Proposals
Below are some proposals for talks from the past (and current). By clicking on the ID number, more details are shown. By default, these are sorted chronologically (recent first) and by then by last name. The data can be sorted by alternate means by using the links at the top right, each allowing ascending or descending orders.
Displaying 41-60 of 471 results.
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ID:
531
Year: 2019
Name: Alvaro Carbonero
Institution: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Subject area(s): Discrete Geometry
Title of Talk: Exploring Preference Orderings Through Discrete Geometry
Abstract: Consider $n + 1$ points in the plane: a set $S$ consisting of $n$ points along with a distinguished vantage point $v$. By measuring the distance from $v$ to each of the points in $S$, we generate a preference ordering of $S$. This work is motivated by a voting theory application, where an ordering corresponds to a preference list. The maximum number of orderings possible is given by a fourth-degree polynomial (related to Stirling numbers of the first kind), found by Good and Tideman (1977), while the minimum is given by a linear function. We investigate intermediate numbers of orderings achievable by special configurations $S$. We also consider this problem for points on the sphere, where our results are similar to what we found for the plane. A variant of the problem that uses two vantage points is also developed.
Year: 2019
Name: Alvaro Carbonero
Institution: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Subject area(s): Discrete Geometry
Title of Talk: Exploring Preference Orderings Through Discrete Geometry
Abstract: Consider $n + 1$ points in the plane: a set $S$ consisting of $n$ points along with a distinguished vantage point $v$. By measuring the distance from $v$ to each of the points in $S$, we generate a preference ordering of $S$. This work is motivated by a voting theory application, where an ordering corresponds to a preference list. The maximum number of orderings possible is given by a fourth-degree polynomial (related to Stirling numbers of the first kind), found by Good and Tideman (1977), while the minimum is given by a linear function. We investigate intermediate numbers of orderings achievable by special configurations $S$. We also consider this problem for points on the sphere, where our results are similar to what we found for the plane. A variant of the problem that uses two vantage points is also developed.
ID:
530
Year: 2019
Name: Brian Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Undergraduate Mathematics Research for the Masses
Abstract: At Wartburg College, like many liberal arts colleges, all math majors are required to complete a capstone course with a research component. However, research means different things at different places and not all students are advanced enough for rigorous independent research. How can one provide a mathematical research experience to an entire class that challenges the best students without leaving behind the weaker students? I will present my solution to this question and promise to leave enough time at the end for other people to share their suggestions.
Year: 2019
Name: Brian Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Undergraduate Mathematics Research for the Masses
Abstract: At Wartburg College, like many liberal arts colleges, all math majors are required to complete a capstone course with a research component. However, research means different things at different places and not all students are advanced enough for rigorous independent research. How can one provide a mathematical research experience to an entire class that challenges the best students without leaving behind the weaker students? I will present my solution to this question and promise to leave enough time at the end for other people to share their suggestions.
ID:
529
Year: 2019
Name: Mitchel Keller
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s): calculus, grading, assessment, feedback
Title of Talk: Standards-based Specifications Grading in First-Year Calculus
Abstract: After growing frustrated with the challenges of traditional, points-based grading in my calculus courses, I implemented a model I describe as standards-based specifications grading in my Calculus II class in Spring 2019 and my Calculus I class in Fall 2019. This model allows students repeated opportunities to demonstrate proficiency on critical aspects of the course and expects completely correct student work. Students are also given a choice of other assignments to do beyond test-type questions in order to earn their desired course grade. In this talk, I will give a brief overview of my experience and share some student feedback on this successful project.
Year: 2019
Name: Mitchel Keller
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s): calculus, grading, assessment, feedback
Title of Talk: Standards-based Specifications Grading in First-Year Calculus
Abstract: After growing frustrated with the challenges of traditional, points-based grading in my calculus courses, I implemented a model I describe as standards-based specifications grading in my Calculus II class in Spring 2019 and my Calculus I class in Fall 2019. This model allows students repeated opportunities to demonstrate proficiency on critical aspects of the course and expects completely correct student work. Students are also given a choice of other assignments to do beyond test-type questions in order to earn their desired course grade. In this talk, I will give a brief overview of my experience and share some student feedback on this successful project.
ID:
528
Year: 2019
Name: Amanda Matson
Institution: Clarke University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: MAAthfest Roundup
Abstract: Dr. Matson will be sharing tips and tricks picked up at MAA's Mathfest. Come listen to what was gained and share your own ideas.
Year: 2019
Name: Amanda Matson
Institution: Clarke University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: MAAthfest Roundup
Abstract: Dr. Matson will be sharing tips and tricks picked up at MAA's Mathfest. Come listen to what was gained and share your own ideas.
ID:
527
Year: 2019
Name: Hongyuan Zhang
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): applied topology
Title of Talk: Artworks and Articles Meet Mapper and Persistent Homology
Abstract: Since its recent birth, topological data analysis (TDA) has proven to be a very useful tool when studying large and high-dimensional data sets. We will talk about the application of two TDA tools, persistent homology and the Mapper algorithm, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) artwork data set and two scholarly literature databases: arXiv and Google Scholar. For the MET data, we use the Mapper Algorithm to guide feature selection in building a logistic regression model for classifying certain artworks. Then we use persistent homology to help differentiate between two subsets of artwork. For the arXiv data, we use persistent homology to derive a general sense of the shape of the data. With help of the Mapper Algorithm, we further explore the point cloud by analyzing trends and features in visualizations. For the Google Scholar data, we find that there are interesting correlations between academic category of the paper and number of pages, number of references, and published date.
Year: 2019
Name: Hongyuan Zhang
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s): applied topology
Title of Talk: Artworks and Articles Meet Mapper and Persistent Homology
Abstract: Since its recent birth, topological data analysis (TDA) has proven to be a very useful tool when studying large and high-dimensional data sets. We will talk about the application of two TDA tools, persistent homology and the Mapper algorithm, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) artwork data set and two scholarly literature databases: arXiv and Google Scholar. For the MET data, we use the Mapper Algorithm to guide feature selection in building a logistic regression model for classifying certain artworks. Then we use persistent homology to help differentiate between two subsets of artwork. For the arXiv data, we use persistent homology to derive a general sense of the shape of the data. With help of the Mapper Algorithm, we further explore the point cloud by analyzing trends and features in visualizations. For the Google Scholar data, we find that there are interesting correlations between academic category of the paper and number of pages, number of references, and published date.
ID:
526
Year: 2019
Name: O'Neill Kingston
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Representation theory
Title of Talk: Jeux de taquin
Abstract: Or, in English, the 15 puzzle(s). From integer partitions to algebraic structures, in this talk we explore a classic combinatorial technique and a few of its applications.
Year: 2019
Name: O'Neill Kingston
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Representation theory
Title of Talk: Jeux de taquin
Abstract: Or, in English, the 15 puzzle(s). From integer partitions to algebraic structures, in this talk we explore a classic combinatorial technique and a few of its applications.
ID:
524
Year: 2018
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The new MAA Congress, what do you want them to know? (Continued)
Abstract: The (relatively) new MAA Congress is situated to be a strong form of communication with the national MAA elected officers and the Iowa Section members. As your representative, what so you want to know about the new body? the MAA? What do you want the MAA to hear from the section? This is your opportunity to hear and be heard.
Year: 2018
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The new MAA Congress, what do you want them to know? (Continued)
Abstract: The (relatively) new MAA Congress is situated to be a strong form of communication with the national MAA elected officers and the Iowa Section members. As your representative, what so you want to know about the new body? the MAA? What do you want the MAA to hear from the section? This is your opportunity to hear and be heard.
ID:
523
Year: 2018
Name: Billy Duckworth
Institution: Creighton University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The Randic Index and Average Path Length
Abstract: In graph theory the Randic Index is a number that gives information about the degree of branching within a particular graph. We examined the relationship between the Randic Index and other well known graph properties such as radius, diameter, and average path length. We attempt to bound the Randic Index for families of graphs such as paths, cycles and "methylated" paths and cycles.
Year: 2018
Name: Billy Duckworth
Institution: Creighton University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The Randic Index and Average Path Length
Abstract: In graph theory the Randic Index is a number that gives information about the degree of branching within a particular graph. We examined the relationship between the Randic Index and other well known graph properties such as radius, diameter, and average path length. We attempt to bound the Randic Index for families of graphs such as paths, cycles and "methylated" paths and cycles.
ID:
522
Year: 2018
Name: Lorenzo Riva
Institution: Creighton University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Feynman Operational Calculus
Abstract: The forthcoming paper "Combining continuous and discrete phenomena for Feynman's operational calculus in the presence of a $(C_0)$ semigroup and Feynman-Kac formulas with Lebesgue-Stieltjes measures" (by L. Nielsen, to appear in Integral Equations and Operator Theory) contains, as its main result, an evolution equation which serves to describe how Feynman's operational calculus evolves with time in the presence of a $(C_0)$ semigroup of linear operators. There are several examples in this paper which give rise to so-called, Feynman-Kac formulas with Lebesgue- Stieltjes measures (first investigated from a function space integral point of view by M. L. Lapidus in the late 1980s). However, due to the different approach, the Feynman-Kac formulas obtained in the paper by Nielsen have some significant differences from those obtained by Lapidus. An associated operator differential equation (essentially a nonhomogeneous Schrodinger's equation) is also obtained in Nielsen's paper. This talk will concentrate on the explanation of the newly-found Feynman-Kac formulas and some associated results.
Year: 2018
Name: Lorenzo Riva
Institution: Creighton University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Feynman Operational Calculus
Abstract: The forthcoming paper "Combining continuous and discrete phenomena for Feynman's operational calculus in the presence of a $(C_0)$ semigroup and Feynman-Kac formulas with Lebesgue-Stieltjes measures" (by L. Nielsen, to appear in Integral Equations and Operator Theory) contains, as its main result, an evolution equation which serves to describe how Feynman's operational calculus evolves with time in the presence of a $(C_0)$ semigroup of linear operators. There are several examples in this paper which give rise to so-called, Feynman-Kac formulas with Lebesgue- Stieltjes measures (first investigated from a function space integral point of view by M. L. Lapidus in the late 1980s). However, due to the different approach, the Feynman-Kac formulas obtained in the paper by Nielsen have some significant differences from those obtained by Lapidus. An associated operator differential equation (essentially a nonhomogeneous Schrodinger's equation) is also obtained in Nielsen's paper. This talk will concentrate on the explanation of the newly-found Feynman-Kac formulas and some associated results.
ID:
521
Year: 2018
Name: Amanda Matson
Institution: Clarke University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: MAAthfest Roundup
Abstract: Bringing MAAthfest to Iowa, Dr. Matson will recap some of the happenings at MAAthfest and invite others to build on that information.
Year: 2018
Name: Amanda Matson
Institution: Clarke University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: MAAthfest Roundup
Abstract: Bringing MAAthfest to Iowa, Dr. Matson will recap some of the happenings at MAAthfest and invite others to build on that information.
ID:
520
Year: 2018
Name: Laura McCauley
Institution: Peru State College
Subject area(s): Graph Theory
Title of Talk: Spot It! with Combinatorics
Abstract: The game of Spot It! consists of 55 game cards, each card has 8 symbols, and each pair of cards has exactly one symbol in common. The idea is to 'spot' the match on your card before the other players 'spot' their match. There are many ways to approach the mathematics behind designing a game of Spot It!. Different fields of mathematics are considered and applied to the problem, ultimately resulting in a beautiful interconnectedness within concepts of Combinatorics.
Year: 2018
Name: Laura McCauley
Institution: Peru State College
Subject area(s): Graph Theory
Title of Talk: Spot It! with Combinatorics
Abstract: The game of Spot It! consists of 55 game cards, each card has 8 symbols, and each pair of cards has exactly one symbol in common. The idea is to 'spot' the match on your card before the other players 'spot' their match. There are many ways to approach the mathematics behind designing a game of Spot It!. Different fields of mathematics are considered and applied to the problem, ultimately resulting in a beautiful interconnectedness within concepts of Combinatorics.
ID:
519
Year: 2018
Name: Eric Canning
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s): Mathematics Pedagogy
Title of Talk: The Use of Projects in Calculus II and Linear Algebra
Abstract: I will share my experiences having students, in small groups, create posters and make presentations in Calculus II and Linear Algebra courses. Several students gave poster presentations of their projects at an undergraduate research symposium.
Year: 2018
Name: Eric Canning
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s): Mathematics Pedagogy
Title of Talk: The Use of Projects in Calculus II and Linear Algebra
Abstract: I will share my experiences having students, in small groups, create posters and make presentations in Calculus II and Linear Algebra courses. Several students gave poster presentations of their projects at an undergraduate research symposium.
ID:
518
Year: 2018
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Data Reasoning: Changing our General Math Requirement
Abstract: At Loras College, we have had a mathematical modeling requirement in our general education for some time. Traditional courses like college algebra, precalculus, and calculus satisfy the requirement, as do a variety of “math for liberal arts” type courses. Though all of them use data, none of them deeply engage students in reasoning with data. This means we are not really preparing our students to engage with our data-driven world. We have also had an increased demand for statistics, which barely satisfies our math modeling outcomes. So, whether we are sages or fools, we have decided to essentially change our general education math requirement to a statistics requirement. In this talk, we will share our hopes, our steps in this direction, and our concerns so far.
Year: 2018
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Data Reasoning: Changing our General Math Requirement
Abstract: At Loras College, we have had a mathematical modeling requirement in our general education for some time. Traditional courses like college algebra, precalculus, and calculus satisfy the requirement, as do a variety of “math for liberal arts” type courses. Though all of them use data, none of them deeply engage students in reasoning with data. This means we are not really preparing our students to engage with our data-driven world. We have also had an increased demand for statistics, which barely satisfies our math modeling outcomes. So, whether we are sages or fools, we have decided to essentially change our general education math requirement to a statistics requirement. In this talk, we will share our hopes, our steps in this direction, and our concerns so far.
ID:
517
Year: 2018
Name: Chris Spicer
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: On Sheldon Primes
Abstract: In a 2015 MAA Math Horizons article, the authors introduced the concept of a Sheldon prime, based on a conversation between several characters in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The authors left open whether or not any number other than 73 satisfied the specific properties. Recent work has proven that it is in fact unique. We will introduce Sheldon primes and the number theory behind them, and demonstrate its uniqueness.
Year: 2018
Name: Chris Spicer
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: On Sheldon Primes
Abstract: In a 2015 MAA Math Horizons article, the authors introduced the concept of a Sheldon prime, based on a conversation between several characters in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The authors left open whether or not any number other than 73 satisfied the specific properties. Recent work has proven that it is in fact unique. We will introduce Sheldon primes and the number theory behind them, and demonstrate its uniqueness.
ID:
516
Year: 2018
Name: Carlos Castillo-Chavez
Institution: Arizona State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Epidemiology: Role of dynamic individual decisions during ongoing epidemic outbreaks
Abstract: The lecture begins with a historical review of epidemic models and the concept of tipping point. We then revisit phenomenologically inspired modeling frameworks that account for the impact that single disease outbreaks have on the decisions that individuals make in response to real or perceived risk of infection. Finally, a behavioral framework where individual decisions are modeled as a function of tradeoffs made in response to self-assessed costs tied to present or future risks of infection, including those resulting from potential loss of benefits due to risk aversion decisions is introduced and implemented on a simplified population-level epidemic model. The impact of these decisions is illustrated in the context of a single influenza outbreak.
Year: 2018
Name: Carlos Castillo-Chavez
Institution: Arizona State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Epidemiology: Role of dynamic individual decisions during ongoing epidemic outbreaks
Abstract: The lecture begins with a historical review of epidemic models and the concept of tipping point. We then revisit phenomenologically inspired modeling frameworks that account for the impact that single disease outbreaks have on the decisions that individuals make in response to real or perceived risk of infection. Finally, a behavioral framework where individual decisions are modeled as a function of tradeoffs made in response to self-assessed costs tied to present or future risks of infection, including those resulting from potential loss of benefits due to risk aversion decisions is introduced and implemented on a simplified population-level epidemic model. The impact of these decisions is illustrated in the context of a single influenza outbreak.
ID:
515
Year: 2018
Name: Michael Dorff
Institution: Brigham Young University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: How Mathematics Is Making Hollywood Movies Better
Abstract: What’s your favorite movie? Star Wars? Avatar? The Avengers? Frozen? What do these and all the highest earning Hollywood movies since 2000 have in common? Mathematics! You probably didn’t think about it while watching these movies, but math was used to help make them. In this presentation, we will discuss how math is being used to create better and more realistic movies. Along the way we will discuss some specific movies and the mathematics behind them. We will include examples from Disney’s 2013 movie Frozen (how to use math to create realistic looking snow) to Pixar’s 2004 movie The Incredibles (how to use math to make an animated character move faster). Come and join us and get a better appreciation of mathematics and movies.
Year: 2018
Name: Michael Dorff
Institution: Brigham Young University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: How Mathematics Is Making Hollywood Movies Better
Abstract: What’s your favorite movie? Star Wars? Avatar? The Avengers? Frozen? What do these and all the highest earning Hollywood movies since 2000 have in common? Mathematics! You probably didn’t think about it while watching these movies, but math was used to help make them. In this presentation, we will discuss how math is being used to create better and more realistic movies. Along the way we will discuss some specific movies and the mathematics behind them. We will include examples from Disney’s 2013 movie Frozen (how to use math to create realistic looking snow) to Pixar’s 2004 movie The Incredibles (how to use math to make an animated character move faster). Come and join us and get a better appreciation of mathematics and movies.
ID:
514
Year: 2018
Name: Brittney Miller
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Using Playdough and 3D Prints to Visualize Volumes
Abstract: Using two-dimensional images to visualize three-dimensional objects can be challenging. Instead, playdough and 3D prints can help us better understand different shapes and their cross sections. Let’s have some fun with these physical representations of objects to more clearly illustrate and help our students learn how to, for example, set up volume integrals.
Year: 2018
Name: Brittney Miller
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Using Playdough and 3D Prints to Visualize Volumes
Abstract: Using two-dimensional images to visualize three-dimensional objects can be challenging. Instead, playdough and 3D prints can help us better understand different shapes and their cross sections. Let’s have some fun with these physical representations of objects to more clearly illustrate and help our students learn how to, for example, set up volume integrals.
ID:
513
Year: 2018
Name: Theron Hitchman
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): topology
Title of Talk: Playing with topology: knots and branched covers
Abstract: In joint work with undergraduate Dan Tarnow, we played with lifting knot diagrams from the sphere to other surfaces using branched covers and a combinatorial construction called a 'butterfly diagram.' We played with many examples, including finding many lifts of the trefoil. I'll share our small collection of results, some of the 3d printed knots that Dan made, and how I am pretty sure we asked the wrong questions.
Year: 2018
Name: Theron Hitchman
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): topology
Title of Talk: Playing with topology: knots and branched covers
Abstract: In joint work with undergraduate Dan Tarnow, we played with lifting knot diagrams from the sphere to other surfaces using branched covers and a combinatorial construction called a 'butterfly diagram.' We played with many examples, including finding many lifts of the trefoil. I'll share our small collection of results, some of the 3d printed knots that Dan made, and how I am pretty sure we asked the wrong questions.
ID:
512
Year: 2018
Name: Katherine Vance
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Sine, Cosine, and Euler
Abstract: In mid-September, I attended a training workshop for the TRIUMPHS project. The goal of the project is to develop materials to teach core mathematical content using primary historical sources and active learning techniques. At the end of September, I site-tested one of the TRIUMPHS Primary Source Projects, ``The Derivatives of the Sine and Cosine Functions," in my Calculus 1 class. I will give a little bit of background on the TRIUMPHS project and share my experience as a site tester.
Year: 2018
Name: Katherine Vance
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Sine, Cosine, and Euler
Abstract: In mid-September, I attended a training workshop for the TRIUMPHS project. The goal of the project is to develop materials to teach core mathematical content using primary historical sources and active learning techniques. At the end of September, I site-tested one of the TRIUMPHS Primary Source Projects, ``The Derivatives of the Sine and Cosine Functions," in my Calculus 1 class. I will give a little bit of background on the TRIUMPHS project and share my experience as a site tester.
ID:
511
Year: 2018
Name: Lindsay Erickson
Institution: Augustana University
Subject area(s): Graph Theory, Game Theory
Title of Talk: Edge-Nim on the $K_{2,n}$
Abstract: Edge-Nim is a combinatorial game played on finite regular graphs with positive, integrally weighted edges. Two players alternately begin from an initialized vertex and move to an adjacent vertex, decreasing the weight of the incident edge to a strictly non-negative integer as they travel across it. The game ends when a player is confronted by a position where no incident edge has a nonzero weight (or, that is to say, when the player is unable to move), in which case, this player loses. We characterize the winner of edge-Nim on the complete bipartite graphs, $K_{2,n}$ for all positive integers, $n$, giving the solution and complete strategy for the player able to win.
Year: 2018
Name: Lindsay Erickson
Institution: Augustana University
Subject area(s): Graph Theory, Game Theory
Title of Talk: Edge-Nim on the $K_{2,n}$
Abstract: Edge-Nim is a combinatorial game played on finite regular graphs with positive, integrally weighted edges. Two players alternately begin from an initialized vertex and move to an adjacent vertex, decreasing the weight of the incident edge to a strictly non-negative integer as they travel across it. The game ends when a player is confronted by a position where no incident edge has a nonzero weight (or, that is to say, when the player is unable to move), in which case, this player loses. We characterize the winner of edge-Nim on the complete bipartite graphs, $K_{2,n}$ for all positive integers, $n$, giving the solution and complete strategy for the player able to win.