Mammoth Moments in Miniature: Nov. 13 to Nov. 19

Harvard Professor Kicks Off Inaugural Cummings Lecture Series

On Nov. 13, Stephanie Ternullo, assistant professor at Harvard University, presented the inaugural Cummings Lecture on the historical causes and contemporary consequences of political geography shifts, and the challenges that these shifts present for political representation in American elections. The lecture series is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the sociology, psychology, anthropology, and classics departments. Every semester, a speaker from one of the four disciplines will speak.

Student Affairs and Office of DEI Host Antisemitism and Higher-Education Workshop

In the face of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Student Affairs hosted an interactive skills-building workshop to explore the history of antisemitism globally, and in the U.S., on Nov. 13.

AAS Sponsors Winter Break Shuttles

Shuttles will be provided to transport students to and from campus for Winter break, sponsored by the Association of Amherst Students Transportation Committee. Shuttles departing from campus on Dec. 12, 18, 19, 20, and 21 were announced in an email on Monday, Nov. 18. Destinations include New York City (Port Authority), Boston (Federal Reserve), and Bradley Airport. Returning shuttles will depart from the same destinations on Jan. 25 and 26. Ticket prices will range from $15 to $35, depending on the destination and departure site.

Overview of the Current AI Reasoning Landscape Presentation

Assistant Professor of Computer Science Andrew Wu gave a presentation on Nov. 12 on Automated Reasoning research and what it means for the college’s teaching and learning. In September, OpenAI announced the o1 series, with major improvements in its math and coding performance compared to previous models. Its improvement is attributed to how the model is designed for enhanced reasoning.