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 81-100 of 471 results.
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ID:
132
Year: 2005
Name: Al Hibbard
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: A tour of the new website for the IA section of the MAA
Abstract: This will be an overview of some of the new features that are available for members of the IA section of the MAA including looking at accessing the section database. Part of the talk will be particularly relevant for officers and liaisons.
Year: 2005
Name: Al Hibbard
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: A tour of the new website for the IA section of the MAA
Abstract: This will be an overview of some of the new features that are available for members of the IA section of the MAA including looking at accessing the section database. Part of the talk will be particularly relevant for officers and liaisons.
ID:
388
Year: 2014
Name: Morgan Fonley
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Amplification and damping of an oscillating streamflow signal in a river network
Abstract: When river flow is observed under dry conditions (such as late summer), a daily fluctuation can be seen. Without the addition of precipitation, the source of these fluctuations is understood to be evapotranspiration of water from the riparian zone of trees near the river network. The flow at any point in the river network exhibits a time delay between the time of maximal evaporation (around midday) and the minimal streamflow. Several hypotheses suggest reasons for this time delay including different methods by which water moves through the soil. An alternative hypothesis is that the time delay instead comes from constructive and destructive interference that occurs when the oscillating flows of river links undergo different phase shifts and combine their signals. In this way, the flow at a downstream river link can be amplified or damped. I present an analytic solution to the transport equation, a linear ordinary differential equation that can be used to determine the flow at any point in a river network when all hillslopes are assumed to have uniform parameters. I use this solution to demonstrate the extent of amplification or damping that can occur when different parameter values are varied.
Year: 2014
Name: Morgan Fonley
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Amplification and damping of an oscillating streamflow signal in a river network
Abstract: When river flow is observed under dry conditions (such as late summer), a daily fluctuation can be seen. Without the addition of precipitation, the source of these fluctuations is understood to be evapotranspiration of water from the riparian zone of trees near the river network. The flow at any point in the river network exhibits a time delay between the time of maximal evaporation (around midday) and the minimal streamflow. Several hypotheses suggest reasons for this time delay including different methods by which water moves through the soil. An alternative hypothesis is that the time delay instead comes from constructive and destructive interference that occurs when the oscillating flows of river links undergo different phase shifts and combine their signals. In this way, the flow at a downstream river link can be amplified or damped. I present an analytic solution to the transport equation, a linear ordinary differential equation that can be used to determine the flow at any point in a river network when all hillslopes are assumed to have uniform parameters. I use this solution to demonstrate the extent of amplification or damping that can occur when different parameter values are varied.
ID:
389
Year: 2014
Name: Jason Smith
Institution: Graceland University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Inquiry Based Learning
Abstract: A discussion about the Inquiry Based Learning(IBL) Workshop I attended this summer as well as my experience using the IBL methods in Probability and Stochastic Processes. I will discuss some early successes and early failures in class. I will mention some of the research in support of IBL.
Year: 2014
Name: Jason Smith
Institution: Graceland University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Inquiry Based Learning
Abstract: A discussion about the Inquiry Based Learning(IBL) Workshop I attended this summer as well as my experience using the IBL methods in Probability and Stochastic Processes. I will discuss some early successes and early failures in class. I will mention some of the research in support of IBL.
ID:
390
Year: 2014
Name: Theron Hitchman
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Building Towards Student Ownership
Abstract: Why should a student choose to continue his or her study of mathematics beyond high school? How can we enrich our mathematics classes to make them more interesting and engaging? How can we introduce students to the culture of mathematics, and bring them into the community? I will argue that one way to address these questions is to trust in the students and return to them the ownership of the mathematics, both the content and the process. We might even have some time to discuss how we can pull that off without looking too foolish.
Year: 2014
Name: Theron Hitchman
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Building Towards Student Ownership
Abstract: Why should a student choose to continue his or her study of mathematics beyond high school? How can we enrich our mathematics classes to make them more interesting and engaging? How can we introduce students to the culture of mathematics, and bring them into the community? I will argue that one way to address these questions is to trust in the students and return to them the ownership of the mathematics, both the content and the process. We might even have some time to discuss how we can pull that off without looking too foolish.
ID:
391
Year: 2014
Name: Robert Devaney
Institution: Boston University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The Fractal Geometry of the Mandelbrot Set
Abstract: In this lecture we describe several folk theorems concerning the Mandelbrot set. While this set is extremely complicated from a geometric point of view, we will show that, as long as you know how to add and how to count, you can understand this geometry completely. We will encounter many famous mathematical objects in the Mandelbrot set, like the Farey tree and the Fibonacci sequence. And we will find many soon-to-be-famous objects as well, like the "Devaney" sequence. There might even be a joke or two in the talk.
Year: 2014
Name: Robert Devaney
Institution: Boston University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The Fractal Geometry of the Mandelbrot Set
Abstract: In this lecture we describe several folk theorems concerning the Mandelbrot set. While this set is extremely complicated from a geometric point of view, we will show that, as long as you know how to add and how to count, you can understand this geometry completely. We will encounter many famous mathematical objects in the Mandelbrot set, like the Farey tree and the Fibonacci sequence. And we will find many soon-to-be-famous objects as well, like the "Devaney" sequence. There might even be a joke or two in the talk.
ID:
392
Year: 2014
Name: Ruth Charney
Institution: Brandeis University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: An Excursion into the Strange World of Singular Geometry
Abstract: In high school we learn about the geometry of the plane. Later, we encounter the geometry of smooth manifolds. In this talk, we take a peek at the mind-bending geometry of singular spaces and their applications.
Year: 2014
Name: Ruth Charney
Institution: Brandeis University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: An Excursion into the Strange World of Singular Geometry
Abstract: In high school we learn about the geometry of the plane. Later, we encounter the geometry of smooth manifolds. In this talk, we take a peek at the mind-bending geometry of singular spaces and their applications.
ID:
138
Year: 2005
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Encouraging Undergraduate Mathematics Majors
Abstract: This year we have three opportunities for our undergraduate majors, but they are on three consecutive weekends in April. Almost all departments have some sort of math club, but we don
Year: 2005
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Encouraging Undergraduate Mathematics Majors
Abstract: This year we have three opportunities for our undergraduate majors, but they are on three consecutive weekends in April. Almost all departments have some sort of math club, but we don
ID:
397
Year: 2014
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution: Upper Iowa University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Teaching Managers to Think Of All Factors When Making Decisions
Abstract: Abstract: Major management decisions are often made without the proper analysis of all the details and consequences of the actions. The current wave known as 'reshoring' is where companies that transferred production facilities to other countries are now returning that production to the United States. This is a consequence of rising costs of labor and materials in other countries coupled with additional factors such as lax IP laws. Proper training of managers includes cost projections that incorporate all factors and two major projects in a management science class at Upper Iowa University where these aspects are included will be presented.
Year: 2014
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution: Upper Iowa University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Teaching Managers to Think Of All Factors When Making Decisions
Abstract: Abstract: Major management decisions are often made without the proper analysis of all the details and consequences of the actions. The current wave known as 'reshoring' is where companies that transferred production facilities to other countries are now returning that production to the United States. This is a consequence of rising costs of labor and materials in other countries coupled with additional factors such as lax IP laws. Proper training of managers includes cost projections that incorporate all factors and two major projects in a management science class at Upper Iowa University where these aspects are included will be presented.
ID:
143
Year: 2006
Name: Mark Mills
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Using NASCAR to Illustrate Optimization
Abstract: Over the past several years, the authors have taken part in a Fantasy NASCAR league. For each race, we were required to
Year: 2006
Name: Mark Mills
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Using NASCAR to Illustrate Optimization
Abstract: Over the past several years, the authors have taken part in a Fantasy NASCAR league. For each race, we were required to
ID:
403
Year: 2014
Name: Brian Diaz
Institution: Cornell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: An Elementary Solution to a Problem of Ramanujan's Interest
Abstract: In the early 1900's, Srinivasa Ramanujan discovered an intriguing, yet exotic, integral that he believed could have a 'simple', beautiful closed form. However, he never gave a simple solution to this integral. It wouldn't be until the mid-1950's when Russian mathematician V. I. Levin revisited Ramanujan's integral. He used non-elementary calculus techniques to prove that the integral, indeed, had a closed form for a single parameter; however, that parameter was only defined for positive integers. The integral would not be fully explored for the sake of itself until half a century later. Recently, V. Adamchik found that exact same integral that Ramanujan had encountered nearly a century ago. He showed a closed form using methods of Euler sums and related non-elementary techniques. This presentation will show a closed form of the integral does exist, but use only methods of elementary calculus. In addition, these techniques can be used to extend the result to double parameters!
Year: 2014
Name: Brian Diaz
Institution: Cornell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: An Elementary Solution to a Problem of Ramanujan's Interest
Abstract: In the early 1900's, Srinivasa Ramanujan discovered an intriguing, yet exotic, integral that he believed could have a 'simple', beautiful closed form. However, he never gave a simple solution to this integral. It wouldn't be until the mid-1950's when Russian mathematician V. I. Levin revisited Ramanujan's integral. He used non-elementary calculus techniques to prove that the integral, indeed, had a closed form for a single parameter; however, that parameter was only defined for positive integers. The integral would not be fully explored for the sake of itself until half a century later. Recently, V. Adamchik found that exact same integral that Ramanujan had encountered nearly a century ago. He showed a closed form using methods of Euler sums and related non-elementary techniques. This presentation will show a closed form of the integral does exist, but use only methods of elementary calculus. In addition, these techniques can be used to extend the result to double parameters!
ID:
149
Year: 2006
Name: Zhongming WANG
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: computing multivalued velocity and electric field of 1D Euler-Poisson equation
Abstract: We develop a level set method for the computation of multi-valued velocity and electric fields of one-dimensional Euler-Poisson equations. The sys- tem of these equations arises in the semiclassical approximation of Schrodinger- Poisson equations and semiconductor modeling. This method uses an implicit Eulerian formulation in an extended space | called field space, which incorpo- rates both velocity and electric fields into the configuration space. Multi-valued velocity and electric fields are captured through common zeros of two level set functions, which solve a linear homogeneous transport equation in the field space. Numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed level set method.
Year: 2006
Name: Zhongming WANG
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: computing multivalued velocity and electric field of 1D Euler-Poisson equation
Abstract: We develop a level set method for the computation of multi-valued velocity and electric fields of one-dimensional Euler-Poisson equations. The sys- tem of these equations arises in the semiclassical approximation of Schrodinger- Poisson equations and semiconductor modeling. This method uses an implicit Eulerian formulation in an extended space | called field space, which incorpo- rates both velocity and electric fields into the configuration space. Multi-valued velocity and electric fields are captured through common zeros of two level set functions, which solve a linear homogeneous transport equation in the field space. Numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed level set method.
ID:
406
Year: 2014
Name: Mike Johnson
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Missing Avalanche Sizes in the 1 dimensional sandpile model
Abstract: The one-dimensional sandpile model has many interesting connections with number theory. When looking at the size of sandpile avalanches, powers of 2 seem to be mysteriously absent. Using a trough model, we classify avalanches into two categories. The size of each type can be described as either a sum of consecutive integers or a product of two integers with controlled sum. Since powers of two cannot be written as a sum of two or more consecutive positive integers, this explains why powers of two are not common avalanche sizes. We then estimate the minimal sandpile length required to find an avalanche of a given size.
Year: 2014
Name: Mike Johnson
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Missing Avalanche Sizes in the 1 dimensional sandpile model
Abstract: The one-dimensional sandpile model has many interesting connections with number theory. When looking at the size of sandpile avalanches, powers of 2 seem to be mysteriously absent. Using a trough model, we classify avalanches into two categories. The size of each type can be described as either a sum of consecutive integers or a product of two integers with controlled sum. Since powers of two cannot be written as a sum of two or more consecutive positive integers, this explains why powers of two are not common avalanche sizes. We then estimate the minimal sandpile length required to find an avalanche of a given size.
ID:
408
Year: 2014
Name: Matt Rissler
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Adding Context to Calculus
Abstract: This semester in Calculus I, my students have been doing weekly assignments to help provide them with context for the mathematics they are learning in the rest of the course. These assignments have investigated connections to historical and present day developments in mathematics, as well as to the utility of calculus for problem-solving in students' current lives and future careers. I will discuss what assignments I have done/will do and how students have responded to them.
Year: 2014
Name: Matt Rissler
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Adding Context to Calculus
Abstract: This semester in Calculus I, my students have been doing weekly assignments to help provide them with context for the mathematics they are learning in the rest of the course. These assignments have investigated connections to historical and present day developments in mathematics, as well as to the utility of calculus for problem-solving in students' current lives and future careers. I will discuss what assignments I have done/will do and how students have responded to them.
ID:
409
Year: 2014
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Patterns and Perspective: Math in Art and Music
Abstract: During January term at Loras College, we offer various courses which fulfill our mathematical modeling general education requirement as well as our experiential learning J-term requirement. I designed a course in this category which investigates mathematical reasoning underlying perspective art and musical compositions. I will discuss the class structure, activities, and assignments I plan to use when teaching it this January.
Year: 2014
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Patterns and Perspective: Math in Art and Music
Abstract: During January term at Loras College, we offer various courses which fulfill our mathematical modeling general education requirement as well as our experiential learning J-term requirement. I designed a course in this category which investigates mathematical reasoning underlying perspective art and musical compositions. I will discuss the class structure, activities, and assignments I plan to use when teaching it this January.
ID:
410
Year: 2014
Name: Jennifer Good
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: What did J.S. Bach know about fractals?
Abstract: The mathematical term 'fractal', coined in the late 20th century, is used to describe detailed mathematical objects with certain repeating patterns. Bach's 3rd cello suite, composed 250 years earlier, contains evidence of a fractal embedded in one of its movements. Come learn about fractals as we see (and hear) how one appears in this famous piece of music!
Year: 2014
Name: Jennifer Good
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: What did J.S. Bach know about fractals?
Abstract: The mathematical term 'fractal', coined in the late 20th century, is used to describe detailed mathematical objects with certain repeating patterns. Bach's 3rd cello suite, composed 250 years earlier, contains evidence of a fractal embedded in one of its movements. Come learn about fractals as we see (and hear) how one appears in this famous piece of music!
ID:
411
Year: 2014
Name: Riley Burkart
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: History of the Iowa Section of the MAA
Abstract: The history of the Iowa Section stretches back to 1915, even predating the foundation of the Mathematical Association of America by a month. In this talk, the speaker will present his research on the history of the Iowa Section from its origin to the present, examining the trends and changes in the organization.
Year: 2014
Name: Riley Burkart
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: History of the Iowa Section of the MAA
Abstract: The history of the Iowa Section stretches back to 1915, even predating the foundation of the Mathematical Association of America by a month. In this talk, the speaker will present his research on the history of the Iowa Section from its origin to the present, examining the trends and changes in the organization.
ID:
159
Year: 2006
Name: WEN ZHOU
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Chemotactic Collapse in Keller-Segel Equation
Abstract: Chemotaxis phenomenon is one of the most fundamental phenomenons in the biology field. In 1970s, Keller and Segel characterize this phenomenon with two coupled equations. Study on the blow up of the solutions of the this equation is one of the key part of the research on this equation. This short talk will briefly introduce some recent results of the study on this equation, including Nagai, Velazquez, Stevens, Levine, and Hortsman's work, etc.
Year: 2006
Name: WEN ZHOU
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Chemotactic Collapse in Keller-Segel Equation
Abstract: Chemotaxis phenomenon is one of the most fundamental phenomenons in the biology field. In 1970s, Keller and Segel characterize this phenomenon with two coupled equations. Study on the blow up of the solutions of the this equation is one of the key part of the research on this equation. This short talk will briefly introduce some recent results of the study on this equation, including Nagai, Velazquez, Stevens, Levine, and Hortsman's work, etc.
ID:
160
Year: 2006
Name: Catherine Gorini
Institution: Maharishi University of Management
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Visualizing Linear Algebra with Geometer
Abstract: I will present Sketchpad labs for visualizing the following concepts in linear algebra: Linear transformations and image, range, kernel, and projection. The determinant of a matrix and the orientation-preserving or-reversing property of the corresponding linear transformation. The determinant a matrix to the area of the image of a unit area under the corresponding linear transformation. Eigenvectors and eigenvalues
Year: 2006
Name: Catherine Gorini
Institution: Maharishi University of Management
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Visualizing Linear Algebra with Geometer
Abstract: I will present Sketchpad labs for visualizing the following concepts in linear algebra: Linear transformations and image, range, kernel, and projection. The determinant of a matrix and the orientation-preserving or-reversing property of the corresponding linear transformation. The determinant a matrix to the area of the image of a unit area under the corresponding linear transformation. Eigenvectors and eigenvalues
ID:
163
Year: 2006
Name: Justin From
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The Polynomial Root Squeezing Theorem
Abstract: Polynomials are one of the most widely used functions in mathematics, yet there are surprisingly many unanswered questions about their properties. This talk will present an innovative new idea referred to as the Polynomial Root Squeezing Theorem which shows that squeezing two of a polynomial
Year: 2006
Name: Justin From
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The Polynomial Root Squeezing Theorem
Abstract: Polynomials are one of the most widely used functions in mathematics, yet there are surprisingly many unanswered questions about their properties. This talk will present an innovative new idea referred to as the Polynomial Root Squeezing Theorem which shows that squeezing two of a polynomial
ID:
420
Year: 2015
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Using Math to Create Music
Abstract: In this talk I will present some of the activities my students engaged in and compositions they created in the math of music portion of my January-term course at Loras College. We will apply fractals to musical form, modular arithmetic to chords, transposition, and serialism, and function transformations to counterpoint. No musical background is needed for this talk.
Year: 2015
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Using Math to Create Music
Abstract: In this talk I will present some of the activities my students engaged in and compositions they created in the math of music portion of my January-term course at Loras College. We will apply fractals to musical form, modular arithmetic to chords, transposition, and serialism, and function transformations to counterpoint. No musical background is needed for this talk.