Residential Scholar Events Fall 2008
Residential scholar events occur most Friday nights. The events are organized by the Simmons Hall Residential Scholars, Graduate Resident Tutors, Residential Life Associate, and Associate Housemaster. Most events are open to the MIT community. Some smaller events, such as cooking events, are open to Simmons Hall residents only.
The diversity of the events is impressive, and limited only by the imagination of the Residential Scholars. The events for the Fall 2008 term are listed below; you can also see events from the Spring 2009 term. You can click on the the poster for each event to see a full-sized image.
Designing Cities of the Future
Friday, Dec 5th, 6 PM
Organizers: Assem Inam, Sravisht Iyer
Speaker: Aseem Inam
The phrase "cities of the future" often evokes a technological paradise filled with exciting communication and transportation systems as well as the latest in media devices. However, what if we were to build the city of tomorrow today? How would we design for the real messiness and complicated nature of cities? What are the most creative design strategies for cities that contain multiple communities, manifold challenges, and urgent needs.
Advice from the Ivory Tower: Women in Academia and the Path to Professorship
November 21, 2008
Organizers: Carol Espy-Wilson, Liz Bonawitz
Panelists: Carol Espy-Wilson, Mary Boyce, Sheila Patek
Wondering if an academic career is right for you? Find out how to structure a graduate school experience to attain this goal. A panel of faculty from MIT, UMD, and UC Berkeley will talk about:
- What is the right type of university for you
- How to approach networking
- What to expect for a work-life balance
- What the hiring & tenure process is like at major research universities
Capoeira!
Friday November 14, 2008
Organizers: Patricia Carvalho, Justin Buck
Martial arts and dance meet in exciting Afro-Brazilian art form of Capoeira! Experience Capoeira first-hand at the Simmons Resident Scholar event. The interactive program will include a Capoeira documentary, an interactive class, a roda by advanced Capoeira performers, and brazilian food. Come dressed in white to complete the authentic capoeira experience! Something for all tastes: action, grace, history, exercise, and food! It’s definitely a must-see event.
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art, game, and culture created by enslaved Afrikans in Brazil during the 17th Century. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the centre of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Technique and strategy are the key elements to playing a good game.
The Presidential Election of 2008: Historic Moment, or More of the Same?
November 7, 2008
Organizers: Steven Hall, John Hecker, Scott Meek
Speaker: Prof. Charles Stewart
Professor Charles Stewart (Political Science) will be leading a discussion that takes a look at the contours of the 2008 presidential election. To what degree did the election (and its outcomes) represent something fundamentally new in American politics? What was unchanged? What do we make of the controversies that swirled around the conduct of the election, such as charges of voter fraud and suppression, extra-long lines at the polls, and voting machine malfunctions?
Media's Mind Trick
October 17, 2008
Organizers: Carol Espy-Wilson, Retsina Meyer, Reuben Goodman
Do you watch TV? Have you picked up the paper ... ever? Did you know there is an ELECTION going on? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you might enjoy exploring media's role in politics and in your minds with a panel of experts. Simmons Hall Resident Scholar program presents an evening of excellent discussion with:
CALLIE CROSSLEY - Journalist, Documentary Producer, 20/20 Producer, and Emmy award winner for her documentary "Eye on the Prize"
GABRIEL LENZ - MIT professor of media and politics - Research testing the effects of the media in elections at home and abroad
HENRY JENKINS - MIT Professor of comparative media studies (and Senior House Housemaster!) - Author of "The Wow Climax: Tracing the Emotional Impact of Popular Culture"
Movie: The Departed
October 10, 2008
Organizers: Carol Espy-Wilson, Chris Jones, Rachel Jones, John Hecker
Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Boston State Police department and the Irish mafia. Each has sworn to take the other side down, but when it becomes apparent to both sides that there is a traitor in their midst, will each turn on friends they've made during their long stints undercover? Violence and bloodshed are inevitable in this star studded crime thriller. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg. Directed by Martin Scorsesse.
This Friday at 6 p.m. in the MPR we will have Sgt. Cheryl Vossmer and Officer Andrew Turco of MIT Police here to discuss scenes from Martin Scorsesse's film "The Departed". Come be fed and learn what is real police work and what is Hollywood embellishment. Following dinner and discussion the film will be shown its entirety.
Bollywood Night!
October 3, 2008
Organizers: Tenzin Priyadarshi, Danielle Hinton
An ancient civilization, a major contender in engineering and invention, an emerging power in the world's economy, and a cultural treasure trove, India is a diverse and complex nation of a billion people.
India is also the home of Bollywood, the world's largest film industry. These commercial films, produced in Mumbai in the Hindi language, are a consumed all over India and the Indian diaspora, shared by people belonging to 22 official language groups and speaking countless dialects. The common themes of romance and melodrama are universal, and watching Bollywood films is an excellent, if somewhat surreal, introduction to the richness Indian culture, the dynamics of Indian multi-party politics, and the fabric of India's multiethnic society.
Come for an introduction to Bollywood by Tenzin Priyadarshi, and a viewing of the 'vibrantly entertaining' movie full of song and dance: Aaja Nachle!!
Cheat Sleep! Or: How to Get Quality when You Can't Get Quantity
September 26, 2008
Organizers: John Hecker, Brett Bethke, Anna Massie
Too busy with work to get 8 hours of sleep every night? Did you know that sleep deprivation is one of the oldest forms of torture? Come hear Zan Barry, Program Manager at MIT's Center for Health Promotion and Wellness, talk about how to make the most of the time you do have to get quality sleep. You'll be more energetic, do better in classes, and feel happier!
Portuguese Cooking Lessons
September 19, 2008
Organizers: Patricia Carvalho, Jon Gibbs
This will be a really fun (and tasty!) visiting scholar event in Simmons Hall Country Kitchen. Patricia Carvalho, a visiting scientist from the Technical University of Lisbon, will be hosting Portuguese cooking lessons. The evening will be relaxing, interactive, and delicious. Come and enjoy a fun evening with tasty cod cakes and sweet rice. Learn how to cook using the two spoon method and enjoy the sounds of Fado.
An Evening of Comedy Improv
September 12, 2008
Organizers: Aseem Inam, Patrick Schmid, Candice Chow
Do you love to laugh? Do you love comedy that's spontaneous, edgy, and hilarious? Join us in the Multipurpose Room of Simmons Hall for an evening for food, fun, and even learning a thing or two about the techniques of comedy! Aseem Inam, 2008-2009 Residential Scholar at Simmons Hall, will be showing a DVD of some of the funniest improvisational comedy in the country and answering your questions. Dr. Inam teaches in MIT's School of Architecture and Planning, is trained in comedy improv, and has performed in Hollywood.