Speaker: Cameron KrulewskiTitle: Invertible Functorial Field Theory for Symmetry Breaking and Interactions in Quantum Field TheoryZoom Link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/5474752564

Join us for an in-person dinner or virtual meeting with Lydia Yu! Students can attend in person to enjoy dinner while meeting Lydia, or join virtually via Zoom (which will be projected for all in-person participants).Lydia is experienced in building data science and machine learning solutions within a variety of fields, ranging from finance and real estate to academic research and consulting. She currently works as a data scientist at Visa where she builds the deep learning fraud detection models that all Visa card transactions go through. Prior to this role, she worked at IBM Consulting where she developed machine learning solutions for a variety of external clients and helped lead the initial movement towards GenAI product development on her team. She is passionate about constantly learning new skills, building strong teams, and empowering women in tech.Lydia earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees from MIT in 2022 - one in Business Analytics and another in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science. During her time at MIT, she lived in Next House, was involved in MISTI Spain and S-Lab, and participated in Extreme PE for intramural sports. She is also currently an alumni advisor for MIT students.Register in Handshake. Dinner will be served for the first 30 attendees. This CAPD event is open to MIT undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and alumni.

Join us on Monday evenings for Argentine tango classes with outstanding instructors Fernanda Ghi, Guillermo Merlo and Mia Dalglish (read their bios on the link). Whether you are completely new to tango, or already have some experience, you will find a friendly environment in which to learn new things and improve your technique. You don't have to bring a partner, since the classes involve rotations with all participants.More info on website: https://sites.google.com/site/mittangoclub/products-services/2025-spring-series?authuser=0

Yang Sheng "Life Nourishing" Qigong is an extremely powerful tool for bringing out one's natural human potential and optimal fitness. Physical health and mental well being are a direct result of the practice.The core of our training is 'Zhan Zhuang' (Standing Meditation). It is designed to activate 'Zheng Qi' (True or Proper Qi). The effects of this training are rapid with deep therapeutic results producing a unified and balanced 'mind, body, and breath.'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.

Time: 1:00 PMLocation: Newport, RI

Time: 12:00 PMLocation: Cambridge, MA

Tuesday, April 29, 202510–11 AM46-3310 (Picower Seminar Room)Zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/j/98400785840?pwd=az5ljtDhAzxy38pgmXxl6fcHV0rmtM.1Title: Oligodendrocyte progenitor heterogeneity in normal aging and neurodegenerationAbstract:Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are one of the four major glial cell types in the central nervous system (CNS). As their name suggests, OPCs are primarily defined by their capacity to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes that form myelin sheaths around the axons in the CNS. However, OPCs continue to tile the adult CNS long after developmental myelination has concluded, and they contribute sparingly to oligodendrocyte turnover, suggesting that OPCs play important roles beyond OL replacement. To define the possible space of non-canonical OPC functions in the adult brain, I construct a transcriptomic atlas at single-cell resolution to reveal patterns of heterogeneity at local and global scales of anatomical organization. First, I characterize OPC heterogeneity in the pathologically normal human brain. I profile cells from prefrontal cortex, primary motor cortex, and striatum of 156 unique donor individuals. Across all sampled brain regions, I identify a subset of OPCs that is characterized by an angiogenic gene signature and hypothesize that these cells are perivascular OPCs that associate closely with the cerebrovascular endothelium. Furthermore, I find significant differences in gene expression between cortical and striatal OPCs which may correspond to functional specializations that support local neuronal function. Second, I profile OPCs from the dorsal striatum of four mouse models. I find a distinct reactive subpopulation whose abundance increases with age and neuropathological burden. Additionally, I perform a comparative analysis of human and mouse OPCs. OPC gene expression profiles are broadly conserved across species, but the proposed perivascular OPC signature is unique to humans. Third, I characterize OPC transcriptomic dysregulation in two human neurodegenerative proteinopathies: Huntington’s disease (HD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In HD, I find that OPCs display signs of stem cell exhaustion, consistent with hypotheses of precocious OPC differentiation. In AD, I find evidence for increased mTORC2 activity and glutathione biosynthesis, reflecting a marked cellular response to oxidative stress. Together, this work deepens our understanding of OPC biology in the adult CNS and highlights areas for future study of OPC-specific contributions to neurodegenerative diseases.

Don't miss our final Coffee & Conversations event of the academic year!Embrace MIT's Values of Belonging and Community! Connect with people you know and those you don't, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships over a cup of coffee and a light snack!

Inspired by Devlin’s artwork Congregation, over 100 members of the MIT community came together to draw one another. Paired with individuals they did not previously know, the participants used drawing as a means of close observation and a pathway to creating human connections. The exhibition of drawings by students, faculty, and staff forms a collective portrait of the MIT community. The work is installed in MIT's new concert hall and is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

February 26, 2025 - July 17, 2025Hidden within MIT’s Distinctive Collections, many architectural elements from the earliest days of the Institute’s architecture program still survive as part of the Rotch Art Collection. Among the artworks that conservators salvaged was a set of striking windows of gypsum and stained-glass, dating to the late 18th- to 19th c. Ottoman Empire. This exhibition illuminates the life of these historic windows, tracing their refracted histories from Egypt to MIT, their ongoing conservation, and the cutting-edge research they still prompt.The Maihaugen Gallery (14N-130) is open Monday through Thursday, 10am - 4pm, excluding Institute holidays.

Swing by the Lab (14S-0513) for a paper marbling workshop and explore self-directed activities in the Wunsch Conservation Lab. Items on display during the open house include: Historical marbled papers, Martha Peterson Islamic Window Archive, Simulacra created by MIT Students, Zine-making activities, and more. Registration requested.

Zoom link: TBASpeaker: Vivian PaulunAffiliation: Kanwisher/TenenbaumTitle: TBAAbstract: TBA

Join us for lunch with Rekha Murthy! Come meet Rekha in person and enjoy a meal while learning about her experiences in the podcast industry.Rekha is a Founder, Podcast Strategist + Story Editor with decades of experience in podcasting, public radio, and other digital media. She advises on content strategy, show development, story editing, and distribution. She works with clients of all sizes - from Spotify, Getty and KEXP to independent influencers, creators, and journalists. Rekha believes that podcasting is at its best when it includes a wide range of voices and lived experiences.Rekha has helped launch and lead key industry initiatives, including Spotify's Sound Up global training program, The Impact Guild, The Podcast Academy (home of The Ambies), and Radiotopia from PRX. She spent years at PRX + Radiotopia, NPR's All Things Considered + NPR Online, and web and mobile startups.As an MIT alum advisor, Rekha supports current MIT students while drawing from her own educational background. She earned her SM in Comparative Media Studies from MIT in 2005, where her Masters thesis explored how people use urban streetscapes to communicate. Before MIT, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at Brown University in 1996.Register in Handshake. Dinner will be served for the first 30 attendees. This CAPD event is open to MIT undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and alumni.

Speakers: David Kung (TPSE)Title: Spreading EMBERS: Eliminating Mathematics Barriers through Evidence-based ReformsAbstract: Project EMBER is a national initiative focused on helping higher education students succeed in introductory mathematics by aligning courses with their interests. It aims to eliminate math as a barrier by supporting Teaching Focused Faculty with resources to implement research-backed innovations. This session will provide an overview of the initiative, discuss systemic change approaches, and review progress. Attendees will engage, discuss, and explore opportunities to get involved. Bring a friend! We especially encourage institution teams to attend, including teaching focused faculty, research faculty, and departmental leaders.Zoom link: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/92415199317Zoom Link Password: olsumeFor more information on OLSUME: https://olsume.org/

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.

Mice, or Microfluidics? Humanizing Biomedical Research, Inspired by Women’s Health ChallengesJoin us for the second seminar series event hosted by the Women's Health Program (WHx) at the MIT Media Lab, featuring Linda Griffith, who is Professor of Teaching Innovation at the MIT School of Engineering and director of the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research.Dr. Canan Dagdeviren, head of the Conformable Decoders research group and WHx Faculty Lead, will moderate the event. The WHx seminar series is supported by the WHx program and the Program in Media Arts and Sciences (MAS).

Join us for a rejuvenating 30-minute meditation session led by an experienced Buddhist monk.This weekly session is open to the MIT community and offers a peaceful break to manage stress, ease frustration, and enhance focus. By practicing mindfulness meditation, you'll not only boost your compassion, energy, and productivity but also connect with like-minded peers who share a passion for mental wellness. Sessions feature light meditation guidance and time for silent practice.Whether you're new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, this session provides a supportive space to cultivate inner peace and resilience. Don't miss this opportunity to recharge and foster a mindful community.

TBA | Anna Sanktjohanser (Toulouse)

Speaker: Miles Couchman (York University)Title: Turbulent mixing in stratified flowsAbstract:Understanding how turbulence enhances the irreversible mixing of scalars in density-stratified fluids is a central problem in industrial and geophysical fluid dynamics. For instance, accurately parametrizing turbulent heat transport within the ocean is a leading area of uncertainty in climate modelling. We here present a series of data-driven approaches for quantifying the spatiotemporal distribution of mixing hotspots and structures in turbulence datasets.First, we describe an unsupervised clustering technique for analyzing oceanographic data, highlighting that traditional analyses may significantly underestimate mixing generated by rare, extreme events. We then consider mixing in complementary direct numerical simulations, revealing the importance of stable anisotropic density interfaces embedded within the flow. Finally, we introduce a dimensionality-reduction algorithm for classifying experimental videos of stratified flow instabilities, leading to a cluster-based network model quantifying turbulent transition pathways.Collectively, our findings highlight that extreme mixing events have the potential to dominate bulk mixing statistics. Current parametrizations of turbulent heat transport may thus be skewed by undersampled measurements, resulting in a focus on the most common, but not necessarily the most significant, events.