodies MIT’s commitment to the arts and the intersection of art, science, and technology.About the Presenters Artfinity is an institute-sponsored event organized by the Office of the Arts at MIT with faculty leads Institute Professor of Music Marcus Thompson and Professor of Art, Culture and Technology Azra Akšamija. Departments, labs, centers, and student groups across MIT are presenting partners.Visit arts.mit.edu for more information about the arts at MIT.