Problems from the American Mathematics Competitions

Wednesday, August 6, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm, Meeting Room 11

My talk is based on problems I wrote for the American Mathematics Competitions.  I will include at least two of my problems from this years tests.  Handouts will be provided.

Organizers:
Steven Davis, Retired

Networking Fair

Wednesday, August 6, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Ballroom B Prefunction Area (East Lobby)

Join colleagues while meeting and engaging with representatives of mathematical partner organizations. Light refreshments will be served.

MathArt at MathFest

Wednesday, August 6, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Exhibit Hall (Hall A - First Floor), Art Installation Area
Thursday, August 7, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Exhibit Hall (Hall A - First Floor), Art Installation Area
Friday, August 8, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Exhibit Hall (Hall A - First Floor), Art Installation Area

The first MathFest Exhibition of Mathematical Art will include up to 50 artworks contributed by mathematical artists, as well as a group display organized by the SIGMAA on Environmental Mathematics (SIGMAA EM), with a critical mass of images contributed in advance highlighting mathematics and the environment, as well as an opportunity for MAA MathFest 2025 visitors to make their own images and submit them to the display. The EM organizers have created a fun hexagonal template that invites participants to contribute to a honeycomb pattern of environmental math/art. 

Organizers:
Frank Farris, Santa Clara University
Bronna Butler, B.A. Baroque Arts, LLC
Amanda Beecher, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Russ deForest, Everly College of Science
Chris Gott, University of the Pacific
Katy Franz, Unaffiliated Mathematical Artists
Jack Love, San Francisco State University
Jeff Venrtella, Unaffiliated Mathematical Artists

MathArt at MathFest Awards Ceremony and Reception

Friday, August 8, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Exhibit Hall (Hall A - First Floor), Art Installation Area

During a closing reception for the art exhibition, prizes will be awarded for exceptional art works in the exhibit.

Organizers:
Frank Farris, Golden Section
Doug Dunham, SIGMAA ARTS 

Sponsors: Prizes courtesy of the Golden Section and reception sponsored by SIGMAA-ARTS

Read the Masters!: Weierstrass Formalizes the Limit Concept

Saturday, August 9, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Meeting Room 9-10

Attention to the power of using primary historical sources as a resource in the teaching and learning of mathematics has grown over recent decades. (Witness the success of MAA’s Convergence online journal, dedicated to providing its readers with such resources for the mathematics classroom since 2004.) The experience of encountering mathematical ideas in the context of their early development, before becoming refined and carefully sculpted for textbook consumption by students, can be a powerful one, as it is often charged with the excitement of discovery in which these notions were forged. This event is designed to allow anyone who wishes to participate in this common reading experience.

Participants will be introduced in a brief 15-minute talk to Karl Weierstrass (1815--1897), an important figure in the development of calculus, a universal introduction to analysis for mathematicians and scientists, and its foundational principles. After Cauchy introduced limits to underpin the main notions of the calculus around 1820, Weierstrass deepened the rigor of this idea with his representation in terms of “ϵ-δ” inequalities. This opening talk will be followed by 70 minutes of common reading from Weierstrass’ lecture notes (texts will be provided), where participants can experience the immediacy of what was to Weierstrass students a novel approach to understanding calculus and the theory of functions. This event is a follow-up to Read the Masters! events at MathFests 2023 and 2024, where participants read from Cauchy about his limit idea in his definitions of continuity, differentiability and integrability. (Not having attended the earlier events will not disadvantage attendees who wish to participate in this event.)

Organizer:
Daniel Otero, Xavier University

Sponsors:
SIGMAA on the History of Mathematics (SIGMAA HOM)
MAA Convergence
The TRIUMPHS Society
ORESME Reading Group

Celebrating Black Excellence in Mathematics: Screening of ”Journeys of Black Mathematician: Creating Pathways” by George Csicsery and Panel Discussion - Sponsored by Two Sigma

Saturday, August 9, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm, Ballroom B3

Join the National Association of Mathematicians for a screening of Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Creating Pathways , a documentary directed by George Csicsery. This powerful film features interviews with Black American researchers and educators, showcasing innovative educational programs in mathematics at every level, from grade school to postdocs. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion that delves into the themes of equity, inclusion, and the advancement of Black American mathematicians. For more information on the film series, visit www.jbmfilm.com.

Organizers:
Torina Lewis, National Association of Mathematicians
Asamoah Nkwanta, Morgan State University
Edray Goins, Pomona College
Ami Radunskaya, Pomona College

Sponsor: National Association of Mathematicians (NAM)

Future Directions for Mathematics Education Research, Policy, and Practice

Thursday, August 7, 6:00 pm - 7:50 pm, Meeting Room 3

This working session will create opportunities for participants to collaboratively develop strategies and initiatives for tackling pressing issues in mathematics education. Recent advancements in industry and technology combined with access to data and information offer powerful new tools and opportunities to address issues in mathematics education in ways that have not previously been feasible. Such advancements require new partnerships and collaborative approaches to both imagining and realizing the possibilities.

Participants in this working session will focus on recommendations from the Future Directions for Mathematics Education Research, Policy, and Practice convening, which brought together leaders from all levels of mathematics education and a range of related areas. The resulting Future Directions report presents a set of recommendations for programs, strategies, structures, policies, and investments in multiple areas, including K-12 teacher preparation and undergraduate mathematics teaching and learning. Working session participants will have opportunities to build new collaborations and create initiatives that can transform Future Directions recommendations into actions. We encourage those with an interest in mathematics teacher education and improving mathematics teaching and learning in the first two years of undergraduate education to attend. Registration is required.

Organizers:
Catherine Paolucci, Mathematical Association of America
Ann Edwards, WestEd

Introduction to MAA MathFest

Thursday, August 7, 8:00 am - 9:00 am, Ballroom B1

First time at MAA MathFest? Welcome! Come meet members of the MAA Community, including members of the MAA Board of Directors, MAA Congress, SIGMAA Organizers, Section Chairs.

Organizers:
TBC

Expanding Mathematical Futures Through Multimedia Storytelling

Thursday, August 7, 3:00 pm - 4:50 pm, Ballroom B1

Mathematics education in the United States has long been challenged by both narrow conceptions of mathematics as a discipline and the lack of racially/ethnically diverse role models for mathematics in media and curricula. One promising way to expose teachers, students, and their families and communities to a broader picture of mathematics is to include diverse people telling their stories about their doing and knowing of mathematics.

In this special session, we are sharing short digital narratives from our research project, drawing from extensive interviews with 30 Black mathematicians across different professions and backgrounds. This project, supported by two National Science Foundation grants, seeks to expand our notions about who can do mathematics and reveal the many ways in which we learn and practice mathematics. With this goal in mind, we produced a database of 90 2-5 minute videos about mathematicians' experiences in formal and informal learning spaces, their research interests, and advice for students and teachers. The purpose of the session is to share these mathematician’s stories with the goal of providing resources and ideas for shifting perceptions about mathematics among young people, their teachers, and their communities.

Organizers:
Robin Wilson, Loyola Marymount University
Erica Walker, OISE, University of Toronto
Nasriah Morrison, Teachers College, Columbia University

MAA Prizes and Awards Session

Thursday, August 7, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm, Ballroom A1-6

Please come see the full recognition of this year's Prize Recipients! This year’s Prizes and Awards Session will include recognition of MAA journal editors. The session is organized by MAA Secretary Cynthia Wyels, California State University Chanel Islands, and is moderated by MAA President Jenna Carpenter, Campbell University.

This session will be followed by a reception celebrating the new Mohammad K. Azarian Scholar Award and honoring all prize recipients and MAA journal editors.

Reception Celebrating the Mohammad K. Azarian Scholar Award

Thursday, August 7, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm, Ballroom A1-6

This reception marks the official launch of the Azarian Scholar Award, which recognizes individuals who have contributed innovative mathematical problems and solutions featured in MAA Publications and competitions. All are welcome!

Alder Award Session

Friday, August 8, 5:00 pm - 6:20 pm, Ballroom A1-6

The MAA established the Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member to honor beginning college or university faculty members whose teaching has been extraordinarily successful and whose effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics is shown to have influence beyond their own classrooms. Each year, at most three college or university teachers are honored with this national award.  The awardees are invited to make a presentation in this session.  The session is moderated by MAA President Jenna Carpenter, Campbell University.

MAA Business Meeting

Saturday, August 9, 9:00 am - 10:00 am, Ballroom B1

Join your fellow MAA members at the annual business meeting to hear about MAA's exciting activities and impact over the past 12 months. During the meeting, you'll also hear about MAA's financial position and programmatic priorities to support our community in this current challenging environment. The business meeting includes a Q&A session for members with MAA leaders.

Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Awards

Saturday, August 9, 3:00-4:20 p.m., Ballroom A1-6

In 1991 the Mathematical Association of America instituted Awards for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics to honor college or university teachers who have been widely recognized as extraordinarily successful and whose teaching effectiveness has been shown to have had influence beyond their own institutions. In 1993 the MAA Board of Governors renamed the award to honor Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo. Each year at most three college or university teachers are honored with this award. Recipients of the Haimo Award receive $1,000 and a certificate of recognition; recipients must be members of the Association (teaching in the U.S. or Canada). At least one of the Award recipients must be a current Section nominee. The Section nominee may be the current recipient of the Section Award for Distinguished Teaching or a previous recipient of a Section Award for Distinguished Teaching from any Section. At most one of the Award recipients may be other than a current or past recipient of a Section Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Winners of the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Awards for Distinguished College or University Teaching will give presentations on the secrets of their success. This is moderated by MAA President Hortensia Soto, Colorado State University.