Orientation Schedule 2021

The Graduate Orientation video modules will go live on September 1. You may access the videos in the "Orientation Modules" tab. Please plan to have watched all videos by the end of the day Friday, September 24, 2021.

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Events will be a mix of asynchronous, synchronous via Zoom, or in-person. Mandatory participation is indicated by an asterisk(*).

September 16–18: iBegin@Caltech - International Student Orientation

Required for all incoming international students. See the full schedule of events here.

Monday, September 20, 2021

10:30 a.m.
Institute Convocation
Join us for a virtual welcome to our new undergraduates, graduates and post-doctoral scholars.

12:00 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Academic Option Programming
Each option will provide option-specific orientation programming.

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: TBD
Dinner

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Beckman Auditorium (Building #91)
Science Talk by Katherine L. (Katie) Bouman, Assistant Professor of Computing and Mathematical Science, Electrical Engineering and Astronomy

Katie Bouman's research focuses on computational imaging: designing systems that tightly integrate algorithm and sensor design, making it possible to observe phenomena previously difficult or impossible to measure with traditional approaches. Imaging plays a critical role in advancing science. However, as science continues to push boundaries, traditional sensors are reaching the limits of what they can measure. Katie's group combines ideas from signal processing, computer vision, machine learning, and physics to find and exploit hidden signals for both scientific discovery and technological innovation. For example, in collaboration with the Event Horizon Telescope, Katie's group is helping to build a computational earth-sized telescope that is taking the first images of a black hole and is analyzing its images to learn about general relativity in the strong-field regime.

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Location: Red Door Marketplace
Coffee and Snacks at the Red Door

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

10:00 a.m.
Introduction and Welcome from David C. Chan, Dean of Graduate Studies

10:15 a.m.
Graduate Student Council

10:30 a.m.
Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity*

12:00 p.m.
Lunch and Breakout Groups
All students will be pre-assigned to breakout groups, facilitated by a senior graduate student.

2:00 p.m.
Faculty Panel*
Panelists: John O. Dabiri - Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering; Mansi Kasliwal - Assistant Professor of Astronomy; Heather Knutson - Professor of Planetary Science; Richard Murray - Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems and Bioengineering and Division Chair for Biology and Biological Engineering; Kimberly See - Assistant Professor of Chemistry; Matthew (Matt) Shum - Professor of Economics

For more information on our Faculty Panelists, click here.