Math Dept 2013-2014 Newsletter 11

 

Monday, 2 December 2013

 

Newsletter is sent out when there is something new.

Please send entries by the end of the week  --Ed

 

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MEETINGS AND SEMINARS IN THE DEPARTMENT

 

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Monday, Dec 2, 2013

SPECIAL COLLOQUIUM

 

ASB-B 213, 4.10 to 5pm

 

Martin Flashman, Humbolt U.

 

Functions, Duality, and Mapping Diagrams 

 

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Every Monday

 

1. Combinatorics Seminar

 

The combinatorics seminar will meet on Mondays at 3pm in room 201 ASB-B.

Alex Burstein will talk about pattern avoiding permutations.

Those interested but unable to attend at that hour should contact Alex Burstein or Lou Shapiro.

 

Organizers: Alex Burstein and Lou Shapiro

 

 

2. Geometry and Topology Seminar

 

ASB-B 213 3.00 to 4pm

Speaker: Professor Joseph Yeager

Topic: SYMPLECTIC  AND CONTACT GEOMETRY.

 

Stanley M. Einstein-Matthews

Coordinator

 

3.Math Team Meeting

 

Monday at 5:10 in room 213.

 

If you have strong students with an interest in problem solving urge them to attend.

 

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Every Tuesday

 

The Seminar on Topological Semigroups and Ramsey Theory

 

Tuesdays at 11:10 a.m in room 231 of Annex III

Dev Phulara will be speaking in the Seminar on Topological Semigroups and Ramsey Theory. 

His topic will be "A generalized Central Sets Theorem".

 

Organizer: Neil Hindman

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Every Friday

 

Math Department Colloquium

Room 213, 4.10 to 5pm, ASB-B 

 

Friday Dec 6

TBA

 

Fluid dynamics seminar

 

No fluid dynamics for the rest of semester.

 

 

Follows Colloquium., Starts at 4.30 if no colloquium is scheduled

 

Abstract:  (by Neil Hindman)

The "Fluid" refers to soda and beer.  The "Dynamics" refers to the topics of conversation, which is as likely as anything to deal with RGIII and the Washington Football Club. Pizza, including a vegetarian option, and wings are provided.

 

 

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TALKS AND EVENTS OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT 

                

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Free e-book trial

 

Howard UniversityÕs library has a free trial access to the e-book titles from World Scientific Publishing Company and Imperial College Press, until 07 December 2013 including many interesting titles from Mathematics. Please log on to the campus network before browsing these e-books.

 

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SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES (from various sources)

 

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1. Summer UG intern Programs at ICERM, Brown University (Thanks to Louise Raphael)

 

Details at http://icerm.brown.edu/summerug_2014

Deadline to apply feb 7.

 

2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Opportunities (Thanks to Muhammad Mahmood)

 

(DHS) 2014 HS-STEM Summer Internships

Application deadline: January 6, 2014

 Undergraduate students receive a $5,000 stipend plus travel expenses.

Detailed information about the internships can be found at:http

://www.orau.gov/dhseducation/internships/

 

Faculty research opportunities with future research funding possibility also available:

See  http://www.orau.gov/dhseducation/faculty/index.html for additional details

 U.S. citizenship required

 

3. The USAID Payne International Development Program is Now Accepting Applications for the 2014 Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship

 

The Payne Graduate Fellowship Program welcomes applications from young people interested in careers in international development. Fellows can use the fellowship to attend two-year master's programs in U.S. institutions to study any area of relevance to the USAID Foreign Service, including international development, international relations, public policy, business administration, foreign languages, economics, agriculture, environmental sciences, health, or urban planning.

 

Applicants must be college seniors or graduates looking to start a two-year graduate program in fall 2014, must have a GPA of at least 3.2 and must be U.S. citizens. The program welcomes any undergraduate major and encourages applications from members of minority groups historically underrepresented in USAID Foreign Service and those with financial need. Information and application materials can be found at www.paynefellows.org. The application deadline is Jan. 27, 2014. 

4. The Department of Energy (DOE) Opportunities

The DOE Mickey Leland fellowship and DOE Scholars Program are now accepting applications for Summer 2014. 

Visit http://orise.orau.gov/doescholars  or http://orise.orau.gov/mlef for more information or to apply - deadline is January 12, 2014! 

5. From NOAA:  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships (includes internships) to college sophomore students majoring in STEM disciplines related to oceanic and atmospheric science, research, or technology, and supportive of the purposes of NOAA's programs and mission, e.g., biological, social and physical sciences; mathematics; engineering; and computer and information sciences. 

á         Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship:  http://www.epp.noaa.gov/ssp_undergrad_page.html

Application Deadline:  January 31, 2014

á         Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program:  http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/scholarships/hollings.html

Application Deadline:  January 31, 2014

6. Support to Attend a Workshop ÒMathematics of Planet Earth: Challenges and OpportunitiesÓ 

(Thanks to Aziz Yakubu)

A workshop ÒMathematics of Planet Earth: Challenges and OpportunitiesÓ will be held at Arizona State University January 7-10, 2014. The workshop aims to expose students and junior researchers to the challenges facing our planet, the role of the mathematical sciences in addressing those challenges, and the opportunities to get involved in the effort. Funds are available to support participants to attend this workshop and to participate in follow-up activities. Workshop speakers include  Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University, and Abdul-Aziz Yakubu, Howard University

The workshop will provide introductions to the role of the mathematical sciences in addressing problems of the planet. There will be an introduction to the five major workshop themes of MPE 2013+ through expository lectures and discussions. All participants will be invited to participate in one of the following workshops, which could include the Education for the Planet Earth of Tomorrow.

   An application form can be found athttp://dimacs.rutgers.edu/Workshops/MPE2013PreWorkshop/.    It will include both an application to attend and an application for financial support. Review of applications will begin October 1, 2013, and will continue until all slots are filled.

For more information about Challenges and Opportunities workshop as well as the MPE2013+ program, please contact Dr. Eugene Fiorini at mpe2013-plus@dimacs.rutgers.edu.

7. From Oak Ridge Labs (Thanks to Louise Raphael)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has a long history and interest in providing hands-on research experiences to students at all academic levels.  

Please visit http://www.orau.org/ornl and click on your academic level to learn more about educational programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Complete your profile in the Talent and Opportunity System (TOppS) system and then apply to one or all of the program postings. Applications must be submitted visa the TOppS system.  See the programs web sites for suggested deadline dates.

8. (via Aziz YakubuFrom SIAM: Undergraduates can submit to SIAM online journal

Do your undergraduates conduct exceptional research in applied or computational mathematics?  Please encourage them to submit their work to SIUROÜSIAM Undergraduate Research Online.

Students who submit papers to SIURO experience a full review process tailored for undergraduate authors. 

More on the submission process, the editorial board, and viewable published papers can be accessed at

http://www.siam.org/students/siuro.

9. (Thanks to Aziz Yakubu) Volunteer Opportunities in Africa

One HeartSource, a grassroots, non-profit organization founded by university students is accepting applications for 2014 Volunteer Programs from both graduate and undergraduate students, especially at Howard University . Since 2008, over 700 international volunteers have joined One Heart Source in the pursuit of providing high-quality education and care for vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa.This year we are also offering a 2-week program for working professionals!

If you or your students have any questions regarding our programs or organization, please contact Gabriela Weigel at eastcoast.region@oneheartsource.org

10. (From Aziz Yakubu) Opportunities at the Navy

HBCU Undergradute Program:

http://www.onr.navy.mil/Education-Outreach/HBCU-MI-Historically-Black-Colleges/NRL-HBCU-MI-Undergraduate-Internship.aspx

 

NREIP Program:

http://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Education-Outreach/undergraduate-graduate/NREIP-naval-internship.aspx

 

Summer Faculty Program:

http://www.onr.navy.mil/Education-Outreach/Summer-Faculty-Research-Sabbatical.aspx

11. (From Aziz YakubuOpportunities at NASA

Spring 2014 throug spring of 2015 NASA will have workshops, research projects and internship opportunities for undergrads in STEM programs.

Howard students are especially encouraged to apply.

More information at  http://DCSpaceGrant.org/STEM

12. Mathematics Research Funding Opportunity (thanks to Constance Ellison)

Development of Mathematical Cognition and Reasoning and the Prevention of Math Learning Disabilities (R03)

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INTERESTING ARTICLES AND WEBSITES

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1. (From Aziz Yakubu) Improving minority participation in STEM education

Stereotypes are dangerous—they hurt, they mislead and they ultimately diminish us all. When whole groups are stereotyped, prejudices that damage the social and educational fabric result.  This problem is evident when women and minorities are stereotyped in the science, technology, engineering and math fields known as STEM. The challenge of enrolling and graduating more women and minorities in STEM fields has drawn national attention. The College Board has undertaken an initiative to enroll more young women and minority students in STEM advanced placement courses and the American Association of University Women has a large outreach program for young women wishing to enter STEM fields.

As part of this national conversation, AIRÕs Center for STEM Education and Innovation<http://www.air.org/focus-area/education/?id=10> held a two-day symposium in late September on using research to inform policies and practices<http://www.air.org/focus-area/education/index.cfm?fa=viewContent&content_id=2305&id=10> in STEM education, particularly in higher education.

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