89th Annual Seminar Day

Why It Matters

The event showcased Caltech’s central role in accelerating high-impact research and translating multidisciplinary advances into societal applications, while fostering alumni engagement and training the next generation of scientists and engineers. It signals institutional commitment to integrating AI and other emerging tools into core research and education priorities.

Summary

Caltech’s 89th Annual Seminar Day opened with President Thomas Rosenbaum framing the institute’s mission of discovery and education, spotlighting rapid advances in fields from exoplanet science and quantum computing to AI-enabled imaging and personalized medicine. The program featured faculty talks across six divisions, student speakers, electives, lab tours, and a schedule of Q&A sessions, with upcoming announcements of distinguished alumni and career-prize recipients. Host Sandra Singlo guided logistics and engagement tools (Slido QR codes) for attendees, while featured speakers—starting with Sergey Guo—explored how AI and machine learning intersect with mathematics and scientific discovery. The day emphasized Caltech’s interdisciplinary strengths and the role of students and alumni in driving future breakthroughs.

Original Description

Join the Caltech community for the 89th Annual Seminar Day. This one-day hybrid event brought together the Caltech community from around the world to learn about the latest research and discoveries from Caltech faculty, alumni, and current students across various fields of science, technology, engineering, and more. Hear engaging faculty lectures from all Divisions, check out presentations from undergraduate and graduate student research.

Learn more at: https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/seminar-day/

Presented by the Caltech Alumni Association

0:11 Welcome Remarks

8:44 The Role of AI in Mathematical (Re)search - Sergei Gukov

48:00 Empirically Verified Universals of U.S. Electoral Politics - Jonathan N. Katz

1:26:06 Quantum Coherence as a Chemical Observable - Ryan Hadt

2:07:34 Perpall SURF Speaking Competition

3:20:30 Quo Vadis: The Origin of Life on Earth - S. Furkan Ozturk

3:59:33 A COVID-19 Booster Shot That Could Prevent the Next Pandemic - Pamela J. Bjorkman

4:38:34 Redefining Matter Through Geometry: Bridging the Solid-Fluid Divide - Chiara Daraio

5:16:32 Closing Remarks

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