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SIGMAA Activities

BIO SIGMAA: The SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology

Contributed Paper Session: Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology

Saturday, August 6, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.,Taft A

This session is dedicated to aspects of undergraduate research in mathematical and computational biology. First and foremost, this session would like to highlight research results of projects that either were conducted by undergraduates or were collaborations between undergraduates and their faculty mentors. Of particular interest are those collaborations that involve students and faculty from both mathematics and biology. Secondly, as many institutions have started undergraduate research programs in this area, frequently with the help of initial external funding, the session is interested in the process and logistics of starting a program and maintaining a program even after the initial funding expires. Important issues include faculty development and interdisciplinary collaboration, student preparation and selection, the structure of research programs, the acquisition of resources to support the program, and the subsequent achievements of students who participate in undergraduate research in mathematical and computational biology.

Timothy Comar, Benedictine University

SIGMAA MCST: The SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers

Contributed Paper Session: My Favorite Math Circle Problem

Thursday, August 4, 1:00 p.m. - 4:55 p.m., Franklin C

A math circle is an enrichment activity for K-12 students or their teachers, which brings them into direct contact with mathematically sophisticated leaders, fostering a passion and excitement for deep mathematics in the participants. Math circles combine significant discovery and excitement about mathematics through problem solving and exploration. Talks in this session will address a favorite problem or topic that was successful with a math circle audience.

Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University

Business Meeting

Friday, August 5, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Ohio Center B

Math Teacher's Circle Demonstration

Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Morrow

Math Wrangle

Saturday, August 6, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Morrow

POM SIGMAA: The SIGMAA on the Philosophy of Mathematics

Reception

Thursday, August 4, 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Union B

POM SIGMAA Guest Lecture

Potential Infinity: A Modal Account

Thursday, August 4, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Union B

Stewart Shapiro, Ohio State University

Beginning with Aristotle, almost every major philosopher and mathematician before the nineteenth century rejected the notion of the actual infinite. They all argued that the only sensible notion is that of potential infinity. The list includes some of the greatest mathematical minds ever. Due to Georg Cantor's influence, the situation is almost the opposite nowadays (with some intuitionists as notable exceptions). The received view is that the notion of a merely potential infinity is dubious: it can only be understood if there is an actual infinity that underlies it.
 After a sketch of some of the history, our aim to analyze the notion of potential infinity, in modal terms, and to assess its scientific merits. This leads to a number of more specific questions. Perhaps the most pressing of these is whether the conception of potential infinity can be explicated in a way that is both interesting and substantially different from the now-dominant conception of actual infinity. One might suspect that, when metaphors and loose talk give way to precise definitions, the apparent differences will evaporate.

As we will explain, however, a number of differences still remain. Some of the most interesting and surprising differences concern consequences that one's conception of infinity has for higher-order logic. Another important question concerns the relation between potential infinity and mathematical intuitionism. We show that potential infinity is not inextricably tied to intuitionistic logic. There are interesting explications of potential infinity that underwrite classical logic, while still differing in important ways from actual infinity. However, we also find that on some more stringent explications, potential infinity does indeed lead to intuitionistic logic. (Joint work with Oystein Linnebo.)

SIGMAA QL: The SIGMAA on Quantitative Literacy

Panel Session: Quantitative Literacy at the Post-Secondary Level: Future Directions in Research

Thursday, August 4, 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m., McKinley

SIGMAA TAHSM: The SiGMAA on Teaching Advanced High School  Mathematics

Business Meeting and Reception

Friday, August 5, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Union B

WEB SIGMAA: The SIGMAA on Mathematics Instruction Using the WEB

Reception

Friday, August 5, 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Union A

WEB SIGMAA Guest Lecture

Accessibility and WeBWorK: Online Homework for Everyone

Friday, August 5,  6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Union A

Geoff Goehle, Western Carolina University

Click here to view the lecture abstract

Year: 
2016