Abstracts

Presenter: Michael Pearson

Title: 500 Years of Data Science

Abstract: The current high interest in exploiting the power of data to inform decisions has led to new formal areas of study in data science and analytics, but the underlying ideas are part and parcel of modern science. I'm going to share some vignettes to highlight this history, as well as some current MAA efforts to build capacity in this interdisciplinary and expanding field.

Presenter: Deanna Haunsperger

Title: Trisecting Your Cake

Abstract: Here is a problem as old as humanity: given a resource to be shared (water, land, cake), how can it be shared fairly between several people? The answer, in the case of two claimants, is simple and ancient and known to every five-year-old with a sibling: I cut; you choose. Things get much more interesting, and challenging, if one has more than one sibling. How do we make fair divisions?

Presenter: Vinodh Chellamuthu

Title: From Procedures to Potential: Fostering Creative Problem-Solvers for Real-World Success

Abstract: Too often, students think learning math is a sequence of step-by-step procedures to solve problems that have only one solution classified as right or wrong. After years of cultivating this mindset, students come to believe that every problem is like this. But when students begin their careers, they will discover that real-world problems are almost never arranged so neatly, with clearly defined terms and constraints, and only one solution. These encounters with multifaceted problems can be very uncomfortable. Providing opportunities for our students to grapple with messy uncomfortable real-world projects before they graduate is essential. Through these experiences, students can build their creativity, enhance their lateral thinking, and discover their potential is unlimited.