Speaker: Alex Lubotzky (Weizmann Institute & The Hebrew University, Simons Distinguished Visiting Professor, MIT)Title: High Dimensional ExpandersAbstract:Expander graphs have been an intensive topic of research in math and CS during the last six decades. In the last two decades a high dimensional theory has emerged with (very different) applications in math & CS. This colloquium talk is actually the first of 8 independent (but related) lectures about some aspects of the theory of HDX and its applications, as well as a number of open problems and suggestions for further research. This lecture will focus on three main problems (a) Gromov overlapping property, (b) Locally testable codes and (c) Are all groups sofic?*Pre-reception held in 2-290 at 4pm.

Speaker: Mohit Hulse (MIT)Title: Period maps and the Gauss-Manin connectionAbstract:For a family of smooth projective varieties over a number field, we have a complex period map and a $p$-adic period map, and they are both governed by the (algebraic) Gauss-Manin connection. After some preliminaries, we introduce these objects and prove some bounds on the dimensions of their images.Reference:$\bullet$ Lawrence and Venkatesh, Diophantine problems and $p$-adic period mappings, Section 3.For more details:$\bullet$ Deligne, Hodge cycles on abelian varieties, Section 2 (for Gauss-Manin connection).$\bullet$ Voisin, Hodge Theory and Complex Algebraic Geometry I, Part III.$\bullet$ Hotta, Takeuchi and Tanisaki, D-Modules, Perverse Sheaves, and Representation Theory (for more on Riemann-Hilbert).

The List Visual Arts Center will host an artist discussion in celebration of the opening of Pedro Gómez-Egaña: The Great Learning followed by an opening reception.This exhibition marks the first US solo presentation of Pedro Gómez-Egaña, a multimedia artist working in sculpture, performance, video, sound and drawing. Pedro Gómez-Egaña: The Great Learning will feature a number of works and interventions articulated as one temporal, sonic and spatial composition.Following a brief artist presentation, Pedro Gómez-Egaña and curator Natalie Bell will engage in a public dialogue about the presentation at the List Center.

Public Lecture on the History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict Justice in and for Palestine:An Academic PerspectivePresented by : Ilan Pappe, Professor of History at the University of Exeter

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.

A part of the MIT Artfinity Arts Festival and the inaugural season of events in the Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building at MIT.Thursday, February 20th, 6pm Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building Thomas Tull Concert Hall 201 Amherst Street Cambridge, MA 02139Go behind-the-scenes with Kinetic in this interactive rehearsal demonstration, as part of the ensemble’s CAST Visiting Artist Residency.In this interactive Open Rehearsal Demonstration ahead of their Saturday evening concert, the 16-member conductorless string ensemble Kinetic will highlight their uniquely and intensely collaborative approach to music-making, and how their rehearsal process fosters a more direct connection between the musicians on stage, as well as between performers and listeners, creating an exciting concert experience that reimagines the power structures of classical music. String players who are in an MTA ensemble are invited to bring their instruments to play alongside Kinetic, as part of this Demonstration.More info: https://arts-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/people/kinetic-ensemble/This event is presented by CAST and MTA as part of Artfinity: A celebration of creativity and community at MIT.