Food for Thought: A new Center for Advanced Study public events series featuring presentations of research and creative projects by recent CAS Associates and Fellows.

This informal series includes talks that were canceled after campus shut down in Spring 2020. With the possibility of in-person events once again, we are delighted to showcase the work of some of our most productive and creative faculty in a series of intellectually and spiritually invigorating presentations. You are invited to drop in when you can and enjoy a bite to eat while you learn about the exciting projects undertaken by our faculty. A brunch buffet will be provided at all in-person events.

11:10am, Vidya Madhavan, The Powerful Roles of Symmetry and Topology in Quantum Materials

The natural world is full of symmetry that is immensely appealing to our sense of beauty. The same symmetries also have profound consequences for the physical world. In this talk, Professor Madhavan will explore how symmetries can impose strict constraints on the physical properties of systems all the way to the quantum level. She will also discuss another equally profound concept, topology, and describe how viewing the world from the perspective of topology has led to new discoveries in the last decade

12:10pm, Fatima Husain, Leveraging Neuroimaging of Hearing Disorders to Understand Basic Brain Function and Help Patients

Using innovative neuroimaging and computational techniques, Professor Husain and her research group have mapped out the functional and anatomical neural networks underlying these disorders. In the process, they have expanded our knowledge about basic brain functions and provided evidence regarding different interventions to help patients.