Dear Physics Community,

Happy Thanksgiving.  In my view, today is one of the honest holidays: we give thanks for what we have and think of how to help those around who need help. I feel like I have much to be thankful for — everyone in the Department has worked hard to get hear and now has a few days of rest before the final push. Thank you all and I am very grateful.

Peter

Above the fold

• A New England Thanksgiving tradition: Alice’s Restaurant
• Congratulations to Rhodes Scholar Ghadah Alshalan

Announcements and Useful Information

• How MIT handles positive COVID cases
• The Biden’s Op Ed on thanksgiving
• A virtual Aspen Conference on Dark Matter and how to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in experimental particle physics

Dear Physics Community,

Many things were pushed from the week before last to last week, which I am hearing was miserable.  Also, many, including me, spent a good deal of time distracted, anxious, and out of sorts, for the reasons we all know.  I am surprised to find myself mildly optimistic.  The vaccines present good news, but I am also cheered to offer a little more in-person instruction in the Spring than this Fall,  a small step towards getting everyone back to MIT.

This takes place against the backdrop of a huge increase in the number of COVID-19 cases — Massachusetts was running 2,000 new cases a day compared with 200 a few weeks ago.  The wastewater monitors at Deer Island show we a nearing a peak…maybe. MIT and the local community seem to be managing well — the hospitalization rate much lower than Spring, and most are complying with the COVID-19 rules on campus.   Our students will have the next week off, while faculty and staff will work until Wednesday. We have less than a week to go before Thanksgiving day.

I am grateful for all these things and how everyone in the Department has worked hard under these hard circumstances.  Thank you.

Peter

Above the Fold

• Science article on Political Secratianism in America
• Kenneth G. Wilson Award for Phiala

Announcements

• Nominate for Infinite Expansion Award for Post Docs
• Nominate a colleague for MLK Visiting Professor
• Assistant Professor Position at University of Tennesee
• Job posting: NSA Research Director

Physics

• Anna Frebel on Chalk Radio
• End of Aricebo

Dear Physics Community,

Wednesday, 8:15 am – Here we are, as expected, with the Presidential election a tossup.  Please keep in mind the process is slow and formal (timeline here).  There may be court challenges and recounts of various kinds that formal prescribed processes required – pay attention to these and not what candidates, campaigns, or pundits are saying.  I’m limiting my exposure to the election to checking twice a day, and you may wish to consider doing this as well.  I am also taking things more slowly and concentrating on the most important things and people around me for the rest of the week.

Good luck to all of us,

Peter

Above the Fold

• Deer Island COVID-19 wastewater monitoring has turned over and is decreasing.  The amount of Sar-COV-2 RNA in our wastewater leads the case rate by 5-7 days, so I am hoping the current surge turns over soon.
• Reboot week Nov. 2-11, stress reduction
• Chancellor’s announcement about Spring term

Announcements

• “The Age of Living Machines” by Susan Hockfield wins the American Institute of Physics Communicating Science Award
• Nominate a college for an MLK award
• New holiday break Dec. 24-Jan 1, official announcement here 
• APS Women in Physics grants for students and faculty here 
• Joint School of Science and School of Engineering class “New class on modeling using machine learning: 6.883J/2.168J/… J” here
• Video and Poll from MIT Divest about fossil fuels companies: Video link: https://youtu.be/1H9e_aae- Poll link: https://mit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6X1CGkItBnoNDLv
• Call for proposals: experiential learning here.
• Tenure track position Cal State Long Beach here

Physics

• Quanta article on the black hole   paradox with Netta
• Radcliffe Institute Talk, “Unraveling the Mystery of Cosmic Acceleration,” here

Dear Physics Community,

The election is tomorrow, and this week may be tumultuous.  I am hopeful but will not make predictions. If you are interested in the electoral college’s details, the Congressional Research Service has a report here on the college and a timeline here.  The timeline is two pages and well worth reading.

Everyone in the community feels a great deal of stress and concern – there is just no way around it.  For myself, I am so distracted that I have trouble typing.  I know this feeling will pass, but it is upsetting anyway.

I am asking all of us to, when appropriate, to acknowledge these feelings in others as we try to go about our business.  Just hearing someone say they know you are having strong feelings helps and is necessary in many cases.  A simple sentence like, “I know you are worried.” helps.  Expressing your feelings briefly can also help too.

This week is probably not a good time to be making important decisions that could be put off until next week.  Similarly, it may be good to postpone difficult meetings or discussions to make some time to live in the present.

Some nuts and bolts things about presidential elections: a network may call an election, or a candidate may claim victory, but these do not mean anything.  Formally, the outcome of a presidential election is not known for at least several days as state election commissions meet, tally, and certify their state’s votes.  The Electoral College does not meet until January to make their final decision.  In between, there can be challenges, court decisions that are formal decision-making processes with specific outcomes.  The media may provide plenty of distraction, and “analysis” can cause further stress.  My suggestion is to try to limit your news intake as much as you can for the next week.

If you are interested in the electoral college’s details, the Congressional Research Service has a report here on the college and a timeline here.  The timeline is two pages and well worth reading.

If you need help:

• Undergraduate students: Student Support Services (S3)
• Graduate students: GradSupport
• Weekends or after business hours:  Dean on Call or MIT Police
• Faculty and staff:  HR resources

We will all get through whatever this is and gather together later in the week.  Good luck to all of us.

Peter