Formlabs is hosting its first-ever Hachathon for the MIT community from January 31-February 2, 2025! The Hackathon will take place at Formlabs headquarters in Somerville (just a 20-minute walk from Kendall Sq).*** DEADLINE TO APPLY: JANUARY 10, 2025 ***APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/99Hx2UbHWsrEc4YN7WHO:All MIT undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs, and researchers are invited to apply!WHAT:Formlabs is hosting a Hackathon for the MIT community! Modeled after our own internal annual hackathon, our Hackathon mission is to enable people to bring their ideas to life.Our annual internal hackathon is a highlight for all Formlings, where people pursue everything from personal passion projects to real-world product ideas. Watch this video from our most recent Hackathon, where projects ranged from an automated rug-tufter to a potato cannon exploding 3D-printed parts.What will Formlabs provide?Space - Whether it be desk space only for computers and/or prototyping space, we will try to give you what you needHardware prototyping tools and materials - We have a great machine shop and other prototyping basic prototyping tools and materials. And of course, 3D printers and a fantastic range of 3D printing materials!Budget - Teams will be able to submit a budget proposal and request materials needed to complete their project, around $200-500 per teamExpertise - We will have Formlings on-hand to provide guidance and help during the Hackathon!Food! - We will provide all major meals and plenty of snacks and refreshments during the entire Hackathon weekend.WHY:We want to provide the fuel to challenge the innovator in you, and to give you the resources to tackle the big ideas keeping you up at night. Because the origins of Formlabs started during IAP back in 2011, we want to give MIT students the tools to launch their big, impactful ideas.WHEN:The Hackathon is planned for Friday afternoon, January 31 to Sunday, February 2, 2025WHERE: Formlabs Headquarters (just a 20-minute walk from Kendall Sq) 35 Medford StSomerville, MA 02143HOW:Complete this application form! Submit one application per team.QUESTIONS?Email accessinitiative@formlabs.com if you have any questions!***Did you know? The idea for the Form 1–the first Formlabs 3D printer that was launched on Kickstarter in 2012–was conceived during IAP when the Formlabs founders were finishing up their degrees at MIT. Since then, Formlabs (still headquartered in Somerville, MA, just a 20-minute walk from MIT) has grown to become a world leader in accessible, professional-quality 3D printing technology.The Formlabs mission is to build the tools to make it possible for anyone to bring their ideas to life. In this vein, we are hosting our first-ever Hackathon for the MIT community.We’re so excited to hear from you!

Keep yourself accountable and meet your resolutions! Writing Together Online offers structured writing time to help you stay focused and productive throughout the IAP. We hold writing sessions every weekday, Monday through Friday, 9-10:30am. Join our daily 90-minute writing sessions and become part of a community of scholars who connect online, set realistic goals, and write together in the spirit of accountability and camaraderie. The program is open to all MIT students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and affiliates who are working on papers, proposals, thesis/dissertation chapters, application materials, and other writing projects.Register for IAP Writing ChallengeStarting on Mon, Jan 6th, through Fri, Jan 31st Mon-Fri 9-10:30am (Eastern Time)Those who attend at least 5 sessions during the IAP will be automatically entered into the raffle of gift-card prizes taking place on Fri, Jan 31st at 10:30am. The more you participate, the more times you will be entered into the raffle of prizes.For more information and to register, check the WCC website. Please spread the word and join with peers and friends.

Hacker Fab is an open-source initiative that provides blueprints, build instructions, and process knowledge for making nanofabrication machines and using them to create integrated circuits. Over IAP, join us for our course consisting of very brief lectures + guided build sessions, in which we will construct a photolithography stepper, spin coater, magnetron sputterer, and work towards the fabrication of diodes and transistors from scratch. The final build session will feature a short lecture and guidance from BreakingTaps!Hacker Fab will be sticking around at MIT after IAP, and is looking for student leaders that would be interested in taking ownership of project directions into the academic year.Please join the Hacker Fab Discord here and assign yourself a role as an MIT student: https://discord.gg/zfssVDC9

Monday, January 27-Friday, January 31, 2025 9:00 am - 1:00 pm ET each day (5 classes) Location: 3-133 Register by Saturday, January 25. Email Pablo Duenas (pduenas@mit.edu)For the 16th consecutive year, this five-session hands-on learning experience continues to evolve, delving into mathematical modeling to understand and accelerate the transition toward net-zero targets. With a primary focus on electricity systems, the course examines their pivotal role in a carbon-constrained economy. Participants will address critical challenges, such as the deployment of renewable energy resources, the surge in active demand response and electric vehicle integration, the synergies between electricity and hydrogen to support deep decarbonization, and the pending expansion of energy access in non-electrified areas of Africa, Latin America, and Asia. These challenges require advanced mathematical models for optimizing and analyzing complex decision-making processes. In addition to theoretical insights, the course offers practical tools, enabling participants to run case studies and explore the impact of different mathematical formulations. Real-world applications will be showcased to underscore the power to inform key stakeholders and public opinion, providing a robust foundation for driving collective action toward a net-zero future.No prior experience is required, although basic familiarity with Python and Julia programming can be helpful. Participants are welcome to attend individual sessions.Monday, January 27Part 0: How mathematical models contribute to achieving the net-zero target on timeCarbon emitters, decarbonization solutions, and the pivotal role of electricityLeveraging models to inform policymakers, stakeholders, and public opinionIntroduction to fundamentals on optimization techniquesPart 1: Removing carbon emissions at the community levelScheduling a decarbonized Home Energy Management System (HEMS)Energy communities and enabling active participation of buildingsTuesday, January 28Part 2: Removing carbon emissions from daily electricity productionUnit-Commitment (UC): daily dispatch of electricity generation unitsManaging uncertainty through stochastic optimization of UCWednesday, January 29Part 3: Removing carbon emissions from annual electricity productionMedium-term operation planningManaging uncertainty through stochastic hydro-thermal coordinationPart 4: The network as the backbone of electric systemsUnderstanding the role of the electricity networkManaging network constraints with Locational Marginal PricingThursday, January 30Part 5: Models for informing utility-scale investmentsBasic concepts: optimal mix problem by screening curvesDOLPHYN: an expansion model for studying low-carbon energy futuresFriday, January 31Part 6: Electrification and energy transition: openTEPES, REM, DECARBopenTEPES: informing infrastructure needs across AfricaREM: developing national electrification plans worldwideDECARB: is the distribution grid ready for wide electrification?InstructorsPablo Duenas, Research Scientist, MIT Energy Initiative (pduenas@mit.edu)Andres Ramos, Professor, Universidad Pontificia Comillas (arght@mit.edu)Javier Garcia-Gonzalez, Professor, Universidad Pontificia Comillas (javiergg@mit.edu)Ruaridh Macdonald, Energy Systems Research Lead, MIT Energy Initiative (rmacd@mit.edu)Yifu Ding, Postdoctoral Associate, MIT Energy Initiative (yifuding@mit.edu)Invited speakersGraham Turk, Deputy Director of Utility Regulation, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

HEET is collaborating with the MIT ESI, Open Learning, and Sloan School of Management to offer a two-day course, titled "Geothermal Energy Networks: Transforming our Thermal Energy System," during the Independent Activities Period (IAP).The goal of this course is to provide participants with an overview of how geothermal networks can lead the transformation of our thermal system towards a clean renewable energy. It will bring together diverse experts and stakeholders to cover the following topics as they relate to geothermal energy networks (GENs): framing the climate change and energy challenge; workforce, health and environmental justice; policy innovations; expansion at city and societal scale; design principles; drilling, construction and commissioning; modeling of GENs and impacts on the electric grids; and case studies.BackgroundEmissions from buildings contribute significantly to climate change, accounting for approximately 26% global energy-related emissions. In Massachusetts, building emissions account for 35% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, with most of these emissions coming from space and water heating systems that rely on natural gas as the primary fuel source.Shallow geothermal energy offers a largely untapped baseload, non-intermittent, stable renewable energy that can be used for heating and cooling. Geothermal networks, defined as interconnected ground-source heat pump systems, harness this energy as a clean renewable alternative to fossil fuels. These geothermal networks present an equitable and scalable approach with the potential to decarbonize entire neighborhoods.Register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/geothermal-energy-networks-transforming-our-thermal-energy-system-tickets-1142912625429?aff=oddtdtcreator

This course is aimed for architecture and urban planning students and enthusiasts. It will introduce the synthesis of data-driven research and urban design. The workshop will walk participants through their own data collections using gaze tracking glasses and heart rate monitors on campus.

Chemistry Student Seminar (CSS) is a student-organized seminar series that host graduate students and postdocs to share their research in a friendly and informal environment. Free donuts and coffee are provided.

The Art and Science of PCB Design is an introductory course into the fundamental aspects of developing electronic systems on printed circuit boards (PCBs). This course will heavily focus on providing hands-on labs with electronic design tools actively used in industry towards designing a primary course project resulting with the physical assembly of a PCB-based device. Students will gain experience in designing systems, conducting SPICE simulations, drawing schematics, and creating a PCB layout. Complex topics in electrical and PCB design will be explored, including from guest speakers and through advanced simulations. This class is intended for students of all skill-levels but at a minimum requires a basic understanding of circuit analysis, which will be applied towards learning how to implement real devices.Prerequisites: Understanding of basic circuit analysis provided in 6.200, 2.678, or equivalent. Prospective students who have not taken 6.200, 2.678, or an equivalent class will be required to pass a staff-created open-book pretest, prior to the start of IAP, that covers required circuit knowledge for the course. Prospective students should fill out the interest form located at: pcb.mit.edu.Lectures: MWF10, room 2-190Labs: 2-hour lab section on Tuesdays and Thursdays, room 38-530 (times TBD)Office hours: MWF 8a-10a, 11a-1p; TTh 5-7p, room 36-144Once accepted, please register for credit under EC.S03 or 6.S092, 6 units, p/d/f

Title: Synthesis and perception of sounds from physical interactions reveals auditory intuitive physicsSpeaker: Vinayak Agarwal Abstract: Object interactions – collisions, scraping and rolling – create many of the sounds that we hear in the world around us. These sounds are generated via lawful physical dynamics. Anecdotally, humans possess some intuitive knowledge of the physical generative processes underlying sound production, but little is known about the extent and nature of this knowledge. This thesis characterizes the auditory perception of physical object interactions, making three main contributions. First, we develop realistic contact sound synthesis tools, in part via large-scale measurements of object acoustics. Second, we show that humans solve ill-posed problems of inferring object mass and damping by using internalized knowledge of the distribution of object resonances. Third, we provide evidence for “auditory intuitive physics” in which human listeners derive physical information through sound, maintain it over time in object representations, and compare it across sensory modalities.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is seeking solutions to reconnect the city with the riverfront, proposing floating parks, highway coverings, and layered urban interventions. This workshop invites participants to envision innovative designs—such as bridges, floating structures, or highway coverings—that reunite the city with its landscape. The project integrates architecture, infrastructure, landscape, and climate considerations, addressing urban interventions to enhance seamless access to the riverfront. Projects can be developed individually or in groups using images, panels, models, or videos. Students in civil engineering, architecture (undergraduate or graduate), or related fields are welcome to explore ideas from conceptual design to master planning. Guidance will include virtual and in-person sessions with guest lecturers and critics. The aim of this course is to exhibit material together in Seoul in 2025.Students should bring laptop to all sessions with Rhinoceros installed.

Learn the fundamentals of quantum computing and the core principles that underpin this novel field. This session will also spotlight quantum computing platforms and the latest research from MIT faculty who will share insights into ongoing advancements, practical applications, and the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Worker placement games are beloved by modern board gamers. The act of placing cubes or discs in factories or farms to increase production and profit is certainly enticing, but what do the workers want? Are they being played? What if we instead make games that promote worker rights? In this two-day workshop, we explore the role of workers in boardgames through play and presentations.Morningside Academy for Design and MIT Game Lab invite you to a Two-Day Workshop . Each day begins with a presentation followed by playing of games curated by the MIT Game Lab. On Thursday, Mikael Jakobsson from MIT Game Lab will talk about workers in board games from a critical design perspective. On Friday, John du Bois, the designer of the game Striking Flint will talk about why and how he makes games. Come and play with us!Thursday Jan 30 12-1pm Presentation Zoom Link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/91287160644 Mikael Jakobsson "Playing Workers – The Mechanics and Politics of Worker Representation in Board Games" 1-5pm Gameplay with John Du Bois and the MIT Game LabFriday Jan 31 10-11am Presentation Zoom Link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/92614107506 A Conversation with John Du Bois hosted by Mikael Jakobsson 11am-5pm Gameplay with John Du Bois and the MIT Game LabMore information about the presentations: https://gamelab.mit.edu/iap-2025-playing-workers-the-mechanics-and-politics-of-worker-representation-in-board-games/

Organzied by the 11-6 (Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science) program, this workshop builds on the urban-related 6.100B problem sets (network routing, recursion and Monte Carlo simulation) but focuses on real-world contexts and decision-making cases. You will look into why these problems matter and who make the decisions - from the access and control of local roads, to mandatory insurance policy for coastal development, to locating essential public services, and hone your innovative problem-solving ability by designing and testing alternative problem formulations and exercising Python programming skills.11.085 | 1-0-1 Units for registered students. Audits welcomed.Schedule (All sessions from 10AM-12PM and will be held in 9-255):Monday, January 27 (Socio-technical Perspectives on Path Optimization Problems)Wednesday, January 29 (Stakeholders’ Interests and Risks in Public Policy Making)Friday, January 31 (Polling Places Locations, Closures and Where to Provide Essential Public Services)

This IAP will have 4 sessions, you can choose which one(s) you would like to attend.You are invited to exciting presentations by researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, showcasing the latest advancements in topics such as Space Exploration, Advanced Materials and Next-Gen Weather.Event Details: 📅 Date: January 10, 2025 - Laser Communication to Enable Space Exploration Speaker: Dr. Farzana Khatri 🕒 Time: 10:30 AM 📍 Location: NE45 MIT Beaver WorksEvent Details: 📅 Date: January 17, 2025 - Accelerated Discovery of Advanced Materials Speaker: Kevin Tibbetts and Mark Polking 🕒 Time: 10:30 AM 📍 Location: NE45 MIT Beaver WorksEvent Details: 📅 Date: January 24, 2025 - Next-Generation Weather Radar Speaker: Christine Parry 🕒 Time: 10:30 AM 📍 Location: MIT Bldg 32-D677Event Details: 📅 Date: January 31, 2025 - Advanced Remote Sensing for Disaster Response Speaker: Daniel Dumanis and Chad Council 🕒 Time: 10:30 AM 📍 Location: MIT Bldg 45-344You are invited to an exciting presentation by researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, showcasing the latest advancements in Laser Communication to Enable Space Exploration, new Advanced Materials and Next Generation Weather Radar. Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge research, practical applications, and emerging trends in the field.Why Attend?Learn directly from Lincoln Laboratory expertsExplore potential collaborations and research opportunitiesEngage in a Q&A session to deepen your understandingDon’t miss this opportunity to connect with leading innovators and discover how Lincoln Laboratory is driving technological breakthroughs.Registration Opens November 25Link for registration: https://mit-bwsi.formstack.com/forms/iap_seminar_series

Oscar Volpe, University of Chicago

Design, build and test your own laptop-based radar capable of forming Doppler, range and synthetic aperature radar (SAR) images. Must register by 1/22/2025Dates: Jan 27th, 29th, 31stTime: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM ESTLocation: 33-419Registration Opens: November 25, 2024To register email: kenneth.koloddziej@ll.mit.edu

Registration is now open!Before the start of each semester, TLL offers a series of workshops for TAs and teacher trainees to help them prepare for the roles and responsibilities of the position of teaching at MIT. Topics include giving feedback, presenting a class session, and facilitating office hours, among other practical subjects related to teaching. Please visit our Teaching Days page to view the full schedule and location for each of the workshops . Register via CanvasPlease note that the IAP 2025 Teaching Days schedule includes a mix of in-person and online sessions.

Are you working on an AI or machine learning project and you have a training dataset or code that you would like to publicly share? Come to this workshop for tips on best practices for sharing ML/AI data, especially for smaller and specialty datasets. We'll cover repository options and their pros and cons, documentation, licenses and citation standards. We'll also cover other resources available from the MIT Libraries data management services, including help with writing data management plans for grants.This workshop will be on Zoom and the link will be sent to registrants. Open to all, though some resources mentioned may be restricted to MIT affiliates.See the related workshop "Can I use this data for machine learning?" on January 24 if you are looking for sources of training data.Register here.

Join us for the MIT IAP Workshop: Nourishing the Body, Mind & Soul based on the Bhakti Yoga principlesDiscover the timeless principles of Bhakti Yoga in this engaging workshop designed to help you cultivate balance, inner peace, and spiritual well-being. Through spiritual insights, practical tools, yoga, meditation, and personalized guidance, you'll learn techniques to harmonize your daily life while nurturing self-care.Open to all levels, this workshop offers a supportive space to explore a holistic approach to living with purpose and connection. Don't miss this opportunity to recharge and grow!. Light snacks will be served at the end of each workshop.RSVP: tinyurl.com/mitiaporigins Date & Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 noon , Jan 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2025 Venue: 56-154, MITDEADLINE TO APPLY: Jan 9, 2024 | Limited to only 15 seats.For additional info or questions: write to us at panduran@mit.eduThe workshop will be led by HG Panduranga Gopala Dasa, a Bhakti Yoga practitioner and disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder acharya of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). He holds a master’s degree in Science and Religion from Harvard Divinity School and previously worked for six years in condensed matter physics and computational materials science at Northeastern University and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He has been mentoring students on bhakti yoga principles at MIT, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Cornell, IISc and other institutions.

Time: 10:30 AMLocation: Boston, MA / Boston University

IAP 2025 CourseThe Phenomenon of ColorWhat is color ? Is it a physical quantity ? Is it an experience ? Do animals perceive color ?The phenomenon of Color is proposed as a series of four lectures exploring the phenomenon of color, and its significance in biological and machine vision. Each session will be about 1 hour, consisting of a 30-40 minute lecture, followed by a discussion. Below, you will find the course outline and the logistical details.Course OutlineLecture 1. Color as substance The material and anatomical origins of colorWe will look at a simple, physics-based model of how light interacts with surfaces and retinal photo-pigments to produce “color”. We will explore the concept of metameric surfaces, estimate the dimensionality of the color experience, and discuss the idea of opponent signaling.Lecture 2. Color as quale The perceptual and cognitive basis of colorWe will examine color illusions and illustrate how sensing, on its own, does not explain perception. We will discuss higher-order color experiences such as memory colors and color constancy. Finally, we will explore the interaction between language and color.Lecture 3. Color as an emergent trait The evolutionary and behavioral history of colorIn this session we will address the question: why color ? We will discuss the existence of color quasi-invariants, and how they may relate to our evolutionary history. We will explore the diversity in color sensing across species, and discuss color as a key evolutionary trait that has shaped how we experience and act in the world.Lecture 4. Color and technology The role of colour in engineering and informaticsColor introduces multiple constraints on human information sensing and processing. These constraints have been used to device human-optimised strategies for applications such as data storage, image processing, and display technologies. We will discuss examples that demonstrate how color helps us design efficient, human technology.Course DetailsPre-requisites None. However, basic notions of optics, linear algebra, evolutionary theory, programming, and signal processing will be helpful in getting the most out of the seminars.Instructor Tushar ChauhanDate 10, 17, 24, and 31 January, 2025 (Fridays)Time 12.00-13.00 (~13.15, depending on the discussions)Venue Building 46, Room 4300Enrollment EMAIL instructor at tchauhan AT mit DOT eduAttendance Requirement Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions

You are invited to a two-session luncheon book club. The book we will be discussing is Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future by Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter. The dates for the book discussion are Friday, January 31 and Friday, February 28, from noon to 1:30pmEST. Sessions will be held via Zoom (Join Zoom Meeting: https://mit.zoom.us/j/3801792429?omn=91421489129).The book "investigates the intangibles, the mysterious forces that contribute to the off-kilter feelings of today, and follows up with actionables to help you alter your perspective and find opportunities in these turbulent times. Mixed throughout are histories of the future, short pieces of speculative fiction that illustrate how things go haywire and what might be in store if we don’t set them straight."Each session will be interactive; we will discuss two chapters from the “Intangibles” section of the book and two chapters from the “Actionables” section:January 31 from 12pm to 1:30pmEST will focus on chapters 1, 2, 5, and 6: Connections, Flow, Be Awkward, and Shapeshift.February 28 from 12pm to 1:30pmEST will focus on chapters 3, 4, 7, and 8: Feelings, Make-Believe, Disorient Yourself, and Aim for Imperfection.In November, MAD hosted a book launch of Assembling Tomorrow. The presentation was captivating and sparked my interest in the book. Why revisit a book we have already featured? To take the opportunity to dig a little deeper and benefit from the perspectives of others. Assembling Tomorrow is a fascinating read that is both a cautionary tale and an action plan for improved designs. We hope you can join us!

This will be a panel discussion with Joe Shonkwiler, Chief Operating Officer at ARPA-H., Prof. Colin Stultz, Co-Director of the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Dr. Isaac Kohane, Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School. They will discuss the technological innovations such as AI and how that have changed healthcare delivery and health-related policies.

Have you ever wondered…· How do space science missions get their start?· What funding is available for space instruments and experiments and how do I tap into it?· What’s a review panel anyway and what are they looking for from a proposal?Then join our course to learn what it takes to write successful NASA proposals! Over the course of three sessions we will learn about:· The NASA funding landscape· How to read funding solicitations· How to develop compelling concepts and write winning proposals, and· What to expect (and do!) after you’re awarded.This course will culminate in students developing their own concepts for a real solicitation (individually or in teams) and writing a draft 3-page proposal that will be reviewed in a mock panel. This course is open to all members of the MIT community and is not for credit.Registration is required for this course. Please register using the following link and feel free to reach out to LParit@mit.edu with any questions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc09JvZC8ctQiZkW_2xfXH1qq7di7MTUzHBetDCv7Tr1YY8oQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Autonomous RACECAR IAP CourseLearn about basic autonomy and robotics for ground vehicles in this short two-week course on Autonomous RACECAR! In this course, members of the MIT community will have the opportunity to program a 1:14 scale RC car to autonomously navigate through an obstacle course. The course concludes with a hackathon and an all-out race in the famous MIT tunnels, with prizes and more!Instructor Name: Chris LaiRegistration Opens: November 25, 2024Dates: Jan 20th, 22nd, 24th, 27th, 29th, and 31stTime: 1pm - 4pm ESTLocation: 17-130Registration Link: https://mit-bwsi.formstack.com/forms/racecar_neo_iap_2025Website link: https://sites.mit.edu/mit-racecar/

Offers students alternative exploratory experience in teaching, learning, and researching. Through collaborative activities with open-ended experiments from diverse origins, participants re-create historical instruments and discoveries that challenged assumptions and sparked new investigations. Student curiosity and questions shape specific course content. Assignments include observations, experiments, readings, journal writing and sketching, and a final reflective paper.

Dear MIT students from every course/major, undergraduate and graduate,For the second year in a row, we are offering this three-unit, for-credit class led by instructors Prof. Olivier de Weck and Prof. Luca Carlone from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro). You can view the syllabus here.In this experimental, three-week class, students will learn about the fundamentals of aerospace engineering through extended (virtual) reality. No prior experience necessary!Students who complete this class will enter a raffle to win one of two Meta Quest 3S headsets!If you are interested in this course, please fill out the following short, pre-registration survey (4-5mins), so we can tailor our instruction to this year's students. The survey also contains more information about the class, including the lecture dates: https://forms.gle/rYJs3ukn519Zc4Yt7.

These are trainings in basic laboratory skills and techniques for mammalian cell culture, transfection, and optical anaysis of mammalian cells. These modules are Level 1 and Level 2 trainings, prior experience required. (See Basic Lab Skills)The Credential Certification program in the Huang-Hobbs BioMaker Space offers participants an opportunity to learn, practice, and demonstrate proficiency in a wide range of biological laboratory techniques. Upon successful completion of the assessment, particpants are awarded a certificate of completion for the credential.Credential modules are open to all users in the MIT community who have completed the required pre-requisite trainings. All particiants must be added to the "biomakerspace" training group and complete clearance form and online trainings. Email jbuck@mit.edu to be added to the training group and for additional information about this program. Limited to 12 participants. To register, please visit http://tinyurl.com/HHBMS-IAP2025.In this series of trainings, participants will review the theory and practice of following credential modules:1) Mammalian Cell Culture - Inoculation (Tuesday 1/21) 2) Mammalian Cell Culture - Media Changing & Inverted Microscope Use (Wednesday 1/22) 3) Mammalian Cell Culture - Passaging & Cell Counting (Thursday 1/23) 4) Mammalian Cell Culture - Media Changing (Friday 1/24) 5) Mammalian Transfection - Seeding Plates (Monday 1/27) 6) Mammalian Transfection - Transfection (Tueday 1/28) 7) Fluorescent Microscopy (Wednesday 1/29) 8) Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) (Thursday 1/30) 9) Fluorescent Microscopy, FACS & Conclusions (Friday 1/31)Pre-Requisite Trainings: Basic Laboratory Skills Modules: 1) Huang-Hobbs BioMaker Space Lab Specific Training 2) Laboratory Math and Making Solutions 3) Basic Micropipette Use 4) Microbiological Culture and Sterile Technique

Step inside MIT.nano's fab to create a 1x1 inch chip with your favorite image to take home with you! We will work inside the MIT.nano cleanroom: learn how to grow up, understand the different fab tools, and use the tools to pattern a 50nm thin layer of aluminum with your design. At the end, we will separate out the chips from the wafer, and you get a chance to put your chip in a small frame or carrier to take with you.

Games and Machine Learning – an MIT Independent Activities Period offeringThis course will combine a series of lectures and hackathon-style projects, the latter chosen from a list of examples or otherwise devised, to introduce students to game creation, current game-related research and an exploration of the technology, the art and the fun of video games.Sony Interactive Entertainment : The Nexus of Games and AIDescription: Computers and gaming have grown up together. Since Bertie the Brain learned to play Tic Tac Toe in 1950, computers have hosted, played, and designed increasingly sophisticated games as they have grown in power. For every computer science paper on the arXiv – from computer vision to LLMs to personal immersion to cognitive science and general AI – there are a half dozen use cases you can name in the creation of video games. Furthermore, video games provide new worlds and synthetic data that test and stretch the capabilities of machine learning models – so the relationship is synergistic.This IAP course will give a brief, project-oriented survey of some of the main research topics that are integral to the development of the future of gaming. Lecturers from Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company behind PlayStation, as well as contributors from MIT and other universities will discuss topics such as player immersion, persuadable chatbots and realistic NPCs, sentiment analysis, rendering, asset and game creation with Unreal Engine and the use of LLMs for agent planning and the development of game tutor agents. Students will choose from a list of potential course projects (or invent their own) and the final week will include student project presentations.Audience: The course is targeted at those who have an interest in video games and machine learning. There are no specific prerequisites. We encourage students with an interest in art, psychology, writing, social impact and design of games to participate.Structure: Project-oriented course combined with lectures.Readings: Readings will be dependent upon project choice and be chosen from the literature.LecturesNumber of lectures: 9Lectures:1/6/25 Mike Stopa – The lay of the land: AI in video games1/8/25 Keri Carpenter – Creating a game concierge for our games1/10/25 D. Fox Harrell, MIT: Considering the Avatar Dream: Designing and Evaluating Characters and Avatars1/13/25 Gale Lucas, USC – Cognitive science and realistic NPCs1/15/25 Ram Barankin – Using GenAI to listen social media1/17/25 Erick Flores – Neural methods to improve real time game streaming1/22/25 Logan Olson, Haven Studios – “0-to-1” game development with Generative ML1/24/25 TBD1/27/25 Final projects + TBDProject examples – students will be asked to complete a hackathon-style project for the class. The topic is completely open although several categories of projects will be suggested by our lecturers – who can then provide guidance in executing the projects. These projects do not need to be computational. Pure artistic projects designing characters, for example, would be welcome.Unreal Engine (or Unity) simple game creation (Mike)Cognitive Science and Realistic NPCs (Gale)Creating Novel Game Mechanics with LLMs (Logan)Video Enhancement, Video Quality Measurement or Codec tuning using Machine Learning (Erick)AI Generated Gamer Concierge  (Keri)A Generative AI-Powered Sentiment and Insights Tool for Social Listening (Ram)

Hosted by E14 Fund and MAS, this engaging workshop will bring together MIT founders to share their experiences and insights on transitioning from scientists and engineers to entrepreneurs. The workshop is designed to guide you through the entrepreneurial process, encourage meaningful connections with both experienced and budding founders, and build a supportive community of peers at various stages of their startup journey.Space is limited and applications to join are due by December 6.Sign up: https://beyondthelab.mit.edu/iapAbout the E14 Fund: The E14 Fund is the MIT-affiliated early-stage venture fund. Born at the MIT Media Lab, E14’s mission is to serve the MIT community and invest in scalable, deep-tech startups. E14 donates a significant portion of profits to MIT.

Ten minutes for your mind@2:50 every day at 2:50 pm in multiple time zones:Europa@2:50, EET, Athens, Helsinki (UTC+2) (7:50 am EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88298032734Atlantica@2:50, EST, New York, Toronto (UTC-4) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85349851047Pacifica@2:50, PST, Los Angeles, Vancouver (UTC=7) (5:50 pm EST) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85743543699Almost everything works better again if you unplug it for a bit, including your mind. Stop by and unplug. Get the benefits of mindfulness without the fuss.@2:50 meets at the same time every single day for ten minutes of quiet together.No pre-requisite, no registration needed.Visit the website to view all @2:50 time zones each day.at250.org or at250.mit.edu

Time: 3:00 PMLocation: Cambridge, MA

In the second half of the twentieth century, researchers in the United States and the Soviet Union suggested replacing human instructors with special pedagogical computers to turn learning and teaching into an efficient and fully controllable process. Designing such computers posed theoretical, technical, and political challenges for computer engineers and cognitive psychologists. This presentation examines how, in the process of navigating these challenges, researchers in each country developed new or perfected existing techniques and approaches to early artificial intelligence, circulating knowledge about minds and computers across the Iron Curtain and adapting this knowledge to their corresponding ideological contexts.Presented by :EKATERINA BABINTSEVA Assistant Professor, Department of History, Purdue UniversityVisiting Scholar, Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge

IAP is a unique opportunity to join the Latinx Graduate Student Association Dance classes and stay warm during winter! Led by the experienced instructor Liliana Jimenez, we'll be hosting a short series of five sessions dedicated to Bachata. We warmly invite you to join us! Where: Kresge Auditorium (W16-033)When: First class 4:30 - 5:30 pm on Friday Jan 10thRemaining classes: 5:00 - 6:00 pm on Fridays Jan 17th, 24th, 31st and Feb 7th Attendace is limited to 25 students per lesson (make sure to click "I'm interested"!). The classes are designed for beginners and will progress gradually, so we encourage you to attend all sessions if possible. However, feel free to join the classes that align with your schedule. Thanks to the IAP mini-grant for funding this event.

Experience the immediate benefits of myofascial release with this simple and effective self-care practice. Learn specialized ball rolling techniques that help penetrate through layers of skin, fascia and muscle and massage into your high-tension areas.Each class includes guided exercises using the Roll Model therapy balls, breath work and stretching techniques specifically designed to ease overburdened muscles and encourage deep mind-body relaxation. Explore various muscle groups and needy body areas each week to eliminate strain and discomfort from sitting too long, working on screens and living with stress.You will find greater self-awareness, freedom and ease in your body. Put the power of self-massage into your own hands.All levels welcome! This is a movement class and workout attire is strongly encouraged.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 a fee-based class and open to the entire MIT community.

Embark on an enlightening 6-session series that explores the fascinating intersection of science and spirituality. This series offers a fresh perspective by integrating cutting-edge scientific research with timeless spiritual wisdom to promote personal growth and self-discovery. Delve into the intricate connections between mind, body, and spirit, and learn how to cultivate a harmonious lifestyle through yoga and mantra meditation. Prepare to uncover new dimensions of your existence and embark on a journey of profound self-realization. We are excited to welcome you to this wonderful experience.Key features:Demystifying ancient wisdom.Big bang or Big brain.Cracking Karma.Magic of mantras.Do we live more than once?Rising beyond temptations.Reincarnation: Fact or fiction.Why do bad things happen to good people? Date: Every Friday (5:30 pm-7:00 pm) including meditation & discussion Venue: Room 56-162Additional Benefit:Certificates will be provided to everyone who completes at least 50% of the sessions of the course.*Free vegetarian delicious dinner will also be provided at the end of every session to have the best experience.

The MIT wrestling club holds practices in the du Pont Wrestling Room on weeknights 5:30-7pm. All levels of experience welcome! Whether you're looking to learn how to grapple or just want to get in a good workout, wrestling practice is a good time to learn technique, get in some live goes, and have fun with a great group of people.Current schedule is: structured practice MTRF, open mats W, and technique sessions 9-10:30am on Saturday. For more information, contact wrestling-officers@mit.edu.

To be notified of the zoom link the day before the workshop, fill out the form http://bit.ly/signupversesJoin us for a unique musical journey with MITverses2! This IAP, come collaborate with the MIT community to create an incredible spoken verse album. Whether you're faculty, staff, student, alum, or an affiliate, we welcome you to be part of this creative process. Learn, create, and share your music with us! Together, we'll learn how to make a spoken verse album. Each week, we'll listen to examples of spoken word art and work on a prompt to create an element for your own track. We welcome participation from past and present staff, faculty, students, alumni and affiliates (anyone who has ever had an @mit.edu ID).Listen to the Collab2 album here: http://linktr.ee/mitversesKeep in touch with updates and deadlines: Sign up for the MITverses2 http://bit.ly/signupverses The track artist(s) must include 1 mit-affiliated person, and contain both music and verses. If you can't come to the workshops, you're still welcome to submit a track http://bit.ly/submitverses by Jan 30 Anywhere on Earth.MITverses2 will be published on Soundcloud and Spotify after the submission deadline.Workshop Schedule: 4 Thursdays 6-7:30pm, last Friday of January 6-7PMJan 2 Intro & Rhythms ; Jan 9 Writing Verses (with Alex Brinson @alexjbrinson) Jan 16 Mixing & Mastering (with Mr. Master ) Jan 23 Sharing Music Jan 31 Submissions & feedback sessionLegal Disclaimer:This is a not-for-profit project affiliated with an academic setting, we will not accept works with slurs or raw decontextualized violence. We request that you not sample copyrighted works, and if you do sample, to give credit to artists when you submit. We are only curating a group of talented people and hold no legal liability for ip infrignement and will not be providing any samples.You'll own all rights to your music, and can release your work under your own channel too. You can submit work that has already been released.Sponsored by MPC, MIT's Music Production Collaborative

Gridspace presents a lecture series on the fundamentals of constructing sound with machines, with weekly guest speakers. Find out more at https://iap.gridspace.comABOUT US: Gridspace is a speech and language technology company that teaches machines to listen and speak. We process and automate billions of minutes of speech data per year.SCHEDULE: Lectures every Monday, Wednesday and alternate Thursday/Fridays (w/ special guests and performances). Streamed live and in-person in our office in LA.

Coached by percussionist and bandleader Eguie Castrillo, the MIT Afro-Latin Ensemble will perform music by El Gran Combo, Ray Barretto, Irakere, Batacumbele and many others.

Time: 6:00 PMLocation: Dallas, PA / Misericordia