"One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna." -: BHagavad gita 4.9We’re pleased to invite you to join us for a special celebration of Ram Navami, hosted by Vedic Vision Forum.Ram Navami marks the appearance of Lord Ram, a revered figure known for his unwavering commitment to truth, compassion, and righteousness. This occasion offers a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with values that bring clarity and balance to our lives.The evening will include devotional music, reflections on the life and teachings of Lord Ram, and a chance to engage with a welcoming community of like-minded individuals. We warmly invite you to be part of this thoughtful and peaceful gathering.Event Details:Date: 18th April (Friday) Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Venue: Room 56-114RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/MgoXuzNju3AxNkRR9To enhance your experience, delicious vegetarian dinner will be served after the session!Best wishes, MIT Vedic Vision Forum

The Sixth Annual MIT Playwrights LabA weeks-long festival of new student plays from Senior Lecturer Ken Urban’s Course 21T.355 workshopped and performed by professional actors and directors.SCHEDULE OF STAGED READINGSEscape Velocity by Aquila Simmons Wednesday, April 16 at 8pmHereafter by Ariel McGee Wednesday, April 30 at 8pmWhat Remains of the Sun by Sofia Galiana Wednesday, May 7 at 8pmAll readings will take place in Building W97-160Free and open to the publicThe MIT Playwrights Lab is made possible thanks to the generous funding of the Richard Price Rudy (1968) and Robert Paul Rudy (1937) Memorial Fund.

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.

Join us for Sustainability Connect—MIT’s annual event where innovation meets action! Join a dynamic community of operational staff, researchers, students, and policy experts as we come together to take stock of MIT’s efforts and explore climate and sustainability solutions as a community.This interactive event offers a firsthand opportunity to hear more about MIT’s climate initiatives, exchange groundbreaking ideas, and play a key role in shaping the future of sustainability at MIT. Whether you're creating solutions, launching programs, or discovering new ways to get involved, you will walk away with invaluable connections and fresh, actionable insights.Register by April 10th to attend.

Talk Title: Sensory cortical computations for learningTalk Abstract:Learning about sensory cues from the environment is essential for animal survival. The sensory cortex is thought to subserve this learning by increasing the saliency of behaviorally relevant cues at the timescale of behavioral improvements. However, reports suggest that the acquisition of task knowledge may occur faster than performance improvements, challenging the stimulus-related plasticity model of sensory cortical plasticity. To investigate the relationship between learning and sensory cortical representations, I trained mice on a novel behavioral paradigm that dissociated the rapid acquisition of task contingencies (learning) from its slower expression (performance). I combined longitudinal two-photon imaging in the auditory cortex to track thousands of neurons across weeks, cutting-edge tensor decomposition algorithms to reveal latent dynamics at multiple timescales, and behaviorally closed-loop optogenetics. Rather than enhancement or expansion of cue representations, we found that the sensory cortex manifests higher-order computations, reward prediction and action suppression, that separably drive rapid learning and slower performance improvements, respectively. These results reshape our understanding of the fundamental role of the sensory cortex. At the end of my seminar, I will briefly discuss my future directions focusing on investigating multi-region neural dynamics that underlie memory-guided behaviors.This talk will not be live streamed

All kids from newborn age to 3.5 years old are welcome! You can bring siblings as well.It's a chance for kids to have fun while parents can chat, share parenting tips, and socialize.Please register if you plan to attend the group. Contact Maria at mwiegandl@udd.cl if you have any questions.This group is sponsored by the Executive Committees of Westgate and the Graduate Tower at Site 4, and MIT Spouses & Partners Connect, a dedicated network for the significant others of MIT students, postdocs, staff and faculty who have relocated to the Boston area.