21L.448J Darwin and Design (MIT)
In the Origin of Species (1859), Charles Darwin gave us a model for understanding how natural objects and systems can evidence design without positing a designer: how purpose and mechanism can exist without intelligent agency. Texts in this course deal with pre- and post-Darwinian treatment of this topic within literature and speculative thought since the eighteenth century. We will give some attention to the modern study of feedback mechanisms in artificial intelligence. Our reading will be in
17.582 Civil War (MIT)
This course surveys the social science literature on civil war. Students will study the origins of civil war, discuss variables that affect the duration of civil war, and examine the termination of conflict. This course is highly interdisciplinary and covers a wide variety of cases.
Afghanistan's Elections: Can Straw be Spun into Gold?
Afghanistan's presidential election on 20 August has triggered a storm of complaints, and widespread apprehension on the part of international commentators. Yet the question of how to move forward constructively is on the desk of foreign ministries in many major capitals. In this lecture Professor Maley, who was an accredited international observer for the election, offers an account of the forces that have brought Afghanistan to this pass, and some suggestions about what might be required to av
Krista Tippett, Founder and host of American Public Media's "Speaking of Faith": "Reading from 'Spea
The founder and host of American Public Media's "Speaking of Faith" will read from her book. Leigh Schmidt (Department of Religion), Matt Hedstrom (Center for the Study of Religion), and Judith Weisenfeld (Department of Religion) will be the panel participants. Carolyn Rouse, Department of Anthropology, will serve as moderator.
A journalist and former diplomat, Krista Tippett conceived the idea for "Speaking of Faith" while consulting for the ecumenical institute of St. John's Abbey, Collegevil
Women in Theatre conference: "Issues for the 21st Century" – September 26, 2009
Women artists continue to be excluded from positions of power and visibility in the American theatre industry. Recent research, including a provocative study by Princeton alumni Emily Sands, indicates that plays by women are less frequently produced now than they were at the turn of the 20th century. More women have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in recent years, including Suzan-Lori Parks (Top Dog/Underdog) Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive) and this year, Lynn Nottage (Ruined), but very fe
Women in Theatre conference: "Issues for the 21st Century" – September 26, 2009
Women artists continue to be excluded from positions of power and visibility in the American theatre industry. Recent research, including a provocative study by Princeton alumni Emily Sands, indicates that plays by women are less frequently produced now than they were at the turn of the 20th century. More women have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in recent years, including Suzan-Lori Parks (Top Dog/Underdog) Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive) and this year, Lynn Nottage (Ruined), but very fe
Green Fluorescent Protein: Lighting Up Life - January 28, 2010
Martin Chalfie, chair and professor of biological sciences at Columbia University, shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Osamu Shimomura and Roger Y. Tsien for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). GFP has become a fundamental tool in cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, neurobiology and the medical sciences. It has permitted scientists to study damaged cells in Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and genetic disorders. It also has many applications i
Green Fluorescent Protein: Lighting Up Life - January 28, 2010
Martin Chalfie, chair and professor of biological sciences at Columbia University, shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Osamu Shimomura and Roger Y. Tsien for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). GFP has become a fundamental tool in cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, neurobiology and the medical sciences. It has permitted scientists to study damaged cells in Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and genetic disorders. It also has many applications i
The Fruits of the Genome for Society - February 17, 2010
Lunch 'n Learn presentation: The sequence of the human genome, the primary goal of the Human Genome Project, was achieved just a few years ago. Because our genomes are a string of 3 billion sequences of four chemical letters in the DNA polymer, the ability to obtain genomic sequences depended on revolutionary progress not just in DNA chemistry but also on the equally revolutionary advances in speed, capacity and versatility of digital computers. By far the most prominent result of the determinat
The Fruits of the Genome for Society PDF - February 17, 2010
Lunch 'n Learn presentation: The sequence of the human genome, the primary goal of the Human Genome Project, was achieved just a few years ago. Because our genomes are a string of 3 billion sequences of four chemical letters in the DNA polymer, the ability to obtain genomic sequences depended on revolutionary progress not just in DNA chemistry but also on the equally revolutionary advances in speed, capacity and versatility of digital computers. By far the most prominent result of the determinat
Avi Wigderson, Institute for Advanced Study: Part 1 - "Algorithm: A common language for nature, man,
"A Worldview through the Computational Lens III", part 1. From Google to Genomics, the notion of an algorithm underlies much of the "computational universe" we live in today. The algorithm is the fundamental object of study in theoretical computer science. The power and limits of efficient algorithms hold the key to such diverse questions as "What can we know about the world?", "What is intelligence?", and "Can poker be played over the telephone?" A Louis Clark Vanuxem Lecture (cosponsored by
Avi Wigderson, Institute for Advanced Study: Part 2 - "Time, space, and the cosmology of computation
"A Worldview through the Computational Lens III", part 2. From Google to Genomics, the notion of an algorithm underlies much of the "computational universe" we live in today. The algorithm is the fundamental object of study in theoretical computer science. The power and limits of efficient algorithms hold the key to such diverse questions as "What can we know about the world?", "What is intelligence?", and "Can poker be played over the telephone?" A Louis Clark Vanuxem Lecture (cosponsored by
Avi Wigderson, Institute for Advanced Study: Part 3 - "Cryptography: Secrets, lies, knowledge, and t
"A Worldview through the Computational Lens III", part 3. From Google to Genomics, the notion of an algorithm underlies much of the "computational universe" we live in today. The algorithm is the fundamental object of study in theoretical computer science. The power and limits of efficient algorithms hold the key to such diverse questions as "What can we know about the world?", "What is intelligence?", and "Can poker be played over the telephone?" A Louis Clark Vanuxem Lecture (cosponsored by
Christopher Eisgruber, Princeton University: "Religious Freedom and the Constitution" - March 9, 200
Marci A. Hamilton, The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; Erik Michael Mazur, Bucknell University; and Winnifred F. Sullivan, University at Buffalo Law School, comment on the recent book by Christopher L. Eisgruber and Lawrence G. Sager, Religious Freedom and the Constitution. Christopher L. Eisgruber, Provost of Princeton University, responds and answers questions from the audience. Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Religion.
"What is Prayer?" - A symposium featuring Sister Mary Margaret Funk, David D. Hall, Carol Zaleski an
Prayer has been practiced in all religious traditions and is today a topic of much interest. Yet prayer is poorly understood. Conceived as a private act, its social and cultural dimensions are particularly neglected. Regarded as a tool for health and happiness, prayer is also shaped increasingly by popular writers, the media, and even by scholars claiming to study it scientifically. This symposium brings together a panel of scholars and practitioners to discuss the historical, cultural, social,
Alex Halderman, Princeton University: "Securing the Electronic Ballot"
In the wake of the 2000 Florida recount debacle, many states turned to computer voting machines to increase election accuracy and security. Many computer scientists have long been skeptical of such machines, but only recently have researchers had access to them for study. In in his talk he describes how his colleagues and he examined several widely used electronic voting systems and discovered that they were susceptible to attacks that could alter election results and compromise the secrecy of
Alex Halderman, Princeton University: "Securing the Electronic Ballot"
In the wake of the 2000 Florida recount debacle, many states turned to computer voting machines to increase election accuracy and security. Many computer scientists have long been skeptical of such machines, but only recently have researchers had access to them for study. In in his talk he describes how his colleagues and he examined several widely used electronic voting systems and discovered that they were susceptible to attacks that could alter election results and compromise the secrecy of
ESL Habits and Frequency
This is a lesson plan focusing on indefinite frequency. The teacher will prepare a set of questions to ask the students (i.e. How often do you study English?). Students will go to a certain corner of the classroom which contains a frequency (i.e. "sometimes" or "never") as to respond to the teacher's questions.
21F.501 Beginning Japanese I (MIT)
This course covers Lessons 1 through 6 from Japanese: the Spoken Language, Part 1 (by Eleanor H. Jorden with Mari Noda, Yale University Press, 1987), providing opportunities to acquire basic skills for conversation, reading and writing. The program emphasizes ACTIVE command of Japanese, not passive knowledge. The goal is not simply to study the grammar and vocabulary, but to acquire the ability to use Japanese accurately and appropriately with increasing spontaneity. Students learn Hiragana
Jicama and Red Pepper Salad with the World's Premier Culinary College
Get the Recipe: http://www.ciaculinaryintelligence.com/2010/11/holiday-indulging-when-you-have-diabetes.html
The Culinary Institute of America is the world's premier culinary college. Culinary school Assistant Professor Jennifer Stack demonstrates how to prepare Jicama and Red Pepper Salad for diabetic holiday recipes. For more information about our cooking school, please visit www.ciachef.edu.













