I generally walk into 32-123 (translation: Building 32 (Stata Center), Room 123 - oh and omg, it's a palindrome) about three times a week, in order to imbibe (or attempt to, rather) some chemistry. This week, however, I made a small exception and walked into this large lecture hall one extra time, for a talk by Padma Lakshmi entitled, "The Pain Within: My Struggle With and Triumph Over Endometriosis."

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of Padma Lakshmi: author, actress, model, host of Top Chef, and apparently, according to Wikipedia, a fluent speaker of the same Indian language that I speak (Tamil). In order to officially launch MIT's new Center for Gynepathology Research, Padma Lakshmi visited campus today and spoke for about an hour about her experiences with endometriosis. Her story was incredibly personal and had a distinct character of raw honesty to it; she described the many years of pain, the loneliness associated with having the disease, and the extent to which society is unaware of this condition. It was insightful, moving, and informative.

This newly-launched Center for Gynepathology is unique in that it narrows the admittedly broad spectrum of topics related to female health and aims to focus on just the things that go wrong. As pointed out at the talk today, it's just another area where MIT is leading the way and linking science/engineering to their real-world counterparts.

At the end of Padma Lakshmi's speech, Linda Griffith (Scientific Director for CGR) also said a few words and made a simple request: that each person in the audience tell just five others about what they'd heard today, to cultivate a greater understanding of endometriosis and a source of support for those who suffer from it. This blog entry is my effort to successful complete that small homework assignment :)

Padma Lakshmi is only one of many well-known individuals who have visited MIT. In the three months I've been here, we've had visits from Nick Pitera, John Kufuor, and of course, Barack Obama. The event page on MIT's website is full of cool campus happenings. If I was given an extra twenty-four hours each day, I still wouldn't be able to make it to all of them.

But I'm glad I went to today's event. I didn't get a chance to shake Padma Lakshmi's hand or talk to her or even get within ten feet of her; instead, I took a long-distance, slightly blurry picture of her:

I also swiped one of the publicity posters pinned to a bulletin board in Stata:

I'm hoping I don't get into trouble for that.

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

So cool! I used to catch Top Chef now and then. She is by far my favorite judge. It's great that she's using her celebrity to educate others about endometriosis.

Posted by: VAL ('14?) on December 4, 2009

oh wow. that's rly nice

Posted by: jialing on December 4, 2009

You may be *slightly* more likely to get in trouble now that you've admitted to it on the interwebs. But I approve. =D

Posted by: Charlie '14? on December 4, 2009

OMG! PADMA!!! I am the biggest top chef fan EVER!!! I can't believe she came to MIT!!!! I watched part 1 of the season 6 finale on Wednesday and Bryan won (he is my favorite)! Oh and Kevin (I read somewhere he got into MIT but then decided to go to cooking school) made it to the second part of the finale too(he is my 2nd favorite) so I'm really excited for the finale part 2 I wish I was at MIT when Padma was there - I really want to meet her and Tom Colicchio... Maybe if I keep hoping I'll run into one of them or Bryan or Kevin in the future...

Posted by: Su ('14?) on December 4, 2009

Her personal story was quite inspiring today; she's quite the articulate speaker

Posted by: Tommy '13 on December 5, 2009

yay Tamil people at MIT!

Posted by: Kes '11 on December 5, 2009

"I'm hoping I don't get into trouble for [swiping one of the publicity posters pinned to a bulletin board in Stata]."

Haha, well, according to the CAC, that IS not allowed.

Posted by: apolitical broadens '10 on December 5, 2009

@ apolitical broadens '10

Wait, seriously? Sigh...okay, fine. I'll return it :(

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on December 5, 2009

wow she's really pretty

Posted by: nmk on December 6, 2009

She's unbelievably gorgeous...

Posted by: Ashly on December 6, 2009

hey..miss tamil.i m from india too.I m inspired by the life of PADMA.Actually i came to this site 2 collect some info about this college 'caz i wanna be a part of MIT.At present time i m preparing for the iit from the same institute from where shiti kanth was selected for MIT.(O_o).Anyway..!! u can invent any machine to stop the time and to get more 24 hours in a day for explaning more about the events taking place in that institute.hehe..bye & good luck for ur study

Posted by: raj on December 7, 2009

@ Raj
I am also preparing 4 iit.
In which grade are u in?

Posted by: parthi on December 7, 2009

Im tamil too but Im from Sri lanka, not india. Man its good to know that tamil ppl get into MIT as well. I hope I get in too...

Posted by: Claude on December 7, 2009

Heya I am a tamilian too!!!!Nice to know that there are so many people who speak tamil in MIT!!I am preparing for iit too!Came across ur so attractive blog while surfing the site!!I hope ill soon be one among you !!Please keep writing more info about MIT!Its great to hear from an indian that too a tamilian!!I wish i could meet PADMA too !!U r so lucky 1

Posted by: Gita Ramakrishnan on December 7, 2009

great to see padma lakshmi at MIT

Posted by: navin on December 7, 2009

TOP CHEF FINALE was today and Michael won :( I really really really wanted Bryan to win :( :( I really didn't like Michael that much (he seemed arrogant to me).

Posted by: Su ('14?) on December 10, 2009

Really great it is to see you in mit.I see my dream into reality in your mit.

Posted by: Dipu on December 10, 2009

I was visiting MIT lastweek , Beautiful campus. I am very happy to know about Tamilians at MIT. Best wishes.
shanthi

Posted by: shanthi on December 10, 2009

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