Math Dept 2022-2023 Newsletter 6
Monday, 21 November 2022
Past newsletters can now be reached via the department website.
[Click on “About” and then “News and Events”].
Newsletter is sent out when there is something new.
Please send entries by the end of the workweek–Ed.
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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MEETINGS AND SEMINARS IN THE DEPARTMENT
TUESDAYS
Statistics Seminar
Tuesdays 2pm, on zoom.
Surav Pal of University of Texas, Arlington will speak on “Cure Rate Models and Extensions.”
Contact coordinator Saraleesan Nadarajah for zoom link.
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Combinatorics Seminar
TBA
Contact coordinator Lou Shapiro for zoom link.
WEDNESDAYS
Graduate Student Seminar
1pm, wednesday.
Contact Shakuan Frankson for more information.
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Applied Math Reading Seminar
TBA
Students will get to practice studying papers and working on research problems.
Please write the coordinator for original handouts or for the recording link.
Contact coordinator for zoom link as well.
Coordinator: Katie Gurski, Yeona Kang
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Math team/Math Club meetings
Organizer: Jill McGowan
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THURSDAYS
Seminar on Topological Semigroups
The seminar will include applications to Ramsey theory.
11 am on zoom on Thursdays.
Dr. Dilip Raghavan of the National University of Singapore has been speaking on “Stable ordered union versus selective ultrafilters.”
Contact coordinator for zoom invite.
Coordinator Dennis Davenport
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FRIDAYS
Mathematics Department Colloquium
Fridays, 4.10 to 5pm.
Friday, 2 December
Kanat Camlibel, Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen (Netherlands).
Title TBA.
TALKS AND WORKSHOPS OUTSIDE DEPARTMENT
1. Distinguished Lecture Series (NSF)
On Wednesday, Nov 30, 11am-12.30pm, Fernando Viegas of Harvard University will speak on “Harnessing the power of data visualization: from insight and storytelling to AI explanation and data art.”
More Information and Registration for Webcast
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Henok Mawi at Morgan State University Colloquium
Henok Mawi gave a talk on Nov 17 titled “Design of Freeform Optics: Minkowski method, Optimal Transport, and Monge-Ampere equations.”
2. Katie Gurski had an article appear in the December issue of the Notices of the AMS.
It's titled: Mathematicians Navigating Parenthood: Lessons Learned, Methodologies, and Useful Solutions That Were Beneficial During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The article is meant to be a starting point for conversations mathematicians who are parents can have with their department.
3. Math Department in the news for groundbreaking College Algebra program
Our department is expanding a College Algebra course developed with Khan Academy to historically underserved schools nationwide, as reported in this news release.
SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
(from various sources)
1. Vanderbilt REU
The Vanderbilt Institute of Nancoscale Science and Engineering invites applications for summer internships. Deadline February 15.
2. US Dept of Energy Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is accepting applications for 2022-23 Marine Energy Research Program. Graduate students will be conducting research at their own institutions and an external hosting facility.
Applications due by December 2, 2022.
3. COMAP's mathematics modeling contest
COMAP’s Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM) are international contests open to undergraduate students of all disciplines. The MCM/ICM contest problems are designed to provide students with the opportunity to work as team members to engage in and improve their modeling, problem-solving, and writing skills. The contest takes place February 16-20, 2023.
https://www.contest.comap.com/undergraduate/contests/index.html
4. Help school students learn coding and gain work experience
Help students from K to 8 in schools in the DC area learn coding, robotics and other STEM topics and get them excited about programming and learn CS fundamentals.
Competitive pay, training and supplies provided. Must be vaccinated and US citizens.
If interested write to hr at codeadvantage.org.
In previous newsletters:
USC summer program
INTERESTING ARTICLES AND WEBSITES
1. (Thanks to Bruce Clark) Fibonacci numbers in fractal geometry
An embedding problem in geometry gives rise to the Fibonacci numbers, revealing intricate connections between Hirzebruch surfaces and fractal geometry.
2. Yitang Zhang claims proof of Landau-Siegel conjecture
The mathematician who provided the breakthrough on the seemingly impossible problem of finite gaps between prime numbers has submitted a paper on the existence of Landau-Siegel zeroes. This would be a major advance towards a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis, once it is verified. Here is the submission of arxiv.
3. Traffic flow and mathematics: Why a traffic flow becomes a traffic jam
Dynamical traffic flow models help explain why minor perturbations lead to major gridlocks. Link to article