Metro NY MAA Proposed Talks

Available Speakers and Proposed Talks

Below is the Mathematics Speakers Bureau listing of available speakers and their proposed talks for the current academic year. The individuals listed below have volunteered their services to speak on a variety of subjects reaching beyond the traditional mathematics curriculum. Talks are given to classes, mathematics clubs, or faculties at regional schools from the junior high school to university level.

Institutions desiring to hear a specific talk should contact the speaker directly by mail, phone or e-mail. The speaker will be happy to accept an invitation to appear at your school or college provided that mutually convenient arrangements can be made. Please understand that acceptance of an invitation to speak may depend on the speaker's teaching or work schedule.

Although the services of the speaker are free, we suggest that you offer reimbursement for any travel expenses. Some institutions prefer to offer a small honorarium. Any financial arrangements should be made prior to the speaker's visit.

One of the goals of the Mathematics Speakers Bureau is to encourage cooperation between corporate and academic institutions in the mathematical education of area youth. In light of this, host institutions are encouraged to arrange some informal time (tea, lunch, or dinner, for example) to allow the visitor, host faculty and students to share their thoughts, knowledge and experience.

Note: This listing of speakers and their talks is updated regularly as additional volunteers step forward.

If you are interested in volunteering to be a Bureau speaker, please contact Abe Mantell.

"Life as a College Professor of Mathematics – Joys and Challenges"

SPEAKER: Nkechi Agwu

AFFILIATION: BMCC, City University of New York

ADDRESS: 199 Chambers Street

ADDRESS: NY, NY 10007

PHONE: 212-220-1337 or 718-842-4904

E-MAIL: parvanit@sunyrockland.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: All Audiences

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector

ABSTRACT: A motivational presentation to share the joys and challenges of a career as a college professor of mathematics. In particular, the presentation will emphasize aspects of this career that are significant for ensuring the success of all students in STEM learning environments, in particular, students from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

"Overcoming Math Anxiety"

SPEAKER: Peter Arvanites

AFFILIATION: Rockland Community College

ADDRESS: 145 College Road

ADDRESS: Suffern, NY 10901

PHONE: 845-574-4767

E-MAIL: parvanit@sunyrockland.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Middle and High School Students; General Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: None

ABSTRACT: Many students at the middle school, high school, and college level experience math anxiety. The feelings associated with math anxiety prevent them from learning math effectively. The speaker will address the causes of math anxiety and strategies used to decrease and even eliminate it. The discussion will enable students to successfully deal with math anxiety.

"Fair Division: From Cake-Cutting to Dispute Resolution"

SPEAKER: Steven J. Brams

AFFILIATION: New York University, Dept. of Politics

ADDRESS: 726 Broadway, 7th Fl.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10003

PHONE: (212) 998-8510

E-MAIL: steven.brams@nyu.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: College Students and Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Will key talk to audience

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector and VCR (not essential, but a 5-minute video that the BBC did on our work is fun to show)

ABSTRACT: Featured are topics from the speaker’s recent books "Fair Division: From Cake-Cutting to Dispute Resolution" (Cambridge University Press, 1996) and "The Win-Win Solution: Guaranteeing Fair Shares to Everybody" (W.W. Norton, 1999).

"Theory of Moves"

SPEAKER: Steven J. Brams

AFFILIATION: New York University, Dept. of Politics

ADDRESS: 726 Broadway, 7th Fl.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10003

PHONE: (212) 998-8510

E-MAIL: steven.brams@nyu.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: College Students and Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Will key talk to audience

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead project

ABSTRACT: Dr. Brams discusses the theory of moves, a dynamic approach to game theory. Featured are topics from the speaker’s book “Theory of Moves” (Cambridge University Press, 1994).

"Is There a Better Way to Elect a President?"

SPEAKER: Steven J. Brams

AFFILIATION: New York University, Dept. of Politics

ADDRESS: 726 Broadway, 7th Fl.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10003

PHONE: (212) 998-8510

E-MAIL: steven.brams@nyu.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: College Students and Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Will key talk to audience

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead project

ABSTRACT: Featured will be topics from the speaker's books, "The Presidential Election Game" (Yale University Press, 1978) and "Approval Voting" (Birkhauser Boston, 1983) and recent work he has done on the 2000 presidential election.

"Hyperbola, Localization, and Least Squares"

SPEAKER: Jack-Kang Chan

AFFILIATION: Consultant and Adjunct Faculty: NYCCT-CUNY, QCC-CUNY

ADDRESS: 153-16, 58 Avenue

ADDRESS: Flushing, NY 11355

PHONE: (718)-961-3113, (347)-596-6206

E-MAIL: CHANjksf@aol.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High school students, undergraduates math major

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: An elementary knowledge of determinant (in particular, Cramer's rule) and matrices, a knowledge of least squares is certainly helpful but not necessary.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Viewgraph projector

ABSTRACT: How do we locate a target from measuring its signal emitted (actively or passively)? In radar and sonar, we measure the time delays using at least three sensors. It turns out that a very simple application of hyperbolas gives us the target location. We can certainly improve our result if more sensors are available. This leads to the method of least squares (LS) that gives the least squares decomposition (LSD) relating Cramer's rule and singular value decomposition (SVD), as well as a new interpretation of LS and an optimal estimate of the target location.

"Mathematics: The Foundations for Many Majors and Careers"

SPEAKER: Joan E. DeBello

AFFILIATION: St. John's University College of Professional Studies

ADDRESS: 8000 Utopia Parkway

ADDRESS: Jamaica, NY 11439

PHONE: 718-990-2032

E-MAIL: debelloj@sjtohns.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Students

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Projector to hook up to my laptop and or an overhead projector for transparency

ABSTRACT: The presentation will discuss the importance of mathematics in every day life and how it is vital to any major and is the foundation of almost any career path. It will also discuss the many possibilities a major in mathematics can bring for a career, as well as the opportunities that a good foundation in mathematics can offer for the future.

"Math is Fun"

SPEAKER: Joan E. DeBello

AFFILIATION: St. John's University College of Professional Studies

ADDRESS: 8000 Utopia Parkway

ADDRESS: Jamaica, NY 11439

PHONE: 718-990-2032

E-MAIL: debelloj@sjtohns.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Elementary School Students

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Projector to hook up to my laptop and or an overhead projector for transparency

ABSTRACT: The presentation will discuss some of the tricks used in mathematics for addition and multiplication and show how mathematics can be enjoyed by everyone. It will also go over the magic square and have the students do some magic of their own. Students will be amazed at the calculations and the games and be able to amaze and stump their friends and families. It will be a fun and interactive time for everyone.

"Turn Your Graphing Calculator into Robot"

SPEAKER: Roberta M. Eisenberg

AFFILIATION: UFT Math Teachers Committee

ADDRESS: 52 Broadway, 12th floor

ADDRESS: NY, NY 10004

PHONE: 718-279-1169

E-MAIL: bobbi@alumni.nd.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Middle school, HS, Preservice, Inservice

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Basic middle school math

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector, loaner calculators

ABSTRACT: A graphing calculator can be attached to a little car and programmed to make the car go in various directions. The two line program is easy to write--even for a non-programmer like me.

"Using CABRI Geometry (TI-92) to Demonstrate Basic Algebra Concepts"

SPEAKER: Roberta M. Eisenberg

AFFILIATION: UFT Math Teachers Committee

ADDRESS: 52 Broadway, 12th floor

ADDRESS: NY, NY 10004

PHONE: 718-279-1169

E-MAIL: bobbi@alumni.nd.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High school students, preservice or inservice teachers

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Elementary algebra

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector, loaner calculators

ABSTRACT: The dynamic geometry features of a computer geometry system (CGS) such as CABRI Geometry can be used to investigate such basic algebra concepts as the concept of a variable, absolute value of a number, the distributive law of multiplication over addition, the associative law of multiplication, multiplication of two general binomials and the special case of squaring a binomial. (I can do many other graphing calculator workshops--TI-83, TI-89, other features of TI-92, TI-73 (middle school) and can make a workshop to suit the needs of the group.)

"Hands-on Laboratory Mathematics -- A Bridge to Understanding"

SPEAKER: Jerome Epstein

AFFILIATION: Polytechnic University

ADDRESS: Mathematics Dept., Polytechnic University, 6 Metrotech Center

ADDRESS: Brooklyn, NY 11201

PHONE: 718-260-3572

E-MAIL: jerepst@worldnet.att.net or jepstein@duke.poly.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School or College teaching faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector, some tables for participants to try out some experiments.

ABSTRACT: A full description of a comprehensive program in hands-on mathematics and science, designed to meet the needs of the many students in today's high schools and colleges who lost comprehension of all mathematics in middle school. Full material on an extensive program of diagnostic testing is presented, and evaluation of the results from implementations of the programs to date.

"Gravitation and the Geometry of Space-Time"

SPEAKER: Jerome Epstein

AFFILIATION: Polytechnic University

ADDRESS: Mathematics Dept., Polytechnic University, 6 Metrotech Center

ADDRESS: Brooklyn, NY 11201

PHONE: 718-260-3572

E-MAIL: jerepst@att.net or jepstein@duke.poly.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Advanced High School or College Math Students

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Algebra, Geometry, Calculus helpful. Some Physics background helpful but not mandatory. Talk can be adjusted to the level of the students.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector, blackboard. . .

ABSTRACT: A talk on the physical and mathematical background that led Einstein to consider that a revision to Newton's law of gravitation might come from pure geometry, what kind of geomterical elements are involved, what properties of gravity make such a thing possible, how did Einstein actually attempt to construct such a radically new type of theory in physics, and the amazing simplicity and beauty (in conceptual terms -- the mathematics is far from elementary) of the resulting theory.

"A National Initiative to Refocus the Courses Below Calculus"

SPEAKER: Dr. Sheldon P. Gordon

AFFILIATION: SUNY at Farmingdale

ADDRESS: Farmingdale, NY 11735

PHONE: 516-420-2182

E-MAIL: gordonsp@farmingdale.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: The MAA, AMATYC, and NCTM are all involved in a national initiative to refocus courses such as college algebra and precalculus. The presentation will discuss the reasons for this initiative and what is being done to bring about such large scale change in the curriculum.

"Functioning in the Real World: The Math Modeling/Pre-Calculus Reform Project"

SPEAKER: Dr. Sheldon P. Gordon

AFFILIATION: SUNY at Farmingdale

ADDRESS: Farmingdale, NY 11735

PHONE: 516-420-2182

E-MAIL: gordonsp@farmingdale.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 11-12, Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: A description of a major NSF-funded project to redesign precalculus course. The focus is on applications, via discrete mathematical models, to drive the mathematical development.

"Computers in the Undergraduate Mathematics Curriculum"

SPEAKER: Dr. Sheldon P. Gordon

AFFILIATION: SUNY at Farmingdale

ADDRESS: Farmingdale, NY 11735

PHONE: 516-420-2182

E-MAIL: gordonsp@farmingdale.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT:

"Calculus Through the Eye of the Computer"

SPEAKER: Dr. Sheldon P. Gordon

AFFILIATION: SUNY at Farmingdale

ADDRESS: Farmingdale, NY 11735

PHONE: 516-420-2182

E-MAIL: gordonsp@farmingdale.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grade 12, Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: The use of computer graphics in calculus for understanding and for discovery.

"Probability and Statistics via Computer Graphics"

SPEAKER: Dr. Sheldon P. Gordon

AFFILIATION: SUNY at Farmingdale

ADDRESS: Farmingdale, NY 11735

PHONE: 516-420-2182

E-MAIL: gordonsp@farmingdale.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 10-12, Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: Using computer graphics to simulate and demonstrate many ideas in probability and statistics.

"Population Growth Investigations via Computer Graphics"

SPEAKER: Dr. Sheldon P. Gordon

AFFILIATION: SUNY at Farmingdale

ADDRESS: Farmingdale, NY 11735

PHONE: 516-420-2182

E-MAIL: gordonsp@farmingdale.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 11-12, Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: A discrete approach to populations dynamics for one species (exponential growth, inhibited growth) and two species (predator-prey) using computer graphics.

"Difficulties in Democracy: The Mathematics of Social Choice"

SPEAKER: Dan King

AFFILIATION: Sarah Lawrence College

ADDRESS: One Mead Way

ADDRESS: Bronxville, NY 10708

PHONE: (914) 395-2424

E-MAIL: dking@mail.slc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Students, General Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector and blackboard

ABSTRACT: Voting is the vehicle by which decisions are made in a democratic society. When there are only two alternatives, the most democratic method for determining the winner is easy: majority rules. When there are three or more alternatives the fairest method is not so evident. This talk examines several methods by which groups of individuals with divergent opinions may collectively agree upon a single social choice. Featured will be Arrow's Impossibility Theorem which states that, in a sense, there is no ideal social choice mechanism.

"Paradoxes of Prediction and Cooperation: Newcomb's Problem and the Prisoner's Dilemma"

SPEAKER: Dan King

AFFILIATION: Sarah Lawrence College

ADDRESS: One Mead Way

ADDRESS: Bronxville, NY 10708

PHONE: (914) 395-2424

E-MAIL: dking@mail.slc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Students, General Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector and blackboard

ABSTRACT: Fascinating and perplexing, paradoxes challenge our most cherished beliefs. Left unresolved, these paradoxes pose a serious threat to the very foundations of our social, moral and political philosophies. Two intriguing paradoxes in game theory will be discussed, Newcomb's Problem and the Prisoner's Dilemma. Together we will attempt to resolve these paradoxes and bring peace to the world...and to ourselves.

"What's Wrong with the Electoral College System?: A Mathematical Perspective"

SPEAKER: Dan King

AFFILIATION: Sarah Lawrence College

ADDRESS: One Mead Way

ADDRESS: Bronxville, NY 10708

PHONE: (914) 395-2424

E-MAIL: dking@mail.slc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Students, General Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector and blackboard

ABSTRACT: The Electoral College System, the voting method used to determine the U.S. Presidency, is complicated, confusing and, from a mathematical point of view, kind of crazy! Nevertheless, our government has perpetuated this electoral system since its nascent days of the Constitutional Convention. This presentation highlights the history and evolution of the Electoral College System, discusses its merits and faults using a game-theoretic analysis, and examines alternative voting schemes. No prior knowledge of Game Theory or the Electoral College System assumed.

"Detecting Errors in Identification Numbers"

SPEAKER: Joe Kirtland

AFFILIATION: Marist College

ADDRESS: Department of Mathematics, Marist College

ADDRESS: 290 North Road

ADDRESS: Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

PHONE: 914-575-3000 ext: 2602

E-MAIL: joe.kirtland@marist.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Undergraduate Mathematics Majors and Minors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Rudimentary Abstract Algebra

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector

ABSTRACT: Identification numbers are used to identify individual items, specific products, people, accounts, or documents. Examples include driver license numbers, credit card numbers, ISBNs, UPCs, and bank account numbers. Each time an identification number is transmitted from one location to another, there is a chance that an error in the number will occur. To combat this problem, many identification number systems include a check digit and use a mathematical process to determine if the number has been transmitted correctly. This talk will present methods, ranging from simple modulo arithmetic to the use of group theory and dihedral groups, which employ a check digit to detect errors in identification numbers.

"Experiences of a Mathematician in Industry"

SPEAKER: Mary Krembs

AFFILIATION: Bard College

ADDRESS: Department of Mathematics, Bard College

ADDRESS: Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000

PHONE: 845-575-3000 ext: 2378

E-MAIL: krembs@bard.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Undergraduate Mathematics Majors, General Students, High School Students

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Laptop Projector

ABSTRACT: Did you ever wonder what you can do with a degree in mathematics other than teach? This talk will present a sampling of one mathematician's experience in the business world. We will discuss a wide range of exciting and challenging jobs available to a mathematician at three levels (with a Bachelor's Degree, Master's degree and Ph.D.)

"Women in Mathematics: Is History Being Rewritten?"

SPEAKER: Sharon Kunoff

AFFILIATION: C.W. Post/LIU (Retired)

ADDRESS: 9 Melissa Lane

ADDRESS: Old Bethpage, NY 11804

PHONE: 516 694 1896

E-MAIL: skunoff@liu.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School and above, faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: overhead projector

ABSTRACT: This talk compares how women are treated in current History of Math texts with earlier texts and conjectures on why the changes were made. It also conjectures on the fate of current women mathematicians in future histories of today.

"Fun With Number Theory"

SPEAKER: Marty Lewinter

AFFILIATION: American Digital University Services

ADDRESS: ADU Services, Suite 515

ADDRESS: 235 Main St.

ADDRESS: White Plains, NY 10601

PHONE:

E-MAIL: martyL@adu.us.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School and College Students

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Elementary Algebra

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector

ABSTRACT: A light excursion into the fascinating world of the integers: primes, triangular numbers, pythagorean triples, fibonacci numbers, and more! Add a bit of history and a sprinkle of humor and we have an entertaining and informative talk. Length and depth depend on the level of the students.

"Use of Grouping in the Classroom"

SPEAKER: Janna Liberant

AFFILIATION: SUNY /Rockland Community College

ADDRESS: 145 College RD

ADDRESS: Suffern, NY 10901

PHONE: (845)574-4513

E-MAIL: jliberan@sunyrockland.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Elementary Algebra

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector

ABSTRACT: The short presentation about grouping for instruction in remedial and college level mathematics classes will be followed by the discussion on the improvement of the techniques used for grouping in the class. Several literature sources will be discussed.

"Use of Grouping in the Classroom"

SPEAKER: Janna Liberant

AFFILIATION: SUNY /Rockland Community College

ADDRESS: 145 College RD

ADDRESS: Suffern, NY 10901

PHONE: (845)574-4513

E-MAIL: jliberan@sunyrockland.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Faculty

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Elementary Algebra

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector

"Great Circle Distance on Earth"

SPEAKER: Marvin Littman

AFFILIATION: Westchester Community College

ADDRESS: 75 Grasslands Road

ADDRESS: Valhalla, NY 10595

PHONE: (914) 606-8560

E-MAIL: marvin.lttman@sunywcc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Students, General Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Intermediate Algebra, Geometry, PreCalculus

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector or (preferred) Smart Board

ABSTRACT: Using principles from Spherical Trigonometry, we develop a formula for computing the great circle distance between any two places on the globe, given their longitude and latitude coordinates. The only prerequisite is a fair knowledge of Plane Trigonometry. For more advanced students, we develop an equivalent formula using Vector Algebra. (Familiarity with the dot product is necessary.)

"Predicting the Time of Sunrise and Sunset"

SPEAKER: Marvin Littman

AFFILIATION: Westchester Community College

ADDRESS: 75 Grasslands Road

ADDRESS: Valhalla, NY 10595

PHONE: (914) 606-8560

E-MAIL: marvin.lttman@sunywcc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Students, General Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Intermediate Algebra, Geometry, PreCalculus

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector or (preferred) Smart Board

ABSTRACT: Using principles from Spherical Trigonometry, we develop a formula for predicting the exact times of astronomical sunrise and sunset for any place on the globe, given its latitude and longitude coordinates. The only prerequisite is a fair knowledge of Plane Trigonometry.

"Fermat’s Principle of Light and Snell’s Law of Refraction"

SPEAKER: Marvin Littman

AFFILIATION: Westchester Community College

ADDRESS: 75 Grasslands Road

ADDRESS: Valhalla, NY 10595

PHONE: (914) 606-8560

E-MAIL: marvin.lttman@sunywcc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: General Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Math or Physics Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Some Elementary Euclidian Geometry and Elementary Calculus

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Smart Board for PowerPoint presentation

ABSTRACT: A history of the various theories concerning the path of a light ray passing through different media, highlighting the work of Euclid, Ptolemy, Heron, Fermat, and Snell.

"The Three Wise Men Problem"

SPEAKER: Dani Livne

AFFILIATION: Tel-Aviv University

ADDRESS: 330 S.Service Rd.

ADDRESS: Melville NY

PHONE: (631) 962-9344

E-MAIL: zurkin@yahoo.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Students, General Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Reflector (Power Point Presentation)

ABSTRACT: We start with the three wise men problem and it's variants. Then we suggest a solution based on Modal Logic. We explain on general what First Order Logic is.

Then we look at some "self-reference" variants of the problem.

We finish by using self-reference to prove Tarski's Indefinability Theorem and Godel's Incompleteness Theorem.

”Either Building Mathematical Models” or “Measuring Our Positive Influence”

SPEAKER: John Loase

AFFILIATION: Concordia College

ADDRESS: 171 White Plains Rd.

ADDRESS: Bronxville,NY 10708

PHONE: 914-337-9300

E-MAIL: splurge47@aol.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School or Jr. HS-preferably disadvantaged -I have a lot of experience in teaching disadvantaged.

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Adjusted for the Audience

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Projector

ABSTRACT: I could build a math model for poker or high interest activity and relate it to my NSF work in math modeling or talk about sigfluence-my new word for significant, long-term, positive influence. I have 6 published books.

"Lights Out: Solving a Puzzle as a Paradigm for 'Doing Mathematics"

SPEAKER: Benjamin Lotto

AFFILIATION: Vassar College

ADDRESS: 124 Raymond Avenue

ADDRESS: Poughkeepsie, NY 12604

PHONE: 845-437-7180

E-MAIL: lotto@vassar.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High schools students, general undergrads, or undergrad math majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Solid high school algebra

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Projection for laptop to a screen is preferred, although arrangements can (and have) been made for any setting.

ABSTRACT: Out is a popular puzzle that is manufactured by Tiger Electronics. In this talk, I will not only to solve the puzzle using some surprising mathematics, but I will also illustrate the process that mathematicians use to find and attack new problems.

"Mathematical Logic and Philosophy"

SPEAKER: Joseph N. Manago

AFFILIATION: Joseph N. Manago Publishing; Buzz-A-Prof

ADDRESS: Box 35-6254

ADDRESS: Briarwood, NY 11435

PHONE: (646) 244-4953

E-MAIL: ProfJosephManago@aol.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: General Undergraduates, Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Elementary Algebra and Geometry

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Whiteboard; Overhead Projector

ABSTRACT: Utilizing the methods of the "Functional Calculus of First-Order", Propositional Calculus", and Boolean Algebra, we can mathematically prove the major theorems of the Being of god and of the human soul, and prove/disprove any arguments in any area of study with simple mathematical formulae and basic rules of inference. The legacy of Descartes: "Je pense; donc, je suis": "I think; therefore, I am".

"Mathematical Realism"

SPEAKER: Joseph N. Manago

AFFILIATION: Joseph N. Manago Publishing; Buzz-A-Prof

ADDRESS: Box 35-6254

ADDRESS: Briarwood, NY 11435

PHONE: (646) 244-4953

E-MAIL: ProfJosephManago@aol.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: General Undergraduates, Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Algebra and Geometry

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Whiteboard

ABSTRACT: "Mathematical Realism" explicates the principles of a theistical philosophy of God and a hylomorphic (body - soul) theory of man's nature in the rigor of the "natural deductive" method of the first - order functional calculus of Gentzen and Jaskowski. The principles of a monotheistic natural theology and the intermediate monistic theory of hylomorphism are provable vis - a - vis the symbolical representation of the premises and deduction utilizing the laws of inference of the functional calculus of classes and relations. From the "ba anx" (living soul) of the Egyptian "Book of the Dead" of the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt to the "pure or transcendental I" of the phenomenology of Dr. Edmund Husserl, and from the archetype of the resurrection of Osiris to the resurrection of man, we only find irrefutable proofs of certain knowledge in and through mathematics, www.1stbooks.com/bookview/2105 .

"Number Giants and Infinities"

SPEAKER: Abraham S. Mantell

AFFILIATION: Nassau Community College

ADDRESS: Mathematics Department

ADDRESS: Garden City, NY 11530-6793

PHONE: (516) 572-8092

E-MAIL: mantell@ncc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Middle & High Schools, Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Elementary Algebra, Geometry, Other (see below)

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: Just how large is a googol? How about a googolplex? Through audience participation and considering the world (and universe) around us, we begin to appreciate such "number giants." We then move on to transfinite numbers. Prerequisites: Familiarity with scientific notation and a bit of solid geometry. Regents chemistry would be helpful as well, but not required.

"Perpetual Calendar"

SPEAKER: Farley Mawyer

AFFILIATION: York College (CUNY)

ADDRESS: Mathematics Department

ADDRESS: Jaimaca, NY 11451

PHONE: (718) 262-2939

E-MAIL: mawyer@york.cuny.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Middle & High Schools, Undergraduate Students

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Elementary Algebra

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Blackboard

ABSTRACT: The audience will participate in deriving and using a simple formula which will give the day of the week for any date.

"Hunting Odd Perfect Numbers"

SPEAKER: John McCleary

AFFILIATION: Vassar College

ADDRESS: Department of Mathematics

ADDRESS: Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0069

PHONE: 845-437-5526

E-MAIL: mccleary@vassar.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Post-Calculus sophistication

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Blackboard

ABSTRACT: The notion of a perfect number was known to the ancients. In this talk I will describe how one might restrict the kind of number that might qualify as an odd perfect number. We can know a lot about such integers without knowing a single example. Or are there any?

"The Mathematics of Sex and Family Planning"

SPEAKER: Dr. Rochelle Wilson Meyer

AFFILIATION: Nassau Community College

ADDRESS: 1 Education Drive

ADDRESS: Garden City, NY 11530

PHONE: 516-222-7202 or 7383

E-MAIL: meyerr@ncc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Grade 12, Honors Classes, Math Clubs

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector

ABSTRACT: Surprising results from elementary probability.

"Recursion, Recurrence Equations, and Sorting"

SPEAKER: Dr. Rochelle Wilson Meyer

AFFILIATION: Nassau Community College

ADDRESS: 1 Education Drive

ADDRESS: Garden City, NY 11530

PHONE: 516-222-7202 or 7383

E-MAIL: meyerr@ncc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Grade 12, Honors Classes, Math Clubs

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector

ABSTRACT: Recursive algorithms for different sorting methods are developed. For each sort, the amount of work done is described by a recurrence equations arising naturally from the algorithm. After the equations are solved, efficiencies of the algorithm are compared.

"Mathematics and Telephone Calls"

SPEAKER: Dr. Rochelle Wilson Meyer

AFFILIATION: Nassau Community College

ADDRESS: 1 Education Drive

ADDRESS: Garden City, NY 11530

PHONE: 516-222-7202 or 7383

E-MAIL: meyerr@ncc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Grades 11 & 12

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector

ABSTRACT: An introduction to the analysis of the time complexity of algorithms, using a simple telephone chain. (This is a simplified version of the "Recursion, Recurrence Equations, and Sorting" talk.)

"The Growth of Human Populations: Mathematics, Technology, and Other Matters"

SPEAKER: Dr. Rochelle Wilson Meyer

AFFILIATION: Nassau Community College

ADDRESS: 1 Education Drive

ADDRESS: Garden City, NY 11530

PHONE: 516-222-7202 or 7383

E-MAIL: meyerr@ncc.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School Honors Classes, Faculty, College

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector

ABSTRACT: A multidisciplinary presentation showing how understanding mathematics can help us to understand human history.

"Mathematics Equals Opportunity"

SPEAKER: Donald Outing

AFFILIATION: United States Military Academy

ADDRESS: Department of Mathematical Sciences

ADDRESS: West Point, NY 10996

PHONE: 845-938-7217

E-MAIL: donald.outing@usma.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Middle and High School Studentse

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead projector

ABSTRACT: An analysis by the U.S. Department of Education indicates that high school students who take algebra, geometry, and other rigorous mathematics courses are more likely to go on to college. This is true regardless of their family income. In fact, the benefit of taking rigorous courses is greatest for students from low-income families and minorities. I will share the information from the Department of Education as well as my own personal journey via mathematics.

"Divisibility"

SPEAKER: Prof. Alfred Posamentier

AFFILIATION: City College, CUNY

ADDRESS: Convent Avenue at 138 St.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10031

PHONE: 212-650-5471

E-MAIL: asp2@juno.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 9-12

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: Various rules for divisibility will be presented with proof.

"Mathematical Enrichment Through Problem Solving"

SPEAKER: Prof. Alfred Posamentier

AFFILIATION: City College, CUNY

ADDRESS: Convent Avenue at 138 St.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10031

PHONE: 212-650-5471

E-MAIL: asp2@juno.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 9-12

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: A consideration of some problems which are 'off the beaten path.' Some unusual methods of solution will be presented which will make seemingly difficult problems appear simple.

"Diophantine Equations"

SPEAKER: Prof. Alfred Posamentier

AFFILIATION: City College, CUNY

ADDRESS: Convent Avenue at 138 St.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10031

PHONE: 212-650-5471

E-MAIL: asp2@juno.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 9-12

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: Methods for solving Diophantine equations will be presented. Practical applications will also be considered.

"Topics in Advanced Euclidean Geometry"

SPEAKER: Prof. Alfred Posamentier

AFFILIATION: City College, CUNY

ADDRESS: Convent Avenue at 138 St.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10031

PHONE: 212-650-5471

E-MAIL: asp2@juno.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 10-12

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: A presentation of theorems which are extensions of material generally taught in geometry courses. A variety of interesting applications of these theorems will be considered.

"Deriving the Sum of a Finite Series"

SPEAKER: Prof. Alfred Posamentier

AFFILIATION: City College, CUNY

ADDRESS: Convent Avenue at 138 St.

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10031

PHONE: 212-650-5471

E-MAIL: asp2@juno.com

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grades 11-12

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: A consideration of a rather simple method for finding the sum of a finite series.

"What is the Shape of the Universe?"

SPEAKER: David Seppala-Holtzman

AFFILIATION: St. Joseph's College

ADDRESS: 245 Clinton Avenue

ADDRESS: Brooklyn, NY 11205

PHONE: 718-636-7254

E-MAIL: dholtzman@sjcny.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Advanced High School, General Undergraduate, Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: None—the talk is self-contained

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: A blackboard is sufficient but a computer projector and screen would be preferred.

ABSTRACT: Beginning with a discussion of spheres, in general, a simple case is made for the universe being a hypersphere.

"Polynomial (In)equalities and Beyond"

SPEAKER: Charles Steinhorn

AFFILIATION: Vassar College

ADDRESS:

PHONE: (845) 437-5524 (or 5525)

E-MAIL: steinhorn@vassar.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Calculus

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

ABSTRACT: Most calculus students know that a (non-zero) polynomial in one variable of degree n has at most n real number zeroes. Descartes knew that there are significantly better bounds for polynomials of high degree which consist of a small number of monomials: for example, a polynomial in one variable of arbitrary degree which is the sum of 3 monomials has no more than 7 zeroes. This talk begins with this theme of finding bounds for the number of zeroes of polynomials. It then moves on to similar questions for polynomial inequalities in one or more variables, and concludes with some discussion.

"Randomness and Modular Arithmetic"

SPEAKER: Charles Steinhorn

AFFILIATION: Vassar College

ADDRESS:

PHONE: (845) 437-5524 (or 5525)

E-MAIL: steinhorn@vassar.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Undergraduate Math Majors

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Calculus

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Blackboard and Chalk

ABSTRACT: The random graph can be understood as the undirected graph whose vertices are the natural numbers such that edges between vertices are determined by flipping a coin. The first part of the talk focuses on the random graph from a naive probabilistic point of view. The second part of the talk deals with a particular class of finite graphs that ``approximate'' the random graph. The surprise here is that these finite graphs are constructed using modular arithmetic.

"Adding Things up Forever"

SPEAKER: Bruce H. Stephan

AFFILIATION: Webb Institute

ADDRESS: Crescent Beach Road

ADDRESS: Glen Cove, NY 11542-1398

PHONE: (516) 671-2215

E-MAIL: bstephan@webb-institute.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School, General College Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Basic algebraic skills

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Blackboard and/or Overhead Equipment

ABSTRACT: The basic idea of infinite series, examples of telescoping, convergence, divergence, the geometic series, applications of the geometric series (repeating decimals, financial applications).

"Financial Mathematics/The Mathematics of Interest"

SPEAKER: Bruce H. Stephan

AFFILIATION: Webb Institute

ADDRESS: Crescent Beach Road

ADDRESS: Glen Cove, NY 11542-1398

PHONE: (516) 671-2215

E-MAIL: bstephan@webb-institute.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School, General College Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Basic algebraic skills

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Blackboard and/or Overhead Equipment

ABSTRACT: Compound interest, present value, time payment plans, equations of present value, mortgages, (simple) models for bond and stock valuation.

"Computer Representations of Numbers"

SPEAKER: Bruce H. Stephan

AFFILIATION: Webb Institute

ADDRESS: Crescent Beach Road

ADDRESS: Glen Cove, NY 11542-1398

PHONE: (516) 671-2215

E-MAIL: bstephan@webb-institute.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School, General College Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Knowledge of arithmetic, basic algebraic skills

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Blackboard and/or Overhead Equipment

ABSTRACT: A brief history of the positional number system, radix representation in various basis, conversions from base to base, scientific/exponential representation, complements, computer storage of the number.

"How Many Ways?"

SPEAKER: Bruce H. Stephan

AFFILIATION: Webb Institute

ADDRESS: Crescent Beach Road

ADDRESS: Glen Cove, NY 11542-1398

PHONE: (516) 671-2215

E-MAIL: bstephan@webb-institute.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Junior High School, High School, General College Undergraduates

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Arithmetic and Basic algebraic skills

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Blackboard and/or Overhead Equipment

ABSTRACT: A basic introduction to combinatorics, permutations, combinations, trees and application to daily problems.

" How to Use Computers Algebra Systems to Make Good"

SPEAKER: Bruce H. Stephan

AFFILIATION: Webb Institute

ADDRESS: Crescent Beach Road

ADDRESS: Glen Cove, NY 11542-1398

PHONE: (516) 671-2215

E-MAIL: bstephan@webb-institute.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School, General College Undergraduates, High School teachers

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Arithmetic and Basic algebraic skills

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Overhead Equipment Projector

ABSTRACT: When students first encounter the ability to make computer drawings to illustrate mathematical principles, they frequently follow the path of least resistance and plot curves or surfaces in a default mode. They make plots that contain much extraneous material or make plots that are significantly distorted. These poor plots will often obscure the true and important characteristics of the object in question. Ideas of circular symmetry, smoothness and the relation to mathematical equations are frequently lost or at best diminished. This talk will discuss how to use a very few basic mathematical ideas to greatly improve the figures generated. Parameterizations will be found for curves and surfaces that not only clearly draw the figures, but that do so in a way to emphasize the important characteristics of the figures. The students will be able to see more from the graphs and they will retain a stronger analytical sense of the geometry involved. Numerous drawings and techniques will be explained in detail. Each idea will be illustrated with graphs drawn by Maple, but the basic techniques will be applicable to any technical platform that can plot simple (x,y) or (x,y,z) coordinates.

"Reflections on a Career Teaching Mathematics"

SPEAKER: Bruce H. Stephan

AFFILIATION: Webb Institute

ADDRESS: Crescent Beach Road

ADDRESS: Glen Cove, NY 11542-1398

PHONE: (516) 671-2215

E-MAIL: bstephan@webb-institute.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High School or college teachers

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: none

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: none

ABSTRACT: A reflection on what I’ve learn about mathematics teaching on the college level or a career that spans some 40 years. This includes: How and why did I get involved in mathematics. My views on mathematics. What I’ve learned through my various teaching experiences. What I’ve learned from standardized testing. My teaching style in the classroom. What I’ve learned from on-line teaching. What a college level program needs of entering students.

"Coordinate Transformations and the Protein Folding Problem"

SPEAKER: Mark Tuckerman

AFFILIATION: NYU Dept. of Chemistry and Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

ADDRESS: 100 Washington Square East

ADDRESS: New York, NY 10003

PHONE: (212) 998-8471

E-MAIL: mark.tuckerman@nyu.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: High-school students, General undergraduates, undergraduate math majors, faculty.

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: Intermediate Algebra, Geometry, Calculus

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: LCD Projector

ABSTRACT: Proteins are the biological workhorses of living organisms. As enzymes,

they drive the biochemical reactions necessary for life, as structural elements, they are the main constituents of bones, muscles, hair, skin and blood vessels, and as antibodies, they help the immune system eliminate dangerous invaders. The biological function of a protein is directly related to the details of its overall shape. Understanding how a newly synthesized protein in a cell "folds" into its biologically active shape is a critical problem known as the "protein folding

problem." Moreover, understanding when and how the folding process goes awry, leaving to "misfolded" proteins that can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Mad Cow is an important part of this challenge. In this talk, it will be shown how a mathematical attack on the protein folding problem, employing concepts from the area of transformation mechanics can lead to new and novel solutions that provide important insights into biology's deepest (and sometimes darkest) secrets.

"Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis"

SPEAKER: John D. Vargas

AFFILIATION: Dowling College

ADDRESS: Idlehour Boulevard

ADDRESS: Oakdale, New York 11769

PHONE: 631-244-3175

E-MAIL: vargasj@dowling.edu

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Grade 9 to Undergraduate

SPECIFIC SUBJECT PREREQUISITES: As little as elementary algebra or as much as ordinary and partial differential equations: depending on the audience.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Slide Projector, Overhead Projector

ABSTRACT: Description of great historical earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. As the mathematical maturity level increases, examples involving trigonometry, calculus, and differential equations will be introduced.