This series is for anyone with dance experience or a desire to move, musicians who are willing to experiment, and video artists who can manipulate video in real-time.We will explore methods of working together to produce structured interdisciplinary pieces.Open to all curious about improvisation; students, faculty, staff!Questions: email burgio@mit.edu

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.

This is a casual coffee event for students who have children to socialize and connect. We invite graduate and undergraduate student parents from all schools and departments, as well as students who are expecting.Come over before class and enjoy some coffee and pastries with other MIT student parents! This is an informal event; you are welcome to stay and socialize, or drop in briefly.There will be coffee and pastries, including non-dairy options. If you have other dietary restrictions, please note them in your RSVP.

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

Gaia is a space telescope that measures the position and velocities of stars in the Milky Way. People of different levels will be accessing this data in the same room, and collaborating on new and exciting projects. If you have ideas on what to use the new data release for, great! Come in for the snacks and the company. If not, we have some fun projects for you, and a day full of tutorials! So join in! Prizes will be given! Register by January 15th!

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.

Computer programs are (usually) written with a certain purpose in mind, but they can sometimes be made to do different things or they may try to hide their true purpose. Software reverse engineering (RE) is the process of discovering the undocumented internals of computer programs. RE is a critical activity in uncovering security issues and finding a program’s vulnerabilities. The RE skills we’ll introduce in the course are used anywhere that computer programs and information need to be protected: infrastructure, finance, government, etc... RE is also fun and challenging! This course will provide a brief, hands-on, immersive introduction to RE. We’ll cover topics such as disassembly, decompilation, instrumentation, and emulator-based analysis. You’ll even hear about what that cute little panda in the top-right corner is all about. Days 1-3 will introduce topics and Day 4 will include a variety of open-ended challenges.Dates: Jan 21, 23, 28, and 30Time: 10 AM - 2 PM (lunch break in middle)Location: MIT Beaver Works - 300 technology square suite 2Registration Opens: November 25, 2024To register email: Tim Leek: tleek@ll.mit.edu. Enrolment Limit 30 students.Prereq: Students are expected to have some familiarity with programming, the Linux command line, and enjoy problem solving. No previous reverse engineering or computer security experience is expected.

This session will cover deep learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, focusing on recent advances and what might come next.

Interested in submitting a short film for the “MIT in 3:00” competition, but want to learn more about filmmaking?Join documentary filmmaker Kira Akerman for a 1-day workshop during IAP! It will be offered twice — 10am-5pm on January 28 and 30.Find full information on the workshop and registration at cmsw.mit.edu.

Jeff Gortmaker, Harvard University

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.

“We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us.” This can also be said of the rules and technologies we construct for human cooperation, which allows for enterprise from the subtly complex (can a single person make a pencil?), to the brashly grandiose (space flight!). In return, our scaled social and political systems shape our behavior for better or worse.In this IAP activity, we will read works from computer science, sociology, and political theory to explore the mechanisms of large scale cooperative behavior. The structure of the seminar is simple: read and discuss. We will also cover applied topics such as social networks, crypto, identity, and the nascent philosophy of digital pluralism.The seminar will be heavy on reading, discussion, and participation (~10 hours / wk including class time). Please commit to attending as many in-person meetings as possible. If there is sufficient demand we may open up a Zoom option. Please register here.Instructor: Wes Chow (wesc@media.mit.edu, MIT Center for Constructive Communication)

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required Limited to 35 participantsAttendance: Participants must attend all sessionsPrereq: Matrix MathematicsBig Data describes a new era in the digital age where the volume, velocity, and variety of data created across a wide range of fields is increasing at a rate well beyond our ability to analyze the data. Machine Learning has emerged as a powerful tool for transforming this data into usable information. Many technologies (e.g., spreadsheets, databases, graphs, matrices, deep neural networks, ...) have been developed to address these challenges. The common theme amongst these technologies is the need to store and operate on data as tabular collections instead of as individual data elements. This class describes the common mathematical foundation of these tabular collections (associative arrays) that apply across a wide range of applications and technologies. Associative arrays unify and simplify Big Data and Machine Learning. Understanding these mathematical foundations allows the student to see past the differences that lie on the surface of Big Data and Machine Learning applications and technologies and leverage their core mathematical similarities to solve the hardest Big Data and Machine Learning challenges.This interactive course will involve significant interactive student participation and a small amount of homework. Those students who fully participate and complete the homework will receive a certificate of completion.The MIT Press book "Mathematics of Big Data" that will be used throughout the course will be provided.E-mail the instructor to sign up.Instructors:Jeremy Kepner - Fellow & Head MIT Supercomputing Center - kepner@ll.mit.eduRegistration Opens: November 25, 2024

Join us on Tuesday, January 28 to learn about SDM’s graduate certificate in systems and product development! Our one-year program for mid-career professionals features an integrated core class built on the fundamentals of systems engineering, system architecture, and project management. You’ll study and work alongside students in the master’s program, earning credits for MIT coursework and completing the journey with a capstone project tailored to your real-world experience. The program is designed to let you keep working while you study.In this session, program staff will answer your questions about the application process. Our engineering and management certificate gives you the tools to incorporate systems principles in your approach to problems in any organization.

This IAP class can be taken as a not-for-credit experiential learning opportunity by MIT students, alumni, and employees, or as an undergraduate 2-credit class.Explores the potential and pitfalls of philanthropy as a mechanism for social change, culminating with the class granting $7000 to local community agencies. Students analyze the work of non-profits to address the challenges and opportunities facing MIT’s neighboring communities, with particular focus on community representation, equity, and social justice. We will especially consider organizations that emphasize work with historically marginalized communities. The class culminates with students making a group decision on how the class will disperse $7000 to local non-profits. The class is designed to cultivate a sense of community, often over snacks and deliberative dialogue. Each session, we’ll learn and apply group decision making methods that will help in making the final funding allocations. Through class discussion and supporting materials, students examine the interaction between philanthropy and social change, including the role of philanthropists past and present in shaping social change. Subject can count toward the 9-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.Intrigued? Use this form to express interest and we’ll follow-up to confirm participation.Taught by: A. Hynd and V.Yee Tuesdays and Wednesdays over IAP, noon-1:00pm in 8-119.Student Testimonials:“This class was a great complement to my other coursework in the sense that we were looking at human-focused issues and bringing emotion and heart into our work rather than just solving equations or writing programs. It brought me back to my community and reminded me why I wanted to come to MIT in the first place: to make a tangible impact on someone’s life. Unlike my other classes, I knew my work was going toward more than tests or essays — I felt I, along with my classmates and instructors, was working toward a real positive difference in my community.““This class provided a great opportunity to give away [real money] in a thoughtful way. It really embodied ‘mens et manus’ as we learned about different forms of philanthropy and how to go about selecting and evaluating organizations and decision processes. It was a very collaborative and social experience as we worked as a team to make our decisions, learning by doing.”Read more student testimonials in our recent blog post!

Join us for lunch as we experiment with the genre of 'spiritual autobiography.' Life is full of influences on our human spirit - religious and secular, helpful and hurtful. Exploring these legacies in a free and creative way can help us understand ourselves, and our world, more deeply

How do you design a product that uses off the shelf parts? How does your device know how to connect to wifi? How do you know your coffee maker won’t electrocute you?Standards set the norm for all of these cases and many more. Technical standards govern how products and systems are designed and tested for safety, reliability, and interoperability. Come to this workshop to learn more about technical standards, how they are developed, how to find and request them at the MIT Libraries, and how you might use them in your work as an engineer.Register here.

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.

Learn about introductory methods of bookbinding in this 2-day workshop! In this course, we will learn how to make books using both Japanese stab binding and long stitch techniques, as well as get a general overview of common bookmaking practices. At the end of this, you will walk away with at least 2 books handmade by you! No previous bookbinding experience is needed, and all supplies will be provided. Space is limited and registration is required. Please note: we will be working with leather for this workshop.

Come learn the basics of metal lathe turning by making a simple ring from aluminum and bronze. This workshop consists of 1 hour instruction and then 1 hour of individual lathe work. No prior experience is needed and all materials are provided. Please wear appropriate shop clothing.

Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Fitzgerald will give an Independent Activities Period presentation on US Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations over the South China SeaSpeaker info: Lieutenant Colonel Ryan A. Fitzgerald is the US Air Force 2024-2025 Fellow at MIT's Security Studies Program. Prior to his arrival at MIT, he was the Chief of Staff, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska where he directed, organized, tasked, and coordinated staff efforts for 24 Wing agencies. Lt Col Fitzgerald earned his commission upon graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004. He completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in 2006 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas and has served as an instructor pilot and evaluator pilot in each of the RC-135 variants. His previous assignments include the 343d Reconnaissance Squadron Chief of training, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, and Assistant Director of Operations, 338th Combat Training Squadron Assistant Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Force as an Airpower Strategist for the Asia-Pacific cell, and director of operations for the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron. Prior to that, Lt Col Fitzgerald was the squadron commander for the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan.Lt Col Fitzgerald is a Command Pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours, including 1,074 combat hours, in the RC-135S/U/V/W, T-38 & T-6 aircraft.Open to the MIT communityMIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at ssp-info@mit.edu.

Find out about all the instrumentation we have available to the MIT community:Click here to registerThe ISN operates 40,000 square feet of laboratory space and a significant collection of instrumentation in a dedicated Technology Square facility that is available for use by members of the MIT community.Come and learn about the range of analytical equipment in our facility, including Electrical, Mechanical, Particle, Porosity, Rheological, Spectroscopic, Surface, and Thermal Analysis. From Confocal Raman (WITec Alpha300R) to Spectroscopic Imaging Ellipsometry, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Impedance Spectroscopy to Universal Mechanical testing, and much more.Learn about our high-resolution microscopy tools, which include X-ray CT/Microscopy (Zeiss Versa 620), Scanning Electron Microscopy (Zeiss Sigma 300), Atomic Force Microscopy (Asylum Jupiter XR), and more.To complement these tools, we also have a wide range of sample preparation tools, including a Laser Cutter, Cryo-Microtome, Cross-Section Polisher, Speedmixers, Sputter Coaters, and Hot Presses.A complete list of equipment can be found here:https://isn.mit.edu/equipment-typesFor more information, please contact isn-labstaff@mit.edu

Do you love cute stuffed animals and crochet? Want to learn a new skill over IAP? Sign up for a 3-day crochet workshop and learn to crochet your own amigurumi duck keychain! No crochet experience necessary. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. This workshop will teach you everything you need to know to make your own amigurumi duck keychain; materials will be provided. You’ll learn to single crochet in the round, change yarn colors, name your new stuffed best friend, and more. Workshops will include instruction and time to crochet; each workshop will cover a different aspect of the project, from learning the basics of crochet to creating the duck keychain.This workshop with run in two sections, each meeting three times:Section 1: Tues (1/21), Wed (1/23), Sat (1/25) 2-4 PM Section 2: Tues (1/28), Wed (1/30), Sat (2/1) 2-4 PMSpots are limited to 20 and will be decided by lottery if necessary. Register by 5pm on Saturday, January 11.

Zine Lab: 4-Day Interactive Workshop Explore zines, zine history, and techniques at MIT Libraries. Learn about this counterculture format through talks, discussions, and hands-on creation. Important: Participants must register separately for each of the four sessions.Register here.

Iain Cheeseman, PhD, Professor, Whitehead Institute, MIT BiologyJessica Polka, PhD, Open Science Program Director, Astera InstituteThomas Kuhn argued that scientific revolutions are driven by the development of new tools and techniques, which can answer questions that were previously impossible. Similarly, as the volume of research information becomes unmanageable, tools for organizing, visualizing, and synthesizing data can catalyze fresh understanding. In this session, we’ll hear from creators of innovative tools for openly sharing scientific information about how they can improve your scientific workflows. This is a great opportunity to get hands on exposure to new tools to benefit your research, as well as to learn about additional career opportunities and directions in the computational tool development space.

Advance sign-up required by 1/15/2025Sites are often represented as static, empty plots of land. In reality, every site is an environment—an interconnected system shaped by ecological, cultural, and material relationships. These environments extend vertically into the sky, horizontally through soil and ecosystems, and inward to unseen processes such as microorganisms and material histories. How can experimental drawing and representation techniques reveal these complexities and reshape the way we design?This workshop invites participants to reimagine sites as living systems and engage in collaborative design practices. Focusing on a local, seemingly vacant lot, we will investigate the site’s temporal and spatial dynamics—tracing its layers of interaction and exploring how elements and materials influence its identity. By reframing traditional notions of scale and boundaries, we will uncover the opportunities of co-authorship amongst the environments, forces and creatures.The Wiesner Gallery will act as a hub for both a workshop and exhibition space. Each day, participants will gather in the gallery to experiment with prototypes, drawings, and multimedia techniques. Collaboration and play will guide the approach, creating an open and exploratory environment where games facilitate dialogue and negotiation. This collective exploration will reveal the site’s interconnected urban and architectural layers from the perspectives of diverse actors. The workshop will culminate in a public exhibition at the end of January, showcasing our collective discoveries.The workshop will take place daily at the Wiesner Gallery at MIT. It will culminate in an exhibition, likely Jan-31-Feb 2. Students should bring their laptops to all sessions.

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

Course Description As part of the Practical Computational Thinking IAP course series, the focus of this workshop is to introduce the role of High Performance Computing (HPC, aka supercomputing) in research. We will discuss the fields where HPC is used and provide concrete examples where we describe the strategies used to scale applications to hundreds of processors. Students will learn when to scale from their laptops to HPC, what challenges that introduces, and how to address those challenges with efficient HPC workflows. Engaging will be used for hands-on examples using C/C++, Julia, Matlab, and/or Python. We will also demonstrate applications using other computing resources on campus, such as the Satori and SuperCloud clusters. Students should bring an existing research problem/application that they would like to scale as a project.For more information about this course, including how to sign up, please see the ORCD IAP Classes Page.

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

Speaker: Lenny Taelman (University of Amsterdam)Title: Deformations of Calabi—Yau varieties in characteristic pAbstract:A smooth projective variety X is said to be Calabi-Yau if its canonical bundle is trivial. I will discuss joint work with Lukas Brantner, in which we use derived algebraic geometry to study deformations of Calabi-Yau varieties in characteristic p. We prove a positive characteristic analogue of the Bogomolov-Tian-Todorov theorem (which states that deformations of Calabi-Yau varieties in characteristic 0 are unobstructed), and show that 'ordinary' Calabi-Yau varieties admit canonical lifts to characteristic zero (generalising earlier results of Serre-Tate for abelian varieties, and Deligne and Nygaard for K3 surfaces). In this talk, no prior knowledge of derived algebraic geometry will be assumed.

Speakers - Claire Walsh, Kim Dadisman, and Erin Graeber

This four-session IAP workshop series invites students who identify as immigrants or children of immigrants to explore the relationship between identity, culture, and history. Join us in building community, reflecting on your personal and cultural values, and examining how historical events have shaped your own as well as your family’s narratives. Students will participate in facilitated reflective activities and group discussions, with an emphasis on clarifying the relationship between personal values and familial and/or cultural values. By the end of the workshop series, students will gain insights that will help them in future decision-making and provide a clearer sense of their path forward.Email achang@med.mit.edu to sign up/add your name to the waitlist. The workshop’s discussion-oriented format is most conducive in a small group setting, so this opportunity is limited to 10 currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students. Priority will be given to students who can commit to attending all four sessions. Please reach out even if you cannot commit to all four! We will meet in-person for all sessions (location TBD).Sign-up deadline: January 1st, 2025About the workshop facilitators:Amanda Chang, PsyD recently graduated from the Palo Alto University-Stanford PsyD Consortium and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Student Mental Health & Counseling clinic within MIT Health. As a child of immigrants and former graduate student in molecular biology, she cares deeply about how culture and family dynamics can influence one’s life and career choices. Her psychology training has focused on trauma, including generational and race-based trauma, and working with culturally diverse populations.Jonathan Chou, MD, MS, is a psychiatrist and the Multicultural/Community Engagement Specialist at MIT Health, SMHCS. In addition to his work at MIT Health, he is on faculty in the MS in Narrative Medicine Program at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where he teaches advanced narrative medicine methods and practice.Enrollment: Advance sign-up required. Limited to 10 participants (see above for details). Attendance: Priority will be given to students who can commit to attending all four sessions. This is an in-person workshop only (no virtual option). Location TBD. Prerequisites: None

MIT Reactor Design, Safety Features, & Simulator Hands-On ExerciseCurious about how MIT’s 6 MW thermal research reactor operates? This IAP activity gives you the opportunity to understand the design, safety systems, and operations of the MIT Reactor (MITR) using the MITR Simulator (MITR-Sim).The first hour is a lecture on the MITR’s fuel element and core design, coolant systems, passive delayed heat removal, and nuclear safety features. You’ll then apply what you’ve learned during a demonstration using the MITR-Sim, followed by guided hands-on exercisesThe MITR-Sim models the MITR’s core, coolant systems, reactivity control, safety-related instrumentation, and alarms. Using touchscreen displays of the reactor’s console interface and panels, you’ll gain immersive understanding of the MITR’s design and functionality as well as reactor operation and control. No background knowledge required!Optional additional hands-on time with the MITR-Sim will be available Limited to 20 participants, register here: https://forms.gle/EefKcS94WXotXcDj8 Contact the instructor, Dr. Lin-wen Hu, with any questions: lwhu@mit.eduHosted by MIT's Nuclear Reactor Lab

Singing Back the Buffalo follows Indigenous visionaries, scientists and communities who are rematriating the buffalo to the heart of the North American plains they once defined. The film brings you straight to the heart of this turning point for Indigenous nations, the ecosystem, and all of our collective survival.Schedule:4:00: Snacks & Reception for MIT Indigenous community, allies & friends4:15: Good words4:20: Screening6:00: Q&A with film-maker Award-winning Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard (nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, Birth of a Family), MIT's own Caitlyn Doyle (21L.435 Indigenous Film & Literature) and Nina Lytton (Spiritual Advisor to the Indigenous Community at MIT)

Enjoy a hot cup of cocoa on a cold day (on us, while supplies last). Vegan options available!

Learn the basics of wire wrap jewelry and create your own designs. Earring hooks and aluminum wire provided. Sign up on registration form, we will have a lottery as needed.

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.

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.

Celebrating Lunar New Year Eve together, which is the traditional end of the year in many Asian countries. Immerse yourself in the traditional culture! Event sponsored by GSC Funding Board.

Join us as we learn about and perform traditional music from the Middle East including, but not limited to countries such as Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, and Armenia! We will end IAP with a performance. Due to the structure of this music instrumentation is open to: 1. Strings - (unlimited) including cello, viola, bass, violin, erhu, etc. 2. Percussion (max. 2) - The two percussion instruments we will be learning, darbuka and riqq, are available to borrow. 3. Traditional melodic instruments such as the oud, ney, kanun.Email garo@mit.edu to sign up! Meetings will take place from 6-7:30pm on Tuesdays in Room 4-364.

This hands-on bootcamp explores the intersection of AI and energy, offering participants foundational knowledge and practical skills to tackle climate challenges. Attendees will delve into real-world applications of AI for energy, from optimizing energy demand and integrating renewable resources to designing smarter grids.Participants will transform theory into action through hands-on projects using real-world energy data. Learn the fundamentals of AI applications in climate and energy systems, including generative AI, machine learning techniques and energy data analytics - while addressing pressing challenges in sustainability.The program concludes with a project where participants develop and present AI-powered energy solutions and receive feedback. Whether you're new to AI or experienced, this bootcamp provides a platform for innovation and impactful problem-solving.No prior experience with AI or energy systems is required. Knowledge of energy systems, basic Python programming, or fundamental statistics is helpful but not necessary. Join us to learn, build, and create solutions for a sustainable future!ScheduleWeek 1: Climate AI FoundationsIntroduction to AI applications in climate and energyHow to Make an AI/ML Application for Climate ChangeTutorial: Make your own AI application using StackAI (no coding required)Week 2: Energy Systems & MLEnergy technology, analytics and policyML techniques for energy applicationsHands-on workshop Week 3: Project DevelopmentTeam formation and project ideationTechnical implementation workshopData visualization Week 4: Build & PresentProject developmentFinal presentationsIndustry perspectivesF.A.Q.Who can participate? MIT students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Community members and students from other universities are also welcome.What's the time commitment? 8 hours per week (4 hours in class, 4 hours project work)Do I need to attend all sessions? Ideally, as content builds progressivelyWhat will I create? A functional prototype using AI to address energy-related climate challengesIs this class for credit? No

Design is a process to reach consensus. In this hybrid workshop-seminar, we will explore the core mindsets and techniques for modeling, simulating, and analyzing collaborative decision-making in conceptual or real-world design challenges. Students are encouraged to bring their own case studies and perspectives on any design topic. We will introduce a mindset of modeling and simulation, cover beginner-friendly technical topics including operation research, (algorithmic) game theory, system dynamics, and multi-AI agent learning. We will be focusing on leveraging your designer mindset, not jargon, so no prior technical experience is required.Hybrid class, in-person attendance is welcomed! Students should bring laptop. Time negotiable under survey.

Learn trendy rug-tufting! Make a decorative rug or cool wall art. No experience neccessary.Space is limited - participants will be chosen by lottery. Registration closes at 5pm on Jan 24.This workshop consists of two work sessions - first is tufting, and second is finishing. Choose to tuft on the 28th 6-8pm or the 30th 6-8pm. Everyone meets together on the 31st 3-6pm to do finishing steps and take their rugs home.

Interested in medical interpreting? Fluent in Spanish or Chinese? Apply by Dec. 4 for this 4-week intensive IAP medical interpreting virtual course that will train you to become a qualified medical interpreter and prepare you for national certification exams. Offered by CAPD Prehealth Advising. https://capd.mit.edu/iap-medical-interpreting-course/

Bluewater Sailing Winter Sessions are an opportunity to dive into practical topics related to big-boat sailing and, if you're new, to get familiar with MIT's Bluewater sailing program. Feel free to pick and choose classes that are of interest or relevant to you. The schedule is as follows:January 7 (Tuesday): Introduction to Bluewater Sailing at MITJanuary 9 (Thursday): Bluewater sailing beyond MITJanuary 14 (Tuesday): Safety and EmergenciesJanuary 16 (Thursday): WeatherJanuary 21 (Tuesday): KnotsJanuary 23 (Thursday): Splicing and Soft ShacklesJanuary 28 (Tuesday): Basic ChartworkJanuary 30 (Thursday): RacingFollow the links in the list above for more information individual sessions. Please pre-register for the sessions on knots, splicing, and chartwork; for everything else, just show up!

You wouldn't undertake a 20 week project without first making a plan; what about a 20 year project? Your career is a major source of money, success, and fulfillment; it’s worth spending time planning it out.Learn how to think strategically about your career and create a plan to achieve your career goals. We’ll explore key career questions, professional development, and how to adjust your plan. At the end of this talk you’ll have a framework to create and execute a career plan to maximize your professional growth.Key takeaways: • Questions to focus your career • Components of a career plan • Framework for an actionable career plan • How to refine and adjust your plan as it unfolds * A free tool to help you plan your career now and in the futureMark Herschberg is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You* (https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com/) and the creator of the Brain Bump app (https://brainbumpapp.com/). From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia. At MIT, he received a B.S. in 8, a B.S. in 6-2, and a M.Eng. in 6-2, focusing on cryptography. Mark helped create MIT's UPOP class where he continues to teach. At Harvard Business School, Mark helped create a platform used to teach finance at prominent business schools. He serves on the board of Plant A Million Corals.*Student attendees will be entered into a raffle to receive a free copy of Mark's book "The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You"This CAPD event is open to MIT undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, alumni, staff, and faculty. MIT staff and faculty register at Handshake and https://airtable.com/appLNLHaRepHhRGJ2/pag3D8m2SeE77bjcJ/form

Join us for a special webinar event to learn how to launch a rewarding career at the World Bank. Hear from experts and gain important insights from MIT alumni on how to apply – and have your application stand out!MIT Alumni Panelists at the World Bank Tiziana Smith (’16 MS TPP, ’18 PhD in CEE), Senior Water Specialist Arun Singh (’17 MS TPP), Senior Energy Specialist Artessa Saldivar-Sali (’04 MEng in CEE, ’10 MS in Architecture), Senior Infrastructure SpecialistModerator Anna Frick, Senior HR Specialist at World BankAbout the World Bank | https://www.worldbank.org/ The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Our vision is to create a world without poverty on a livable planet.The World Bank offers a variety of career and job opportunities around the world, serving 189 member countries with 140 offices. Join the World Bank through their Young Professionals Program, Bank Internship Program, Junior Professional Associates Program or as Staff.For more information about this webinar, please email MIT Career Advising & Professional Development, attention Francis Borrego at fborrego@mit.edu.

Come for a free dinner and guest speakerHas Scientific Progress Left God Behind?Sam Detmer - Sam is a fifth-year PhD student at MIT in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Research focus - the development of more robust and deliverable siRNA and mRNA therapeutics. Sam received a Bachelors (in Chemistry and Physics) and Masters (in Physics) from Harvard before starting his PhD at MIT.Before the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, belief in God provided a convenient explanation for many phenomena in the natural world. Today this no longer seems to be necessary. Evolution explains the formation of biological organisms, computational advances provide insight into the workings of the human mind, and physics explains a vast array of processes from chemical reactions to galaxy formation. Is belief in God just a relic of an antiquated system for explaining the world? Has scientific progress left God behind?Werner Heisenberg, who gave his name to the famous uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics, would beg to disagree. He claimed, “The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.”In this talk, we will explore Heisenberg’s claim through the eyes of an MIT student. Do the discoveries of modern science make God obsolete? Come to hear how one young scientist currently weighs the evidence by grappling with the overlapping claims of science and faith.

Reason for God is an annual dinner series during IAP. We host a guest speaker each night who will help us explore some of the big questions around the existence of God, Faith and Science, the Bible, Christianity, and Philosophy. Come for a free catered meal and an engaing talk followed by Q and A. REASON FOR GOD is for any student (the skeptic, the spiritual but not religious, those who are seeking truth, agnostics, atheists, Christians, and people of any faith tradition). Please come and bring your questions. This is an okay place to disagree with what is said. Our values for the event are hospitality, respect of varying viewpoints, intellectual honesty and humility, and kindness, and a warm meal! Come learn, come discuss, and come eat!More about speakers and topics at www.reasoningforgod.comThursday, Jan. 16 How Could a Loving God Allow So Much Suffering? Dr. Rebecca McLaughlin - author, brilliant speaker, theologian, Harry Potter loverTuesday, Jan. 21 Science and Faith - Friends or Foes? - A Look at Origins, Evolution and the Creation story of the Bible Dr. Tom Rudelius - professor at Universtiy of Durham, England, theoretical physicist and cosmologistThursday, Jan. 23 How Can There be One True Religion? Isn’t Christianity Exclusive and Intolerant in its Claim to be the Only Way to God? Abdu Murray - author, brilliant speaker, lawyer, former Muslim who (through much study) became a follower of JesusTuesday, Jan. 28 Has Scientific Progress Left God Behind? Sam Detmer - 5th year PhD student in Chemistry at MIT who loves science and loves thinking about the big questions about God and life