Math Dept 2025-26 Newsletter 1
Monday, 8 September 2025
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.
Welcome back, everyone, albeit in a difficult environment.
I have gathered some inspirational quotes at the end of this newsletter – Ed.
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MEETINGS AND SEMINARS IN THE DEPARTMENT
Data Science Seminar
Faculty and Graduate Students are invited to present their research at the Data Science Seminar. This includes research in other areas that involves data science.
Contact coordinator for more information.
Co-ordinator: Edmund Ameyaw
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TUESDAYS
Seminar on Topological Semigroups
Time TBA
Seminars will resume in the fall.
Contact coordinator for zoom invite.
Coordinator Dennis Davenport
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Combinatorics Seminar
Contact coordinator Lou Shapiro for zoom link.
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Number Theory Seminar
Time TBA
Contact coordinators for zoom link.
Coordinators: Angelica Babei, Daniel Mamo and Sankar Sitaraman
WEDNESDAYS
Math team/Math Club meetings
TBA
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Math Biology Seminar
Wednesday, 9/10, 1pm, on Zoom
First speaker: Dr. Sungwoo Ahn, Associate Professor, from Dept of Mathematics, East Carolina University.
Title: Mathematical Modeling of Social Status and Neuromodulator Effects on Zebrafish Behavior
This talk will be on zoom. Contact organizers for link.
Coordinators: Katie Gurski, Yeona Kang, Joon Ha, Sayomi Kamimoto, Chris Kim
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FRIDAYS
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Graduate Students Seminar
TBA
Contact person: Aaliyah Bratcher
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Mathematics Department Colloquium
Fridays, 4.10 to 5pm. Room 213 and zoom.
Friday, Sep 12
Qi Wang of our department will speak on “On Math and Markets : Stochastics Volatility and Derivatives Pricing.”
Jie Ren of our department spoke on Wall-crossing Structures in Donaldson-Thomas Theory on 9/6.
The colloquium schedule and videos are available at this website: https://deleo.website/HU/colloquium.html
TALKS AND WORKSHOPS OUTSIDE DEPARTMENT
1. Pathways to Graduate Survey and Data Science Training (U. Mich.)
October 4–26, 2025; Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00–1:00 PM EST
Free, online program for undergraduates and recent graduates with interest in the social sciences on the topics of data-driven survey and data science.
2. (Thanks to Tim Myers)
a) 57th Southeastern International Conference on Combinatorics, Graph Theory & Computing
March 3-7, Florida Atlantic University
Celebrating its 57th year, the Conference brings together mathematicians and others interested in combinatorics, graph theory and computing, and their interactions. The Conference continues to promote better understanding of the roles of modern applied mathematics, combinatorics, and computer science to acquaint the investigator in each of these areas with the various techniques and algorithms which are available to assist in his or her research.
b) The 43rd Southeastern-Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations (SEARCDE).
October 25-26 2025, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
3. American Association for University Women programs
AAUW is offering several programs and fellowships. In September there are trainings on Economic Empowerment. For more details go to https://www.aauw.org/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. (Thanks to Talitha Washington) Cox Centennial Celebration
On
Friday, Sep 26, instead of colloquium we will have a celebration of
100 years of Black Ph. D Mathematicians on the eve of 100 year
anniversary of Dr. Elbert Frank Cox's Ph. D.
Special event in
honor of Dr. Cox, organized by Talitha Washington of our department
and the Center for Applied Data Science.
Special location:
Founders Library
Special time: 3-5pm
On
Saturday, there will be talks and panel discussions all day on Dr.
Cox's life and work, followed by a reception.
Form
for Registration
2. (Thanks to Louise Raphael) MAA mathfest videos
Our alumna Naomi Cameron gave the invited AMS-MAA address at Mathfest, August 2025 where she spoke on combinatorics and graph theory. She earned her PhD in mathematics from Lou Shapiro. The link also includes Terrence Tao’s video et al. Need member login to access.
3. NAM Undergraduate MATHFest
The 2025 NAM Undergraduate MATHFest is a three-day meeting, which will be held from Friday, October 10, 2025, through Sunday, October 12, 2025. This event rotates around the country based on NAM's regional structure, and this year, will be hosted by Tennessee State University in Nashville Tennessee. It is held annually to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees in the mathematical sciences and mathematics education. NAM Undergraduate MATHFest will feature Student Presentations, J. Ernest Wilkins Lecture, Problem Time, and Graduate School Fair.
4. (Thanks to Louise Raphael and Dennis Davenport) 2025 Excellence in Transforming Post-Secondary Education (TPSE) Award
Prof. Nathan Alexander who teaches Mathematics and Statistics Education in the School of Education is the recipient of the 2025 TPSE award. He also teaches for the Data Science Master's Degree Program, which is managed by Howard’s Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics.
SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
(from various sources)
1. DOE Science, Technology and Policy Program– Office of Policy Fellowship
The Office of Policy (OP) supports the Secretary of Energy and the entire Department of Energy (DOE), providing analysis on domestic energy policy. During the ORISE fellowship, students will receive guidance from a mentor and will learn about conducting research analysis within OP.
2. (Thanks to Louise Raphael) DOE SCGSR Application Assistance Workshops
The DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is now accepting applications for 2025 Solicitation 2, due November 5, 2025, 5:00 PM ET (website). Attend the upcoming workshops to learn more about the DOE SCGSR program, receive application guidance, and field questions to program area scientists.
Workshop 1: DOE SCGSR Program Overview, Abstract Preparation, and Selecting a Priority Area.
September 11, 2025, 2:00-3:00PM ET
Workshop 2: Application and Proposal Guidance.
October 9, 2025, 2:00PM-4:00PM ET
INTERESTING ARTICLES AND WEBSITES
Some Inspiring quotes
1. From Terry Tao's blog: (posted in Opinion section on Nov 8, 2024)
…..But there is one precious thing mathematics has, that almost no other field currently enjoys: a consensus on what the ground truth is, and how to reach it. Because of this, even the strongest differences of opinion in mathematics can eventually be resolved, and mistakes realized and corrected. This consensus is so strong, we simply take it for granted: a solution is correct or incorrect, a theorem is proved or not proved, and when a problem is solved, we simply move on to the next one. This is, sadly, not a state of affairs elsewhere. But if my students can learn from this and carry these skills— such as distinguishing an overly simple but mathematically flawed “solution” from a more complex, but accurate actual solution—to other spheres that have more contact with the real world, then my math lectures have consequence. Even—or perhaps, especially—in times like these.
2. Albert Einstein, in “On the moral obligation of the scientist” Oct 1950
…...If the man of science of our day could find the time and the courage to think honestly and critically over his situation and the tasks before him and if he would act accordingly, the possibilities for a sensible and satisfactory solution of the present dangerous international situation would be considerably improved.
3. Carl Sagan, in “Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space
...It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.
4. Many sources, but most well known from speeches and writings of MLK jr
“Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”