3.171
Ancient Mexican Bells: Technology and Context
Prof. D. Hosler, Prof. S. Allen, Prof. Lin Hobbs
Mon-Thurs, Jan 22-Feb 1, 1-5 pm in 10-280. Preregister immediately. Enrollment limited to 12 people. 3 units. A-F grading.
Metalsmiths in ancient Mexico cast large numbers of bells from copper and bronze. This subject focuses on the technology of bell production and the meaning of bell sounds and their uses in ancient Mexican culture, through lectures and laboratory work. Replicas of ancient Mexican bells are made by copper smelting, alloying with tin, and lost-wax casting. Bells sound qualities are measures and related to materials properties and bell design characteristics. The ancient technology is compared to that of modern bellmaking. Contact: D. Hosler (hosler@mit.edu), 8-106, x3-6691.
13.704
Design a Better Bailer
Prof. Jerome Milgram, Prof. A. Douglas Carmichael
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Jan 8-Feb 2, 1-3 pm in 5-231. Enrollment limited to 6 people. No listeners. 6 units. P/D/F grading.
This project is to design improved hydrodynamically operated small boat bailers. These are typically used in small racing sailboats and are lowered through to bottom to remove water from the cockpit. The subject will include design sessions and experiments on prototype designs in the MIT water tunnel. A successful design may be used in the upcoming Olympic games. Contact: Mizuho Akiba (makiba@mit.edu), 5-318, x3-3465.
17.912
Crisis '96
Yale Zussman
Preregister immediately. 4 units. P/D/F grading.
CRISIS is a political-military-economic simulation of world affairs conducted for high school students by the Educational Studies Program. Participants will be trained to work with a team, as their resource person during preparation and as 'public opinion' during the event. Out of class time will be spent researching the countries and roles assigned, and interaction with the high-school students. Contact: Yale Zussman (ymz@bronze.lcs.mit.edu), W20-467, x3-4882.
519
Open Masonic Installation
Bruce Wedlock, E. Donald Weiner
Wed, Jan 17, 6:30 pm in Masonic Temple, Porter Square.
Public installation of officers at MIT's Masonic Lodge. An exemplification of the ritual of Masonic meetings, followed by a buffet, entertainment, and fellowship. RSVP, if possible, for dinner count. Sponsor: Richard C. MacLauren Lodge of Masons at MIT. Contact: Bruce Wedlock (wedlock@mit.edu), E32-105, x3-4895.
520
Modern Dance
Beth Soll
Fri, Jan 12-Feb 2, 10 am-12 noon in T-Club Lounge, duPont gym.
An intermediate class for students with two to three years of previous training. The class content is drawn from traditional and experimental styles. Sponsor: Physical Education. Contact: Physical Education Office, x3-4291.
521
Scuba Refresher
Boris Golubovic
Mon, Wed, Jan 8-10, 12 noon-3 pm in 16-134. Enrollment limited to 10 people. Fee: $20 for scuba club members, $25 otherwise. Prereq: current open water certification.
Get ready for Spring by checking gear, reviewing drills, and buoyancy skills. All necessary equipment provided. Sponsor: Physical Education, Scuba Club. Contact: Physical Education Office, x3-4291.
522
General Thermodynamics
Prof. Elias Gyftopoulos
Mon-Tues, Jan 8-9, 2-5 pm in 24-213.
Discussion of a novel understanding of thermodynamics as a quantum-theoretic, nonstatistical theory taht applies to all physical phenomena - microscopic and macroscopic, equilibrium and nonequilibrium - and that includes as special cases all branches of physics, suh as conventional quantum mechanics, classical thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. The novel understanding creates opportunities for contributions to the foundations of natural science, such as the discovery of the complete equation of motion of physics, and for novel approaches to applications in nuclear technologies and other fields. Sponsor: Nuclear Engineering. Contact: Prof. Elias Gyftopoulos, x3-3804.
523
Skeet Shooting
Debbie Fonda
Tues, Jan 16, 10 am-12 noon in 4-145 and Wed, Fri, Jan 17-19, 10 am-2 pm at the skeet range. Enrollment limited to 20 people. Fee: $20-30 for materials.
Leran how to shoot skeet. First we'll watch a video covering the basics of shooting skeet and the safe handling and use of shotguns. Later, we will go to the skeet range and shoot 50-100 targets. Students must provide transportation. Sponsor: Biology. Contact: Debbie Fonda (dafonda@mit.edu), 68-074, x3-3205.
524
MIT Speech and Forensics Tournament
Sat., Jan 20, 1-5pm in Twenty Chimneys.
Everyone at MIT is welcome to come and challenge their powers of rhetoric as part of a one-day speech tournament sponsored by the MIT Speech Team. Events will include Extemporaneous Speech, Dramatic Interpretation, Poetry, Humorous Speech, After-dinner speaking, and Lincoln-Douglas debate (to name only a few!) Prizes will be awarded to top finishers in each category. Contact: Mitali Dhar, Macgregor, x5-9345, mitatmit@mit.edu.
525
Wearable Wireless Webcam: Wearable Computing with Cameras and HMD
Steve Mann
Fri, Feb 2, 11am in E15-301.
Wearing a computer, cameras, frame-grabber, and high-speed wireless communications at all times makes for some interesting new possibilities. Part of the focus of this presentation will be upon a wearable image processing workstation (Pentium 90, running both Linux and Win) with high-speed wireless connection to the Internet. I will discuss my work over the past ten to fifteen years which entails integrating body-worn computing, lighting, and communications for the purpose of taking pictures. I will also discuss the use of the apparatus as a "personal visual assistant" that helps me see, create, remember, and communicate. Contact: Steve Mann, E15-389, x3-9610,(steve@media.mit.edu),(http:// wearcam.org)
526Meditation-Sahaj Yoga
Annie Pedret and John Partridge
Tues, Jan 9,16, & 23, 8-10pm in W20-PDR 1&2. Thurs, Jan 11 & 18, 11:30am-1:30pm in W20-PDR 1&2. Thurs, Jan 25, 11:30am-1:30pm in W20-400 1&2.
MIT Sahaj Yoga group offers a seminar in Sahaj Yoga meditation. The course can be attended as a one off class or as a six-class comprehensive seminar. Each class will begin with an introductory talk and thereafter work with each person on individual basis. Sahaj Yoga is an easy and spontaneous system of meditation, attuned towards inner harmony and balance. It is especially suited to the stress oriented student life at MIT. The course and all other meetings of Sahaj Yoga are free of cost or donation. Contact: Annie Pedret, 441-7967, apedret@mit.edu. Before Jan. 5: Rupinder Singh, 876-3627, rupinder.mit.edu.
527
Supergravity
Prof. Daniel Freedman
Thurs, Jan 11, Tues., Jan 16 & 23, 1-2:30pm in 4-149.
An introductory yet very technical presentation of the motivation and derivation of the N=1 Supergravity Theory in 4-dimensional space-time. The physical vierbein and gravitino fields will be used. The lectures are intended for graduate students of the theoretical physics who a) know basic quantum field theory, b) have modest knowledge of global vierbein formalism required to include spinors.
Lecture I - Motivation for Supergravity form the viewpoints of gauge principles, global SUSY, and consistent interactions for the Rarita-Schwinger spin 3/2 field. Toward a locally supersymmetric theory of gravity using the second order formalism.
Lecture 2 & 3 - Differential geometry of manifolds with Lorentz frames, spin connections, curvature, and torsion. The physical counterpart of this mathematics, namely the first order or Palatini form of general relativity. The full supergravity action and transformation rules and the proof of invariance in the 1.5 order formalism.
Contact: Prof. Freedman, dzf@math.mit.edu.
528
Unempolyment in Europe: Catastrophe on the Way to Maastricht. Is There a Cure?
Franco Modigliani
Wed, Jan 24, 1-2:30 pm in E51-149.
529
Italy - The Latest Crisis
Franco Modigliani
Mon, Jan 29, 10:30 am-12 noon in E51-345.
529A
Snowflake Workshop
Margaret Eckhardt
Fri, Feb 2, 12 noon - 2pm, 54-317
No prereqs. Limited to 30 people. Please bring a paair of scissors. Practice folding and cutting your own crystallographically-correct paper snowflakes while you learn about the science behind beauty and variety.
531
Oriental Belly-Dancing
Loni Butera
Wed., Jan. 17-31, 4-5:30pm in 50-201 (Walker Memorial)
Always wanted to try belly-dancing? This course offers an introduction to the basics of this perhaps oldest and most feminine of dance forms. Through simple step-by-step exercises in rhythm and movement, we will go over the basics of belly-dance. Course limited to 12 women, otherwise no limitation on age, figure, or prior experience. Please bring tights and a wrap-around for the hips (large scarf or other fabric). Alternatively, simple gym clothes will do fine.
Preregister immediately. Contact: Loni Butera, x7-5848.
532
Get A Life Mini-Marathon
Nick Matsakis
Jan. 24, 7-9pm in 2-105.
Are you a fan of the stupid sitcom Get a Life? Do you have a taste for stupid humor or outrageous Fox comedies? If so, feed your addiction without fear of ridicule with four episodes of this brilliant, perhaps misunderstood, show about a 30 year old paperboy. Refreshments will be provided.
Contact: Nick Matsakis, matsakis@mit.edu.
532A
Applications of Plasmas and Fusion Technology
Steve Dean
Jan. 17, 2pm in NW17-218.
New plasma technologies are making rapid inroads into world markets valued at over $200 billion per year. A broad of the many spinoffs of plasma and fusion technology being explored.
533
Introduction to Juggling
Nicholas Matsakis
Jan. 25, 1-2:30pm in 66-144.
An Introduction to Juggling geared towards people who have never juggled or have never quite caught the hang of it and want some pointers. We will begin by making juggling balls out of tennis balls, rice, duct tape, and balloons and then go on to the basic pattern of juggling, the cascade. Equipment such as clubs, devil sticks, and a diabolo will be available for more advanced jugglers who would like to try their hand at these props. Free juggling balls to the first 25 people who register. Contact Nicholas Matsakis, matsakis@mit.edu.
534
Java Programming
Matthew Gray(non-MIT), Nathan Williams(Sophomore)
Wed, Jan 31, 7pm-10pm in 6-120.
Impress your friends with animated home pages! Learn Java, the hot new language on the World Wide Web. Some programming experience required. Sponsor: Student Information Processing Board. Contact: Stan Zanarotti (srz@mit.edu) x3-7788
535
Folding Mathematical Models from Business Cards
Jeannine Mosely (Ph. D. EECS '84)
Thu., Feb. 1, 3pm-5pm in 2-142.
Learn how to fold your old business cards into a cuboctahedron, stellated rhombic triacontahedron, or a fractal Menger's Sponge. These models are easy to fold, with only 2 or 3 creases per card, and hold together without tape or glue! Business cards will be provided. Contact: Jim Propp (253-6544) No pre-reqs. (srz@mit.edu) x3-7788
Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Jonathan Zalesky
uesa-www@mit.edu