2025 Mandala @ MITCo-sponsored by MIT Prajnopaya, Buddhist Student Club, Simmons Hall

Time:Location: Rome, GA / Berry College

Writing Together Online offers the structured writing time to help you stay focused and productive during the busy fall months. 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. We offer writing sessions every workday, Monday through Friday. 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.Please register for any number of sessions:Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00–10:30am (EST) Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00–9:30am and 9:30-11:00am (EST)For more information and to register, go to this link or check the WCC website. Please spread the word and join with colleagues and friends. MIT Students and postdocs who attend at least 5 sessions per challenge will be entered into a gift-card raffle.

🥳 You’re invited – please join us on Friday, October 17 for our MIA 10-Year Anniversary Celebration!📅 Friday, October 17📍 Broad Institute – 300 Binney St. (2110 - Charles)✍️ Register here➕ Add to calendar📝 Agenda:9:30 - 10:00 am: Welcome, breakfast10:00 - 11:00 am: Panel discussion11:00 - 11:30 am: Lightning talks, networking👩‍🔬 Panelists:💬 Alex Bloemendal🏫 Broad Institute (MIA co-founder and co-chair)💬 Aleksandrina Goeva🏫 University of Toronto💬 Gevorg Grigoryan🏫 Generate:Biomedicines💬 Aviv Regev🏫 Genentech ResearchOver the past decade, MIA (Models, Inference & Algorithms) has grown into an invaluable resource, bridging the worlds of biology, medicine, mathematics, statistics, machine learning, and computer science. Through pedagogically-driven primers and seminars, our members have gained new perspectives from leading global experts and rising talent, learning about not just their methods, but their intuition and philosophy, and leaving talks inspired with ideas on new avenues for their own research.We are celebrating MIA on October 17 and reflecting on its past, present, and future.The event will be at 300 Binney St. (2110 – Charles) and broadcast over Zoom. Sign up at bit.ly/MIACast to receive Zoom links to join virtually.🧑‍🏫 Read the panelist bios and see our updated schedule: broad.io/MIA

Speaker: Navid Azizan (MIT)Title: Hard-Constrained Neural NetworksAbstract: Incorporating prior knowledge and domain-specific input-output requirements, such as safety or stability, as hard constraints into neural networks is a key enabler for their deployment in highstakes applications. However, existing methods often rely on soft penalties, which are insufficient, especially on out-ofdistribution samples. In this talk, I will introduce hardconstrained neural networks (HardNet), a general framework for enforcing hard, input-dependent constraints by appending a differentiable enforcement layer to any neural network. This approach enables end-to-end training and, crucially, is proven to preserve the network’s universal approximation capabilities, ensuring model expressivity is not sacrificed. We demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of HardNet across various applications: learning with piecewise constraints, learning optimization solvers with guaranteed feasibility, and optimizing control policies in safety-critical systems. This framework can be used even for problems where the constraints themselves are not fully known and must be learned from data in a parametric form, for which I will present two key applications: data-driven control with inherent Lyapunov stability and learning chaotic dynamical systems with guaranteed boundedness. Together, these results demonstrate a unified methodology for embedding formal constraints into deep learning, paving the way for more reliable AI.Biography: Navid Azizan is the Alfred H. (1929) and Jean M. Hayes Assistant Professor at MIT, where he holds dual appointments in Mechanical Engineering (Control, Instrumentation & Robotics) and IDSS and is a Principal Investigator in LIDS. His research interests broadly lie in machine learning, systems and control, mathematical optimization, and network science. His research lab focuses on various aspects of reliable intelligent systems, with an emphasis on principled learning and optimization algorithms with applications to autonomy and sociotechnical systems. His work has been recognized by several awards, including Research Awards from Google, Amazon, MathWorks, and IBM, and Best Paper awards and nominations at conferences including ACM Greenmetrics and the Learning for Dynamics & Control (L4DC). He was named in the list of Outstanding Academic Leaders in Data by CDO Magazine for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2023, received the 2020 Information Theory and Applications (ITA) “Sun” (Gold) Graduation Award, and was named an Amazon Fellow in AI in 2017 and a PIMCO Fellow in Data Science in 2018.

The Mobility Forum with Prof. Jinhua Zhao showcases transportation research and innovation across the globe. The Forum is online and open to the public.

Date: Friday, October 17, 2025 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Simons Center Conference room 46-6011 + Zoom [https://mit.zoom.us/j/93701332166]Speaker: Caroline Robertson, Ph.D. Affiliation: Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth CollegeTalk title: Seeing What Matters: Semantic Drivers of Gaze in Natural EnvironmentsAbstract: Visual attention in everyday life is driven by both image-computable factors in the visual environment, and also the latent cognitive priorities of the viewer. In this talk, I will present two naturalistic eye-tracking studies that leverage computational language models to uncover the cognitive priorities guiding the gaze behavior of individuals with and without autism. First, using eye-tracking in immersive VR, we find that individuals with and without autism exhibit stable “semantic fingerprints” in their gaze, when the targets of their visual attention are modeled in the representational space of a large language model. Second, in dyadic conversations, mobile eye-tracking shows that gaze to the conversation partner’s face is modulated by the ongoing semantic context in conversation, including linguistic surprisal. Together, these findings position gaze as a window into the semantic and predictive processes that guide attention, offering new leverage for modeling individual differences in natural contexts.

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

Multicellular tissues are sculpted by the spatial and temporal coordination of cells and their interactions. Yet, the organizational principles that govern these events, and their disruption in disease, remain poorly understood. In this talk, I will first discuss our recent experimental work investigating multicellular dynamic organization in several physiologically relevant systems, including cells on engineered curved surfaces, growing human lung alveolospheres, and mouse embryos. Next, I will present our vision for using deep learning to predictively model multicellular developmental processes. I will introduce our recently developed geometric deep-learning method, MultiCell, which can predict single-cell behaviors (neighbor swopping, division, etc.) 30 minutes into the future at single-cell resolution during embryogenesis.Bio:Ming Guo is currently an associate professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, and associated faculty in the MIT Physics of Living Systems Center and Center for Multi-Cellular Engineered Living Systems. His group works on developing tools to characterize and understand cells and tissues as soft active matter. Before joining MIT in 2015, Ming obtained his PhD in 2014 in Applied Physics, and MS in 2012 in Mechanical Engineering at Harvard University. Ming has won numerous awards including Alfred Sloan Fellow in Physics and IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Biological Physics. Ming is an associated editor of the Journal of Biological Physics.

Speaker: Greta Panova (USC)Title: Hook formulas for skew shapes via contour integrals and vertex modelsAbstract: The celebrated hook-length formula (HLF) of Frame-Robinson-Thrall, which gives the dimension of irreducible $S_n$ modules and the number of standard Young tableaux (SYT), has been at the heart of many results from algebraic combinatorics, representation theory and integrable probability. No such closed formula exists for counting SYTs of skew shapes, the closest formula to it (called NHLF) emerged through implicit computations in equivariant Schubert calculus giving a hook-product weighted sum over so-called excited diagrams. Excited diagrams are in bijection with certain lozenge tilings, with flagged semistandard tableaux and also nonintersecting lattice paths inside a Young diagram and the NHLF has seen a variety of applications from weighted lozenge tilings to asymptotics of skew SYTs. We give two self-contained proofs of a multivariate generalization of this formula, which allow us to extend the setup beyond standard Young tableaux and the underlying Schur polynomials. The first proof uses multiple contour integrals. The second one interprets excited diagrams as configurations of a six-vertex model at a free fermion point, and derives the formula for the number of standard Young tableaux of a skew shape from the Yang-Baxter equation.

Speaker: Yu Deng (University of Chicago)Title: The Hilbert sixth problem: particle and wavesAbstract:A major component of the Hilbert sixth problem concerns the derivation of macroscopic equations of motion, and the associated kinetic equations, from microscopic first principles. In the classical setting of Boltzmann's kinetic theory, this corresponds to the derivation of the Boltzmann equation from particle systems governed by Newtonian dynamics; in the theory of wave turbulence, this corresponds to the derivation of the wave kinetic equation from nonlinear dispersive equations.In this talk we present recent joint works with Zaher Hani and Xiao Ma, where we consider the hard sphere model in the particle setting, and the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the wave setting. In both cases we derive the corresponding kinetic equation up to arbitrarily long times, as long as the solution to this kinetic equation exists. This is a key step towards the resolution of the Hilbert sixth problem.*Pre-reception held in 2-290 at 3:30pm. Note the exceptional date, time, and location

Join us at our upcoming info session for students, staff and faculty for insightful discussion, community building, and delicious Ukrainian baked goods.The goal of this session is to bring together diverse MIT stakeholders to brainstorm ideas of how we can create more projects supporting Ukraine in these history-defining times. Using the MIT models of UROP, MISTI, and the PKG Center, we are looking to connect the MIT community and our colleagues in Ukraine (working at NGOs, government and business enterprises) through relevant and meaningful projects. We will also provide a brief update on MIT-Ukraine initiatives implemented thus far and talk about internships, courses, and academic exchange opportunities available this academic year.We especially welcome you if youteach and have ideas about projects that students could help you with through UROPs, PKG social impact programs, or MISTI Ukraine Internships;study at MIT and have ideas for projects and would like to involve others through internships, UROPs, projects for courses you are taking, events around campus;work at MIT and want to be involved in projects in specific labs and learning centers;have connections to potential partners in Ukraine with whom we can collaborate.

As part of 2025 Mandala at MIT: Healing the Divide eventSpecial Screening of film "Wisdom of Happiness"WISDOM OF HAPPINESS shows us a timeless truth: happiness is still possible, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. This powerful message of hope is delivered as a personal audience with one of the greatest living thinkers, Nobel Peace Prize winner Tenzin Gyatso, known to billions around the world as the Dalai Lama. Speaking as a member of our single global community, he shares practical wisdom for finding peace, compassion, and hope in the midst of chaos. With disarming clarity and deep humanity, he invites us to imagine — and help create — a world where compassion is activated as our strongest force for change, and happiness is within reach for everyone.

Bhagavad Gita Fall Lecture SeriesJoin HG Sadananda Dasa, MIT Vaishnava Hindu Chaplain, for a weekly journey into the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. Explore profound questions about identity, purpose, karma, yoga, love, and selfless service, and discover practical insights for living a meaningful and spiritually grounded life. Each session combines reflection, discussion, and practical tools for self-realization.RSVP: tinyurl.com/mitgita25

The MIT Disabilities ERG is proud to present a series of events for Disability Employment Awareness Month this October.Join us for Festival Henge, a community participation art project that involves, absorbs and reflects the community of artists at and associated with MIT by Gearóid Dolan. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we will be jamming on 10/3, 10/10 and 10/17.Festival Henge is a dynamic installation composed of eight freestanding, translucent hand-made LED video panels arranged in an octagonal formation. Each low-resolution video screen displays imagery visible from both sides, while also allowing the surrounding environment to be visible between the LED pixels, inviting viewers into a 360° audiovisual environment with sixteen-channel surround sound.The installation runs silent 24/7, playing a video loop of content that evolves over time, as community members submit new video content that gets added to the loop. Add your content, join the Loop!Gearóid says, "Every Friday after sundown I hold “Friday Night Jam Sessions”, 7:30pm to 11pm, when the Festival Henge is activated by community sound artists, DJs and audio visual artist performances. It is a fun participatory environment where artists and community members gather and celebrate community in a festive and welcoming space. Come join us, experience the art, hang out, play the participatory synthesizer, dance with us to beats in celebration of each other.The “Big Knob 303” synthesizer is built for people who don’t have music skills or knowledge to participate: it is very popular and a lot of fun. My computer plays the notes and accompanying drums and you play the 6 large knobs that effect the quality and timbre of the sounds. Created so people with low vision or who are blind can participate with minimal instructions, and for all to try and to enjoy.During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we will be jamming on 10/3, 10/10 and 10/17, which will also be the closing event of the project and coincides with the 99 Fridays dance party on the 6th Floor."This work is made possible by Arts At MIT, Artfinity Arts Festival, The Art Culture & Technology Program & Media LabOther events in this series10/6 -Making Inclusion and Accessibility Part of All Your Work with Rachel Tanenhaus10/8 -Disabled Artists in Conversation10/15 - Building Inclusive Workplace Practices: A talk with Laura Beretsky

The MIT Life on Stage Theater (LOST) fall production of the play Moonchildren, by Michael Weller. This play from the author of Split and Loose Ends explores the rootless 60's generation of free-love and protest. Five male college seniors and their housemates have no purpose in their lives. They march against the staus quo and taunt the "pigs". One feels genuine emotion at his mother's death from cancer, one romance dies and another is aborted. Ultimately, they realize their lives are as empty as the establishment they protest so vehemently against.Attendance free to all! Come see in Kresge Little Theater fromthe 16th to the 18th of October.