We maintain an archive of prior year program details and abstract booklets from past MAA MathFest events for both the main program and the student poster sessions. Please use the drop-down control below to view details of mathematical sessions in& archived MathFests for any selected year.

To view program books and schedules from previous MathFests, please visit the program archive.
To read abstracts from specific paper talks and addresses, please visit the abstract archive.

2012

Invited Addresses

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series
Bernd Sturmfels, University of California, Berkeley
Algebraic Geometry: Tropical, Convex, and Applied
MAA-AMS Joint Invited Address
David Mumford, Brown University
The Synergy of Pure and Applied Math, of the Abstract and the Concrete
MAA Invited Addresses
Amie Wilkinson, Northwestern University
Chaotic Stability, Stable Chaos
Richard Kenyon, Brown University
Random Interfaces and Limit Shapes
Robert Ghrist, University of Pennsylvania
Putting Topology to Work
MAA-AWM Etta Z. Falconer Lecture
Karen King, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Because I Love Mathematics: The Role of Disciplinary Grounding in Mathematics Education
James R Leitzel Lecture
Sylvia Bozeman, Spelman College
The Many Faces of Mentoring
Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture
Melanie Matchett Wood, University of Wisconsin, Madison
The Chemistry of Primes
NAM David Blackwell Lecture
Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University
The Marriage between Disease Dynamics and Mathematics: A History of Success
MAA Lecture for Students
Ivars Peterson, Mathematical Association of America
Geometreks

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Algebraic Geometry: Tropical, Convex, and Applied Bernd Sturmfels, University of California, Berkeley

Lecture 1: Tropical Mathematics
Thursday, August 2, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Ballroom AB
In tropical arithmetic, the sum of two numbers is their maximum and the product of two numbers is their usual sum. Many results familiar from algebra and geometry, including the quadratic formula, the fundamental theorem of algebra, and Bezout’s theorem, continue to hold in the tropical world. In this lecture we learn how to draw tropical curves and why evolutionary biologists might care about this.

The method immediately leads to questions about curves in the plane of higher degree, and in particular, to elliptic curves.
Lecture 2: Convex Algebraic Geometry
Friday, August 3, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Ballroom ABThis lecture concerns convex bodies with an interesting algebraic structure. A primary focus lies on the geometry of semidefinite optimization. Starting with elementary questions about ellipses in the plane, we move on to discuss the geometry of spectrahedra, orbitopes, and convex hulls of real varieties.
Lecture 3: The Central Curve in Linear Programming
Saturday, August 4, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Ballroom ABThe central curve of a linear program is the algebraic curve along which the interior point algorithms travel. We determine the degree, genus, and defining ideal of this curve. These invariants, as well as the total curvature of the curve, are expressed in the combinatorial language of matroid theory. This is joint work with Jesus De Loera and Cynthia Vinzant.

MAA-AMS Joint Invited Address

The Synergy of Pure and Applied Math, of the Abstract and the Concrete
David Mumford, Brown University
Thursday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Ballroom AB
In the mid-20th century, pure and applied math split, and, in spite of the financial pressure for collaboration exerted by the NSF, they still largely go their own ways. I believe this is damaging to both. In my own experience, math comes alive through an exciting dialectic between theory on the one hand and examples, applications, and experiments on the other. The fantasy of a pecking order topped by the most abstract pure math was canonized by Bourbaki and, as I learned from critical emails last year, is accepted by large segments of the public. I will discuss how I see this affecting both K-12 instruction and the excessive specialization of all branches of math research.

MAA Invited Addresses

Chaotic Stability, Stable Chaos
Amie Wilkinson, Northwestern University
Thursday, August 2, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Ballroom AB
Viewed from various perspectives, the evolution of a dynamical system over time can appear both orderly and extremely disordered. I will describe some mechanisms behind chaos and stability in dynamics and how in certain contexts this intermixing of behaviors is to be expected.
Random Interfaces and Limit Shapes
Richard Kenyon, Brown University
Saturday, August 4, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Ballroom AB
We discuss how limit shapes and facets form in simple models of random discrete interfaces. In particular, the “lozenge” tiling model is a model of random stepped surfaces; one can write down and solve a PDE that describes the limiting surface (when the mesh size tends to zero) for given boundary frame. The solutions are parametrized by complex analytic functions, in a similar manner to Weierstrass’s parametrization of minimal surfaces (soap films) using conformal mappings.
Putting Topology to Work
Robert Ghrist, University of Pennsylvania
Saturday, August 4, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Ballroom AB
Mathematics implicates motions and machines; computations and colorings; the strings and arrows of life. Perhaps the grandest expression of the beauty and power of mathematics is revealed in the quantification and qualification of that which is not there: holes. Topology-the mathematics of holes-will be surveyed with a fresh look at the many ways in which topology is used in data management, networks, and optimization.

MAA-AWM Etta Z. Falconer Lecture

Because I Love Mathematics: The Role of Disciplinary Grounding in Mathematics Education

Karen King, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Friday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Ballroom ABMuch like my mentor, Etta Falconer, I enjoy mathematics but have devoted a career to ensuring that students of all walks of life have opportunities to learn important mathematics. The role of the discipline of mathematics, mathematicians’ ways of reasoning, and participation in the mathematical community have been a clear part of this work. In this talk, I discuss the recent focus in K-12 mathematics education on the Standards for Mathematical Practice in the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics and the need for teachers and students to be grounded in the reasoning habits of mathematics to ensure opportunities for future students to learn mathematics at the highest levels. Drawing on research and stories of future high school teachers and current middle and high school students, I discuss the ways in which mathematics as a discipline shapes teachers’ views of teaching and students’ opportunities to learn. I conclude with points mathematicians and mathematics educators should consider in discussing the important role of mathematics in mathematics education.

James R. Leitzel Lecture

The Many Faces of Mentoring
Sylvia Bozeman, Spelman College
Friday, August 3, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Ballroom ABProject NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) demonstrated the role of mentoring in a select segment of the mathematics community at a critical point in the career development of those who participated. The Project’s success confirmed the value of mentoring and its effectiveness, even when mentoring expands beyond the one-to-one form. This presentation will explore some of the many forms and benefits of structured mentoring, particularly for students at all levels and for young faculty. It will point out the uses of mentoring, along with other activities, to expand the mathematics community, increase its diversity, and enhance the development of its members.

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

The Chemistry of Primes
Melanie Matchett Wood, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Friday, August 3, 8:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m., Ballroom AB
We are familiar with the prime numbers as those integers that cannot be factored into smaller integers, but if we consider systems of numbers larger than the integers, the primes may indeed factor in those larger systems. We discuss various questions mathematicians ask about how primes may factor in larger systems; talk about both classical results and current research on the topic; and give a sense of the kind of tools needed to tackle these questions.

NAM David Blackwell Lecture

Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University
Friday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Ballroom A
The concept of threshold or tipping point, a mathematical dimensionless quantity that characterizes the conditions required for the occurrence of a drastic transition between states, is central to the study of the transmission dynamics and control of diseases such as dengue, influenza, SARS, malaria, and tuberculosis, to name a few. The quantification of tipping point phenomena goes back to the modeling and mathematical work of Sir Ronald Ross (second Nobel laureate in medicine, 1911;) and his “students” (Kermack and McKendrick, 1927, 1932). Ross, in fact, proceeded to confront the challenges associated with understanding and managing malaria patterns at the population level right after the completion of his scientific malaria discoveries. The quantification of the concept of tipping point, in the context of epidemiology, has found countless applications directly tied in to the design, development, and implementation of public health policy. Ross’s writings emphasized the value of mathematical models as integrators of multilevel information and processes, and his mathematical framework led to the development of a mathematical theory of infectious diseases (an outstanding review of the field can be found in Hethcote, SIAM Review, 2000). The overview in this lecture provides a personal perspective on the role of mathematical models in the study of the dynamics, evolution, and control of infectious diseases over multiple scales.

MAA Lecture for Students

Ivars Peterson, Mathematical Association of America
Thursday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Ballroom A
Few people expect to encounter mathematics on a visit to an art gallery or even a walk down a city street (or across campus). When we explore the world around us with mathematics in mind, however, we see the many ways in which mathematics can manifest itself, in streetscapes, sculptures, paintings, architectural structures, and more. This illustrated presentation offers illuminating glimpses of mathematics, from Euclidean geometry and normal distributions to Riemann sums and Möbius strips, as seen in a variety of structures and artworks in such cities as Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Toronto; Montreal; New Orleans; andMadison, Wisconsin.

Year:

2012

Invited Paper Sessions

Convex Algebraic Geometry

Applied and Computational Topology

Discrete Probability on Surfaces

Combinatorics and Matrices

Mathematics and Systems Biology

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

Convex Algebraic Geometry

Thursday afternoon, Ballroom C

Organizer:

Bernd Sturmfels, University of California Berkeley
Cynthia Vinzant, University of Michigan

Speakers:

1:00-1:30, Jordan Ellenberg, University of Wisconsin
1:45-2:15, Jon Hauenstein, North Carolina State University
2:30-3:00, Greg Blekherman, Georgia Tech
3:15-3:45, Vicki Powers, Emory University
4:00-4:30, Amir Ali Ahmadi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4:45-5:15, Bruce Reznick, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Convex algebraic geometry centers around the interplay between algebraic geometry, classical convexity, and optimization. Algebraic geometry provides necessary tools to analyze and develop solutions to optimization problems, and solvers for convex optimization have led to new fast algorithms in real algebraic geometry.

Applied and Computational Topology

Saturday afternoon, Ballroom D

Organizer:

Benjamin Mann, Ayasdi, Inc.
Jack Morava, the Johns Hopkins University

Speakers:

1:00-1:20, Henry Adams, Stanford University
1:30-1:50, Andrew Blumberg, University of Texas
2:00-2:20, Justin Curry, University of Pennsylvania
2:30-2:50, Rafal Komendarczyk, Tulane University
3:00-3:20, Sanjeevi Krishnan, University of Pennsylvania
3:30-3:50, Paul Pearson, Fort Lewis College
4:00-4:20, Jose Perea, Duke University
4:30-4:50, Michael Robinson, University of Pennsylvania

One of the exciting recent developments in applied mathematics has been the explosion of insights, techniques, and tools from algebraic topology that have been used to great advantage in examining computation problems in data analysis, distributed networks, and dynamical systems. This special session will feature eight presentations on various aspects of a subject that encourages collaborations and synergies between mathematicians, statisticians, biologists, chemists, physicists, materials scientists, and computer scientists. In total, the session should provide a broad introduction to the area with a balance between the theory and applications.

Discrete Probability on Surfaces

Saturday afternoon, Ballroom C

Organizer:

Richard Kenyon, Brown University

Speakers:

1:00-1:30, Ivan Corwin, New York University, Beyond the Gaussian Universality Class
1:45-2:15, Timo Seppalainen, University of Wisconsin
2:30-3:00, Russell Lyons, Indiana University, Random Trees and Surfaces
3:15-3:45, Benedek Valko, University of Wisconsin, Point processes generated by carousels
4:00-4:30, James Propp, University of Massachusetts Lowell
4:45-5:15, Henry Cohn, Microsoft

Combinatorics and Matrices

Thursday afternoon, Ballroom C

Organizer:

Richard A. Brualdi, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Speakers:

1:00-1:20, T.S. Michael, U.S. Naval Academy
1:30-1:50, Bridget Tenner, DePaul University, Graphs: providing a link between posets, topology, and enumeration
2:00-2:20, Eric Egge, Carleton College
2:30-2:50, Adam Berliner, St. Olaf College
3:00-3:20, In-Jae Kim, University of Minnesota – Mankato, Application of PageRank centrality to a survey instrument
3:20-3:50, Leslie Hogben, Iowa State University, Parameters related to maximum nullity, zero forcing number, and tree-width of a graph

This session will focus on the substantial interaction between combinatorics, graph theory, and matrix theory.

Mathematics and Systems Biology

Saturday afternoon, Ballroom B

Organizer:

Timothy Comar, Benedictine University

Speakers:

1:00-1:20, Raina Robeva, Sweet Briar College
1:30-1:50, Brandilyn Stigler, Southern Methodist University
2:00-2:20, Terrell Hodge, Western Michigan University
3:00-3:20, Winfried Just, Ohio University
3:30-3:50, Timothy Comar, Benedictine University

Sponsor:

BIO SIGMAA

Systems biology is the study of the systems-level understanding and analysis of the biology, behavior and interactions between the biology and behavior at all levels of biological organization from the small scales of molecules and cells up to the large scales of populations and communities. Systems biology is interdisciplinary by nature, and employs significant mathematical and computational techniques to model and analyze complex biological systems. The mathematics involved in modeling complex systems is wide and varied and includes not only differential equations but also Boolean dynamics, contact networks, individual based modeling, and algebraic techniques. Examples of areas of study of gene system analysis and epidemic modeling. This session will focus on the applications of mathematics to research in areas of systems biology.

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

Friday afternoon, Ballroom C

Organizer:

Georgia Benkart, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tom Halverson, Macalester College

Speakers:

2:00-2:20, Kyle Petersen, DePaul University
2:30-2:50, Susanna Fishel, Arizona State University
3:00-3:20, Eric Egge, Carleton College
3:30-3:50, Kendra Killpatrick, Pepperdine University
4:00-4:20, Jim Propp, University of Massachusetts Lowell
4:30-4:50, Sam Hsiao, Bard College
5:00-5:20, Tom Halverson, Macalester College

This session will feature talks on walks on lattices and graphs and some of their many applications in enumerating tableaux, pattern-avoiding permutations, random walks, Markov chains, and many other constructs.

Year:

2012

Contributed Paper Sessions

The Mathematical Association of America will hold its 90th summer meeting August 2 through August 4, 2012, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Click on the session title or scroll down for details of this year’s sessions.

Student Paper Sessions Deadline June 8th

1. Open and Accessible Problems in Number Theory
Thursday, August 2, 1:00-4:15 p.m., Hall of Ideas EUndergraduate research in mathematics has become a fundamental part of the mathematics program at many colleges and universities. Number theory is a subject rich with easily stated yet nontrivial problems. This makes it a great source for undergraduate research projects. In this session, we invite presentations about open problems in number theory that are suitable for undergraduate research and/or for joint faculty/student research. We also invite talks that present results concerning these problems. Presentations from elementary, algebraic, analytic, combinatorial, transcendental, and any other branch of number theory are welcome.

Organizers:
- Aliza Steurer, Dominican University
- Tom Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey
2. Open and Accessible Problems in Combinatorics and Graph Theory
Friday, August 3, 8:30-11:05 a.m., Hall of Ideas EUndergraduate research is more popular than ever, and there remains a high demand for open and accessible problems for students to tackle. Combinatorics and graph theory provide an ideal combination of easily stated, but more difficult to solve, problems. We invite presentations about open problems in combinatorics and graph theory suitable for undergraduate research or joint faculty and undergraduate research. Presentations giving results about these types of problems are also welcome.

Organizers:
- Cayla McBee, Povidence College
- Lynette Boos, Providence College
3. Engaging Undergraduates in Geometry Courses
Part 1, Friday, August 3, 1:00-3:15 p.m., Hall of Ideas F
Part 2, Saturday , August 4, 1:00-2:55 p.m., Hall of Ideas FThere are a variety of geometry courses: some take an intuitive, coordinate, vector, and/or synthetic approach; others focus on Euclidean geometry and include metric and synthetic approaches as axiomatic systems; and still others include topics in Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries and provide opportunities for comparisons and contrasts between the two.

In this session, we invite presentations that address the following questions:
- What approaches and pedagogical tools are best?
- What are particularly good topics with which to begin geometry courses?
- What are some of the most enjoyable proofs to share with students?
- What are the best ways in which to explore polyhedra, tessellations, symmetry groups and coordinate geometry?
- How can we help students to develop the visualization skills for two and three dimensions as well as to help them to develop the mathematical reasoning skills that are important for studying/exploring/applying geometry at any level?
- What are the best ways in which to compare and contrast Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry?
- How can we best convey the beauty of geometry to students?
Presenters are welcome to share interesting applications, favorite proofs, activities, demonstrations, projects, and ways in which to guide students to explore and to learn geometry. Presentations providing resources and suggestions for those teaching geometry courses for the first time or for those wishing to improve/redesign their geometry courses are encouraged.

Organizers:
- Sarah Mabrouk, Framingham State University
- James Hamblin, Shippensburg University
- M. Brad Henry, Siena College
4. Instructional Support Roles for Undergraduates in Mathematics and Statistics
Thursday, August 3, 1:00-3:35 p.m., Hall of Ideas FUndergraduate students in mathematics and statistics departments can assume numerous innovative instructional support roles in addition to the traditional role of grader. They can serve as undergraduate teaching assistants, peer tutors, study session leaders, and statistics lab assistants, to name a few. Assigning undergraduates to these instructional support roles benefits all those involved: undergraduate assistants develop important life and career skills; students receiving the instructional support get additional attention, and have the opportunity to communicate with a peer; and the instructor and the department benefit from the additional help they receive and are able to give students enrolled in their classes more individualized attention.

This session is open to talks aimed to introduce the different ways undergraduates participate in the instructional activities at various institutions. We encourage speakers to include a discussion of the benefits and challenges of their programs and the training/support that students receive while participating in the program. Talks focused on programs based in individual classrooms, as well as those that are department-wide and university-wide are all welcome. We also invite talks focused on improving the efficiency of the more traditional support roles such as grading and common math tutoring.

Organizers:
- Feryal Alayont, Grand Valley State University
- Ksenija Simic-Muller, Pacific Lutheran University
5. Assessment of Courses for Students in Math-Intensive Majors
Saturday, August 4, 1:00-2:15 p/m. Hall of Ideas EHow does assessment inform the instructor about what students have learned? How can assessment results lead to changes in what content is covered or how it is covered? How can assessment impact what is included in STEM-related degree programs? This session invites presenters to share effective methods for both formative and summative assessment of courses that are part of math-intensive degree programs. Aside from mathematics majors, degree programs of this nature include those in which students take two or more mathematics courses (i.e. economics, business, chemistry,biology, etc.) Talks should include the results of the assessments as well as how those results have been used to make meaningful changes to courses and/or degree programs. The focus of reports should include, but are not necessarily limited to innovative assessment models, ways to analyze assessment results, and course or program improvements based on an implemented assessment program.

Organizers:
- Aimee Ellington, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Catherine Murphy, Purdue University
Sponsor:
- Committee on Assessment
6. Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology
Thursday, August 2, 1:00-5:35 p.m., Ballroom BThis 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. The session is also interested in undergraduate research projects in mathematical and computational biology, which are mentored by a single faculty mentor without the support of a larger program.

We seek scholarly papers that present results from undergraduate research projects in mathematical or computational biology, discuss the creation, maintenance, or achievements of an undergraduate research program, or describe the establishment or maintenance of collaborations between faculty and students in mathematics and biology.

Organizers:
- Timothy D. Comar, Benedictine University
Sponsor:
- BIO SIGMAA
7. Inquiry-Based Learning Best Practices
Part 1, Friday, August 3, 9:30-11:25 a.m., Hall of Ideas G
Part 2, Friday, August 3, 1:00-4:55 p.m., Hall of Ideas G
Part 3, Saturday, August 4, 9:30-11:25 a.m., Hall of Ideas G

Boiled down to its essence, IBL is a method of teaching that engages students in sense-making activities. Students are given tasks requiring them to conjecture, experiment, explore, and solve problems. Rather than showing facts or a clear, smooth path to a solution, the instructor guides students via well-crafted problems through an adventure in mathematical discovery.

The talks in this session will focus on IBL best practices. We seek both novel ideas and effective approaches to IBL. Claims made should be supported by data (test scores, survey results, etc.) or anecdotal evidence. This session will be of interest to instructors new to IBL, as well as seasoned practitioners looking for new ideas.

Organizers:
- Dana Ernst, Plymouth State University
- Angie Hodge, University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Stan Yoshinobu, California Polytechnic State University
8. Incorporating Writing and Editing into Mathematics Classes
Part 1, Thursday, August 2, 10:40-11:55 a.m., Hall of Ideas H
Part 2, Thursday, August 2, 1:00-4:35 p.m., Hall of Ideas HMany students earn degrees in mathematics with little practice in writing and editing. Recognizing the lifelong need of graduates to be able to clearly articulate ideas, institutions are placing a greater emphasis on writing throughout the mathematics curriculum. This session invites presentations describing approaches to incorporating writing and editing into mathematics courses. Presenters are asked to discuss any innovative and original projects, papers and problems that involve both writing and editing in their courses. While contributions detailing any form of mathematical writing are welcome, we are particularly seeking examples and approaches where editing is an essential component. The main goal of this session is to highlight various ways writing and editing have been infused into mathematics curricula and inspire instructors to introduce writing and editing into their courses.

Organizer:
- Martin Montgomery, Sam Houston State University
- Ryan Stuffelbeam, Transylvania University
9. Recreational Mathematics: New Problems and New Solutions
Part 1, Friday, August 3, 1:00-3:15 p.m., Hall of Ideas E
Part 2, Saturday, August 4, 9:30-11:45 a.m., Hall of Ideas HAs with all mathematics, recreational mathematics continues to expand through the solution of new problems and the development of novel solutions to old problems. For the purposes of this session, the definition of recreational mathematics will be a broad one. The primary guideline used to determine the suitability of a paper will be the understandability of the mathematics. Papers submitted to this session should be accessible to undergraduate students. Novel applications as well as new approaches to old problems are welcome. Examples of use of the material in the undergraduate classroom are encouraged.

Organizers:
- Paul Coe, Dominican University
- Kristen Schemmerhorn, Dominican University
10. The History of Mathematics and its Uses in Teaching and Learning Mathematics
Friday, August 3, 1:00-2:55 p.m., Hall of Ideas HMathematicians, historians, educators, independent scholars and science writers use the increasingly available corpus of historical mathematical literature to study, understand and elucidate topics mathematical, scientific, historical, intellectual, literary and otherwise. Contributions to this session are case studies in the use of material drawn from the history of mathematics. Speakers describe 1) how they were led to consider this material for their project, 2) how they went about finding, exploring and mining the material, and 3) the impact that the material had on the success or failure of their project.

Organizer:
- Kelli Slaten, University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Scott Guthery, Docent Press
Sponsor:
- HOM SIGMAA
11. Math Circles: Best Practices
Thursday, August 2, 1:00-4:15p.m., Hall of Ideas GA math circle is broadly defined as a sustained enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. The SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST) supports MAA members who share an interest in initiating and coordinating math circles.

SIGMAA MCST invites speakers to report on best practices in math circles with which they are or have been associated. Talks could address effective organizational strategies, successful math circle presentations, or innovative activities for students, for instance. Ideally, talks in this session will equip individuals currently involved in a math circle with ideas for improving some aspect of their circle, while also inspiring listeners who have only begun to consider math circles.

Organizer:
- James Tanton, St. Mark’s Institute of Mathematics
- Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University
- Sam Vandervelde, St. Lawrence University
12. General Contributed Paper Sessions

The General Contributed Paper Sessions accept papers in all areas of collegiate mathematics, curriculum, and pedagogy. The contributed talks at MathFest 2012 have been scheduled as follows:
- GCPS #1: Research in Graph Theory or Combinatorics
  Thursday, 8:00-9:25 a.m., Meeting Room Q
- GCPS #2: Interdisciplinary Topics in Mathematics
  Thursday, 8:00 – 10:10 a.m., Meeting Room R
- GCPS #3: Teaching or Learning Introductory Mathematics
  Thursday, 1:00 – 4:55 p.m., Meeting Room Q
- GCPS #4: Mathematics and Technology
  Thursday, 2:30 – 4:40 p.m., Meeting Room R
- GCPS #5: History or Philosophy of Mathematics
  Friday, 8:00 – 10:25 a.m., Meeting Room Q
- GCPS #6: Modeling, Applications, Probability, or Statistics
  Friday, 8:00 – 10:10 a.m., Meeting Room R
- GCPS #7: Teaching or Learning Calculus
  Friday, 1:00 – 5:25 p.m., Meeting Room Q
- GCPS #8: Research in Algebra, Topology, or Analysis
  Friday, 1:00 – 3:55 p.m., Meeting Room R
- GCPS #9: Assessment, Mentoring, or Outreach
  Saturday, 8:00-10:25 a.m., Meeting Room Q
- GCPS #10: Research in Applied Mathematics
  Saturday, 8:00 – 10:10 a.m., Meeting Room R
- GCPS #11: Teaching and Learning Advanced Mathematics
  Saturday, 1:00 – 2:55 p.m., Meeting Room Q
- GCPS #12: Research in Number Theory, Geometry, or Linear Algebra
  Saturday, 1:00 – 3:10 p.m., Meeting Room R
Organizers:
- David Housman, Goshen College
- Nancy Neudauer, Pacific University

STUDENT PAPER SESSIONS

The deadline for student papers at MathFest was June 8, 2012 . Every student paper session room will be equipped with a computer projector and a screen. Presenters must provide their own laptops or have access to one. Each student talk is fifteen minutes in length.

MAA Sessions
Students who wish to present at the MAA Student Paper Sessions at MathFest 2012 in Madison must be sponsored by a faculty advisor familiar with the work to be presented. Some funding to cover costs (up to $750) for student presenters is available. At most one student from each institution or REU can receive full funding; additional such students may be funded at a lower rate. All presenters are expected to take full part in the meeting and attend indicated activities sponsored for students on all three days of the conference. Abstracts and student travel grant applications should be submitted at /mathfest/abstracts. For additional information visit /students/undergrad.

Contact Person: Daluss Siewert, Black Hills State University

Pi Mu Epsilon Sessions
Pi Mu Epsilon student speakers must be nominated by their chapter advisors. Application forms for PME student speakers will be available by March 1, 2012 on the PME web site www.pme-math.org. A PME student speaker who attends all the PME activities is eligible for transportation reimbursement up to $600, and additional speakers may be eligible with a maximum $1200 reimbursement per chapter. PME speakers receive a free ticket to the PME Banquet with their conference registration fee. See the PME web site for more details.

Contact Person: Angela Spalsbury, Youngstown State University

Year:

2012

MAA-AMS Special Session

What Mathematics Should Every Citizen Know – and How Does K-16 Get Us There?
Friday afternoon, Ballroom D

Organizer:

David Mumford, Brown University
Solomon Garfunkel, Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications

Speakers:

1:00-1:30, William McCallum, University of Arizona
1:45-2:15, Lynn Steen, St Olaf College
2:30-3:00, Hyman Bass, University of Michigan
3:15-3:30, Break
3:30-4:00, Joseph Malkevitch, York College of the City University of New York
4:15-4:45, Solomon Garfunkel, Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications

Year:

2012

Minicourses

There is a charge of $75 for each Minicourse.

#1— Mathematics for Business Decisions
#2— WeBWorK Homework Problems with Embedded Flash Applets
#3— Mathemagic with a Deck of Cards
#4— Making Math Relevant: A Multidisciplinary Sustainability Module for Calculus
#5— The Mathematics of Folding & Unfolding
#6— A Game Theory Path to Quantitative Literacy

#1 — Mathematics for Business Decisions
Marilou Mendel, Pima Community College
Part 1, Thursday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Part 2, Friday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This minicourse will provide participants with an overview of the MAA-published Mathematics for Business Decisions, with emphasis on recent enhancements to the program. Mathematics for Business Decisions is a two-semester sequence of courses designed for undergraduate business students. Mathematical and computer tools are studied in the context of four major, real-world business projects. Working in teams, the students develop solutions for the projects and prepare oral and written reports on the projects. We will explore how Mathematics for Business Decisions is implemented in the classroom as we work through one of the projects. In addition, we will discuss the resources available to assist instructors who choose to adopt this unique program. Participants are encouraged to bring a computer with Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7; and Excel, PowerPoint, and Word from Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010. All other materials will be provided.

Back to top
#2 —WeBWorK Homework Problems with Embedded Flash Applets
Barbara Margolius, Cleveland State University; Dan Gries, The Hopkins School; and Felipe Martins, Cleveland State University
Part 1, Thursday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Part 2, Friday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
In this minicourse participants will learn how to write WeBWorK homework problems that incorporate Flash applets. We will give an overview of WeBWorK resources, including the National Problem Library, the MAA wiki, model courses, and instructor tools. Participants will learn how to write basic WeBWorK problems that do not involve applets. Next, we will demonstrate how to write problems for existing Flash applets. We will conclude with a discussion of what resources participants would like to see developed and what resources are available for those who wish to write their own applets to embed in WeBWorK problems. Bring a laptop with wireless capability.

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#3 —Mathemagic with a Deck of Cards
“Card Colm” Mulcahy, Spelman College
Part 1, Friday, August 3, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Part 2, Saturday, August 4, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
There seems to be no end to the mathemagical things one can explore with a simple deck of cards, from algebra and combinatorics to probability and statistics. We’ll survey a wealth of such material, both classical and recent. A special feature will be examples of “two-person mathemagic,” in which communication is done via nontrivial preagreed mathematical conventions. The material can be used to liven up many mathematics classes and provides jumping- off points for undergraduate independent study.

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#4 —Making Math Relevant: A Multidisciplinary Sustainability Module for Calculus
Thomas J. Pfaff and Jason Hamilton, Ithaca College
Part 1, Friday, August 3, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Part 2, Saturday, August 4, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Do you want to improve student engagement and understanding of the relevance of calculus to everyday life, without sacrificing typical content? This minicourse will bring together data, Excel, sustainability, and a multidisciplinary approach to provide richer context and relevance for calculus. The module has students consider the 21st-century problem: What are the current and future impacts of global climate change on polar bears? Students then use real data and Excel, write a technical report, read reports written by students in data structures, ecology, and thermodynamics, and then complete a summary assignment to bring together the information for all disciplines. This minicourse provides the background information to successfully use the module, along with data sets and ideas for sustainability exercises. Participants will need Excel loaded onto their laptops and are encouraged to bring a calculator.

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#5 — The Mathematics of Folding & Unfolding
Joseph O’Rourke, Smith College
Part 1, Thursday, August 2, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Part 2, Saturday, August 4, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
How many ways are there to flatten a cube? How can you cut out block letters for a whole word all at once with one straight scissors cut? Can every polygon fold to a polyhedron? These questions can be answered through the mathematics of folding and unfolding. We will study the mathematics underlying origami and unfolding of polyhedra, introducing fascinating combinatorial and geometric concepts that let students supplement their mathematical understanding with physical intuition. They can check conjectures and proofs by manipulating paper in their hands. These problems reach the frontiers of current mathematical research and provide accessible unsolved problems.

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#6 — A Game Theory Path to Quantitative Literacy
David Housman, Goshen College
Part 1, Thursday, August 2, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Part 2, Saturday, August 4, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Game theory, defined in the broadest sense, can be used to model many real-world scenarios of decision making in situations involving conflict and cooperation. Further, mastering the basic concepts and tools of game theory require only an understanding of basic algebra, probability, and formal reasoning. These two features of game theory make it an ideal path to developing habits of quantitative literacy among our students. This audience-participation minicourse develops some of the material used by the presenter in general education and math major courses on game theory and encourages participants to develop their own, similar, courses.

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Year:

2012

Panels/Posters/Workshops

Poster Session: PosterFest 2012: A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students

1. Effective Strategies for Teaching Classes for Non-Majors
Friday, August 3, 4:10 – 5:30 p.m., Ballroom B

Organizers:
- Gizem Karaali, Pomona College
- Feryal Alayont, Grand Valley State University
- Lerna Pehlivan, York University
Panelists:
- Michael Starbird, University of Texas Austin
- Judith Grabiner, Pitzer College
- Andrew Miller, Belmont University
- Rachelle DeCosta, Wheaton College
Sponsor:
- SIGMAA QL
Mathematics departments across the country serve non-majors in a variety of courses ranging from calculus for non-math majors to “math for liberal arts” courses to quantitative literacy courses. This panel brings together an eclectic selection of mathematicians with diverse perspectives on these courses and aims to answer the urgent question: How do we teach non-majors successfully? The speakers will address issues such as:
- – What can be done to improve the effectiveness of courses for non-majors in large lecture settings?
- – How do we successfully reach diverse populations in these courses? [Diversity here includes a broad spectrum of intended majors / fields / concentration areas and varying mathematical backgrounds, along with differences in socio-economic backgrounds and racial-ethnic identities.]
- – What can we do to make non-required courses more attractive and engaging for non-majors?
- – What learning strategies can be used in the classroom to improve learning for non-majors?
2. Designing Studies to Measure the Effectiveness of Online Homework
Friday, August 3, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizers:
- John Travis, Mississippi College
- Jason Aubrey, University of Missouri
Panelists:
- Flora McMartin, Broad-based Knowledge
- Andy Bennett, Kansas State University
- Aaron Wangberg, Winona State University
- Dale Dawes, City University of New York-Borough of Manhattan Community College
Sponsor:
- Committee on Technologies in Mathematics Education and WEB SIGMAA
Online homework systems such as open source systems WeBWorK and WAMAP, commercial systems such as WebAssign, MapleTA and others have matured over the past decade to the point where the use of such systems has become mainstream within the service curriculum in mathematics. Anecdotal evidence indicates that there are significant benefits. This panel will focus on how to design and implement studies that measure how online homework effects variables associated with success in mathematics. Particular attention will be paid to the use and development of metrics for assessing changes in student learning and behavior, including factors such as persistence, self-efficacy, and retention.

Panelists will present metrics they’ve used, their reliability in predicting student success, and the associated measurement instruments and study protocols. Following the presentation, time will be allowed for members of the audience to discuss techniques to utilize these metrics.
3. An Update on the Mathematical Education of Teachers II Report
Friday, August 3, 4:10 – 5:30 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizers:
- Angie Hodge, University of Nebraska Omaha
- Beth Burroughs, Montana State University
- Judith Covington, University of Louisiana Shreveport
Panelists:
- William McCallum, University of Arizona
- Al Cuoco, Educational Development Center
- Alan Tucker, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Sponsor:
- Committee on the Mathematical Education of Teachers (COMET)
The original CBMS report on the Mathematical Education of Teachers in 2001 offered recommendations about K-12 mathematics teacher preparation. The updated report includes recommendations for mathematics departments about teacher professional development as well. A panel of mathematicians who developed the update of the report will each discuss what they think are the most important implications of the document and will conduct an audience discussion about the document and its implications for university mathematics courses.
4. Issues for Early Career Mathematicians in Academia
Friday, August 3, 2:35 – 3:55 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizer:
- Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University
Panelists:
- Rick Cleary, Bentley University
- Jennifer Quinn, University of Washington Tacoma
- Robert Talbert, Grand Valley State University
Sponsor:
- Committee on Early Career Mathematicians
This session will begin with three speakers each addressing a different issue of concern for early career mathematicians. The issues will be
1. getting tenure – a department chair’s perspective (panelist Rick Cleary of Bentley University);
2. finding your second job (panelist Robert Talbert); and
3. joining the mathematical community (panelist Jennifer Quinn of the University of Washington).
After all three speakers have finished an initial presentation, the audience will break into three groups to discuss these issues with the speakers as group leaders. Participants will also be encouraged to continue the discussion after the session.
5. How Will CCSSM Influence High School and College Mathematics?
Saturday, August 4, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizers:
- Caren Diefenderfer, Hollins University
- Semra Kilic-Bahi, Colby-Sawyer College
- Martha Siegel, Towson University
Panelists:
- Meg Meyer, University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Dan Teague, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
- Kristin Umland, University of New Mexico
Sponsors:
- Committee on the Undergraduate Program in Mathematics (CUPM)
- SIGMAA TAHSM
- SIGMAA QL
Panelists will discuss how the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CCSSM) might change high school and college mathematics classrooms in three specific areas:
1. How CCSSM will change the topics taught in high schools?
2. How CCSSM will or will not introduce elements of quantitative literacy?
3. How CCSSM will change the mathematical background of students entering college?
Panel members will describe possible curriculum changes that need to occur to meet the goals of CCSSM and explore challenges and opportunities these changes might present. In addition, the panelists will share their experiences on creating high school and college mathematics courses which emphasize content and context while improving students’ Quantitative Literacy skills. Finally, the panelists will offer thoughts on whether CCSSM will change the overall knowledge and skills of first year college students.
6. Contemporary Approaches to Intermediate Algebra
Thursday, August 2, 2:35 – 3:55 p.m., Ballroom A

Organizers:
- Barbara Edwards, Oregon State University
- Sarah L. Mabrouk, Framington State University
Panelists:
- Don Small, US Military Academy
- Suzanne Doree, Augsburg College
- Ann Sitomer, Portland Community College
- Fourth Panelist TBA
What do students need to learn in Intermediate Algebra to prepare them for mathematics and quantitative courses? Panelists will share innovative approaches that work. Audience members are encouraged to share their own successes.
7. Mentoring Undergraduates on Research: A Kaleidoscope of Models
Friday, August 3, 2:35 – 3:55 p.m., Ballroom B

Organizer:
- Jenna P. Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University
Panelists:
- Patrick Bahls, University of North Carolina at Asheville
- Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College
- Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University
- Annalisa Crannell, Franklin & Marshall College
Sponsor:
- Professional Development Committee
The goal of this panel session is to share best practices, tips, resources, strategies and answer questions about successfully mentoring undergraduate students to conduct research. Four panelists will share perspectives representing a variety of institution types and sizes, both formal and informal programs, those focused on majors and non- majors, in an effort to provide a kaleidoscope of models for faculty interested in engaging in and improving their success in their mentoring endeavors.
8. The Job Search I: How to Apply for Jobs – Lessons for Academia and Industry
Thursday, August 2, 2:35 – 3:55 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizer:
- Estela Gavosto, University of Kansas
Panelists:
- James Freeman, Cornell College
- Will Hickman, Epic Systems Corporation
- Joanne Peeples, El Paso Community College
- Kimberly Roth, Juniata College
- Erika Ward, Jacksonville University
Sponsor:
- Committee on Graduate Students
This panel session will focus on the application process for both academic and industry jobs. Topics that will be addressed include where to find job postings, how to tailor your cover letter and other application material to the job that you are applying to, selecting your references, and how you can be sure that your entire application package accurately describes you. There will be multiple opportunities for Q&A during the session.
9. The Job Search II: Interviewing and Hiring for Academic Jobs – Lessons from Both Sides of the Trenches
Thursday, August 2, 4:10 – 5:30 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizer:
- Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University
Panelists:
- Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado
- John Travis, Mississippi College
- Jessica Mikhaylov, United States Military Academy
- Louis Deaett, Quinnipiac University
- Michael Stob, Calvin College
Sponsor:
- Professional Development Committee
This panel session will focus on best practices and tips for successfully navigating the interview and hiring process for academic jobs. Panelists will include recent applicants, department chairs, and hiring committee members from a variety of institutions, from community colleges to liberal arts institutions to large state universities with a strong research focus. There will be a Q&A session at the end.
10. CUPM “Birds of a Feather” Course Area Panel & Discussion
Saturday, August 4, 2:35 – 3:55 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizer:
- Martha Siegel, Towson University.
Panelists:
- TBA
Sponsor:
- Committee on the Undergraduate Program in Mathematics (CUPM)
The panel will focus on the preparation of the 2015 MAA (CUPM) Curriculum Guide to Majors in the Mathematical Sciences. Panelists will discuss the undergraduate major recognizing that the undergraduate major is not a single well-defined entity. The plan is provide a comprehensive guide to what constitutes a legitimate and professionally acceptable curriculum for the wide range of majors in the mathematical sciences. Five of the Course Area Study Groups will present the many questions and challenges in defining the core of the major, and ways in which such a core will be expected to change in the future. There will be time for small group discussion of specific course areas.
11. Parenthood on the Tenure Track
Thursday, August 2, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Lecture Hall

Organizer:
- Jacqueline Jensen, Slippery Rock University
- Magnhild Lien, California State University Northridge
- Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts Boston
Panelists:
- Deanna Haunsperger, Carleton College
- Melanie Matchett Wood, University of Wisconsin Madison
- Judy Walker, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sponsor:
- Association for Women in Mathematics
In a 2010 Chronicle of Higher Education article, Dr. Mary Ann Mason from the University of California Berkeley wrote, “it is well established in the research on higher education that women are less likely to achieve tenure than men.” She cites longitudinal data from the National Science Foundation showing that female scientists with children are 27% less likely to win tenure than male scientists with children. This jarring statistic reveals a need for the mathematics and science community to find ways to support women in tenure-track positions. The recently-announced NSF career-life balance initiative and other programs such as the ADVANCE grants suggest that some changes are taking place, but support for women with families still varies widely. In this session, several women professors will discuss their experiences, insights, ideas, tips and secrets to achieving success in their demanding mathematics careers while raising a family.
11. SUMMA Session for Prospective REU Mentors
Thursday, August 2, 4:10 – 5:20 p.m., Ballroom A

Organizer:
- William Hawkins, Jr., MAA and University of the District of Columbia
- Robert Megginson, University of Michigan
Panelists:
- TBD
The MAA has sponsored Summer Research Programs with funding from NSF and NSA since 2003. Each program consists of a small research group of at least four minority undergraduates mentored by a faculty member. About 97 sites have been funded as of summer 2012. Professor Gene Fiorini of Rutgers University, DIMACS, will describe his program and a collaboration with NY City Technical University. There will be ample time for questions. Funding will be available for sites during summer 2013. Additional information can be found on the NREUP website at /nreup.

Poster Session: PosterFest 2012: A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students
Friday, August 3, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall

Organizer:
- Jennifer Roche Bowen, The College of Wooster
Sponsor:
- Early Career Mathematicians Committee, Graduate Student Committee, and the Young Mathematicians Network
This poster session will allow early career mathematicians, including untenured faculty and graduate students, to present and discuss their scholarly activities with other attendees in an informal atmosphere. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at /mathfest/abstracts. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.

Workshop 1: What’s the Story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Creating Research Presentations for a General Audience
Thursday, August 2, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Meeting Room R

Organizer:
- Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
Sponsor:
- Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network
Presenting our research to undergraduate students can be both fun and rewarding. It can also be difficult, however, since the gory details of our results often require a great deal of specific jargon and background. Nonetheless, the big ideas can almost always be presented at a variety of levels, and this workshop is designed to help participants develop the skills needed to formulate a presentation on their research that is appropriate for an audience of undergraduate students. Since many colleges and universities require giving such a talk as part of a job interview, almost any graduate student will have the opportunity to do so, and the ability to communicate complex mathematical ideas to students is a valued trait in a candidate. This workshop will consist of hands-on activities and audience interaction aimed toward developing and improving the necessary skills for creating an engaging and accessible presentation for undergraduates
Workshop 2: Writing for MAA Journals
Saturday, August 4, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Ballroom A

Organizer:
- Michael Henle, Oberlin College
This workshop offers hands-on guidance to prospective authors of expository papers intended for submission to the MAA journals. After a brief discussion of the nature of expository writing, editors and past-editors of the American Mathematical Monthly, Mathematics Magazine, The College Mathematics Journal, and Loci will be available to consult with writers. Participants are urged to bring their ideas for papers to the workshop regardless of the current state of their work, and if wishing to make arrangements in advance to consult an editor please write the organizer at cmj@oberlin.edu.
Workshop 3: Proposal Writing Workshop for Grant Applications to the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education
Friday, August 3, 4:10 – 5:20 p.m., Ballroom A

Organizer:
- Ron Buckmire, Division of Undergraduate Education, National Science Foundation
- Lee Zia, Division of Undergraduate Education, National Science Foundation
Presenters will describe the general NSF grant proposal process and consider particular details relevant to programs in the Division of Undergraduate Education. This interactive session will feature a mock panel review using a series of short excerpts from sample proposals.

Year:

2012

Graduate Student Activities

Graduate Student Workshop
What’s the story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Creating a Research Presentation for Undergraduates
Thursday, August 2, 1:00 – 2:20 pm, Meeting Room R
Organizer:
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
Sponsors:
MAA Committee on Graduate Students
Presenting our research to undergraduate students can be both fun and rewarding. It can also be difficult, however, since the gory details of our results often require a great deal of specific jargon and background. Nonetheless, the big ideas can almost always be presented at a variety of levels, and this workshop is designed to help participants develop the skills needed to formulate a presentation on their research that is appropriate for an audience of undergraduate students. Since many colleges and universities require giving such a talk as part of a job interview, almost any graduate student will have the opportunity to do so, and the ability to communicate complex mathematical ideas to students is a valued trait in a candidate. This workshop will consist of hands-on activities and audience interaction aimed toward developing and improving the necessary skills for creating an engaging and accessible presentation for undergraduates.
Graduate Student Reception
Thursday, August 2, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Organizers:
Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas
James Freeman, Cornell College
Graduate students are invited for some refreshments and to meet several of the invited speakers.
Student Poster Session
PosterFest 2012: A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students
Friday, August 3, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, Exhibit Hall
Organizer:
Jennifer Roche Bowen, The College of Wooster
Sponsors:
Early Career Mathematicians Committee, Graduate Student Committee, and the Young Mathematicians Network
This poster session will allow early career mathematicians, including untenured faculty and graduate students, to present and discuss their scholarly activities with other attendees in an informal atmosphere. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at /meetings/maa-math-fest/mathfest-abstract-archive. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.
Special Session For Graduate Students
Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students
Saturday, August 4, 1:00 – 5:30 pm, Meeting Rooms K&L
Organizers:
Jim Freeman, Cornell College, and Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
Sponsors:
Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network
Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to a general audience which includes undergraduates and non-mathematicians as part of a job interview, most students do not have experience talking to a non-research audience. This session gives graduate students the opportunity to give a 20-minute talk aimed at an undergraduate audience which has been exposed to calculus and some linear algebra. Both the talks and abstracts should be designed to excite a wide range of undergraduates about mathematics. All participants in this session will receive private feedback on their presentations from an established faculty member and an undergraduate student. Time permitting, a discussion of effective techniques for delivering great general-audience talks will occur at the end of the session.

Contact Jim Freeman or Rachel Schwell for help on writing an abstract and preparing a talk for a general audience. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?) on mathematical presentations. Information on travel support will be available at www.maa.org/students/grad.html on March 1, 2012. Abstracts must be submitted by April 30, 2012.
Panel Discusson
The Job Search I: How to Apply for Jobs – Lessons for Academia and Industry
Friday, August 3, 2:35 – 3:55 pm, Lecture Hall
Organizer: Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas
Panelists:
James Freeman, Cornell College; Will Hickman, Epic Systems Corporation; Joanne Peeples, El Paso Community College; Kimberly Roth, Juniata College; and Erika Ward, Jacksonville University
Sponsors:
MAA Committee on Graduate Students
This panel session will focus on the application process for both academic and industry jobs. Topics that will be addressed include where to find job postings, how to tailor your cover letter and other application material to the job that you are applying to, selecting your references, and how you can be sure that your entire application package accurately describes you. There will be multiple opportunities for Q&A during the session.
Panel Discussion
The Job Search II: Interviewing and Hiring for Academic Jobs – Lessons from Both Sides of the Trenches
Thursday, August 2, 4:10 – 5:30 pm, Lecture Hall
Organizer:
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University
Panelists:
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado; John Travis, Mississippi College; John Hamman, Montgomery College Germantown Campus; Louis Deaett, Quinnipiac University; and Michael Stob, Calvin College

Sponsor:
Professional Development Committee
This panel session will focus on best practices and tips for successfully navigating the interview and hiring process for academic jobs. Panelists will include recent applicants, department chairs, and hiring committee members from a variety of institutions, from community colleges to liberal arts institutions to large state universities with a strong research focus. There will be a Q&A session at the end.

Year:

2012

Undergraduate Student Activities

MAA-PME Student Reception
Wednesday, August 1, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Monona Terrace – Hall of Ideas G/J
Face Off!
Wednesday, August 1, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, Monona Terrace- Hall of Ideas E, F, H, I
Organizers:
Ken Price and Steve Szydlik, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Are you an undergraduate student looking for a fun and engaging activity at Mathfest? Look no further than the Wisconsin Section’s own “Face Off!” the mathematics game show. Teams of 3 to 4 students compete to answer questions from the broad realm of mathematics. And we really mean broad! If it’s mathematical, it’s fair game for the game. There is space for up to 10 teams to compete for fame and fun, so form a team and contact the organizers. Schools and REU’s are welcome, but even if your organization can’t field a full team, let us know and we can form hybrid teams. For more information, visit the “Face Off!” website. “Face Off!” is also onFacebook.
Student Hospitality Center
Thursday, August 2, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, August 3, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday, August 4, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Organizers:
Richard and Araceli Neal, American Society for the Communication of Mathematics
The Student Hospitality Center (SHC) provides a place for students and other MathFest attendees to meet for informal conversation, refreshments, and mathematical diversions. Programs for the MAA and Pi Mu Epsilon student paper sessions, packets for the MAA student presenters, and information on MathFest activities of interest to students are available in the SHC.
MAA Lecture For Students
Geometreks
Thursday, August 2, 1:00 – 1:50 pm, Ballroom A
Speaker:
Ivars Peterson, Mathematical Association of America
Few people expect to encounter mathematics on a visit to an art gallery or even a walk down a city street (or across campus). When we explore the world around us with mathematics in mind, however, we see the many ways in which mathematics can manifest itself, in streetscapes, sculptures, paintings, architectural structures, and more. This illustrated presentation offers illuminating glimpses of mathematics, from Euclidean geometry and normal distributions to Riemann sums and Möbius strips, as seen in a variety of structures and artworks in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, New Orleans, Madison, Wisconsin, and many other locales.
MAA Undergraduate Student Activity
Entertaining Math: Juggling, Magic and Circus Tricks
Friday, August 3, 1:00 – 1:50 pm, Ballroom B
Speaker:
Tim Chartier, Davidson College
Love math but felt ever stuck on how to get someone else excited? How about juggling, presenting a magic trick, or performing a circus trick like balancing an object on your hand to teach or motivate a mathematical idea? This activity will explore ways to demonstrate and discuss mathematics using techniques generally associated with entertainment and the performing arts. Come ready to learn a few tricks and possibly some new math!
MAA Undergraduate Student Activity
Mathematical Untuition – just how far astray can your mathematical common sense mislead you?
Friday, August 3, 1:00 – 1:50 pm, Ballroom C
Speaker:
Brian Conrey, American Institute of Mathematics
During this session we will discover some simple but truly surprising mathematical facts.
MAA Student Paper Sessions
Thursday, August 2, 8:30 – 10:25 am and 2:00 – 6:15 pm
Friday, August 3, 8:30 – 11:45 am and 2:00 – 6:15 pm
J. Lyn Miller, Slippery Rock University and Daluss Siewert, Black Hills State University
Pi Mu Epsilon Student Paper Sessions
Thursday, August 2, 2:00 – 6:15 pm
Friday, August 3, 8:30 – 10:30 am and 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Angela Spalsbury, Youngstown State University
Pi Mu Epsilon Student Banquet And Awards Ceremony
Friday, August 3, 6:00 – 7:45 pm
All PME members and their supporters are welcome. See the registration form for more information on this ticketed event.
Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture
Friday, August 3, 8:00 – 8:50 pm, Ballroom AB
The Chemistry of Primes
Speaker:
Melanie Matchett Wood, University of Wisconsin Madison
We are familiar with the prime numbers as those integers that cannot be factored into smaller integers, but if we consider systems of numbers larger than the integers, the primes may indeed factor in those larger systems. We discuss various questions mathematicians ask about how primes may factor in larger systems, talk about both classical results and current research on the topic, and give a sense of the kind of tools needed to tackle these questions.
MAA Ice Cream Social
Friday, August 3, 9:00 – 10:00 pm
Besides cake and ice cream, we will recognize all students who gave talks in the MAA Student Paper Sessions, and award prizes for the best of them. All are invited.
MAA Mathematical Competition In Modeling (MCM) Winners
Saturday, August 4, 9:00 – 10:30 am, Hall of Ideas F
Organizer:
Ben Fusaro, Florida State University
About 400 American teams, each consisting of three undergraduates, entered the 2012 MCM in February. The contest consists of two real(istic) problems, one discrete, one continuous. The teams have four days to deal with the challenge during which time they may use or consult anything inanimate – computers, libraries, the Web, etc. MAA judges choose one continuous and one discrete winner from the top contenders. The two MAA winning teams of students will present the results of their four-day challenge.
Student Problem Solving Competition
Saturday, August 4, 1:00 – 2:15 pm, Meeting Rooms M&N
Sponsor:
Richard Neal, American Society for the Communication of Mathematics
This event is the finals of the Problem Solving Competition. Universities and colleges that participate monthly on their own campuses by holding problem solving contests are invited to send a contestant. Each contestant will be required to solve a series of mathematical problems. Based on the outcome, a champion along with 2nd through 6th place winners will be named.
Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students
Saturday, August 4, 1:00 – 5:30 pm, Meeting Rooms K&L
Organizers:
Jim Freeman, Cornell College and Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
Sponsors:
Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network
Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to a general audience which includes undergraduates and non-mathematicians as part of a job interview, most students do not have experience talking to a non-research audience. This session gives graduate students the opportunity to give a 20-minute talk aimed at an undergraduate audience which has been exposed to calculus and some linear algebra. Both the talks and abstracts should be designed to excite a wide range of undergraduates about mathematics. All participants in this session will receive private feedback on their presentations from an established faculty member and an undergraduate student. Time permitting, a discussion of effective techniques for delivering great general-audience talks will occur at the end of the session.

Contact Jim Freeman or Rachel Schwell for help on writing an abstract and preparing a talk for a general audience. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?) on mathematical presentations. Information on travel support will be available atwww.maa.org/students/grad on March 1, 2012. Abstracts must be submitted by April 30, 2012.

Year:

2012

SIGMAA Activities

The following is a list of activities at MathFest 2012 that are sponsored by SIGMAAs. Full descriptions of the sessions may be found elsewhere in the program.

Mathematical and Computational Biology: BIO SIGMAA

Invited Paper Session: Mathematics and Systems Biology
Saturday afternoon, Ballroom B

Contributed Paper Session: Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology
Thursday afternoon, Ballroom A

History of Mathematics: HOM SIGMAA

Contributed Paper Session: The History of Mathematics and its Uses in Teaching and Learning Mathematics
Friday afternoon, Hall of Ideas H
Math Circles for Students and Teachers: SIGMAA MCST
- Contributed Paper Session: Math Circles: Best Practices
  Thursday afternoon, Hall of Ideas G
- Math Circles Demonstration
  Session 1: Saturday, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Hall of Ideas E
  Session 2: Saturday, 11:00 – 12:00 a.m., Hall of Ideas E
  
  A math circle is broadly defined as a semi-formal, sustained enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics.
  
  These two demonstration sessions, each directed by an experienced Math Circle leader, offer the opportunity for MATHFEST 2012 attendees to observe and take part in Math Circle experiences, and enjoy the thrill the organic and creative process the conversational style of learning Circles offer. The first is directed towards professional mathematicians as participants, the second towards student as participants. Both are for all to witness.
  
  These sessions are supported by SIGMAA for Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST). Seeing a circle in action, we believe, is the best way to generate enthusiasm to start one of your own. Come see why!
Philosophy of Mathematics: POM SIGMAA
- Reception
  Friday, August 3, 5:00 – 5:30 p.m., Hall of Ideas H
- Guest Lecture: Is the Proof in the Picture? Seeing, Believing, and Provings
  Speaker: Janet Folina, Macalester College
  Friday, August 3, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Hall of Ideas H
  
  What is the role of visual information in mathematics? Can diagrams justify inferences in traditional, verbal proofs? Can pictures, or diagrams, be proofs on their own? There is much disagreement on these issues among both mathematicians and philosophers; part of the reason for the disagreement is confusion. The aim of this talk is to clarify some of the philosophical issues underlying disputes over the role of visual information in proofs. Diagrams can be highly convincing, useful for explaining, they can efficiently depict mathematical information. But that does not mean they are proofs. This talk will appeal to some general considerations in epistemology to explain the view that pictures fall short of being genuine mathematical proofs. But proofs are just one tool in the mathematician’s toolbox; we will also aim to clarify why pictures can be so useful, convincing, and even justifying!
Quantitative Literacy: SIGMAA QL
- Panel: Effective strategies for teaching classes for non-majors
  Thursday, August 2, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Lecture Hall
Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education: SIGMAA RUME
- Supporting Students’ Reinvention of Formal Limit Definitions
  Session 1. Thursday, August 2, 4:10 – 5:30 p.m., Meeting Room F
  Session 2. Friday, August 3, 4:10 – 5:30 p.m., Meeting Room F
  
  Both intuitive and formal aspects of limit concepts have proven difficult for undergraduate students in lower-division mathematics and introductory proof courses. Our research has investigated the cognitive challenges these students encounter while developing and formalizing a robust understanding of a variety of limit concepts. We also seek to identify particular solutions, general characteristics of students’ inquiry, and instructional supports which foster effective and lasting resolutions to these challenges. The two sessions of our workshop will focus on the translation of our research results to instruction in undergraduate mathematics courses.
  
  During the first session, we will present an instructional cycle that supports students’ reinvention of formal definitions for sequence convergence, series convergence, and pointwise convergence. Workshop participants will work through some of the mathematical tasks for themselves, consider the theory and research results that guided the creation of the tasks, watch video of students working on these tasks, and discuss possible implications for both instruction and instructional design in this and other areas.
  
  The second session will focus on the role of the instructor in supporting students’ reinvention activity. We will address issues of developing critical reasoning and argumentation, fostering students’ ownership of their mathematical activity and its products, and bridging the gap between students’ emerging formal reasoning and their ability to express these ideas in verbal and written mathematical language. We will conclude with an investigation of the nature of students’ intuitive limit concepts prior to the reinvention activity and the implications for instruction in introductory calculus courses.
Statistics Education: SIGMAA STAT-ED
Teaching Advanced High School Mathematics: SIGMAA TAHSM
- Panel Discussion: How Will CCSSM Influence High School and College Mathematics?
  Saturday, August 4, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Lecture Hall
- Business Meeting
  Saturday, August 4, 5:00-5:30 p.m., Hall of Ideas F
- Engaging High School Students in Research Experiences
  Saturday, August 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Hall of Ideas F
  
  Organizers:During June 2012, SIGMAA TAHSM sponsored a PREP workshop for faculty at high schools, community colleges, and small liberal arts colleges to support them in engaging their students in a mathematics research experience during the 2012-13 school year. Following the business meeting, and with pizza in hand, participants from the June PREP session will discuss some of the mathematical problems considered during the summer, give an overview of the program as it is to be implemented in schools next year, and lead an open forum on future activities that engage high school teachers with mathematics and the MAA.
  - Daniel Teague, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Mathematics Instruction Using the Web: WEB SIGMAA
Discussion Topic: Online Technology in Mathematics Education
An open discussion with a panel and members of the audience relating to the following points:
- Augmenting the traditional classroom with online resources
- Emerging technologies in the not so distant future. What will we see in the next 2-10 years?
- Emerging pedagogies related to learning mathematics online
- Panel Discussion: Designing Studies to Measure the Effectiveness of Online Homework
  Friday, August 3, 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Lecture Hall
- Business Meeting, Reception and Discussion
  Friday, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Hall of Ideas E

Year:

2012

Other Mathematical Sessions

MAA Prize Session
Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m., Ballroom AB
The session is organized by Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary, and is moderated by Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College, MAA President.
Alder Award Session
Friday, 2:00- 3:20pm, Ballroom A
The session will be moderated by Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College, MAA President

Presentations by the Alder Award recipients:

I Failed and No One Died
Presenter: Kathryn Leonard, California State University Channel Islands
Friday, August 3, 2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Michael Starbird has described mathematics as the process of becoming progressively less wrong. Indeed, our first attempt at solving a problem almost always fails. The eventual solution depends on our ability to extract meaning from failure, reformulating our mistakes into a new approach. Despite the familiarity with failure implied by that process, we typically drape the word in dour, black tones—this student failed the midterm, that colleague failed to get a grant, the person in question is now A Failure—and follow it with concerned head shaking and averted eyes. Contrarily, this talk will describe some of my attempts to embrace failure, and to help my students do the same.

An ORnate ORation on OR
Presenter: Susan Martonosi, Harvey Mudd College
Friday, August 3, 2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Operations research (OR) is the use of mathematical thinking to make systems, processes and decisions more efficient. It is naturally appealing to mathematics students who want to understand how the mathematical theory they are learning can be applied to solve important problems. At Harvey Mudd College, student interest in OR has been consistently growing in response to increased course offerings, research opportunities and industry-sponsored capstone projects. In this talk (which, in truth, is unlikely to be ornate) I’ll discuss the field of OR and its appeal to students, the OR curriculum we have in place, and best practices (along with pitfalls to avoid) in introducing OR to your students.

Practicing What We Preach: Evidence-based Evaluation of your Classroom Teaching and Pedagogical Innovations
Presenter: Michael A. Posner, Villanova University
Friday, August 3, 3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Abstract: Every teacher is unique. Some of us have impeccable recall, some are experts in applications while other revel in the more theoretical, some are incredibly organized, and others might deserve an off-Broadway production. Therefore, the way we teach should be unique and personal as well. Some lecture very effectively, some use inquiry-based learning, some show videos, some have class projects, some create applets or apps. But the common themes of what makes good teachers are engaging students to master learning objectives and, perhaps, inspire them to learn more. Yet, when we evaluate our teaching or try out something new in the classroom, we rely on personal feelings or voluntary student feedback. I have sought to explore the efficacy of my teaching through classroom-based studies. I will share several of those classroom-based studies, describing both the process and the outcomes, and explore strategies that you can use to engage in your own research on your pedagogical innovations.
MAA Business Meeting
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 11:50 p.m., Ballroom AB
The meeting is organized by Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary, and is chaired by Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College, MAA President.
MAA Section Officers Meeting
Thursday, August 2, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This session is moderated by Richard A. Gillman, Valparaiso University, Chair of the MAA Committee on Sections. It is open to all section officers and their guests. The session consist of a short workshop on running effective meetings, together with brief reports from the Association headquarters and from selected sections.
SIGMAA RUME Session: Supporting Students’ Reinvention of Formal Limit Definitions
Session 1: Thursday, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hall of Ideas F
Session 2: Friday, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hall of Ideas F

Organizer:
- Kyeong Hah Roh, Arizona State University; Stacy Brown, Pitzer College; and Michael Oehrtman, University of Northern Colorado
Presenters:
- Michael Oehrtman, University of Northern Colorado; Jason Martin, University of Central Arkansas; Craig Swinyard, University of Portland; and Brian Fisher, Pepperdine University
Sponsor:
- SIGMAA RUME
Both intuitive and formal aspects of limit concepts have proven difficult for undergraduate students in lower-division mathematics and introductory proof courses. Our research has investigated the cognitive challenges these students encounter while developing and formalizing a robust understanding of a variety of limit concepts. We also seek to identify particular solutions, general characteristics of students’ inquiry, and instructional supports which foster effective and lasting resolutions to these challenges. The two sessions of our workshop will focus on the translation of our research results to instruction in undergraduate mathematics courses.
During the first session, we will present an instructional cycle that supports students’ reinvention of formal definitions for sequence convergence, series convergence, and pointwise convergence. Workshop participants will work through some of the mathematical tasks for themselves, consider the theory and research results that guided the creation of the tasks, watch video of students working on these tasks, and discuss possible implications for both instruction and instructional design in this and other areas.

The second session will focus on the role of the instructor in supporting students’ reinvention activity. We will address issues of developing critical reasoning and argumentation, fostering students’ ownership of their mathematical activity and its products, and bridging the gap between students’ emerging formal reasoning and their ability to express these ideas in verbal and written mathematical language. We will conclude with an investigation of the nature of students’ intuitive limit concepts prior to the reinvention activity and the implications for instruction in introductory calculus courses.
.
Math Circles Demonstration
Aimed at MathFest attendees, led by James Tanton
Session 1: Saturday, 9:30 – 10:20 a.m., Hall of Ideas E
For local High School Students; observed by attendees, led by Joshua Zucker
Session 2: Saturday, 10:30 – 11:20 a.m., Hall of Ideas E

Organizers:
- James Tanton, St. Mark’s Institute of Mathematics; Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University; and Sam Vandervelde, St Lawrence University
Sponsor:
- SIGMAA MCST
A math circle is broadly defined as a semi-formal, sustained enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics.
These two demonstration sessions, each directed by an experienced Math Circle leader, offer the opportunity for MATHFEST 2012 attendees to observe and take part in Math Circle experiences, and enjoy the thrill the organic and creative process the conversational style of learning Circles offer. The first is directed towards professional mathematicians as participants, the second towards student as participants. Both are for all to witness.
These sessions are supported by SIGMAA for Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST). Seeing a circle in action, we believe, is the best way to generate enthusiasm to start one of your own. Come see why!

Math Wrangle
Saturday, August 4, 2:30–3:30 p.m., Ballrooms M&N

Sponsor:
- SIGMAA MCST
“Math Wrangle” will pit teams of math club students from Wisconsin high schools against each other, the clock, and a slate of great math problems. This debate-style contest challenges students’ problem solving skills, explanations, debating skills, and their strategies. Get ready to wrangle! The MAA’s Special Interest Group on Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST) is sponsoring this demonstration Math Wrangle. The intention of SIGMAA MCST hosting the demonstration Math Wrangle is to show how teachers, schools, circles, clubs, and honoraries can get students started in in this exciting combination of mathematical problem solving, public speaking, strategy and rebuttal. Join us for this fun-to-watch mathematical activity.
Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students
Saturday, August 4, 1:00 – 5:30 p.m., Meeting Rooms K&L

Organizers:
- Jim Freeman, Cornell College
- Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
Sponsor:
- Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network
Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to a general audience, which includes undergraduates and non-mathematicians, as part of a job interview, most students do not have experience talking to a non-research audience. This session gives graduate students the opportunity to give a 20-minute talk aimed at an undergraduate audience that has been exposed to calculus and some linear algebra. Both the talks and abstracts should be designed to excite a wide range of undergraduates about mathematics. All participants in this session will receive private feedback on their presentations from an established faculty member and an undergraduate student. Time permitting, a discussion of effective techniques for delivering great general-audience talks will occur at the end of the session. Contact Jim Freeman (jfreeman@cornellcollege.edu) or Rachel Schwell (schwellrac@ccsu.edu) for help on writing an abstract and preparing a talk for a general audience. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?) on mathematical presentations. Information on travel support will be available at /students/grad.html on March 1, 2012. Abstracts must be submitted by April 30, 2012.
Exclusive Screening of the New Film: “Flatland²: Sphereland”
Thursday, August 2, 7:30 -– 9:00 p.m., Ballroom A
Join writer/director Dano Johnson, producer Seth Caplan, and mathematical advisor Thomas Banchoff for this sneak peek into the mathematics of making the new animated film featuring the voices of Kristen Bell, Michael York and Danica McKellar. More information and trailer of the film can be found athttp://www.spherelandthemovie.com

Abstract: The goal of the presentation is to demonstrate the power of combining mathematics and imagination. We will demonstrate how we pushed our imaginations by working with math educators to apply mathematical theory and design into all aspects of the film. We will not only show the entire movie, but also present our process for writing the script, animating the characters and working with the actors to reinforce important mathematical concepts. The presentation will also demonstrate how we all interact with math in our daily lives by presenting worlds that exist in different dimensions. We will introduce audiences to captivating concepts like how technology from radios to refrigerators to rocket ships would exist in a world with just two dimensions. We will also go beyond our own world to give audiences a glimpse of what life might be like in the fourth dimension. Through these fascinating concepts, audiences will understand the importance of classical 2-D and 3-D geometry, and gain a deeper appreciation of spatial geometry in the three-dimensional universe we call home.

Screening of In the Footsteps of Newton
Thursday, August 2, 9:00-9:30pm

In the Footsteps of Newton follows the inspirational journey of a group of Hanover College math majors as they go on a quest to learn about Isaac Newton in a History of Math class. The students follow in Newton’s footsteps, from his early life on the farm at Woolsthorpe Manor, to his student days in Grantham and academic life in Cambridge, to his final years in London. Producer and writer Nancy Rodgers will be available to answer questions about making a student documentary at historic sites. A limited supply of free DVDs will be distributed for campus screenings. For more information and trailer: math.hanover.edu/newton

Year:

2012

Abstracts

We maintain an archive of the abstract booklets from past MathFests for both the main program and the student poster sessions.

2012 MathFest Abstracts – Madison WI

2012 Undergraduate Student Abstracts – Madison WI

Information in the programs was current as of its print date, but some sessions and speakers had changed after that date.

2012 MathFest Programs – Madison WI

Year:

2012

2013

Invited Addresses

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Olga Holtz, University of California Berkeley and Technical University Berlin

Lecture 1: Zeros of Polynomials via Structured Matrices and Continued Fractions

Thursday, August 1, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Olga Holtz

Going back to Descartes, Gauss, Laguerre, and other giants of our field, the theory of zero localization attempts to answer questions of the type: given a polynomial, how many of its roots are real? positive? have negative real part? lie in a given disk? etc. A fascinating algebro-analytic theory was gradually built to answer such questions, where structured matrices and continued fractions play a central role. This talk will be devoted to some of these intriguing connections, many classical, some new.

Lecture 2: Approximation Theory Meets Algebra and Combinatorics

Friday, August 2, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

What (if anything) do the following things have in common?

multivariate splines
hyperplane arrangements
integer points in polytopes
spanning trees of graphs
multivariate polynomial interpolation?

Surprisingly, these seemingly unrelated objects have been recently unified within the emerging theory of zonotopal algebra. I will offer its overview, state of the art, and some open problems.

Lecture 3: Communication Complexity of Algorithms

Saturday, August 3, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Unlike arithmetic complexity that measures the amount of computations performed, communication complexity of an algorithm measures the total communication (that is, the amount of data sent and received) between processors in a parallel cluster or levels of memory hierarchy. Since communication is much costlier than arithmetic, the main practical task in this area is minimizing communication and the main theoretical question is finding exact lower bounds on communication. The latter (rather technical) question turns out to have a very elegant answer having to do with graph theory. I will discuss the resulting novel approach to communication in algorithms, illustrate it on Strassen and Strassen-like algorithms for matrix multiplication, and point out some of its practical consequences.

Biography: Olga Holtz received her Diploma in Applied Mathematics from Southern Ural State University in Chelyabinsk, Russia, and her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the guidance of Hans Schneider. She held a postdoctorate research position at the Computer Science Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Humboldt fellowship at the Institute of Mathematics of Technical University Berlin, a Morrey Assistant Professorship and an Associate Professorship at the Department of Mathematics of the University of California-Berkeley. Currently, Holtz is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of California-Berkeley, a Professor of Applied Mathematics at Technical University Berlin, and a Professor of Berlin Mathematical School. She is a Sofja Kovalevskaja awardee, a member of the Junge Akademie of Germany, and a European Mathematical Society Prize winner.

AMS-MAA Joint Invited Address

Coding Theory: A Cornucopia of Mathematics

Thursday, August 1, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Judy Walker, University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Judy Walker

Whenever information is transmitted or stored, errors are bound to occur. It is the goal of coding theory to find efficient ways of adding redundancy to the information so that these errors can be corrected. The mathematical study of error-correcting codes began with Claude Shannon’s groundbreaking 1948 paper, in which he proved probabilistically that good codes exist. The subsequent challenge has been to actually find or design these good codes; this problem has occupied the minds of many mathematicians, computer scientists and electrical engineers ever since. In addressing Shannon’s challenge, many areas of mathematics have been drawn upon, including several that are not typically thought of as “applied math”. This talk will give a mathematical tour through coding theory, focusing especially on the wide range of areas such as algebraic geometry, number theory, and graph theory that have played a crucial role in the development of this field.

Biography: Judy Walker received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and both her master’s degree and her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has been at the University of Nebraska Lincoln since 1996, and currently serves as Aaron Douglas Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematics there. Her research in algebraic coding theory has been continuously supported by the National Science Foundation, and she spent much of the fall 2011 semester as a Visiting Professor at Centre Interfacultaire Bernoulli, EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Walker is a co-founder of the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics and has served as an elected member of the AWM Executive Committee and the AMS Council. She was the lecturer for the undergraduate portion of the IAS/PCMI Mentoring Program for Women in 1999 and was one of three lecturers at the 2007 Summer School in Coding Theory at the Sophus Lie Conference Center, Nordfjordeid, Norway. She has won several teaching awards, including the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award from the MAA, and she served as the MAA’s Polya Lecturer for 2009-2011.

MAA Invited Addresses

Algebra, Analysis, and the Way You Eat Corn: The Complete Story

Thursday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Susan Loepp, Williams College

Susan Loepp

It has been conjectured that one can tell an Algebraist from an Analyst by the way she eats corn on the cob. As this talk involves both Algebra and Analysis, all are welcome, regardless of your preferred corn on the cob eating technique. We start with a ring, define a metric on it, and proceed to construct the completion of the resulting metric space. We then consider which algebraic properties of the ring are, or are not, inherited by its completion. We give an overview of completions of rings for a general audience, including recent results, and open questions. Research results obtained by undergraduates will be highlighted. And if you don’t like corn, you’re probably a topologist.

Biography: Susan Loepp received a B.A. in mathematics and a B.S. in physics from Bethel College (N. Newton, KS) in 1989. She earned her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. After a two-year postdoctoral position at the University of Nebraska, she joined the faculty at Williams College, where she now holds the rank of Professor. Dr. Loepp is currently the principal investigator on the Williams College SMALL REU grant, and has served as the director of the program three times. Her research area is commutative algebra and she has advised the research of many undergraduate students in that field. Loepp also loves teaching, and in 2012, she received the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching. Loepp and William K. Wootters, an expert in quantum information theory, are co-authors of the book “Protecting Information: From Classical Error Correction to Quantum Cryptography,” published by Cambridge University Press in 2006.

Improving Numerical Weather Predictions Using Ideas from Nonlinear Dynamics

Friday, August 2, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Chris Danforth, University of Vermont

Modern weather forecasts are initialized with a 10 billion variable estimate of the Earth’s atmospheric state. This initial condition is typically the result of ‘data assimilation’, the process by which satellite observations are combined with prior forecasts to produce a best guess. Predictions of the future state are then made by integrating a collection of perturbations of this best guess, and the resulting variance represents the forecast uncertainty. This talk will discuss the state-of-the-art in weather prediction in the context of our group’s efforts to improve forecast methodology. We leverage results from low-dimensional nonlinear dynamical systems to suggest algorithms for reducing forecast error, and demonstrate success using an experimental apparatus analogous to Lorenz’s 1963 model of convection.

Biography: Chris Danforth received his Ph.D in 2006 from the University of Maryland, where he worked under the direction of James Yorke and Eugenia Kalnay. Dr. Danforth is currently on the faculty of the University of Vermont where he co-directs the Computational Story Lab, a group of applied mathematicians working on large-scale, system-level problems in many fields including sociology, nonlinear dynamics, networks, ecology, and physics. His research has been covered by the New York Times, Science Magazine, and the BBC among others. Descriptions of his projects are available on his website and blog.

Financial Mathematics: A Two-Way Bridge Between Finance and Mathematics

Saturday, August 3, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Gordan Zitkovic, University of Texas at Austin

Gordan Zitkovic Financial mathematics is a relatively recent addition to the spectrum of mathematical disciplines. Like many other mathematical specialties, it aims to provide a rigorous analysis and an abstract reductionist view of a circle of ideas, intuitions, models, observations and beliefs related to a specific “facet of reality”. In the case of financial mathematics, the focus is on the structure and dynamics of financial markets and the role played by financial agents acting in them. It builds on fundamental ideas of financial economics, but goes beyond the toy models and does not shy away from embracing the powerful analytical tools contemporary mathematics has to offer. A major attraction of the subject is the breadth of the array of such tools that can be effectively used; they range from classical analysis, partial differential equations and their numerical counterparts over the Banach-space theory and non-locally-convex functional analysis through convex analysis and optimization to probability theory and stochastic analysis. Another — in a sense dual — source of appeal of financial mathematics is the degree of enrichment these purely mathematical fields have gained from the relationship. Indeed, problems first encountered in analysis of financial problems led to many mathematical developments in a variety of disciplines. The talk will focus on an assortment of problems illustrating the above mutually beneficial interactions and provide a glimpse of contemporary frontiers of research in this exciting field. It is meant to be accessible to a mathematically mature audience, but no previous exposure to the subject is required.

Biography: Gordan Zitkovic received his PhD in 2003 from Columbia University, under the mentorship of Ioannis Karatzas. After a postdoc at Carnegie Mellon University he joined the Department of Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin, where he currently holds the position of Associate Professor. His research interests focus on stochastic analysis and optimal control with applications to financial mathematics.

AWM-MAA Etta Z. Falconer Lecture

Improving Equity and Education: Why and How

Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Patricia Kenschaft, Montclair University

Patricia Kenschaft

Drawing on both the speaker’s own experiences and research and that of others, this talk will explore ideas and behaviors that would improve equity and education, especially in mathematics. She will emphasize the importance of elementary school teachers’ knowing the mathematics they are supposed to teach. Why are some powerful people so opposed to teaching them the requisite mathematics? What is equity? How does mathematics education affect equity issues including those of race and gender, but also of economics, ability and personality? What is the connection between innumeracy and the pressing economic and environmental issues of our time? What roles do testing, homework and nurturing responsibility in children play?

Biography: Patricia Clark Kenschaft is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Montclair State University. She is P.I. on fourteen grants for helping elementary school teachers mathematically, the mother of two, and author, co-author, or co-editor of nine published books, including “Change is Possible: Stories of Women and Minorities in Mathematics” and “Math Power: How to Help Your Child Love Math Even If You Don.t.” She holds an A.B from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. She moderated a radio talk show “Math Medley” for six years, interviewing over 300 people about their relationship to mathematics, including presidents of mathematical organizations, elementary school teachers, and those in apparently unrelated fields. In the national MAA she has been Governor from New Jersey, chair of the Committee on Environmental Mathematics, and first chair of the Committee on Participation of Women. In the latter capacity she moderated and directed micro-inequity skits at national meetings, depicting actual experiences of women in the previous year. She has interviewed over 100 African American mathematicians.

James R. Leitzel Lecture

Statistics Isn’t Mathematics: So How’s That Working Out?

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Ann Watkins, California State University Northridge

Ann Watkins

Mathematics and statistics faculty have different priorities concerning their overlapping interests in the school mathematics curriculum, the training of teachers, the Advanced Placement program, undergraduate majors, and the introductory statistics course. Has this tension worked to the benefit of our common students? A survey of current issues shows mixed results, some surprising trends, and a need for a continuing emphasis on respectful cooperation.

Biography: Ann Watkins is Professor of Mathematics at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and specializes in statistics education. Beginning as co-chair of the joint committee of the American Statistical Association and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Ann has worked for many years with high school teachers and statisticians to develop materials for teaching statistics and probability in secondary schools and the introductory courses in colleges and to design opportunities for professional development for teachers. She is a co-author of textbooks published as a result of the Quantitative Literacy, Activity-Based Statistics, and Core-Plus Mathematics projects. She chaired the College Board’s Development Committee for Advanced Placement Statistics, was exam leader at AP Statistics readings, and was primary author of the AP Statistics Teacher’s Guide. She was a member of the Board of Editors of the Journal of Statistics Education. She served as president of the Mathematical Association of America from 2001 to 2003, and has been MAA second vice-president, sectional governor, co-editor of the College Mathematics Journal, and associate editor of the American Mathematical Monthly. She has won the following CSUN awards: Outstanding Professor, Advancement of Teaching Effectiveness, and Extraordinary Service. In 1999, she was elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association “for innovative contributions to curriculum and pedagogy; for masterful teaching, and teaching of teachers; and for an extraordinary record of sustained and successful efforts to institutionalize reform in statistics education.”

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

Matrices I Admire

Friday, August 2, 8:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Gilbert Strang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Gilbert Strang

Recently I came back to this well-loved matrix, realizing that I didn’t know its symmetric square root, its exponential or its cosine. Those are all badly needed for the heat equation and wave equation. They are not tridiagonal but still amazing. I will speak about another matrix too (the graph Laplacian) as well as the combination of differential equations and linear algebra.

Biography: Gilbert Strang was an undergraduate at MIT and a Rhodes Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford. His Ph.D. was from UCLA and since then he has taught at MIT. He has been a Sloan Fellow and a Fairchild Scholar and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a Professor of Mathematics at MIT and an Honorary Fellow of Balliol College. Professor Strang has published eight textbooks: Introduction to Linear Algebra (1993, 1998, 2003, 2009) Linear Algebra and Its Applications (1976, 1980, 1988, 2005) An Analysis of the Finite Element Method, with George Fix (1973, 2008) Introduction to Applied Mathematics (1986) Calculus (1991) Wavelets and Filter Banks, with Truong Nguyen (1996) Linear Algebra, Geodesy, and GPS, with Kai Borre (1997) Computational Science and Engineering (2007) Strang was the President of SIAM during 1999 and 2000, and Chair of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics. He received the von Neumann Medal of the US Association for Computational Mechanics, and the Henrici Prize for applied analysis. The first Su Buchin Prize from the International Congress of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the Haimo Prize from the Mathematical Association of America, were awarded for his contributions to teaching around the world. His home page is math.mit.edu/~gs/ and his video lectures on linear algebra and on computational science and engineering are on ocw.mit.edu (mathematics/18.06 and 18.085).

NAM David Blackwell Lecture

Bridging a Gap Between Creative Literacy and Quantitative Literacy: Using Poetry to Improve Quantitative Reasoning

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Karen Morgan Ivy, New Jersey City University

Karen Morgan Ivy

How do we as mathematics educators provide alternative ways in which students engage in mathematical discourse and explore mathematical ideas, thereby improving students’ quantitative literacy? How do creative literacy and quantitative literacy conjointly enhance the cognitive and affective domains in the mathematics classroom? The use of mathematics in poetry extends beyond more obvious platforms such as counting syllables or lines and stresses in meter and structure. This talk will offer that teaching mathematics with poetry provides an opportunity to not only address quantitative reasoning, but to also improve students’ quantitative literacy. Writing poetry inspired by mathematics offers students the opportunity to frame mathematical reasoning with arguments grounded in succinctness and clarity of thought processes. Additionally, writing poetry inspired by mathematics bolsters students’ confidence in performing mathematics.

Biography: Karen Morgan Ivy, an Associate Professor of Mathematics at New Jersey City University, is a mathematics educator who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi in 2001. Her current research interests include examining affective dimensions of math anxiety through student poetry; investigating pre-service teachers’ conceptualization of regrouping and placement value using base n arithmetic; examining the connection between mathematics memories and feelings toward mathematics; integrative learning; and the connection between general education and STEM disciplines, especially Mathematics.

She was awarded the Phi Eta Sigma Outstanding Teacher Award because of her excellence in classroom instruction, her exceptional ability to intellectually stimulate her students, and her genuine concern for the welfare of her students. She was a member of the Steering Committee for the 2012 Infinite Possibilities Conference (IPC), a national initiative designed to promote, educate, encourage and support minority women who are interested in mathematics and statistics.

She welcomes the opportunity to engage in student-learning, pedagogical and content issues at all levels as evidenced by her commitment to serve on the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Committee for the Teaching of Undergraduate Mathematics (CTUM) for two consecutive terms, on the MAA Committee on Minority Participation in Mathematics (CMPM), and on the New Jersey Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (NJ AMTE) Executive Board.

She is also a member of several other professional organizations including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM); the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM); the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA); the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE ); and the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey (AMTNJ).

CSHPM Kenneth O. May Lecture

Henri Poincaré: Mathematician, Physicist, Philosopher

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Jeremy Gray, Open University

Jeremy Gray

Henri Poincaré held strong views about human knowledge that animated his work in both mathematics and physics. He held views on the possibly non-Euclidean nature of space, on the foundations of mathematics, on the fundamental ‘laws’ of physics, on why the basic equations of mathematical physics are linear, on space and time, and on theory change in science. These views, and the debates they generated, give a rich insight into the frontiers of research a century ago.

Biography: Jeremy Gray’s first degree is in mathematics from Oxford, and his PhD is from the University of Warwick. In1983—84 he was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass, USA, and from September to December 1996 a Resident Fellow at the Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, USA. In 1998 he gave a 45-minute Invited Lecture at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Berlin on ‘The Riemann-Roch Theorem, 1854–1914’. He is presently a Professor of the History of Mathematics at the Open University, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Warwick, where he lectures on the history of mathematics. In 2009 he was awarded the Albert Leon Whiteman Memorial Prize of the American Mathematical Society for his work on the history of mathematics. His book Plato’s Ghost: The Modernist Transformation of Mathematics, was published by Princeton University Press in 2008, and his scientific biography of Henri Poincaré was published by them in November 2012.

MAA Lecture for Students

Optimal Pentagonal Tilings

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Frank Morgan, Williams College

Frank Morgan

Hales proved that the least-perimeter way to tile the plane with unit areas is by regular hexagons. What is the least-perimeter way to tile the plane with unit-area pentagons? We will discuss some new results, examples, and open questions, including work by undergraduates.

Biography: Frank Morgan studies optimal shapes and minimal surfaces. He has published over 150 articles and six books, including “Calculus” and “The Math Chat Book,” based on his live, call-in TV show and column. He now has a blog at the Huffington Post. Founder of the NSF “SMALL” Undergraduate Research Project, inaugural winner of the MAA’s Haimo teaching award, past vice-president of the MAA and of the AMS, he is Atwell Professor of Mathematics at Williams College.

Year:

2013

Invited Paper Sessions

Open and Accessible Problems in Knot Theory

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom A

With the increase in undergraduate research there is also an increased need for open and accessible problems for students to tackle. Knot theory is particularly fertile ground for such problems. Each speaker in this session will introduce a topic, pose three open questions that are accessible to undergraduate research, and place the questions in context of the topic. The final time slot in the session will consist of a discussion/reception where faculty and undergraduates can further discuss open problems with the speakers.

Organizers:
Lew Ludwig, Denison University
Laura Taalman, James Madison University

Turning Knots into Flowers
1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Colin Adams, Williams College

Knot Mosaics
1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Lew Ludwig, Denison University

The Forbidden Number of a Knot
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Sandy Ganzell, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Folded Ribbon Knots in the Plane
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Elizabeth Denne, Washington & Lee University

Graphs that are Intrinsically Linked with an Unused Vertex
3:00 p.m. – 3:20p.m.
Joel Foisy, SUNY Potsdam

Sequences, Spiral Knots, and the Elephant in the Room
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Laura Taalman, James Madison University

Problems in Virtual Knot Theory
4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Louis Kauffman, University of Illinois at Chicago

Question & Answer Session
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Developments in Commutative Algebra

Thursday, August 1, 2:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom B

Commutative algebra may be thought of as studying solutions of many equations in many unknowns when, typically, the solution is not unique. The set of solutions could then be viewed geometrically, but one can instead encode all the relevant information about the equations in algebraic objects called commutative rings. Study of the resulting ring structure can then give information about the geometric object, or can be pursued in its own right. In this Invited
Paper Session, current research results in commutative algebra will be presented in a way that will be inviting to a non-expert audience.

Organizers:
Susan Loepp, Williams College
Janet Striuli, Fairfield University

Zero-Divisor Graphs of Certain Semigroups Associated to Commutative Rings
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Neil Epstein, George Mason University

An Introduction to Path Ideals
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Leah Gold, Cleveland State University

Associated Primes of the Third Power of Cover Ideals
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Cameron Bishop, Fairfield University

Totally Reflexive Modules
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Janet Striuli, Fairfield University

Hilbert Series, H-Vectors, and the Fibonacci Sequence
4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Branden Stone, Bard College

Going to Great Lengths…
4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Hans Schoutens, New York City College of Technology

Complex Geometry Research and Accessible Problems

Friday, August 2, 2:00 – 4:50 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom A

Complex geometry continues to be an area of fruitful research at all levels, from undergraduates to professional researchers. Areas as diverse as algebraic geometry and complex dynamics make use of the structure that complex analysis provides. In this session the speakers will highlight areas of current research related to complex geometry and point out opportunities for research involving undergraduates.

Organizers:
Lynette Boos, Providence College
Su-Jeong Kang, Providence College

Locating and Counting the Zeros of the Polynomials $p (z) = z^{n} + z^{k} - 1$
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Michael Brilleslyper, US Air force Academy

Minimal Surface and Harmonic Mappings
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Jane McDougall, the Colorado College

Composition Operators and the Geometry of the Unit Disk
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Christopher Hammond, Connecticut College

Complex Variables and Gravitational Lensing by a Spiral Galaxy
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Erik Lundberg, Purdue University

Connecting Real and Imaginary Parts of Complex Quadratic Functions to Julia Sets
4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Julia Barnes, Western Carolina University

Complex Analysis and Soap Films
4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

AMS-MAA Special Session: Coding Theory and …

Friday, August 2, 2:00 – 4:50 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom B

Whenever information is transmitted or stored, errors are bound to occur. It is the goal of coding theory to devise efficient methods of adding redundancy to the information so that these errors can be detected and corrected. By its very nature, coding theory lies at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and electrical engineering. Many different areas of mathematics have found applications in coding theory, including linear algebra, combinatorial designs, number theory, group theory, algebraic geometry, and graph theory, just to name a few. Each talk in this session will highlight a connection between coding theory and some area of mathematics, either by discussing how that branch of mathematics was used to obtain a recent coding theoretic result or by discussing how coding theory can be incorporated into an undergraduate-level course in that branch of mathematics.

Organizers:
Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Judy L. Walker, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Using Coding Theory for Quantum Cryptography
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Susan Loepp, Williams College

Coding Theory, Designs, and Finite Geometries
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
David Clark, University of Minnesota

Coding Theory and Elementary Number Theory
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Justin Peachey, Davidson College

Coding Theory and Neuroscience
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Nora Youngs, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Coding Theory and Graph Search Algorithms
4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Elizabeth Weaver, Indiana University Southeast

Coding Theory and Instrumentation
4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Jonathan Hall, Michigan State University

Recent Developments in Mathematical Finance

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 – 4:45 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom B

This invited paper session will address recent challenges and solutions in Mathematical Finance. In particular, presentation themes will cover the theories of optimal investment, options pricing, risk management and price impact for large investors. The mathematical methods used herein are primarily from the field of Stochastic Analysis, but also branch out to include results from general Probability Theory, Partial Differential Equations, Convex and Harmonic Analysis, as well as Game Theory.
While the chief objective of the session is to provide results from the forefront of research into Mathematical Finance, a significant secondary goal is to make the talks accessible to a broader audience. Special attention will be paid to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as those researchers with a basic working knowledge of Probability and Stochastic Processes. Indeed, this session hopes to convince those who attend it that there are many interesting and challenging open problems in Mathematical Finance, both from a Mathematical and “Real World” perspective.

Organizers:
Tomoyuki Ichiba, University of California Santa Barbara
Scott Robertson, Carnegie Mellon University

Static Fund Separation of Long Term Investments
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Scott Robertson, Carnegie Mellon University

Occupation Times, Drawdowns, and Drawups for One-Dimensional Regular Diffusions
1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Hongzhong Zhang, Columbia University

Volatility – A Key Concept in Mathematical Finance
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Stephan Sturm, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Portfolios Under Rank-Based Equity Market Models
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Tomoyuki Ichiba, UCSB

Trends and Trades
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Olympia Hadjiliadis, CUNY Brooklyn

Climate and Geophysical Modeling

Saturday, August 3, 2:00 – 3:50 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom A

Mathematical models of the atmosphere, oceans, and other geophysical systems and are a key part of understanding Earth system dynamics and the effects of climate change. The Earth system is immensely complex and mathematical and computational techniques are vital to analyzing and studying the dynamics. In honor of the 2013 Mathematics of Planet Earth initiative, this session will highlight role of mathematics in modeling, predicting, and explaining behavior in areas such as hydrodynamics, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, sea ice, and biogeochemical processes. It will focus research involving computational models of geophysical systems and the integration of data into these models.

Organizer:
Matthew J. Hoffman, Rochester Institute of Technology

Improving Climate Models Using Non-Global Data Assimilation and Parameter Estimation
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Lewis Mitchell, University of Vermont

A Hybrid Ensemble Kalman Filter / Variational Method for Data Assimilation of the Ocean
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Steven Penny, University of Maryland

Numerical Modeling of Vegetation-Climate Feedbacks: An Example over Western Africa
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Clement Alo, Montclair State University

Quasi-Periodic Fluctuations in Climate Due to Sea Ice
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Raj Saha, Bowdoin College

Year:

2013

Contributed Paper Sessions

1. Best Practices for Teaching Online Courses

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 14

Online education is becoming increasingly common, and many institutions desire to offer courses online. Some faculty members are tasked with developing and teaching online courses without adequate training for doing so effectively. This session seeks to share ideas to help instructors of online courses. The focus will be on teaching courses completely online, rather than using online tools to augment a face-to-face class. Possible topics include strategies for delivering content, engaging students, fostering discussion and collaboration, and assessment in an online environment. Presentations about particular technologies useful for online classes are also welcome.

Organizer:
Matthew Wright, Huntington University

Bridging the Digital Divide: Building a Sense of Community and Improving Student Engagement
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Amy Wheeler, Hondros College

Collaboration and Assessment Strategies for Teaching Online Undergraduate vs. Graduate Courses
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Magdalena Luca, MCPHS University

Fostering Online Discussion in Introductory Statistics
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Jacci White, Saint Leo University
Scott White, St. Petersburg College

Teaching Online Courses to Overseas Students
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Xinlong Weng, University of Bridgeport

Getting Started in MY Online Math Class
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Carol Hannahs, Kaplan University

Teaching Online and Face-to-Face Students in the Same Class
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Elizabeth Miller, The Ohio State University

Creating a Community Within an On-line Class
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Cornelius P Nelan, Quinnipiac University

Teaching an Activities Based Course Online
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Becky Diischer, South Dakota State University

Raising Standards for Math Practice Software
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
John C Miller, The City College of The City University of New York

Living it Up with Live Binders: Organizing Faculty Shared Web 2.0 Resources
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Lea Rosenberry, Kaplan University
Leslie Johnson, Kaplan University
Michelle Lis, Kaplan University

Using Digital Game-Based Learning in Online Math Courses
4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Tamara Eyster, Kaplan University
Lea Rosenberry, Kaplan University

Teaching Statistics Online Using Blackboard Collaborate
4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Eric Ruggieri, College of the Holy Cross

2. History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Organizers:
Robert E. Bradley, Adelphi University
Bonnie Gold, Monmouth University
Maria Zack, Point Loma Nazarene University

Sponsors:
The Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics
HOM SIGMAA
POM SIGMAA

Euler’s Mathematics

Thursday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Leonhard Euler’s Mathematical Correspondence – The Early Berlin Years
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
Robert E. Bradley, Adelphi University

Vector Calculus in Euler’s Fluid Mechanics
9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Stacy Langton, University of San Diego

Euler’s Method for a Plentiful Harvest
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Michael P. Saclolo, St. Edward’s University

Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 5:20 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Conics in the 17th Century: Claude Mydorge and After
1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Christopher Baltus Baltus, SUNY Oswego

Christiaan Huygens’s Work on the Catenary, 1690-1691
1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
John Bukowski, Juniata College

The Geometric Algebra of John Wallis
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Maria Zack, Point Loma Nazarene University

Newton’s Writings on the Calculus
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Troy Larry Goodsell, Brigham Young University-Idaho

$Apr\'{e}s$ 1713: Bernoulli, Montmort et Waldegrave
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
David Richard Bellhouse, University of Western Ontario

George Washington’s Use of Trigonometry and Logarithms
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Theodore J. Crackel, Papers of George Washington
V. Frederick Rickey, West Point
Joel Silverberg, Roger Williams University

Mathematics as Practiced in Colonial and Post-Colonial America
4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Scott Guthery, Docent Press

Images of Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820)
4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Florence Fasanelli, AAAS

How Brook Taylor Got Joshua Kirby a Position
5:00 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.
Duncan J Melville, St. Lawrence University

Nineteenth Century
Friday, August 2, 2013, 8:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 26

Origins of Block Designs, Normed Algebras, and Finite Geometries: 1835 to 1892
8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
Ezra A Brown, Virginia Tech

Monsieur François-Joseph Servois: His Life and Mathematical Contributions
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
Salvatore John Petrilli, Adelphi University

The Definite Integral by Euler, Lagrange and Laplace from the Viewpoint of Poisson
9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Shigeru Masuda, Kyoto Univ

Twentieth Century, Part 1

Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Statistics at the 1924 Toronto IMC and BAAS
8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
David Orenstein, Toronto District School Board

Fictionalism and Mathematical Practice
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
Matthew Clemens, Keene State College

Who’s That Mathematician? No, Really, Who Is She (or He)?
9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Janet Beery, University of Redlands

Rational Discovery of the Natural World: An Algebraic and Geometric Answer to Steiner
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Robert H C Moir, Western University

Mathematical Logic and the History of Computers
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Jonathan Seldin, University of Lethbridge

Canonical Maps: Where Do They Come From and Why Do They Matter?
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.
Jean-Pierre Marquis, Université de Montréal

Twentieth Century, Part 2

Friday, August 2, 2:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 26

Tools of the Table Crackers: Quantitative Methods in the History of Numerical Tables
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Glen Van Brummelen, Quest University

On the Chebychev Quadrature
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Roger Godard, RMC

Felix Hausdorff: We Wish for You Better Times
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Charlotte Simmons, University of Central Oklahoma

Using History and Philosophy in Teaching Mathematics

Friday, August 2, 3:00 p.m. – 5:20 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Logic is Not Epistemology: Should Philosophy Play a Larger Role in Learning about Proofs?
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Martin E Flashman, Humboldt State University

Teaching Mathematical Ideas by the History of from Quadratic to Quartic Equations
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Xinlong Weng, University of Bridgeport

Playful History: A Generalizable Mesolabium for Geometer’s Sketchpad
4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
J. Lyn Miller, Slippery Rock University

Historical Accuracy, Popular Books, and Videos: Three Components of a History of Math Class
4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Diana White, University of Colorado Denver

The Use of History of Mathematics as a Tool in Teaching Mathematics
5:00 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.
Santhosh Mathew, Regis College

The Arc of Time

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Euclid’s Treatment of the Golden Ratio
8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
Charlie Smith, Park University

Plato was Not a Mathematical Platonist
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
Elaine Landry, University of California, Davis

Some Illustrated Comments on Selected “Magical Squares with Magical Parts”
9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
George P.H. Styan, McGill University

Mathematical Devices at the Smithsonian: Ideas for Using Digital Collections in the Classroom
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Amy Shell-Gellasch, Hood College
Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, NMAH/UMUC

3. Interactions Between History and Philosophy of Mathematics

This session is geared specifically to interactions between the history and philosophy of mathematics. Talks will be expected either to approach specifically how each discipline informs the other in particular or general contexts, or to discuss issues and episodes that have implications for both the philosophy and the history of mathematics.

Organizers:
Thomas Drucker, University of Wisconsin—Whitewater
Glen Van Brummelen, Quest University

Sponsors:
The Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics
HOM SIGMAA
POM SIGMAA

Part 1

Saturday, August 3, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Zeno Will Rise Again
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Thomas Drucker, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater

Analysis and Synthesis in Geometry Textbooks: Who Cares?
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.
Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, NMAH/UMUC

Part 2

Saturday, August 3, 2:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Assimilation in Mathematics and Beyond
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Robert S D Thomas, University of Manitoba

Euler and the Enlightenment
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Lawrence D’Antonio, Ramapo College

Persecution of Nikolai Luzin
3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Maryam Vulis, NCC and York College CUNY

Philosophy Etched in Stone: The Geometry of Jerusalem’s ‘Absalom Pillar’
4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Roger Auguste Petry, Luther College at the University of Regina

Understanding the Interplay between the History and the Philosophy of Mathematics in Proof Mining
4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Jeff Buechner, Rutgers University
Saul Kripke Center, CUNY GC

4. My Favorite Geometry Proof

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 14

This session invites presenters to share their favorite undergraduate geometry proofs. These proofs should be suitable for Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry courses as well as for courses frequently referred to as “modern” or “higher” geometry but not those related to differential geometry or (low-level) graduate courses. Proofs must be for theorems other than the Pythagorean Theorem. Presenters must do the full proof, discuss how the proof fits into the course, provide information regarding prerequisite topics for the proof, and discuss associated areas with which students have difficulty and how such concerns are addressed so that students understand the proof. Presenters are invited to discuss how they have modified the proof over time as well as to share historical information for “classic” proofs and explorations/demonstrations that they use to help students understand the associated theorem. Abstracts should include the theorem to be proved/discussed as well as brief background information.

Organizer:
Sarah L. Mabrouk, Framingham State University

Pizzas, Calzones, and Crusts: Using Symmetry to Slice up a Circle
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Michael Nathanson, Saint Mary’s College of California

Heron’s Formula: A Proof without Words
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Daniel E. Otero, Xavier University

Heron’s Formula for the Area of a Triangle
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Diana White, University of Colorado Denver

Spherical Triangle Area and Angle Sum
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

The Angle Sum Theorem for Triangles on the Sphere
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Marshall Whittlesey, California State University San Marcos

The Existence of the Nine-Point Circle for a Given Triangle
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Stephen Andrilli, La Salle University

Ptolemy’s Theorem
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Pat Touhey, Misericordia University

When is the Inversion of Circle C over Circle k Orthogonal to Circle k?
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Mary Platt, Salem State University

Convex Quadrilaterals
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Braxton Carrigan, Southern CT State University

Quadrature, the Geometric Mean, Hinged Dissections, and the Purpose of Proof
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Clark P Wells, Grand Valley State University

A Simple Proof of the Classification of Conics by the Discriminant
4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Martin E Flashman, Humboldt State University

It’s Not Hyperbole: A Transforming Proof
4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Thomas Q Sibley, St. John’s University

5. Inquiry-Based Learning Best Practices

In many mathematics classrooms, doing mathematics means following the rules dictated by the teacher and knowing mathematics means remembering and applying these rules. However, an inquiry-based learning (IBL) approach challenges students to create/discover mathematics. Boiled down to its essence, IBL is a method of teaching that engages students in sense-making activities. Students are given tasks requiring them to conjecture, experiment, explore, and solve problems. Rather than showing facts or a clear, smooth path to a solution, the instructor guides students via well-crafted problems through an adventure in mathematical discovery. The talks in this session will focus on IBL best practices. We seek both novel ideas and effective approaches to IBL. Claims made should be supported by data (student responses, test scores, survey results, etc.) or anecdotal evidence. This session will be of interest to instructors new to IBL, as well as seasoned practitioners looking for new ideas.

Organizers:
Dana Campbell Ernst, Northern Arizona University
Angie Hodge, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Stan Yoshinobu, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Part 1

Friday, August 2, 3:20 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 16

Course Notes for Differential Calculus
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Brian Loft, Sam Houston State University

Using Inquiry-Based Leaning to Define Continuity
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Tim Boester, Wright State University

A Flipped Classroom Study in Second Semester Calculus
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Ellie Kennedy, Northern Arizona University

Calculus – The IBL Way!
4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Janice Rech, Univeristy of Nebraska at Omaha
Angie Hodge, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Calculus Group Projects to Motivate Sequences and Series by Major
4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Daniel Shifflet, Clarion University of Pennsylvania

IBL in the Time of MOOCs
5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Olympia Nicodemi, SUNY Geneseo

Part 2

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 11:05 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 16

MathDL Mathematical Communication: Resources for Engaging Students in Communicating about Mathematics
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Susan Ruff, MIT

Discovery on “Number Theory Island”
8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Martha Allen, Georgia College
Blair Dietrich, Georgia Military College

Inquiry Based Learning in a Number Theory Course for Non-Majors
9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Lauren Rose, Bard College

A Collaborative, Student-Written Textbook in a Writing Intensive, IBL Discrete Mathematics Course
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
David Richeson, Dickinson College

From Cookbook to Toolbox: Modified Moore Method in Discrete Math and Abstract Algebra
9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

An IBL Proofs Course: Student Perspectives
10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Julianna Stockton, Sacred Heart University
Nicole Trommelen, Sacred Heart University
Jennifer Robillard, Sacred Heart University
Cole Matthew, Sacred Heart University
Bowers Jonathan, Sacred Heart University

Assessment in an IBL Geometry Course
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Theron James Hitchman, University of Northern Iowa

SIMIODE – Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations
10:55 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Brian Winkel, United States Military Academy

Part 3

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 16

Computer Environments Promoting Student Inquiry
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Robert Sachs, George Mason University

A Student-Centered Approach to Intermediate Algebra
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Jacqueline Jensen-Vallin, Slippery Rock University

Presentation Fridays in Advanced Calculus
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Robert W Vallin, Slippery Rock University

A Bridge between IBL and Student Inquiry
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Brian Katz, Augustana College

IBL Classroom Activities Beyond Student Presentation
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Elizabeth Thoren, University of California, Santa Barbara

Strategies for Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning in the College Mathematics Classroom
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Erin Moss, Millersville University

IBL Teachers’ Perspectives on Gettting Students to Work Together, Present, and Critique
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Timothy Whittemore, University of Michigan
Vilma Mesa, University of Michigan

Asking Good Questions to Promote Inquiry and Mathematical Conversations
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Christine von Renesse, Westfield State University
Volker Ecke, Westfield State University

Teachers Teaching: An Inquiry-Based Approach to Math Education
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Cheryll Crowe, Eastern Kentucky University

Using Computer Programming to Push Students to Build Mental Frameworks for Abstraction and Generalization
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Cynthia L. Stenger, University of North Alabama
James A. Jerkins, University of North Alabama

Creating an IBL Summer Mathematics Institute
4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Randall E Cone, VMI

Tile Flooring and Recursive Relation
4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Xinlong Weng, University of Bridgeport

6. Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

This session will 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. 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.

The session will also feature undergraduate research projects in mathematical and computational biology which are mentored by a single faculty mentor without the support of a larger program. We seek scholarly papers that present results from undergraduate research projects in mathematical or computational biology, discuss the creation, maintenance, or achievements of an undergraduate research program, or describe the establishment or maintenance of collaborations between faculty and students in mathematics and biology.

Organizer:
Carrie Elizabeth Diaz Eaton, Unity College

Sponsor:
BIOSIGMAA

UBM Program at University of Houston-Downtown: Experiences and the Challenge to Sustain It
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Edwin Tecarro, University of Houston-Downtown
Jeong-Mi Yoon, University of Houston-Downtown
Youn-Sha Chan, University of Houston-Downtown
Akif Uzman, University of Houston-Downtown

Undergraduate Mathematical Biology Research at Truman State University
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Pam Ryan, Truman State University

Graph Theory in DNA Self-Assembly: An Early Entry Point for Interdisciplinary Student Research
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Jo Anthony Ellis-Monaghan, Saint Michael’s College

Using Bioinformatic Approaches to Predict Gene Expression Based on Promoter Structure in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Natalie Stanley, Dickinson College

Analysis of Refined Gaussian Network Model for HIV-1 Protease
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Jacob Liddle, Houghton College
Nicholas Fuller, Houghton College
Junkoo Park, Houghton College

A Mathematical Model of Sleep Regulation
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Anita Kummamuri Rao, Texas Academy of Math & Science, Denton, TX

A Cognitive Neuroscience Modeling Experiment
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Ted Theodosopoulos, Saint Ann’s School
Patricia Theodosopoulos, Saint Ann’s School

Undergraduate Research in Epidemic Modeling
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Anthony DeLegge, Benedictine University

Undergraduate Research in Modeling the Response of Chaparral Shrubs to Wildfires
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Timothy Lucas, Pepperdine University

7. Research in Mathematics for High School and Community College Students

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 16

The goal of this contributed paper session is to share appropriate problems, course descriptions, and other opportunities designed to support and encourage small research project in mathematics at the high school and community college level. Presentations that focus on examples of good problems, experiences with recruitment of students, support for both faculty and students, and presentation and publication of results are encouraged.

In 2012 there were approximately 27,000 students who took BC Calculus before entering the 12th grade. For these students, a standard course in Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus, or Linear Algebra may be offered at their school, a local community college or university, or on- line. While these may be good courses, they do not offer high-level investigative experiences emphasizing the creative aspects of mathematical discovery, which encourages continued study in mathematics.

Encouraging students to use their own mind is absolutely essential when working with students who are talented and interested in mathematics. Students must be working on problems that are sufficiently rich to allow for extended work on them and sufficiently interesting and engaging so that they are willing to give the problems their time and intellectual energy. Small researchable problems offer this challenge to student creativity.

Organizer:
Daniel J. Teague, NC School of Science and Mathematics

Sponsor:
SIGMAA TASHM

Good Problems are the Key to Building a High School Research Program
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Daniel J. Teague, NC School of Science and Mathematics

Studying Knot Theory with High School Students
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Gyo Taek Jin, Dept. of Mathematical Science, KAIST
Hun Kim, Korea Science Academy of KAIST

Undergraduate Math Research with Games and Puzzles
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Shenglan Yuan, LaGuardia Community College,CUNY

Structuring a Research in Mathematics Program for High School or Community College Students
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Christine E. Belledin, NC School of Science and Mathematics

Research with Zombies
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Jean Marie Marie Linhart, Texas A&M University

Using the Gini Coefficient as a Research Project in Precalculus
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Victor Piercey, Ferris State University

8. The Mathematics of Planet Earth in Research

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

Earth is a dynamic and complex planet; mathematics is a tool that we can use to understand it. The North American Mathematical Sciences Institutes are sponsoring the theme of The Mathematics of Planet Earth in 2013 (MPE 2013) with the goal of showcasing the role that mathematics plays in recognizing, exploring, and solving planetary problems. In support of MPE 2013, this session seeks proposals from those who have engaged in Environmental Mathematics research. Accepted papers will be published on the SIGMAA EM website to spark conversation on theme related topics throughout the year and beyond.

Organizers:
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University
Monika Kiss, Saint Leo University

Sponsor:
SIGMAA EM

Modeling the Size of Raindrops
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Roger William Johnson, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Rate-Limited Sorption Modeling in Contaminant Transport
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
David Coulliette, Asbury University
Kenneth Rietz, Asbury University

Using Photometric Instruments to Observe and Model the South Atlantic Anomaly
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Christina Selby, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

The Impact of Temperature on Chinese Coal Demand
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Amir Y. Ahmadi, Purdue University – Agricultural Economics
Xin Zhao, Purdue University – Agricultural Economics
Daniel Ghambi, Purdue University – Agricultural Economics

9. The Mathematics of Planet Earth in the College Mathematics Curriculum

Friday, August 2, 3:05 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

Earth is a dynamic and complex planet; mathematics is a tool that we can use to understand it. The North American Mathematical Sciences Institutes are sponsoring the theme of “The Mathematics of Planet Earth” in 2013 (MPE 2013) with the goal of showcasing the role that mathematics plays in recognizing, exploring, and solving planetary problems. In support of MPE 2013, this session seeks proposals from those interested in integrating Environmental Mathematics issues into the typical college curriculum. Accepted papers will be published on the SIGMAA EM website to spark conversation on theme-related topics throughout this year and beyond.

Organizers:
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University
Monika Kiss, Saint Leo University

Sponsor:
SIGMAA EM

Motivating a Gen-Ed Math Modeling Course with Food Policy Issues – A Follow-up Report
3:05 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Jessica M. Libertini, University of Rhode Island

Exploring the Conversion of Alternative Energy
3:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Carrie Elizabeth Diaz Eaton, Unity College

Hurricanes : Engines of Destruction
3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Marc Laforest, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal

10. Recreational Mathematics: New Problems and New Solutions

As with all mathematics, recreational mathematics continues to expand through the solution of new problems and the development of novel solutions to old problems. For the purposes of this session, the definition of recreational mathematics will be a broad one. The primary guideline used to determine the suitability of a paper will be the understandability of the mathematics. Papers submitted to this session should be accessible to undergraduate students. Novel applications as well as new approaches to old problems are welcome. Examples of use of the material in the undergraduate classroom are encouraged.

Organizers:
Paul Richard Coe, Dominican University
Kristen Schemmerhorn, Dominican University

Part 1

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom A

Fitch Cheney’s Five Card Trick for Four or Three Cards
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Colm Mulcahy, Spelman College

Continued Fractions from a Magic Trick, A Preliminary Report
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Robert W Vallin, Slippery Rock University

Pop-Guitar-Music and Mathematics
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Duk-Hyung Lee, Asbury University

The Easiest Possible NY Times Crossword Puzzle
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Kevin Ferland, Bloomsburg University

Thinking Outside of the Box: The Mathematics of Swirldoku
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Michael Mulligan, PuzzMill

Nim $^{\infty}$
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
John Perry, University of Southern Mississippi

Utilizing Information “Perfectly” in a Logic Puzzle
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Blane Hollingsworth, Middle Georgia State College

Tinkering with a Mathematical Goldmine
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

Parametic Equations Go to the Circus: Trochoids in Poi Flower Patterns
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Eleanor Farrington, Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Randomly Generating a Dekaaz Poetry Form
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Mike Pinter, Belmont University

Part 2

Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 16

A Brief Study of Abundant Numbers Not Divisible by Any of the First n Primes
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Jay Lawrence Schiffman, Rowan University

Discovery of Unusual Patterns of Squares Modulo an Odd Prime
8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Roger Bilisoly, Central Connecticut State University

New Roles of an Old Puzzle: the Magic Square Problem
9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Aihua Li, Montclair State University

Solving the World’s Hardest Magic Square
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Ethan Brown, Phillips Academy Andover

Getting Hyper from Painting Cubes
9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Thomas Q Sibley, St. John’s University

Rubber Sheet Photography
10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Bruce Torrence, Randolph-Macon College

Classification of Polyominoes by Spinal Character
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
David Jacob Wildstrom, University of Louisville

11. Curriculum Development to support first year mathematics students

A common focus of university administration is student retention and graduation. First year mathematics courses, both general education and major specific, have comparatively high drop/fail/withdraw rates. This means that they are often scrutinized in regard to their effect on retention and graduation rates. In this session, we would like to hear what you have been doing to respond to this scrutiny. We hope to focus on departmental-wide efforts, rather than specific classroom approaches. Presentations could include complete course redesign, co-requisite support courses, restructure of curriculum, departmental efforts to standardize, etc. Note that we would like to hear about successful, in process, and unsuccessful initiatives. Presentations that include a description of the initiative along with data supporting the success or failure of these initiatives are especially encouraged.

Organizers:
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Becky Diischer, South Dakota State University
Charles Wesley Bingen, South Dakota State University

Part 1

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 14

Effectively Supporting First-Year Students in Precalculus and Calculus Via the Arlington-Emerging Scholars Program
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
James Anthony Mendoza Epperson, The University of Texas at Arlington
Julie Marie Skinner Sutton, The University of Texas at Arlington

Flipping Calculus: A Departmental Project of the University of Hartford
8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Fei Xue, University of Hartford

Math Workshop for Accelerated Pathway to Calculus
9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Brandy Wiegers, National Association of Math Circles
Addie Evans, San Francisco State University, CSME
Emiliano Gomez, University of California, Berkeley

Precalculus Redesign: The Influence of a Placement Program and the Power of a Name
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Alison Ahlgren-Reddy, University of Illinois
Marc Harper, UCLA

The Precalculus Competency Exam: A Remediation Program for Calculus
9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Caitlin Phifer, University of Rhode Island
Jessica M. Libertini, University of Rhode Island

Variations on the Theme of Calculus Support
10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Jill Jordan, Houghton College

Developing an Integrated Mathematics Curriculum in a Health Sciences Program
10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Aminul Huq, University of Minnesota Rochester

Great Ideas in Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Connections – Restructuring Core Content to Engage and Retain Students
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Melinda Schulteis, Concordia University, Irvine

Increasing Math Majors’ Skills, Confidence, Community and Retention with a 1st Year Course
10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Jacqueline Dewar, Loyola Marymount University
Suzanne Larson, Loyola Marymount University
Thomas Zachariah, Loyola Marymount University

Part 2

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 14

A Re-Redesign of College Algebra: Maximizing Flexibility and Consistency
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Brian Hollenbeck, Emporia State University

College Algebra Delivered Online: An Autopsy of an Unsuccessful Initiative
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Malissa Peery, University of Tennessee
Jennifer Fowler, University of Tennessee
Charles Collins, University of Tennessee

Just Enough Algebra — A Successful Approach to Preparing College Students
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Suzanne Ingrid Doree, Augsburg College, Minneapolis

Realigning a Service Mathematics Curriculum to Better Serve the Major Department
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Daniel Cole, SUNY Maritime College

Supporting Large-First Year Courses with a Mathematics and Statistics Learning Center
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Darry Andrews, The Ohio State University
Elizabeth Miller, The Ohio State University

Uniting to Support First-Year Success: A Collaboration between State Universities in Connecticut
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Karen Santoro, Central Connecticut State University

Improved Success Rates in Developmental Math through Acceleration, Collaboration, and Technology
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Awilda Delgado, Broward College

Implementing a Mastery-Based Format for Remedial Mathematics Courses- an Iterative Approach
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Charles Wesley Bingen, South Dakota State University

Creating an Online Math Lab
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Stepan Paul, UC Santa Barbara
Michael Yoshizawa, UC Santa Barbara

Math Skills, An Emporium Model Modified: What We learned from the Pilot Year
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Mary D Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University

Serving the Under-Resourced Student in a University Setting through Mathematics
4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Kerry Luse, Trinity Washington University
Joseph Sheridan, Trinity Washington University

Year One Results from Developmental Course Redesign
4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Stephen Hardin Fast, Limestone College

12. Math Circles: Best Practices

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room17

A math circle is broadly defined as a sustained enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. The SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST) supports MAA members who share an interest in initiating and coordinating math circles.

SIGMAA MCST invites speakers to report on best practices in math circles with which they are or have been associated. Talks could address effective organizational strategies, successful math circle presentations, or innovative activities for students, for instance. Ideally, talks in this session will equip individuals currently involved in a math circle with ideas for improving some aspect of their circle, while also inspiring listeners who have only begun to consider math circles.

Organizers:
Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University
Sam Vandervelde, St. Lawrence University

Sponsor:
SIGMAA MCST

A Sampler of Math Circle Problems
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
James Tanton, MAA

Math (Circles) Magic!
1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Cheryll Crowe, Eastern Kentucky University

Two Circle Projects
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Elgin Johnston, Iowa State University

Circle in a Plane: Can Math Circle Activities be done with Tablets?
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Paul Andrew Zeitz, University of San Francisco

More Games for Little Wranglers
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Edward C Keppelmann, University of Nevada Reno

“I Need a Drink of Water!”: 10 Things to Think About When Working with Elementary Math Circle Students
2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Brandy Wiegers, National Association of Math Circles

Albany Area Math Circle: Building a Mathematical Community
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Gili Rusak, Albany Area Math Circle

Developing Collaborative Lesson Plans for Math Enrichment
3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Lauren Rose, Bard College
Beth Goldberg, Linden Avenue Middle School, Red Hook, NY
Joy Sebesta, Bard College

Northern Colorado Math Teachers’ Circle
3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado
Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Cathleen Craviotto, University of Northern Colorado

What Happens in the Classroom of Math Teachers’ Circle Participants?
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Diana White, University of Colorado Denver

General Contributed Paper Sessions

1. History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Thursday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. – 10:10 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 14

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

The Fourier’s Fecundity of Analytic Method or Application
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Shigeru Masuda, Kyoto University

Beyond Euclid
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Kenneth Rietz, Asbury University

Galois and His Theory
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Philip Blau, Shawnee State University

Mathematics in the Book of Michael of Rhodes, A Fifteenth-Century Maritime Manuscript
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Andrew Perry, Springfield College

Mathesis Universalis
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Patricia Giurgescu, Mathematical Association of America

Kempe’s Flawed Proof that Four Colors Suffice
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Timothy Sipka, Alma College

Recruiting and Training Mathematicians as Codebreakers
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Chris Christensen, Northern Kentucky University

2. Research in Graph Theory or Combinatorics

Thursday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. – 10:10 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Fuzzy Greedoids – Structure and Invariants
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Steven J. Tedford, Misericordia University

A Combinatorial Proof of the Poincare-Miranda Theorem
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Francis Edward Su, Harvey Mudd College

2-Color Rado Numbers for $\sum_{i = 1}^{m - 1} x_{i} + c = x_{m}$
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Chris Spicer, Morningside College

Harmoniously Coloring Powers of Path Graphs
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Natacha Fontes-Merz, Westminster College

Adjacency Relationships Forced by Graph Degree Sequences
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Michael Barrus, Brigham Young University

The Birank Number of Ladder Graphs
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Michael Fraboni, Moravian College

The Algebraic Connectivity of Planar Graphs
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Jason Molitierno, Sacred Heart University

3. Probability or Statistics

Thursday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 16

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

In Quest of Fairness, Randomness and Independence
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Leo Chosid, NYC College of Technology
Jonathan Natov, NYC College of Technology

Re-Sequencing Hypothesis Testing in an Introductory Statistics Course with Active Learning
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Aminul Huq, University of Minnesota Rochester
Wei Wei, Metropolitan State University
Heidi Hulsizer, Hampden-Sydney College

A New Class of Benford Random Variables
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Azar Khosravani, Columbia College Chicago
Constantin Rasinariu, Columbia College Chicago

The M-Tile Means, A New Class of Measures of Central Tendency
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
David DiMarco, Neumann University
Ryan Savitz, Neumann University
Fred Savitz, Neumann University

4. Teaching Advanced Mathematics, Part 1

Thursday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. – 10:10 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 26

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Applications of Maxima to Calculus and Differential Equations
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Leon Kaganovskiy, Touro College Brooklyn Campus

Students’ Learning Journey in Linear Algebra
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Nermine El-Sissi, The American University in Cairo

Teaching Determinants by Rook-Arrangements
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Anders O.F. Hendrickson, Saint Norbert College

Bulls-Eye Jenga
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Michael David Smith, Lycoming College

A Sweet Way to Explore Statistics
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Sarah L. Mabrouk, Framingham State University

An Advanced, Applied Statistics Course for Mathematics Majors
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Pete Johnson, Eastern Connecticut State University
Marsha Davis, Eastern Connecticut State University

Curriculum Infusion of Alcohol Prevention In Probability and Statistics Courses
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Andrew Lazowski, Sacred Heart University

5. Research in Linear Algebra or Geometry

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 26

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

A Structured Inverse Eigenvalue Problem
1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Keivan Hassani Monfared, University of Wyoming

Golden Triangulations
1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Bruce Atkinson, Samford University
Braxton Carrigan, Southern CT State University

A Property of the Tangent Rectangle of the Parbelos: My Proof Compared with Tsukerman’s
1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Jonathan Sondow, New York City

Guarding a Koch Fractal Art Gallery
1:45 a.m. – 1:55 a.m.
William Roger Fuller, Ohio Northern University
Lauren Cassell, Ohio Northern University

Hidden Equilateral Triangles Inside Circles on Square Hyperbolas
2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Genghmun Eng

Mathematics and Art on the Sphere
2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Judith Ann Silver, Marshall University

Using a Curved Space Division Assembly, Two Plane Geometry Curves, for Partition of Linear Magnitude
2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Alexander Louis Garron, Sand Box Geometry LLC

Identifying The Right Recursion
2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Brian Kelly, Fisher College

Klein’s Hypercycles in 3D
3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Margaret Symington, Mercer University

M\”obius Transformations Fixing Finite Sets of Points
3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Damiano Fulghesu, Minnesota State University, Moorhead
Ishan Subedi, Minnesota State University, Moorhead

Some Not-So-Well-Known Constants Associated with the Conic Sedtions
3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Sylvester Reese

Minima Domain Intervals, Dimensions, and How to Extend the Class ‘Convex Functions’
3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Marcia R Pinheiro, RGMIA

The Equivalence of the Illumination and Covering Conjectures
4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Ryan Trelford, University of Calgary

The Complex Descartes Circle Theorem
4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Sam Northshield, SUNY-Plattsburgh

6. Assessment, Mentoring, or Outreach

Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 14

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Assessment and Curving Grades
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Fariba Nowrouzi Kashan, KYSU

Getting at the (Grade) Point of Grading
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Carrie Muir, University of Colorado, Boulder

The Scarlet Letter: Assessment with a Purpose
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
M. Leigh Lunsford, Longwood University
Phillip L. Poplin, Longwood University

Placement Tests: Are Students Getting the Course They Need?
9:15 a.m.- 9:25 a.m.
David C. Wilson, SUNY, Buffalo State
Chaitali Ghosh, SUNY, Buffalo State

High School Mathematics Competition – Females versus Males
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Carey Childers, Clarion University

Teaching Faculty How to Improve Students’ Quantitative Skills through Cognitive Illusions
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Frank Wang, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY

Maths Week Ireland: Lessons from a Small Island?
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Eoin Gill, Maths Week Ireland

Outreach with Grades K-8 Teachers Impacting Pre-Service Mathematics Courses
10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Matthew Haines, Augsburg College

Training Gifted Students: The Fullerton Mathematical Circle Experience
10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Rebecca Etnyre, Cal State Fullerton
Christina Tran, California State University, Fullerton Mathematical Circle

Professor Abian Teaches a Lesson from Kelley’s “General Topology”
10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Andrew deLong Martin, Kentucky State University

The National Research Experience for Undergraduates Programs’ (NREUP) Influence on Minority Students
11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Brian Arthur Christopher, University of Northern Colorado
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado

Professional Development Training for Graduate Students: A Different Kind of Seminar
11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Jenna P. Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

7. Teaching Calculus, Part 1

Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Assessing Maplets for Calculus: Best Practices for Instructors and Software Developers
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Douglas B Meade, University of South Carolina
Philip B Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Raymond E Patenaude, University of South Carolina
Robert Petrulis, EPRE Consulting LLC

Maplets for Calculus Expands Offerings in Precalculus, Calculus and Differential Equations
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Philip B Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Douglas B Meade, University of South Carolina
Matthew James Barry, Texas A&M University

Using Programming to Understand Limits in a Calculus II Class
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Amanda Harsy Ramsay, IUPUI (Indianapolis University Purdue University Indianapolis)

Video Games and Calculus
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Derek Thompson, Trine University

iPads in the Classroom: A Departmental Project at the University of Hartford
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Mako Haruta, University of Hartford

Implementing the Flipped Classroom in a First-Year Pre-Calculus/Calculus Course
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Kristen Sellke, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Janel Schultz, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

SONET-MATH: Using Social Networks to Learn Mathematics
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Lori Dunlop-Pyle, University of Central Florida
Ivan Garibay, University of Central Florida
Ozlem Garibay, University of Central Florida
Amanda Koontz Anthony, University of Central Florida

Technology Enhanced Large Calculus Lectures
10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Elizabeth Miller, The Ohio State University

8. Other/Research in Applied Mathematics

Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 10:55 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 17

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Numerical Solution of Sine-Gordon Equation by Spectral Method
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Narayan Thapa, Minot State University

Stonger Numerical Stability for Nonlinear PDEs
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Corban Harwood, George Fox University

An Exploration in Differential Equations for Modeling Population Growth
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Terry Jo Leiterman, St. Norbert College

A Theory of Formal Mathematical Reasoning
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Raymond Puzio, PlanetMath.org

Comparing Reducibilities on Computably Enumerable Sets
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Brooke Andersen, Assumption College

Solvable and/or Integrable Many-Body Models on a Circle
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Oksana Bihun, Concordia College at Moorhead, MN

An Assignment that Promotes a Symbiotic Relationship Between Math Pre-Service Teachers and High School Students
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Becky Hall, Western Connecticut State University

Flipping a Math Content Course for Elementary School Teachers
10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Pari Ford, University of Nebraska at Kearney

Integrating Content, Pedagogy, and Cognitive Coaching to Support K-8 Teachers’ Implementation of Common Core
10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Ekaterina Lioutikova, Univeristy of Saint Joseph (Connecticut)
Barbara Henriques, University of Saint Joseph

A Complex Calcudoku Classification
10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
David Nacin, William Paterson University

9. Teaching Introductory Mathematics

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 17

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

College Algebra in the High Schools
1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Christopher Schroeder, Morehead State University

Honors College Algebra at the University of Central Missouri
1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Dale Bachman, University of Central Missouri
Nicholas Baeth, University of Central Missouri

Using Algebra in the Classroom to Understand the Way in which Automobiles Collide
1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Alexander G. Atwood, Suffolk County Community College

Developmental Math as a Gateway, Not a Gatekeeper
1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Curtis Card, Black Hills State University
Daluss Siewert, Black Hills State University

Transforming Developmental Mathematics Classes
2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Daluss Siewert, Black Hills State University
Curtis Card, Black Hills State University

Preparing Students for College Math: A Successful Model of One-Semester Developmental Math
2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Pangyen Weng, Metropolitan State University

Improving Secondary School Students’ Mathematics Achievement in Nigeria through the use of Tutorial Computer-Aided Instruction
2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Solomon Abogunde Iyekekpolor, Federal University, Wukari, PMB 1020, Wukari-Nigeria

Linking “Women in Mathematics” and Middle School Girls through Mentoring
2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

South Carolina High Energy Mathematics Teachers’ Circle: A First Year Experience – Playing It By Ear
3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
George F McNulty, University of South Carolina
Nieves F McNulty, Columbia College
Douglas B Meade, University of South Carolina
Diana White, University of Colorado Denver

From Problem Solving to Research
3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Ted Theodosopoulos, Saint Ann’s School

Using Projects to Support Quantitative Literacy
3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Victor Piercey, Ferris State University

Doing SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) Projects
3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Sarah Ultan, UW-BC

10. Research in Algebra or Topology

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Bounds on Mosaic Knots
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Alan Alewine, McKendree University

Best Representations and Intervals of Uncertainty in a Weakened Topology for the Integers
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Sean Corrigan, Saint Louis University

Understanding the Johnson Filtration of the Mapping Class Group via Geometric Topology
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Aaron Heap, SUNY Geneseo

On the Parity of a Permutation
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Richard K. Oliver, Missoula, Montana

Semi-Simple Lie Groups Acting on Flag Manifolds
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
B Ntatin, Austin Peay State University

11. Teaching Calculus, Part 2

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 21

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Can The Beauty of Limits Be Recovered in Calculus?
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Jose Giraldo, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

Deconstructing the Formal Definition of Limit at a Point
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Tim Boester, Wright State University

Resequencing Calculus with an Early Multivariate Approach
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
David Dwyer, University of Evansville
Mark Gruenwald, University of Evansville
Mike Axtell, University of St. Thomas
Ken Luther, Valparaiso University
Joe Stickles, Millikin University
Nicholas Baeth, University of Central Missouri

Rigorous Calculus I Course for Biology Majors
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Melissa Stoner, Salisbury University

Convincing Students that Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Bradley James Paynter, University of Central Oklahoma

Teaching Calculus to Students who have Already Seen Calculus
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Charlotte Ann Knotts-Zides, Wofford College

Taking Math Students from ‘Blah’ to ‘Aha!’; What Can We Do?
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Darja Kalajdzievska, University of Manitoba

Teaching Calculus through History, Intuition, Exploration, and Development (HIED)
10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Paul Sisson, Louisiana State University Shreveport
Tibor Szarvas, Louisiana State University Shreveport

Unit Acceleration Vectors
10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Jeffrey William Clark, Elon University

12. Teaching Introductory Mathematics, Part 2

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 17

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Behind the Scene: What the Brain Thinks the Eyes Are Seeing
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Russell Coe, Suffolk County Community College

A New Approach for the Liberal Arts Mathematics Courses
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
James Fulton, Suffolk County Community College

Belended Developmental Mathematics Courses
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Xinlong Weng, University of Bridgeport

Helping Students Learn Geometry Using the Teacher made Manipulative
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Hari Naraayan Upadhyaya, Scholars Home Academy

Puzzles + Games = Mathematical Thinking
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Edmund A Lamagna, University of Rhode Island

Some Different Applications of Logarithms
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Brian Heinold, Mount St. Mary’s University

Case Study: Student with Dyscalculia Offered History of Mathematics Course to Satisfy General Education
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Gargi Bhattacharyya, University of Baltimore

The Challenges of Designing a Mathematics Course for Liberal Arts in a Former Soviet Republic
10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Tracey McGrail, Marist College

13. Modeling and Applications

Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 10:55 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 26

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Modeling Opportunities with Differential Equations in the Classroom
8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Brian Winkel, United States Military Academy

Fractal Powers in Serrin’s Swirling Vortex Solutions
8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Pavel Belik, Augsburg College
Doug Dokken, University of St. Thomas
Kurt Scholz, University of St. Thomas
Mikhail Shvartsman, University of St. Thomas

Fighting Fires in Siberia
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Edward Aboufadel, Grand Valley State University
Beth Bjorkman, Grand Valley State University

Mathematical Models of a Zombie Outbreak
9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Jean Marie Marie Linhart, Texas A&M University

Generosity without Reciprocity: Computation Models of Need-Based Transfers and Risk-Pooling
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Yan Hao, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Stochastic Differential Equation Models of the Nosocomial Infection VRE
9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Mohammed Yahdi, Ursinus College

Modeling Preferntial Admissoins at Elite Liberal Arts Colleges
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Sally Cockburn, Hamilton College

Ranking the Academic Output of Medical Schools in the United States Using Data Envelopment Analysis
10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Brian Harris Nathanson, OptiStatim, LLC

Timbral Partial Orders
10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Marcus Pendergrass, Hampden-Sydney College

Numerical Estimates for the Regularization of Nonautonomous Ill-Posed Problems
10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Matthew Fury, Penn State Abington

14. Teaching Advanced Mathematics, Part 2

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 21

Organizer:
Gerard Venema, Calvin College

A Simple Explanation of Stochastic Differential Equations
1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Blane Hollingsworth, Middle Georgia State College

Differential Equations without Derivatives
1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Brian Sutton, Randolph-Macon College

Essay-Style Problems in Differential Equations with WeBWorK
1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
L. Felipe Martins, Cleveland State University
Barbara Margolius, Cleveland State University

I Want it All, and I Want it Now! (Or, May I Please Graduate on Time?)
1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Anna Davis, Ohio Dominican University

Teaching an Honors Seminar on Fractals for Non-Majors
2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Christopher Sass, Young Harris College

Mathematics of Origami Honors Seminar — Successes and Lessons Learned
2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Vera Cherepinsky, Post University

Teachable Math in Cryptocurrency Phenomenon
2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Maryam Vulis, NCC and York College CUNY

The 2-Column Method: A Better Way to Teach Proofs?
2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Mindy Capaldi, Valparaiso University

“Where Have I Seen this Before?” – Encouraging Undergraduate Students to See Connections
3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Antonia Cardwell, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Transformative Learning in an Analysis Course: A Tactile Approach
3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Kristi Karber, University of Central Oklahoma

The Constant of Integration
3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Marian Anton, Central Connecticut State University

Adapted Sequence/Function Project
3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Violeta Vasilevska, Utah Valley University

Native American-Based Mathematics Materials for Integration into Undergraduate Courses
4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Charles Funkhouser, California State University Fullerton
Miles R Pfahl, Turtle Mountain Community College

15. Research in Number Theory

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 2:25 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 22

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Class Numbers and Continued Fraction Expansions
1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Mark Bauer, University of Calgary
Richard Guy, University of Calgary
Michael Katsuris Wanless, University of Calgary
Colin Weir, University of Calgary

Distributions of Sequences Modulo 1: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Paul Spiegelhalter, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Independent Divisibility Pairs on the Set of Integers from $1$ to $N$
1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Rosemary Sullivan, West Chester University of PA

Equality of Cardinality of Sets of Subsets with Cardinality Congruent to Values Modulo $k$
1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
John Pesek, University of Delaware

A Delightful Interconnection Between Pythagorean Triples and Fibonacci-Like Sequences
2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Jay Lawrence Schiffman, Rowan University

Squares and Pythagorean Triples II
2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Frederick Donald Chichester, Montclair Tutoring Center

16. Mathematics and Technology/Research in Analysis

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 3:25 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 26

Organizers:
Kristi Meyer, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Thomas Hagedorn, The College of New Jersey

Are You Ready for R
1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Joseph Manthey, University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT

Applets Embedded in WeBWorK Homework Problems
1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Barbara Margolius, Cleveland State University

Using Lurch in an Introduction to Proofs Course
1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Nathan Carter, Bentley University
Kenneth G. Monks, University of Scranton

Technology in the Mathematics Classroom
1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Helmut Knaust, The University of Texas at El Paso

Creating and Analyzing Chaotic Attractors Using Mathematica
2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Ulrich Hoensch, Rocky Mountain College

An Introduction to Formal Laurent Series
2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Xiao-Xiong Gan, Morgan State University

Classifying Rational Points in Generalized Cantor Sets and Cantor Like Sets
2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Douglas Daniel, Presbyterian College

Geometric Approach to the Computation of Certain Definite Integrals
2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Sergei Artamoshin, CCSU

Traveling Wave Solutions of the Porous Medium Equation
3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Joseph A. Iaia, University of North Texas

Geometry of Fractal Squares
3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Kristine Roinestad, Georgetown College

MAA Student Paper Sessions

Students who wish to present at the MAA Student Paper Sessions at MathFest 2013 in Hartford must be sponsored by a faculty advisor familiar with the work to be presented. Some funding to cover costs (up to $750) for student presenters is available. At most one student from each institution or REU can receive full funding; additional such students may be funded at a lower rate. All presenters are expected to take full part in the meeting and attend indicated activities sponsored for students on all three days of the conference. Abstracts and student travel grant applications should be submitted at www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts. For additional information visit www.maa.org/students/undergrad.

Organizers:

Theron J. Hitchman, University of Northern Iowa
Jennifer Bergner, Salisbury University

Pi Mu Epsilon Student Paper Sessions

Pi Mu Epsilon student speakers must be nominated by their chapter advisors. Application forms for PME student speakers will be available by March 1, 2013 on the PME web site www.pme-math.org. A PME student speaker who attends all the PME activities is eligible for transportation reimbursement up to $600, and additional speakers are eligible with a maximum $1200 reimbursement per chapter. PME speakers receive a free ticket to the PME Banquet with their conference registration fee. See the PME web site for more details.

Organizer:

Angela Spalsbury, Youngstown State University

Year:

2013

Minicourses

1. Environmental Mathematics

Part 1, Friday, August 2, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 24
Part 2, Saturday, August 3, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 24

The goal of the course is to provide you with the concepts, techniques and resources that will serve as the basis for a six-week module in a liberal arts course or a three-week module in an introductory modeling course. This approach to systems modeling requires little beyond high school algebra, yet it will enable students to model processes such as the flow and interaction of energy, materials, and populations. The modeling is based on an integrated visual-qualitative-computational approach. A flow equation (a D.E. in disguise) will be our key concept/technique. The first hour will be an overview, including examples; we will model systems with one tank (variable). In the second hour you will be modeling a system with two tanks. You will represent the system diagrammatically, express the diagram with flow equations, solve the equations qualitatively, and then numerically solve the equations. In the third hour, teams will model scenarios that involve non-linear interaction of flows and tanks. In the last hour, we will link economics to natural capital and sustainability, and then have an open discussion.

Ben Fusaro, Florida State University

2. Teaching with Classroom Voting and Clickers

Part 1, Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 24
Part 2, Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 24

This minicourse will provide participants with an overview of classroom voting pedagogy in a wide range of college mathematics courses. Time will be spent discussing the logistics of classroom voting using clickers as well as recent research on this type of pedagogy. Participants will play the role of students in a voting demonstration, explore an online library of over 2300 classroom voting questions, prepare a lecture with voting questions for use in one of their own courses, and try their hands at writing some questions.

Holly Zullo, Carroll College
Jean McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford
Ann Stewart, Hood College
Christopher Storm, Adelphi University

3. Resequencing Calculus

Part 1, Thursday, August 1, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 24
Part 2, Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25

The Resequencing Calculus project is redesigning the calculus sequence, ordering topics so that material prerequisite for upper-level STEM courses is front-loaded into the first two semesters and so that there is a natural progression of difficulty throughout the 3-course sequence. Participants will explore the proposed resequence of Calculus I-III and will have a chance to discuss the sequence with instructors who have taught the sequence. Participants will discuss the progress and assessment of the project to date, future plans, and various approaches for dealing with multiple challenges, including those posed by course transfers and AP credit. This project is supported by NSF Grants DUE 1225566 and 0836676.

Mike Axtell, University of Saint Thomas and Joe Stickles, Millikin University

4. Passion-Driven Statistics: A Supportive, Project-Based, Multidisciplinary Introductory Curriculum

Part 1, Friday, August 2, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25
Part 2, Saturday, August 3, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25

This minicourse exposes participants to a multidisciplinary, project-based model for teaching introductory statistics. We will present new learning materials and innovative teaching strategies that directly and creatively tackle many of the most significant challenges currently faced by introductory statistics instructors and students. The curriculum is aimed at taking advantage of students’ natural curiosity and providing a common language for approaching questions across numerous scientific disciplines. Core features of this curriculum include providing opportunities for students to flexibly apply their knowledge, the use of computing as a window to core statistical concepts, and supporting students with varying levels of preparation.

Jeffrey Nolan and Arielle Selya, Wesleyan University

5. Mathematical Expeditions in Polar Science

Part 1, Thursday, August 1, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25
Part 2, Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25

“The challenges facing our planet and our civilization are multidisciplinary and multifaceted, and the mathematical sciences play a central role in the scientific effort to understand and to deal with these challenges.” — Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013. The polar regions are critically important to the global system. Participants will learn about many different areas of scientific research going on in the Arctic and in Antarctica, including sea ice, glaciers, ice cores, phenology, astronomy, biology, and satellite mapping. This mini-course will appeal to teachers of grades 11-14 who are looking for interesting, timely, and interdisciplinary applications which illustrate the power of mathematics in understanding our planet and its challenges. Mathematical modeling and data representation will be a unifying theme in the activities; mathematics from algebra to differential equations may be highlighted. Many excellent resources will be used during the mini-course, so please bring a laptop with wireless capability.

Lynn Foshee Reed, Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, NSF Polar Programs

6. Making Math Relevant: A Multidisciplinary Sustainability Module for Calculus

Part 1, Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25
Part 2, Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 24

Do you want to improve student engagement and understanding of the relevance of calculus to every-day life, without sacrificing typical content? This minicourse will bring together data, Excel, sustainability and a multidisciplinary approach to provide richer context and relevance for calculus. The module has students consider the 21st century problem: What are the current and future impacts of global climate change on polar bears? Students then use real data and Excel, write a technical report, read reports written by student in data structures, ecology, and thermodynamics, and then complete a summary assignment to bring together the information for all disciplines. This mini-course provides the background information to successfully use the module, along with data sets ideas for sustainability exercises. Participants will need Excel loaded onto their laptops and are encouraged to bring a calculator.

Thomas J. Pfaff and Jason Hamilton, Ithaca College

Year:

2013

Panels/Posters/Workshops

Panel Sessions

National Assessment Instruments

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

There are several nationally normed instruments used to assess college-level mathematics learning. One, the Major Field Test (MFT), is used to assess the major; two others, the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) and the ETS Proficiency Profile (ETS-PP, formerly MAPP: Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress), are used to assess general education – not just in mathematics, but overall, but they do have mathematical components. (Another, the Praxis, for pre-service teachers, was discussed by a panel at JMM 2013.) This panel will consist of faculty at institutions that use the test. They will discuss the kinds of questions the test includes, how it is administered at their institution, what kinds of information the institution receives, and how their school has used this information to improve its program.

Organizer:
Bonnie Gold, Monmouth University

Panelists:
Timothy Flood, Pittsburg State University
Gerald Kruse, Juniata College
Mary Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University
Janine Wittwer, Westminster College

Sponsor:
Committee on Assessment

Non-Academic Career Paths for Students Who Like Math. A Response to the Statement: “I really like math, but I don’t want to teach.”

Friday, August 2, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

It’s the bottom of the ninth; bases loaded. The right-handed relief pitcher has already thrown for two innings. At-bat is a lefty batting .295. Is it time to pull the pitcher? Come to this exciting panel to find out! During our panel we will hear from mathematicians from various fields including sports statistics (hopefully you are a Mets fan) and actuarial science. Each panelist will be given the opportunity to describe their non-academic career, then we will open the floor to questions. Be sure you are not left on the bench for this one!

Organizers:
Lisa Marano, West Chester University
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University
Jean McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford

Panelists:
Ben Baumer, Smith College, former statistician for NY Mets Actuary from Mass Mutual
Anna Mika, Campus Program Associate from Clean Air-Cool Planet
An actuary from Mass Mutual
A representative from ESPN

Sponsor:
CUSAC

Hosting an AMC Competition: Advice from the Experts!

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

The MAA sponsors the annual American Mathematics Competition for 8th, 10th and 12th grade students. This session will outline how institutions can serve as a regional host site for the AMC, with a focus not only on encouraging students in the area to participate in this event, but to also educate students about career and other opportunities in mathematics at the host institution. Panelists include faculty from successful AMC host institutions, as well as AMC Director Steve Dunbar. There will be a Q&A session at the end, as well as handouts for participants.

Organizer:
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Panelists:
Jon Scott, Montgomery College
Steve Dunbar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Randy Cone, Virginia Military Institute

Sponsor:
Committee on Professional Development

Student Summer Programs, Study Abroad Opportunities, and Graduate Fellowships: Who, What, When, Where, and Why?

Friday, August 2, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

Myriad opportunities exist for undergraduate and graduate students interested in participating in summer programs, study abroad programs, or pursuing graduate school in the mathematical sciences. This session will provide an overview several different opportunities, as well as best practices on topics such as successful applications and securing funds. Panelists will discuss the NSF Graduate Fellowship Program, the Math in Moscow Program, the Budapest Semester in Mathematics Program, and the Carleton College Summer Mathematics Program for Women. There will be a Q&A session at the end and handouts for participants.

Organizer:
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Panelists:
Kristina Garrett, St Olaf College
Stephen Kennedy, Carleton College
Sean Howe, University of Chicago
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Sponsor:
Committee on Professional Development and Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters

Successful Career Transitions

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

The journey from undergraduate student to graduate student to a career in mathematics involves the navigation of several crucial transition points. This panel will address the common transitions that may be encountered, including the transition from graduate work to a postdoctoral position; the transition from postdoctoral work to employment in an academia, government, or industry; and transition between different types of positions (academic to industry, etc.). Panelists will discuss their experiences and the successful strategies that they used in their transitions, such as finding mentors and role models, negotiating for resources, and understanding key aspects of the job market and culture.

Organizers:
Jacqueline Jensen, Slippery Rock University
Magnhild Lien, California State University Northridge
Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts Boston

Panelists:
Lynette Boos, Providence College
Eileen Lee, Math for America
Connie Leidy, Wesleyan University
Karen Ricciardi, University of Massachusetts Boston
Milena Tzigantcheva, State Street Corporation, Boston

Sponsor:
Association for Women in Mathematics

How to Apply for Jobs

Thursday, August 1, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

This session is aimed at graduate students and recent Ph.Ds. An overview of the employment process will be given with ample opportunity for participants to ask questions. Questions that will be addressed include: How do you find which jobs are available? How do you choose which jobs you want to apply for? What are academic and other employers looking for in the materials that you send? How should you tailor your application material for the job that you are applying to? How do schools conduct interviews?

Organizers:
Estela Gavosto, University of Kansas
Kristine Roinestad, Georgetown College

Panelists:
James Freeman, Cornell College
Joanne Peeples, El Paso Community College
Kristine Roinestad, Georgetown College
A mathematician from industry

Sponsors:
Committee on Graduate Students
Professional Development Committee
Young Mathematicians Network

A Mathematician Teaches Statistics: Tales from the Front Lines

Thursday, August 1, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

At many institutions, mathematicians are invited, lured, or coerced into teaching statistics courses. This is especially true at smaller institutions that do not have separate statistics departments, but may also happen at larger institutions where statistics departments struggle to find sufficiently many instructors to teach all of their courses. Many of these instructors have had little or no formal statistical training, and most have had no prior experience teaching statistics. Come hear from mathematicians who have successfully made the transition to teaching statistics. Find out what lessons they have learned from teaching statistics and get their advice for other mathematicians who find themselves in the same situation.

Organizer:
Randall Pruim, Calvin College

Panelists:
Kimberly Roth, Juniata College
Iwan Praton, Franklin & Marshal
Mike Stob, Calvin College
Jason Shaw, Truman State University

Sponsor:
SIGMAA StatEd and Committee on Professional Development

Poster Session

PosterFest 2013:A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students

Friday, August 2, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Pre-Function

This poster session will allow early career mathematicians, including untenured faculty and graduate students, to present and discuss their scholarly activities with other attendees in an informal atmosphere. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at http://www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts.html. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.

Organizer:
Audrey Malagon, Virginia Wesleyan College

Sponsors:
MAA Committee on Early Career Mathematicians
Young Mathematician’s Network
Graduate Student Committee

Workshops

Workshop 1: Exploding Dots: An Accessible and Interactive Workshop for Middle- and High-School Educators

Friday, August 2, 6:00 p.m. – 7:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25

Here is a story that isn’t true: When I was a young child I invented a machine (not true) that was nothing more than a series of boxes that could hold dots. And these dots would, upon certain actions, explode. And with this machine, in this non-true story, I realized I could explain true things! In one fell swoop I explained all the mathematics of arithmetic I learnt in grade school (true), all the of the polynomial algebra I was to learn in high-school (true), elements of calculus and number theory I was to learn in both high school and in university (true), and I began to explore unanswered research questions still intriguing mathematicians to this day (also true)!
Let me share this story with you. See how simple and elegant ideas from the regular curriculum connect to elegant and profound ideas in mathematics as a whole. And, other way round, discover from all this new and exciting approaches to bring back into the classroom. It’s win-win all round! Be sure to bring pencil and paper. This experience will be interactive!

Organizer:
James Tanton, MAA Mathematician in Residence

Sponsor:
Council on Outreach

Workshop 2: What’s the Story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for a General Audience

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom C

Presenting our research to undergraduate students can be both fun and rewarding. It can also be difficult, however, since the gory details of our results often require a great deal of specific jargon and background. Nonetheless, the big ideas can almost always be presented at a variety of levels, and this workshop is designed to help participants develop the skills needed to formulate a presentation on their research that is appropriate for an audience of undergraduate students. Since many colleges and universities require giving such a talk as part of a job interview, almost any graduate student will have the opportunity to do so, and the ability to communicate complex mathematical ideas to students is a valued trait in a candidate. This workshop will consist of hands-on activities and audience interaction aimed toward developing and improving the necessary skills for creating an engaging and accessible presentation for undergraduates.

Organizer:
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsors:
Committee on Graduate Students
Young Mathematician’s Network

Year:

2013

Short Course

The MAA Short Course is made possible through contributions to the William F. Lucas Fund made in honor of William F. Lucas.

The Mathematics of Games and Puzzles

Part 1: Tuesday, July 30, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 11
Part 2: Wednesday, July 31, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 11

In this course, you will learn about the mathematics that underlies many of the great games and puzzles that people enjoy today. Imagine impressing your friends, students, or fellow classmates with your ability to solve the Rubik’s cube or almost any Sudoku. Learn the optimal basic strategy for playing blackjack, along with some simple card counting techniques. Learn the mathematics needed to play great poker or expert backgammon. Since you’re a mathematician, most people assume that you’re already good at these things. This course will teach you those skills and you’ll learn some fun mathematics along the way.

Organizer and Presenter:

Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College

The Game Plan

Tuesday

Great Expectations and Winning Wagers
Optimal Blackjack and Simple Card Counting
Games You Can’t Lose and Impossible Puzzles
How to Solve and Understand Rubik’s Cube

Wednesday

Zero Sum Games and Practical Poker Probabilities
Expert Backgammon
Solving Sudoku and KenKen
Chess and Games of Pure Strategy

The average lecture time is 75 minutes, and all material will be accessible to undergraduates. All lectures will be given by Arthur Benjamin, Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. Dr. Benjamin is a past co-editor of Math Horizons, an MAA-Award winning teacher and author, and a past winner of the American Backgammon Tour. He has created four DVD courses for The Great Courses, including one on The Mathematics of Games and Puzzles.

Year:

2013

Graduate Student Activities

Graduate Student Workshop

What’s the story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for a General Audience

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

Organizer:

Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsors:

Committee on Graduate Students

Young Mathematicians Network

Graduate Student Reception

Thursday, August 1, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Graduate students are invited for some refreshments and to meet several of the invited speakers.

Organizers:

Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas

James Freeman, Cornell College

Student Poster Session

PosterFest 2013: A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students

Friday, August 2, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This poster session will allow early career mathematicians, including untenured faculty and graduate students, to present and discuss their scholarly activities with other attendees in an informal atmosphere. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at http://www/maa.org/mathfest/abstracts. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.

Organizer:

Audrey Malagon, Virginia Wesleyan College

Sponsors:

MAA Early Career Mathematicians Committee

Graduate Student Committee

Young Mathematicians Network

Special Session For Graduate Students

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Contact Jim Freeman or Rachel Schwell for help on writing an abstract and preparing a talk for a general audience. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?) on mathematical presentations. Information on travel support will be available at www.maa.org/students/grad.html on March 1, 2012. Abstracts must be submitted by April 30, 2012.

Organizers:

Jim Freeman, Cornell College

Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsors:

Committee on Graduate Students

Panel Discussons

How to Apply for Jobs

Thursday, August 1, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 pm

This session is aimed at graduate students and recent Ph.D.s. An overview of the employment process will be given with ample opportunity for participants to ask questions. Questions that will be addressed include: How do you find which jobs are available? How do you choose which jobs you want to apply for? What are academic and other employers looking for in the materials that you send? How should you tailor your application material for the job that you are applying to? How do schools conduct interviews?

Organizers:

Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas

Kristine Roinestad, Georgetown College

Panelists:

James Freeman, Cornell College

Joanne Peeples, El Paso Community College

Kristine Roinestad, Georgetown College

A mathematician from industry

Sponsors:

Committee on Graduate Students

Professional Development Committee

Young Mathematicians Network

Speed Interviewing Marathon for Students

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Employers suggest that communication skills are a critical component when considering a mathematics major for a job. An important time to demonstrate good communication skills is during the job interview. This session will start with an overview of best practices and tips on job interviewing, then guide students as they participate in several speed interviewing sessions of 10 minutes each, where they can practice what they have learned and hone their interviewing skills. Speed interviewing sessions will include individual feedback for students, as well as opportunities to network with fellow students.

Organizers:

Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Sponsors:

Professional Development Committee

Committee on Graduate Students

Year:

2013

Undergraduate Student Activities

MAA-PME Student Reception

Wednesday, July 31, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom A

Math Jeopardy

Wednesday, July 31, 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom A

Answer: A fun undergraduate mathematics contest to lead off MathFest.
Question: What is Mathematics Jeopardy?
Four teams of students will provide the questions to go with the mathematical answers in many categories. Come cheer for your favorite team. The session will be emceed by Michael Berry.

Organizers:
Robert Vallin, Slippery Rock University
Michael Berry, University of Tennessee

Student Hospitality Center

Thursday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom C
Friday, August 2, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom C
Saturday, August 3, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom C

The Student Hospitality Center (SHC) provides a place for students and other MathFest attendees to meet for informal conversation, refreshments, and mathematical diversions. Programs for the MAA and Pi Mu Epsilon student paper sessions, packets for the MAA student presenters, and information on MathFest activities of interest to students are available in the SHC.

Organizers:
Richard and Araceli Neal, American Society for the Communication of Mathematics

MAA Lecture For Students

Optimal Pentagonal Tilings

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom C

Speaker:
Frank Morgan, Williams College

Opportunities in the Actuarial Profession

Thursday, August 1, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom E

The city of Hartford is home to a large number of companies that employ actuaries. Actuaries and actuarial students from the local area will be available in this session to describe what they do and some of the opportunities available in the actuarial profession. The session will begin with a short presentation that describes the actuarial profession and the steps in the career of an actuary. Then the moderator will interview the panelists to gather information about their actuarial experience, the challenges they face, etc. Panelists will discuss actuarial student programs and the support actuarial students receive as they progress through their careers. The panelists will answer questions from the audience. Audience members will also hear from Professor Jay Vadiveloo about the applied research work being undertaken at the Goldenson Center for Actuarial Research at the University of Connecticut.

Moderator:
Thea Cardamone, FSA, UnitedHealthcare Group

Panelists:
Daniel Akier, UnitedHealthcare
Gaia Dong, FSA, Aetna
Trevor Foster, Aetna
Harry Gong, UnitedHealthcare
Eli Greenberg, UnitedHealthcare
Amber Lahde, ASA, MassMutual
Olga Jacobs, FSA, UnitedHealthcare
Gao Niu, University of Connecticut
Stephen Smith, FSA, MassMutual
Jay Vadiveloo, FSA, Ph.D,. University of Connecticut Goldenson Center for Actuarial Research
June (Chunchun) Wu, FSA, Ph.D., UnitedHealthcare

Sponsor:
The Actuaries’ Club of Hartford and Springfield

MAA Undergraduate Student Activity

A Mathematician and an Environmental Scientist Walk into a Bar

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom C

Come and engage in the conversation that ensues and see how interacting with scientists is good for both the mathematician and the scientist. The conversation will provide some useful intellectual tools related to the role of mathematics in society. In the end you will be armed with at least one answer to the questions of who cares about math and where does it get used.

Speaker:
Thomas J. Pfaff, Department of Mathematics, Ithaca College
Jason Hamilton, Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Studies, Ithaca College

MAA Undergraduate Student Activity

Exhilaration and Consternation: Adventures in Conducting Undergraduate Research

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom E

One day you are sitting in your office, chipping away at your responsibilities: preparing for class, grading papers, producing paperwork for committees, creating workshops for teachers, or whatever it is that you are doing to find and maintain your niche. There comes a knock at your door, and for the first time in your life you hear the words, “Are you willing to be my research advisor?” Ah, the excitement, and…the fear. I will relate my personal story of entering this endeavor: the trials and tribulations, the excitement and revelations, as I carry you through the results my students have produced over the past few years and provide you with materials to explore topics in graph theory and knot theory as the story progresses!

Speaker:
Robin Blankenship, Morehead State University

Non-Academic Career Paths for Students Who Like Math

A Response to the Statement: “I Really Like Math, but I Don’t Want to Teach.”

Friday, August 2, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom D

Speaker:
Lisa Marano, West Chester University
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University
Jean McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford

Panelists:
Ben Baumer, Smith College, former statistician for the NY Mets
Anna Mika, Campus Program Associate from Clean Air-Cool Planet
An actuary from Mass Mutual
A representative from ESPN

Sponsor:
CUSAC

Student Paper Sessions

To view a PDF of the student paper session abstracts, please click here.

MAA Student Paper Sessions

Thursday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.

Organizers:
Theron J. Hitchman, University of Northern Iowa
Jennifer Bergner, Salisbury University

Pi Mu Epsilon Student Paper Sessions

Thursday, August 1, 2:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Friday, August 2, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Organizer:
Angela Spalsbury, Youngstown State University

Speed Interviewing Marathon for Students

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom E

Organizers:
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Sponsors:
Professional Development Committee and Committee on Graduate Students

Pi Mu Epsilon Student Banquet And Awards Ceremony

Friday, August 2, 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom C

All PME members and their supporters are welcome. See the registration form for more information on this ticketed event.

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

Friday, August 2, 8:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

I will start with my absolute favorite among all matrices. It has 2’s down the main diagonal and -1 ‘s on the diagonals just above and just below. It is a Toeplitz matrix (constant diagonals), a second difference matrix (because of -1, 2, -1), and a highpass filter. The matrix is tridiagonal and positive definite and you see it all over pure mathematics too. Its determinant is n+1, and most important are its eigenvectors which are pure sines. Recently I came back to this well-loved matrix, realizing that I didn’t know its symmetric square root, its exponential or its cosine. Those are all badly needed for the heat equation and wave equation. They are not tridiagonal but still amazing. I will speak about another matrix too (the graph Laplacian) as well as the combination of differential equations and linear algebra.

Speaker:
Gilbert Strang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MAA Ice Cream Social

Friday, August 2, 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Pre-Function

Besides cake and ice cream, we will recognize all students who gave talks in the MAA Student Paper Sessions, and award prizes for the best of them. All are invited.

MAA Mathematical Competition In Modeling (MCM) Winners

Saturday, August 3, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 17

About 500 American teams, each consisting of three undergraduates, entered the 2013 MCM in February. The contest consists of two real(istic) problems, one discrete, one continuous. The teams have four days to deal with the challenge during which time they may use or consult anything inanimate – computers, libraries, the Web, etc. MAA judges choose one continuous winner and one discrete winner from the top contenders. The two MAA winning teams of students will present the results of their four-day challenge.

Organizer:
Ben Fusaro, Florida State University

Student Problem Solving Competition

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 17

This event is the finals of the Problem Solving Competition. Universities and colleges that participate monthly on their own campuses by holding problem solving contests are invited to send a contestant. Each contestant will be required to solve a series of mathematical problems. Based on the outcome, a champion along with 2nd through 6th place winners will be named.

Sponsor:
Richard Neal, American Society for the Communication of Mathematics

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 12

Your ears are needed! Come hear this sampler of talks by graduate students. The 20-minute presentations are designed to be dynamic talks about a wide range of mathematics topics — specifically chosen to be exciting and accessible to undergraduates familiar with calculus and linear algebra. Speakers in this session are current graduate students. More details for potential speakers can be found in the description of this session in the Information for Graduate Students section of the program.

Organizers:
Jim Freeman, Cornell College
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsors:
Committee on Graduate Students and the Young Mathematicians Network

Year:

2013

SIGMAA Activities

The following is a list of activities at MathFest 2013 that are sponsored by SIGMAAs. Full descriptions of the sessions may be found elsewhere in the program.

Mathematical and Computational Biology: BIO SIGMAA

Contributed Paper Session: Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology
Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

History of Mathematics: HOM SIGMAA

Contributed Paper Session: History and Philosophy of Mathematics
Thursday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.– 5:25 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27
Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 5:25 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27
Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 26
Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Contributed Paper Session: Interactions Between History and Philosophy of Mathematics
Saturday, August 3, 10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

Math Circles for Students and Teachers: SIGMAA MCST

Contributed Paper Session: Math Circles: Best Practices

Session 1: Saturday, August 3, 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Session 2: Saturday, August 3, 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.

Math Circles Demonstration

Philosophy of Mathematics: POM SIGMAA

Thursday, August 1, Friday, August 2, and Saturday, August 3

Contributed Paper Session: History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Saturday, August 3, morning

Contributed Paper Session: Interactions Between History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Environmental Mathematics: SIGMAA EM

Saturday, August 3, afternoon

Contributed Paper Session: The Mathematics of Planet Earth in the College Mathematics Curriculum

Contributed Paper Session: The Mathematics of Planet Earth in Research

Statistics Education: SIGMAA STAT-ED

Thursday, August 1, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: A Mathematician Teaches Statistics: Tales from the Front Lines

Quantitative Literacy: SIGMAA QL

Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education: SIGMAA RUME

Teaching Advanced High School Mathematics: SIGMAA TAHSM

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 16

Contributed Paper Session: Research in Mathematics for High School and Community College Students

Mathematics Instruction Using the Web: WEB SIGMAA

WEB SIGMAA Business Meeting

Friday, August 2, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Connecitcut Convention Center, Room 17

Year:

2013

Other Mathematical Sessions

Opportunities in the Actuarial Profession

Thursday, August 1, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom E

Moderator:
Thea Cardamone, FSA, UnitedHealthcare Group

Sponsor:
The Actuaries’ Club of Hartford and Springfield

MAA Section Officers Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom C

This session is moderated by Rick Gillman, Valparaiso University, Chair of the MAA Committee on Sections. It is open to all section officers and their guests. The session consists of a short workshop on section events relating to the MAA Centennial celebration, together with brief reports from the Association headquarters.

Town Meeting on Minority Participation in Mathematics

Thursday, August 1, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Twenty-five years ago an MAA Task Force on Minority Participation in Mathematics produced a list of 42 recommendations for how the MAA could help broaden participation in mathematics. This town meeting will feature an open discussion on progress and priorities since the report was issued in 1988.

Moderators:
Alissa Crans, Loyola Marymount University
William Hawkins, University of the District of Columbia and MAA

Organizers:
Alissa Crans, Loyola Marymount University
Frank Morgan, Williams College
Talithia Williams, Harvey Mudd College

Sponsor:
Committee on Minority Participation in Mathematics

CODEBREAKER

Thursday, August 1, 7:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom C

Join us for a free screening of CODEBREAKER, the award-winning film that tells the story of Alan Turing, mathematical genius, World War II codebreaker, and intellectual father of computer science and artificial intelligence. In the early 1950s, Turing faced terrible persecution from the British government because he was gay. The film explores this aspect of his personal life as well as his scientific achievements. CODEBREAKER’s executive Producer and creator Patrick Sammon will introduce the film and provide Q&A afterward. Learn more details about the film and watch a two-minute trailer here.

MAA Prize Session

Friday, August 2, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Organizer:
Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary

Moderator:
Robert Devaney, Boston University, MAA President

CSHPM Business Meeting

Friday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 27

The CSHPM’s annual general meeting will include reports by members of the CSHPM executive and will be chaired by CSHPM president Glen Van Brummelen.

Speed Interviewing Marathon for Students

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom E

Organizers:
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Sponsors:
Professional Development Committee
Committee on Graduate Students

Alder Award Session

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

In January 2003 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 whose teaching has been extra-ordinarily 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 at MathFest on their work. Presentations by the Alder Award honorees.

Honorees:
Kumer Das, Lamar University
Rachel Levy, Harvey Mudd College
Christopher Storm, Adelphi University

Moderator:
Paul Zorn, Former MAA President

Discover facts, enrich artistic ability, and increase the sum of knowledge: participate in undergraduate research

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

Over the last several years, there has been a proliferation of summer and semester-long undergraduate research experience programs in mathematical sciences. Besides those sponsored summer research programs, academic year research for undergraduate students at their home institution becoming popular. Mathematics faculty around the country are getting involved with this type of research and administrators are encouraging this effort. Research with faculty during the regular academic year, at a student’s home institution, provides a different type of opportunity. Such academic-year research experiences expand possibilities for undergraduates, proceed with time for students to reflect as they work and can be extended to allow students to complete substantial work. Since 2007, we have been conducting academic year research at Lamar University. This study describes our academic year research program.

Speaker: Kumer Pial Das, Lamar University

Mentoring through Media: Grandma Got STEM

Friday, August 2, 2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “That’s so easy your grandmother could do it”? I’ll share a project designed to change perspectives about grandmothers in STEM fields that unexpectedly blossomed. Take home message: when you mentor through social media, you just might reach the world.

Speaker: Rachel Levy, Harvey Mudd College

Teaching Mathematics: Get Real

Friday, August 2, 3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

One of the key goals of an undergraduate research experience is to empower students mathematically by engaging them in mathematics in the same way we as mathematicians are engaged. With the rise of REUs and university curricula that intentionally incorporate research, more undergraduate students than ever are participating. However, many students still do not have or take advantage of such an opportunity. With this as a backdrop, I share my own progression as a teacher who seeks to engage students in authentic mathematical experiences. I’ve always designed my courses to invite students to do mathematics; however, as the result of my participation in the National Science Foundation grant “Mathvote: Teaching Mathematics with Classroom Voting” and a recent conference, I have taken the next step and now work to design experiences where every mathematics undergraduate student has the opportunity to function in the same manner as a professional mathematician.

Speaker: Christopher K. Storm, Adelphi University

Math Circle Demonstration

Session 1, Saturday, August 3, 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 13
Session 2, Saturday, August 3, 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 13

A math circle is an enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. These two demonstration sessions, each directed by an experienced math circle leader, offer the opportunity for MathFest 2013 attendees to observe and take part in math circle experiences, and to enjoy the organic and creative process of learning that circles offer. The first is directed towards professional mathematicians as participants, the second towards students as participants. Both are for all to witness.

Organizer:
Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University

Sponsor:
SIGMAA-MCST

MAA Business Meeting

Saturday, August 3, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Ballroom B

Organizer:
Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary

Chair:
Robert Devaney, Boston University, MAA President

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, August 3, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 12

Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to a general audience which includes undergraduates and non-mathematicians as part of a job interview, most students do not have experience talking to a non-research audience. This session gives graduate students the opportunity to give a 20-minute talk aimed at an undergraduate audience which has been exposed to calculus and some linear algebra. Both the talks and abstracts should be designed to excite a wide range of undergraduates about mathematics. All participants in this session will receive private feedback on their presentations from an established faculty member and an undergraduate student. Time permitting, a discussion of effective techniques for delivering great general-audience talks will occur at the end of the session. Contact Jim Freeman or Rachel Schwell for help on writing an abstract and preparing a talk for a general audience. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?) on mathematical presentations. Information on travel support will be available here on March 1, 2013. Abstracts must be submitted by April 30, 2013.

Organizers:
Jim Freeman, Cornell College
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsor:
Committee on Graduate Students

Introductory Session
1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.

A Variation on Tetris for Algebraic Geometers
1:15 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Stepan Paul, UC Santa Barbara

Where Will I Sit?!
1:40 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
John Asplund, Auburn University

What Your Professor Didn’t Tell You About Critical Points
2:05 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Rachel Webb, Brigham Young University

A Beautiful Connection Between Graphs and Knots
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Adam Giambrone, Michigan State University

Modeling Changes in DNA Topology Using the Tangle Method
2:55 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Crista Moreno, San Francisco State University

Extremal Cayley Digraphs
3:20 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Joni Schneider, Texas State University – San Marcos

Introduction to Mutually Orthogonal Latin Squares
3:45 p.m. – 4:05 p.m.
James Hammer, Auburn University

The Game of Basic Mancala
4:10 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Maximiliano Liprandi, University of Calgary

Panel Discussion
4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Year:

2013

Committee Meetings

Wednesday, July 31

Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters

Wednesday, July 31, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 7

Thursday, August 1

MathDL Advisory Board and Friends Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Marriott, Conference Room 4

PME Council Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 17

Committee on the Status of the Profession

Thursday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom B

Committee on the Teaching of Undergraduate Mathematics Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom A

MAA Committee on Departmental Review Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Marriott, Conference Room 7

Science Policy Committee Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 24

Professional Development Committee Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 6

Lunch with RUMC

Thursday, August 1, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 4

Committee on Journals Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom A

Council on Members and Communities Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 7

URSIP Group

Thursday, August 1, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 5

Ad Hoc Planning Committee for the MAA Centennial 2015 Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom B

Council on Prizes and Awards Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom A

Membership Committee Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 6

Section Officers Meeting

Thursday, August 1, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Marriott, Ballroom C

Friday, August 2

PME Advisors Breakfast

Friday, August 2, 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25

Committee on Technologies in Mathematics Education Meeting

Friday, August 2, 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom A

Committee on Sections Meeting

Friday, August 2, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Marriott, Conference Room 4

Council on Outreach Programs Meeting

Friday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom B

Committee on MAA/Department Liaisons Meeting

Friday, August 2, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Marriott, Conference Room 5

Council on Programs and Students in the Mathematical Science Meeting

Friday, August 2, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Marriott, Conference Room 7

CUPM Steering Committee Meeting

Friday, August 2, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom A

Committee on Early Career Mathematics Meeting

Friday, August 2, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom A

Math Awareness Month 2014 Meeting

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 5

Council on Meetings and Professional Development Meeting

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 4

CUPM Committee Meeting

Friday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 7

SIGMAA EM Business Meeting and Reception

Friday, August 2, 2:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 15

SIGMAA TAHSM Committee Meeting

Friday, August 2, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom B

CRAFTY Committee Meeting

Friday, August 2, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Boardroom A

WEB SIGMAA Business Meeting

Friday, August 2, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 17

REU Leadership Group Meeting

Friday, August 2, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Connecticut Convention Center, Room 25

Saturday, August 3

Minicourse Committee Meeting

Saturday, August 3, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Marriott, Conference Room 4

Committee on Committees and Councils Meeting

Saturday, August 3, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 7

Project NExT Director Meeting

Saturday, August 3, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 6

Council on the Profession Meeting

Saturday, August 3, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marriott, Conference Room 4

Year:

2013

2014

Invited Addresses

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Bjorn Poonen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Undecidability in Number Theory

Thursday, August 7, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Undecidability in Analysis and Topology

Friday, August 8, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Undecidability Everywhere

Saturday, August 9, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Hilbert’s Tenth Problem asked for an algorithm that, given a multivariable polynomial equation with integer coefficients, would decide whether there exists a solution in integers. Around 1970, Matiyasevich, building on earlier work of Davis, Putnam, and Robinson, showed that no such algorithm exists. But the answer to the analogous question with integers replaced by rational numbers is still unknown, and there is not even agreement among experts as to what the answer should be. Meanwhile, over the past decades, many problems in areas of mathematics other than number theory have also been found to be undecidable. I will present a sampling of these, and discuss a few problems whose undecidability status is not yet known.

Biography: Bjorn Poonen is the Claude Shannon Professor of Mathematics at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He received A.B. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard and Berkeley, respectively, and held positions at MSRI, Princeton, and Berkeley before moving to MIT in 2008. Poonen’s research focuses mainly on number theory and algebraic geometry; in particular, he is interested in the rational number solutions to equations. Poonen is the founding managing editor of Algebra & Number Theory. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Mathematical Society. He has received the Guggenheim, Packard, Rosenbaum, and Sloan fellowships, as well as a Miller Professorship and the 2011 Chauvenet Prize. Earlier, he was a four-time Putnam Competition winner, an International Mathematical Olympiad medalist, and the unique perfect scorer out of 385,000 participants in the 1985 American High School Mathematics Exam. Fifteen mathematicians have completed a Ph.D. thesis under his guidance.

AMS-MAA Joint Invited Address

What is the Value of a Computer Proof in Research and Teaching?

Friday, August 8, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Sara Billey, University of Washington

Sara Billey In this talk, we will introduce some of the history of computer assisted proofs, modern applications, and how you can incorporate this technique into your every day life. Beyond the famous 4-Color Theorem, computer assisted proofs are found in hypergeometric series, geometry of Kepler’s conjecture, and algebraic geometry related to Schubert varieties. Each new computer assisted proof adds to our collective repertoire with this relatively new technique. We will talk about some specific easy problems that can be verified by computer and some results in the literature for which no human only proof is known. We will address the important question “What does a computer proof add to our mathematical intuition?” We also will give several suggestions for where computer assisted proofs can be added in the undergraduate curriculum. In the long run, we speculate that computer assisted proofs will be taught right along side the techniques of induction and proof by contradiction.

Biography: Sara C. Billey is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Washington. She earned her undergraduate degree at MIT and went on to study mathematics at the University of California in San Diego, where she earned MA and PhD degrees in mathematics. Profesor Billey’s research specialty is combinatorics. She is known for her contributions on Schubert polynomials, singular loci of Schubert varieties, Kostant polynomials, Kazhdan–Lusztig polynomials often using computer verified proofs. She is a strong advocate of using computers to do research in mathematics, in particular for obtaining data for conjectures and computer verified proofs.

In 2000 Professor Billey received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). She has also been the recipient of an NSF Career award. In 2012 she became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.

For more information on Professor Billey, see the delightful prize-winning essay The Most Famous Sara in Mathematics by Rebecca Myers.

MAA Invited Address

Understanding Microorganism Swimming using Mathematics

Thursday, August 7, 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Ricardo Cortez, Tulane University

Biological fluid flows, like those surrounding moving bacteria and spermatozoa, are generated by viscous forces, which completely dominate inertial effects, so that their dynamics may be modeled as a sequence of steady-state snapshots. Microorganism motility has been an active area of research for the last 60 years motivated by questions like: What are effective locomotion strategies of microorganisms? How do they interact with the surrounding environment? How do microorganisms combine to create patterns of collective motion? What force-generating mechanisms do the organisms use to propel themselves? The only way to answer these questions is through a combination of theory, experiments, mathematical modeling and simulation. We will present recent collaborative mathematical work, some of it done with undergraduate students, that sheds light on these biological systems and challenges ahead.

Biography: Ricardo Cortez received a B.A. in mathematics and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Arizona State University. He earned a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1995 and became an NSF postdoctoral fellow and Courant Instructor at New York University. He joined the faculty at Tulane University in 1998, where he is the Pendergraft William Larkin Duren Professor of Mathematics and Director of the Center for Computational Science. Prof. Cortez was the 2012 recipient of the Blackwell-Tapia prize for significant contributions to research and for serving as a role model for mathematical scientists and students from underrepresented minority groups. His research interests include computational mathematics, mathematical biology, modeling, and secondary mathematics education.

MAA Invited Address

Mathematical Models of the Retina and In Silico Experiments: Shedding Light on Vision Loss

Saturday, August 9, 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Erika Camacho, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Arizona State University

Mathematical modeling has been used to study diverse biological topics ranging from protein folding to cell interactions to interacting populations of humans but has only recently been used to study the physiology of the eye. In recent years, computer (in silico) experiments have given researchers invaluable insights and in some cases have re-directed experimental research and theory. In this talk I will give a brief overview of the relevant physiology of the eye as it pertains to Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a group of inherited degenerative eye diseases that characterized by the premature death of both rod and cone photoreceptors often resulting in total blindness. With mathematics and in silico experiments, we explore the experimentally observed results highlighting the delicate balance between the availability of nutrients and the rates of shedding and renewal of photoreceptors needed for a normal functioning retina. This work provides a framework for future physiological investigations potentially leading to long-term targeted multi-faceted interventions and therapies dependent on the particular stage and subtype of RP under consideration. The mathematics presented will be accessible to an undergraduate math audience and the biology will be at the level of a novice (and with a little help from Dr. Seuss).

Biography: Erika Tatiana Camacho grew up in East Los Angeles and was taught by Jaime Escalante at Garfield High School. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University. She has held positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Loyola Marymount University, and ASU. She is currently an MLK Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). ). She co-founded and co-directed the Applied Mathematical Sciences Summer Institute (AMSSI), dedicated to the recruitment of undergraduate women, underrepresented minorities, and those that might not otherwise have the opportunity. Her current research is at the interface of mathematics, biology, physiology, and sociology and involves mathematically modeling degenerative eye diseases, gene networks within yeast, social networks, alcohol effects on a neuron firing, and fungal resistance under selective pressure. Her leadership, scholarship, and mentoring has won her national recognition including the SACNAS Distinguished Undergraduate Mentoring Award in 2012 and the National Hispanic Women Corporation Latina Leadership Award in 2011, recognition as one of 12 Emerging Scholars of 2010 by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, and a citation for mentoring and guiding undergraduates in research by the U.S. National Security Agency. Some of her local recognitions include the Dr. Manuel Servin Faculty Award for excellence in exemplifying achievement in research, mentorship of Hispanic students, leadership at ASU and in the community in 2013, the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Faculty Service Award in 2013, the 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 Award in 2012 and the ASU Faculty Women’s Association Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award in 2011.

MAA Invited Address

First Person Solvers – Using Video Games to Learn Mathematics and Solve Real Math Problems

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Keith Devlin, Stanford University

The design of a good interface to an activity can have a significant impact on learning and use. The piano provides a more intuitive and direct interface to music than symbolic musical notation, the Hindu-Arabic numerals revolutionized arithmetic (and with it, trade and commerce), and symbolic algebraic notation was so successful that most people today think the interface is algebra, rather than the mathematical processes the notation represents. Devlin has spent the past several years developing casual games that provide representations of mathematics that enable children (and adults) to learn basic mathematics by “playing”, the same way we can learn music by learning to play the piano.

Biography: Keith Devlin is a co-founder and Executive Director of the university’s H-STAR institute, a co-founder of the Stanford Media X research network, and a Senior Researcher at CSLI. He is a World Economic Forum Fellow, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. His current research is focused on the use of different media to teach and communicate mathematics to diverse audiences. In this connection, he is a co-founder and President of an educational video games company, InnerTube Games. He also works on the design of information/reasoning systems for intelligence analysis. Other research interests include: theory of information, models of reasoning, applications of mathematical techniques in the study of communication, and mathematical cognition. He has written 32 books and over 80 published research articles. Recipient of the Pythagoras Prize, the Peano Prize, the Carl Sagan Award, and the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award. In 2003, he was recognized by the California State Assembly for his “innovative work and longtime service in the field of mathematics and its relation to logic and linguistics.” He is “the Math Guy” on National Public Radio.

James R. C. Leitzel Lecture

Research in Mathematics by Undergraduates: Past, Present, and Future

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Joseph Gallian, University of Minnesota Duluth

Although involving undergraduates in research has been a long standing practice in the experimental sciences, it has only been recently that undergraduates have been involved in research in mathematics in significant numbers. In this talk I will trace the evolution of research by undergraduates over the past 25 years and the reasons for it. I will give my opinion on what lies ahead over the next ten years.

Biography: Joe Gallian received a PhD from Notre Dame in 1971. He has been at the University of Minnesota Duluth since 1972. He is the author of the book “Contemporary Abstract Algebra” (8th edition) and coauthor of the book “For All Practical Purposes” (9th edition). His research interests include groups, graphs and combinatorics. He has published more than 100 articles and given over 250 invited lectures at colleges, universities and conferences. He has directed summer research programs for undergraduate students since 1977. Over 200 papers written in the program have been published in professional-level research journals. Ten program alumni have received the AMS-MAA-SIAM Morgan Prize for research, 14 have won the Association for Women Alice Schafer Prize, and one hundred and fifteen have received a PhD degree. He has received teaching awards from the Mathematical Association of America, the Carnegie Foundation and the University of Minnesota. He is past President of the Mathematical Association of America and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.

AWM-MAA Etta Z. Falconer Lecture

From Algebraic to Weak Subintegral Extensions in Algebra and Geometry

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Marie A. Vitulli, University of Oregon

As students of algebra we quickly learn that for the purpose of solving polynomial equations the field of rational numbers is inadequate. We soon become acquainted with algebraic extensions of the rationals and later in our studies meet the fields of algebraic numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers, the latter as the algebraic closure of the real field.

As students of commutative algebra we learn about integral extensions of rings and their properties and consequences in the study of algebraic varieties and schemes. Again, for some purposes, integral extensions do not accomplish all that we had hoped for. Much more recently geometers and algebraists introduced the twin theories of weak normality and seminormality for commutative rings and algebraic varieties to address some of these deficiencies.

In this talk we outline the history of the twin theories with an emphasis on the recent developments in the area over the past fifteen years. For clarity of exposition we will focus our attention on the characteristic 0 case where the theories merge into one.

Biography: Marie A. Vitulli is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at the University of Oregon. She received her B.A. degree with highest distinction from the University of Rochester and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon completing the Ph.D. degree Dr. Vitulli joined the faculty at the University of Oregon and remained there for her entire academic career. Dr. Vitulli has made original and important contributions to commutative algebra and its interactions with algebraic geometry. Over her long career she has worked tirelessly for the advancement of women in mathematics. Prof. Vitulli has published numerous research articles and book chapters and has lectured on her work throughout the United States, Europe, and South Africa.

After her early work in deformation theory Vitulli turned her attention to the study of seminormality and weak normality for commutative rings and algebraic varieties. In a series of papers with her colleague John V. Leahy, she developed fundamental properties of seminormality and made connections to the theory of weakly normal complex analytic spaces. More recently Vitulli discovered an elegant new element-wise criterion for weak subintegrality. Along with her colleague D.K. Harrison, she developed a unified valuation theory for rings with zero divisors that generalized both Krull and Archimedean valuations.

While at Oregon, Dr. Vitulli worked in many ways to improve opportunities for women in mathematics. She was involved in the creation and administration of a scholarship program for undergraduate women in mathematics and the physical sciences. Professor Vitulli created and maintains the award-winning website Women in Math Web Project.

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

Fibonacci and the First Personal Computing Revolution

Friday, August 8, 8:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Keith Devlin, Stanford University

The first personal computing revolution took place not in Silicon Valley in the 1980s but in Pisa in the 13th Century. The medieval counterpart to Steve Jobs was a young Italian called Leonardo, better known today by the nickname Fibonacci. Thanks to a recently discovered manuscript in a library in Florence, the story of how this genius, about whom we know so little, came to launch the modern commercial world can now be told.

Based on Devlin’s book The Man of Numbers: Fibonacci’s Arithmetical Revolution (Walker & Co, July 2011) and his co-published companion e-book Leonardo and Steve: The Young Genius Who Beat Apple to Market by 800 Years.

The Jean Bee Chan and Peter Stanek Lecture for Students

The Founding of Pi Mu Epsilon 100 Years Ago

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I

Jack Graver, Syracuse University

On December 8, 1913 the Mathematical Club of Syracuse University met on the 10th anniversary of it’s founding. “Miss Florence Richert presented the paper ‘The Evaluation and Transcendence of Pi.’ Discussion followed the reading of the paper.” There was a short business meeting before refreshments at which “Dr. Roe gave the report of committee appointed to consider changing the Club into a Mathematical Fraternity.” The decision was made to proceed with this project and during the Spring semester of 1914 the details were worked out and PME was incorporated in New York State.

What did they want to accomplish by taking this action? What was background against which the decision to found PME was made? Using the Archives of Syracuse University and the detailed notes left by the founders, I hope to answer these questions and to develop an understanding of the historical context in which PME was born.

NAM David Harold Blackwell Lecture

Markov Decision Processes, Turnpike Horizons and Blackwell Optimality

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I

Mark Lewis, Cornell University

A Markov decision process (MDP) is defined by the 5-tuple: the time horizon, a state space, a transition matrix (of a Markov chain), a control or action space, and a cost or reward function. Together, this constitutes a mathematical construct for optimizing dynamic decision-making under uncertainty. In this talk, we outline the components of an MDP, discuss classic results of Blackwell, then show how Blackwell’s optimality criterion can be used in controlled queueing systems and for the development of turnpike horizons.

Martin Gardner Centennial Lecture

The Magic of Martin Gardner

Saturday, August 9, 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom

Persi Diaconis, Stanford University

Martin Gardner somehow managed to make mathematical ideas come alive to the broadest spectrum, from runaway teenagers to homemakers to professional mathematicians. The question is “How did he do it?” Along the way he exposed fake mediums, elucidated Alice in Wonderland, wrote awful poetry, and explained magic tricks. One recurrent theme in his writing: He thought that tricks, riddles, and jokes should be woven into our teaching. Neither the education establishment nor the upper crust of mathematicians seems to agree. I’ll try to bring all of this to life. But, beware, as someone once wrote:

“Warning: Martin Gardner has caused dozens of innocent youngsters to become professional mathematicians and thousands of professional mathematicians to become innocent youngsters.”

This event is free and open to the public.

Year:

2014

Invited Paper Sessions

Mathematical Epidemiology

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Mathematical Epidemiology has grown at an accelerated pace over the last two decades through the integration of mathematical models, available data, computational methods and fieldwork. Successful epidemiological models are validated using parameters from particular epidemics, can predict likely outcomes of an epidemic, and can be used to propose specific interventions strategies.

Modern epidemiological models involve temporal and spatial features, age structure, transmission across networks or patches, deterministic and stochastic elements, seasonality, ecological factors, and more. The inclusion of these features also calls for new mathematical analysis of the models. This session features expository presentations covering a variety of aspects of modern Mathematical Epidemiology.

Ricardo Cortez, Tulane University

Abstracts

Comparing Risk for Chikungunya and Dengue Emergence Using Mathematical Models

1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Carrie Manore, Tulane University

How are Fish Population Dynamics Shared by a Changing Environment? Insights from a Mathematical Model Driven by Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Data from Lake Erie

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Paul Hurtado, Mathematical Biosciences Institute

Determining Causal Networks in Nonlinear Dynamical Systems: Ecosystem Applications

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Bree Cummins, Montana State University

Epidemic Forecasting and Monitoring using Modern Data Assimilation Methods

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Kyle Hickmann, Los Alamos and Tulane University

Qualitative Inverse Problems using Bifurcation Analysis in the Recurrent Neutral Network Model

3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Stephen Wirkus, Arizona State University

Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013+: Management of Natural Resources

3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Abdul-Aziz Yakubu, Howard University

Connections between Logic and Arithmetic Geometry

Thursday, August 7, 1:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

In the past few years, ideas from model theory and computability theory, branches of logic, have led to proofs of new results in arithmetic geometry. Sometimes these ideas from logic serve as inspiration by analogy; other times they are directly used in the proofs. The proposed session will consist of survey talks by experts, suitable for a broad audience.

Bjorn Poonen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstracts

Computability Theory at Work: Factoring Polynomials and Finding Roots

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Russell Miller, Queens College, City University of New York

The Zilber Trichotomy Principle for Algebraic Dynamics: Hands-On Examples of Deep Notions from Model Theory

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Alice Medvedev, University of California at Berkeley

On the Elementary Theory of Finitely Generated Fields

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Florian Pop, The Pennsylvania State University

Computational Aspects of Algebra, Geometry and Combinatorics

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

This session will highlight recent advances in mathematics inspired by experimental and computational aspects of research. The talks will be in areas of combinatorics and probability related to algebra and geometry. This is a highly active area of research, which often lends itself to interesting talks accessible to a wide audience.

Sara Billey, University of Washington
Benjamin Young, University of Oregon

Abstracts

The Combinatorics of CAT(0) Cubical Complexes and Robotic Motion Planning

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Federico Ardila, San Francisco State University

A Borsuk-Ulam Equivalent that Directly Implies Sperner’s Lemma

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Kathryn Nyman, Willamette University

The Combinatorics of Fully Packed Loops and Razumov-Stroganov Conjectures

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dan Romik, University of California, Davis

Parking Functions and Tree Inversions

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
David Perkinson, Reed College

Expanding Hall-Littlewood Polynomials into Schur Functions

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Austin Roberts, University of Washington

Self-Organizing Cellular Automata

4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Alexander E. Holroyd, Microsoft Research

The Mathematics of Biological Fluid Dynamics

Friday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

One exciting area of mathematical research within Mathematical Biology is “biological fluid dynamics,” which consists of explaining and understanding the interaction of fluids and living organisms. This includes the motion of microorganisms such as bacteria and algae, cell motion, the fluid flow in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, flying and swimming, and much more. The research problems are inspired by the need to understand basic functions of life, such as reproduction, growth, feeding, and locomotion.

The mathematics of biological fluid dynamics involves developing theory, creating models, and designing computational methods for numerical simulations of the systems being investigated. This is typically done in collaboration with experimentalists and other scientists. This expository session highlights a variety of applications of the mathematics behind biological fluid dynamics and identifies current research questions in this area.

Ricardo Cortez, Tulane University

Abstracts

Neuromechanics and Fluid Dynamics of an Undulatory Swimmer

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Lisa Fauci, Tulane University

Mathematical Modeling of Sperm Motility and Mucociliary Transport

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Robert Dillon, Washington State University

Modeling E. Coli Aspartate Chemotaxis in a Stokes Flow

3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Hoa Nguyen, Trinity University

Modeling Interactions between Tumor Cells, Interstitial Fluid and Drug Particles

3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Katarzyna A. Rejniak, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and University of South Florida

Sperm Motility and Cooperativity in Epithelial Detachment

4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Julie Simons, Tulane University

Swimming through Heterogeneous Viscoelastic Media

4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Jacek Wrobel, Tulane University

The Eyes Have It: Mathematical Modeling of the Retina

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

Models of the retina are crucial in understanding various retinal diseases and abnormalities that contribute to blindness such as myopia, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and others. In this session speakers will present mathematical models of retinal detachment, retinal blood flow, and melanopsin activation and inactivation. Utilizing a diverse set of mathematical techniques, analysis, and computer simulations from dynamical systems, numerical analysis, and stochastic processes these models investigate complex retinal process including elevated ocular pressure and forces from retinal adhesion, retinal pigment epithelium pumps, and retinal elasticity leading to retinal detachment, alterations in ocular curvature caused by a reduction retinal blood flow, and the chemical reaction associated with non-image forming process in the retina.

Erika Camacho, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Arizona State University

Abstracts

Mechanical Models for Exudative Retinal Detachments

1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Thomas Chou, Department of Biomathematics, UCLA

New Paradigms in Retinal Blood Flow Simulation

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Andrea Dziubek, Mathematics Department, SUNY Institute of Technology

Analytical Mechanics and Evolution of a Detaching Retina

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
William J. Bottega, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University

Stochastic Modeling of Melanopsin Activation and Deactivation

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Christina Hamlet, Center for Computational Science, Tulane University

Fast Algorithms on Large Graphs (and Matroids)

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Very large graphs, such as the internet, have become part of our daily routine. Quite naturally they pose new challenges for the mathematician. What are the methods and tools to find out something about a structure so large that we cannot know all of it? Being greedy seems a successful real life strategy familiar to most of us.

Matroids are the most general structures on which the greedy algorithm finds a basis. Communications networks, such as the internet, organic molecules, quasicrystals, etc. are modeled by large graphs. The coarsest analysis uses the matroid structure only. However, in a general geometric setting many problems become hard. For example connectivity augmentation can be solved efficiently on matroids, but becomes NP-hard for geometric planar graphs, even on trees. The purpose of this session is to identify graph properties relevant to current applications and their complexity behaviour as the setting is changed from matroid to graphs and geometric graphs. Speakers will direct their talks on this rapidly developing topic to a general audience.

Brigitte Servatius, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Martin Milanič, University of Primorska

Abstracts

Pick a Tree, Any Tree

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Gary Gordon, Lafayette College

Multi-Source Spanning Trees of Graphs

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Andrzej Proskurowski, University of Oregon

Large Graphs in Internet Tomography and Cyber Defense

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Randy Paffenroth, Numerica Corporation

Large and Sparse Graphs

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Brigitte Servatius, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Year:

2014

Themed Contributed Paper Sessions

Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology, Part I

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

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
Sponsored by SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology (BIO SIGMAA)

A New Technological Paradigm for an Undergraduate Research Experience in Agent Based Modeling

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Anne Elizabeth Yust, Birmingham-Southern College

Impulsive Models with Stochastic Behavior in Pest Management and Epidemiology

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Timothy D Comar, Benedictine University

Getting into the Game: First Steps Into Math-Bio Research

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
David R Dorman, Middlebury College

A Course in Mathematical Biology Using Algebra and Discrete Mathematics

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Dan Hrozencik, Chicago State University

Mentoring an Undergraduate Research Project: Simulating the Effects of Plaque Aggregation on the Neuronal Network

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Irina Seceleanu, Bridgewater State University

Sensitivity Analysis of Stochastic Models of Integrin Signaling in Cellular Motility

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Hannah Biegel, University of Portland
Alex Quackenbush, University of Portland
Hannah Callender, University of Portland

Mathematics in Honors Programs

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Honors Colleges and Programs look for unique opportunities to reach out to bright and capable students who may not be mathematics majors. This session will focus on courses, strategies, or activities, that have been used for non major mathematics classes designed for honors students. Speakers should provide evidence of the success of and/or challenges involved with the courses they have taught.

Jacci White, Saint Leo University

Applying Calculus Techniques to Analyze the Motion of Single and Double Ferris Wheels

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Paul E. Seeburger, Monroe Community College

Creating a Freshman Honors Mathematics Course (for Non-Majors)

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Brian Camp, Saint Leo University

Dimension and Direction: A Journey Through Mathematical Space

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
David Clark, Randolph-Macon College

Honors Calculus at South Dakota State University

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Dan C Kemp, South Dakota State University

Searching for Great Issues in Mathematics

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Mark Bollman, Albion College

Maple in Honors Calculus

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Douglas B Meade, University of South Carolina

Honors Elementary Statistics

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Jacqueline Jensen-Vallin, Lamar University

Why Statistics??? An Opportunity for Exploration and Reflection

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Sarah L Mabrouk, Framingham State University

“To Be Honorable is to Serve” How to Align with this Motto in a General Education Honors Mathematics Course

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Lisa Marano, West Chester University

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics: How, When, Why, Part I

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

Opportunities for undergraduate research have increased dramatically in recent years. There are many benefits of doing and guiding undergraduate research. We invite talks on a range of topics including, but not limited to: involving students in mathematics research, reports on successful programs, how to set up programs, and research results. We are especially interested in presentations from mentors and program directors about how programs are run and evidence of their effectiveness. We also welcome presentations from students focused on their experience and learning outcomes (talks about their research results should be submitted to other sessions). This session seeks to expand the network of undergraduate researchers and facilitators, exchange new ideas, and help make undergraduate research more accessible.

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Building Capacity for a Research Rich Curriculum in Mathematics at Georgia College

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Ryan Brown, Georgia College
Marcela Chiorescu, Georgia College
Darin Mohr, Georgia College

Creative UG Research Collaborations: Clash of the Critters; Statistical Analysis of SIDS and More

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Jane Friedman, University of San Diego
Lynn Carole McGrath, University of San Diego
Perla Myers, University of San Diego
Riley Evans, University of San Diego

CURM: What It Is and What Are Its Results

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

HRUMC: The First Twenty Years

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Emelie Kenney, Siena College

Maple Scholars Program

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
David Housman, Goshen College

The CSUMS/MCTP Program at Arizona State University

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Eric Kostelich, Arizona State University

The Summer 2014 SURPASs Program and My Role as Faculty Mentor

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Donna Beers, Simmons College

Talk Math 2 Me: A Seminar for Students by Students

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Joni Jane Schneider, Texas State University

Research Experiences for Undergraduate Faculty: Supporting Undergraduate Faculty in Mentoring Undergraduate Research

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Brianna Donaldson, American Institute of Mathematics
Leslie Hogben, American Institute of Mathematics and Iowa State University
Ulrica Wilson, Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics and Morehouse College
Roselyn Williams, Florida A&M University

Embodied Activities in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

In layman’s terms we might describe embodied activities as events that connect cognition with action. In other words, these are tasks, where a student is physically and mentally engaged in a cognitive task designed to result in learning. These tasks are created so that students are the mathematics. Many hypothesize that manipulatives “work” because they provide an atmosphere where students are engaged in actions that assist in constructing mathematical concepts. Similarly, incorporating embodied activities into the classroom has proved fruitful not only with prospective teachers but with undergraduate mathematics majors who are learning related rates, geometric concepts, and proof constructions. Furthermore, they can serve as an entry point to inquiry-based learning because embodied activities go beyond communicating, writing, reading, and reflecting.

The purpose of this session is to share activities that require students to be physically engaged in learning all levels of mathematics, particularly undergraduate mathematics. Submitted abstracts should include the goals of the activity, description of the activity with details connecting the mathematics with the actions, and strengths and weaknesses of the activity. We encourage presentations that are audience-interactive, so that they may experience the activity in action. Talks that focus on general active learning strategies with little or no connections between cognition and physical action should submit talk proposals to the Active Learning in Mathematics contributed session.

Hortensia Soto-Johnson, University of Northern Colorado
Sponsored by MAA Committee on Professional Development

Pre-service Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions of Geometric Translations in Embodied Activities

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Brent Hancock, University of Northern Colorado
Marki Dittman, University of Northern Colorado

Pre-service Elementary Teachers’ Conception of Perpendicular Bisector in an Embodied Reflection Task

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Marki Dittman, University of Northern Colorado
Brent Hancock, University of Northern Colorado

Hands-on Activities to Enrich Basic Geometry Proofs: Angles in a Triangle and Parallelogram

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Sandra Fital-Akelbek, Weber State University

Measuring Around The Unit Circle

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Susan Jeannine Durst, University of Arizona

The Use of 3D Multi-Sectional, Interlocking Geometric Models and Magnetic Nets as Teaching Aids for Spatial Ability Training and Middle School Geometry Education

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Oai Ha, Utah State University

What is the NORISHIRO? Plane Development of a Polyhedron with the Tabs

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Tanaka Noriko

Visualizing Multivariate Functions in a Desktop-Sized 3-D Coordinate System

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Charlotte Ann Knotts-Zides, Wofford College

Hands-On Exploration of Topological Invariants

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Nicole Fider, UCI
Casey Kelleher, UCI
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine
Ryan Sullivant, UCI

Problem Solving through Computer Simulations

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
David Ely, The Ohio State University
Jeanette Palmiter, Portland State University

Modeling Biology in the Classroom: Birds, Bacteria, and Disease

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Joshua Lioi, University of Arizona

“Field” & Stream: Experiencing a Vector Field

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Steve B Zides, Wofford College

Report on the Bodies of Data Workshops

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Luke Wolcott, Lawrence University

Recreational Mathematics: New Problems and New Solutions, Part I

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

Paul Coe, Dominican University
Sara Quinn, Dominican University
Kristen Schemmerhorn, Dominican University

The Mathematics, Magic and Mystery of Martin Gardner

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Colm Mulcahy, Spelman College

Generalization of the Nine Card Problem

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Brittany Shelton, Albright College
Breeanne Baker Swart, The Citadel

The Uniqueness of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Brian J Birgen, Wartburg College

Candy Crush Combinatorics

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Dana Rowland, Merrimack College

Exploring Sliding Tile Puzzles on your Smartphone

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University

Solitaire Mancala Games and the Chinese Remainder Theorem

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Brant Jones, James Madison University
Laura Taalman, James Madison University
Anthony Tongen, James Madison University

A New Twist on Wythoff’s Game

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Alex Meadows, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Bradley Putman, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Graphs and Puzzles

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Paul Cull, Oregon State University

When You Cross Latin and Gilbreath

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Robert W. Vallin, Lamar University

Mathematics, Magic Squares, and Mirth (Humor)

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Doy Ott Hollman, Lipscomb University

A Magic Square Equation

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University

An Efficient Backtracking Method for Solving a System of Linear Equations over a Finite Set with Application for Construction of Magic Squares

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Max Alekseyev, George Washington University

Flipping Pedagogy in College Mathematics Courses, Part I

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 5:35 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

While the expression “flipping a course” is relatively new, this pedagogical strategy has been around for a number of years. Some tenets that underlie this type of pedagogy are that: (1) out-of-class time should be highly structured to best prepare students for in-class activities; (2) it is useful to evaluate students’ pre-class preparation and for instructors to have access to this information; (3) class time is better spent having students engage in cooperative problem solving and discussions rather than listening and taking notes; and, (4) students benefit from more frequent structured practice and feedback in the classroom from a knowledgeable teacher. In this session participants will present and discuss examples of flipped mathematics courses and share the benefits and challenges of this type of pedagogy. Descriptions of unique models of flipped classes are welcome as are results of research on flipping pedagogy.

Jean McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford
Larissa Schroeder, University of Hartford
John Williams, University of Hartford
Fei Xue, University of Hartford
Mako Haruta, University of Hartford
Ben Pollina, University of Hartford

Flipped/Inquiry-Based Learning Approach in a ‘Large’ College Algebra Classroom: An Interim Report

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Perry Y.C. Lee, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Padraig McLoughlin, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Flipping College Algebra: A Blended Approach

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Alison Reddy, University of Illinois

Procedural and Conceptual Thinking in a Flipped College Algebra Classroom

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Emilie Naccarato, University of Northern Colorado
Michael Spannuth, University of Northern Colorado
Bill Blubaugh, University of Northern Colorado
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado

Re “modeling” College Algebra: A Flipped, Inquiry-Based Approach

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Kathy Pinzon, Georgia Gwinnett College
Daniel Pinzon, Georgia Gwinnett College
Matt Stackpole, Georgia Gwinnett College

TEAL (Technology Enhanced Active Learning) College Algebra at Montana State University

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Heidi Staebler-Wiseman, Montana State University
Jocelyn Short, Montana State University
Kelsey Koch, Montana State University

Integrating Sustainability into Algebra Courses: A Flipped Classroom Model

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Rikki Wagstrom, Metropolitan State University

Flipping Freshman Mathematics

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Karen O’Hara, High Point University
Adam Graham-Squire, High Point University
Laurie Zack, High Point University
Jenny Fuselier, High Point University
Ron Lamb, High Point University

How Does Flipping Affect Students’ Perceptions about Learning Calculus?

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Larissa Bucchi Schroeder, University of Hartford
Jean Marie McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford
Fei Xue, University of Hartford

Flip the Calculus Classroom: What Works, For Whom and in What Context?

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Veselin Jungic, Simon Fraser University
Cindy Xin, Simon Fraser University
Jamie Mulholland, Simon Fraser University
Harpreet Kaur, Simon Fraser University
Sonja Surjanovic, Simon Fraser University

A Study of Flipping vs Not Flipping in Applied Calculus

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Lori Beth Ziegelmeier, Macalester College
Chad Topaz, Macalester College

Challenges and Pitfalls of Assessing the Effectiveness of Flipped Mathematics Courses

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Jean Marie McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford
Larissa Bucchi Schroeder, University of Hartford

Meta-analysis of Flipped “Pedagogy” in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado
Emilie Naccarato, University of Northern Colorado

Flipping Calculus II: Did it Improve this Infamous Course?

5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Mindy Capaldi, Valparaiso University

Flipping the Integral Calculus Classroom with Multiple Instructors

5:20 p.m. – 5:35 p.m.
Jim Rolf, Yale University
Yu-Wen Hsu, Yale University
Susie Kimport, Yale University
Jennifer Frederick, Yale University

Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology, Part II

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Timothy Comar, Benedictine University
Sponsored by SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology (BIO SIGMAA)

Mathematical Biology as a Capstone Option for Science Majors

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Sheldon Lee, Viterbo University

An Optimization Method for the Spent Fuel Pool Storage at Nuclear Power Plants

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Nathan Robert LaFerney, Texas A&M University

Social Aggregation in Pea Aphids: Experimental Measurement and Stochastic Modeling

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Chad Topaz, Macalester College
Andrew Bernoff, Harvey Mudd College

Spatial Simulations of Chaparral Vegetation Response to Frequent Wildfires

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Timothy A Lucas, Pepperdine University

Understanding the Scales of Locomotion for Caenorhabditis Elegans in a Viscous Fluid

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Katie Marie Sipes, James Madison University

Simulating Action Potentials Along Non-Uniform Axon

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Michael E Martin, www.biomathdynamics.com

Active Learning in Mathematics, Part I

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

Active learning is the process where students engage in activities such as reading, writing, or problem solving that encourage analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of class content. It has been well-known that active learning strategies increase student learning and have long- lasting effects on student success (Braxton, et al, 2008). For this session, we invite instructors of mathematics to discuss ways to promote this hands-on learning in the classroom. In particular, techniques that involve short reading, writing, or problem-solving prompts and exercises that are designed to reinforce classroom material are encouraged. Both examples of individual student active learning strategies and successful uses of group- related strategies (such as “think, pair, share” ideas) are welcome. The session is designed for instructors to share their experiences and provide useful tips and tricks on implementing these strategies and overcoming obstacles to active learning in general. Examples and ideas can come from any type of course, from undergraduate non-major service courses and early- major mathematics courses to late-major and even graduate-level classes. Speakers are encouraged to include assessment data on the effectiveness of their active learning strategies or empirical feedback from students and/or faculty about their strategies. Talks that focus on embodied activities that connect cognition with physical action in the classroom should submit talk proposals to the Embodied Activities in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics session.

David Taylor, Roanoke College
Robert Allen, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
Lorena Bociu, North Carolina State University

Active Learning in Redesigned College Algebra: Lessons Learned from Implementation

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Krista Foltz, Oregon State University
Mary Beisiegel, Oregon State University
Scott L. Peterson, Oregon State University

Active Learning for Pre-service and In-service Teachers

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Bernadette Mullins, Birmingham-Southern College

Turning Homework Problems into Inquiry Based Classroom Activities

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Suzanne Ingrid Doree, Augsburg College

Active Algebra

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Mary D Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University

Making Abstract Algebra Less Abstract

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Emma Norbrothen, Plymouth State University

Strategies to Progressively Increase Students’ Intellectual Engagement in the Learning of Abstract Algebra

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine

Actively Learning Real Analysis

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University

Pull Out Your Phone: A Quick Search for Relevant Statistics

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University

Exploring Velocity and Acceleration Vectors Visually

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Paul E. Seeburger, Monroe Community College

Flipping Pedagogy in College Mathematics Courses, Part II

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Reading Guides in a Flipped Classroom

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Mary D Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University

A Measured Approach to Flipping the Analysis Classroom

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Christine Ann Shannon, Centre College

A Day in the Life of an Inverted Classroom

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Reza O Abbasian, Texas Lutheran University
John T Sieben, Texas Lutheran University

Flipping the Classroom in Introductory Statistics

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Emily Cilli-Turner, Salve Regina University

Introductory Statistics in a Flipped Format for Community College Students

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Jessica Knoch, Lane Community College

Math Bio or BioMath? Flipping a Mathematical Biology Course

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Eric Eager, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse

An Activity-Based Approach to Flipping Quantitative Literacy

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University

Flipping the Discrete Math Classroom

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Benjamin V.C. Collins, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
James A. Swenson, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Technology Tips for Creating Videos in a Flipped Mathematics Course

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Fei Xue, University of Hartford
Larissa Bucchi Schroeder, University of Hartford

Selling the Concept – a Primer on Salesmanship of the Flipped Classroom Model

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Alex Capaldi, Valparaiso University

Project-Based Curriculum, Part I

Friday, August 8, 8:50 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

One of the goals of mathematics teaching is enabling the learner to apply their mathematical knowledge to other disciplines and to real-world problems. One method to achieve this goal is project-based learning, which involves students attempting to solve interdisciplinary problems arising outside of the traditional classroom. The problems may arise from general social concerns or from within business, non-profit, or government organizations. Project-based learning can encourage inquiry, problem solving, collaboration, reasoning, and communication skills. We invite papers that address how project-based learning is facilitated at any level and the content of such projects. Evidence should be included as to the effectiveness of such projects and/or the system by which students engage in such projects.

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

A Project-Based General Education Math Course

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Victor Ian Piercey, Ferris State University

High Dimensional Data Analysis Projects in a Freshman Mathematics Class

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Bruce Piper, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Kristin Bennett, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

How to Sustain Projects in College Algebra and Finite Mathematics

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
David Jay Graser, Yavapai College

Researching the Effectiveness of Project-Based Learning in Elementary Statistics

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Dianna Spence, University of North Georgia
Brad Bailey, University of North Georgia

Community-Based Projects Using Real-World Data

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
G. Daniel Callon, Franklin College

Understanding Mathematics for Good: Undergraduates, Ethical Consulting, and Service Learning

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Judith E Canner, California State University, Monterey Bay

Mathematizing Social Justice: Bringing University Events into the Mathematics Classroom

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Ksenija Simic-Muller, Pacific Lutheran University

Modeling Calculus: A Project-Based, First Term Calculus Class

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Mariah Birgen, Wartburg College
Brian J Birgen, Wartburg College

Open and Accessible Problems in Real or Complex and Analysis

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Undergraduate research is more popular than ever, and there is a high demand for open and accessible problems for students to tackle. Analysis is an area particularly suited for this research because it builds off of the foundational material that students learn in calculus. In addition, analysis is rich with problems that are easily stated, but more difficult to solve, and often lead to further questions for investigation. We invite presentations about open problems in real or complex analysis suitable for undergraduate research or joint faculty and undergraduate research. Presentations concerning results about these types of problems, preferably with open questions remaining, are also welcome.

Lynette Boos, Providence College
Su-Jeong Kang, Providence College

Quotient Sets

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Stephan Ramon Garcia, Pomona College

The Sum of Golden Ana Sets

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Robert W. Vallin, Lamar University

A Topology of Subdivision for the Real Numbers

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Jeffrey Clark, Elon University

Linear Operators, Zeros of Polynomials, and Orthogonal Polynomials

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Andrzej Piotrowski, University of Alaska Southeast

Locating the Roots of a Family of Polynomials: Three Open Questions

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Michael Brilleslyper, U.S. Air Force Academy
Beth Schaubroeck, U.S. Air Force Academy

The Two Body Problem Elevated to the Complex Domain

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Donald Leigh Hitzl, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab (Retired)
Frank Zele, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (Retired)

Project-Based Curriculum, Part II

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Annexation Question Leads to Applied Project

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Nora Strasser, Friends University

Challenge-Based Instruction: Analysis of Bullet Proof Vest

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Andres Abelardo Padilla-Oviedo

Building a Successful Project-based Mathematical Modeling Course

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Jean Marie Linhart, Texas A&M University/Central Washington University

Encouraging Deeper Understanding Through Mathematical Modeling-Focused Projects

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Corban Harwood, George Fox University

PIC Math: Preparing Students for Careers in Business, Industry, and Government

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

Embedding Undergraduate Research in a Senior Capstone Course

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Shawn Chiappetta, University of Sioux Falls

Implementing Project-Based Learning in the Differential Equations Curriculum

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Sukanya Basu, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Undergraduate Curriculum on the Relationship between Mathematics and Computer Science with Other Disciplines

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Agendia Timothy Atabong, Madonna University Nigeria

Using Matlab to Present Multidimensional Information

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Emma Smith Zbarsky, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Recreational Mathematics: New Problems and New Solutions, Part II

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 4:35 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Paul Coe, Dominican University
Sara Quinn, Dominican University
Kristen Schemmerhorn, Dominican University

The Elusive Mobius and the Intractable Hexagon: Geometric Cross Sections in Bead Crochet

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Susan Goldstine, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Ellie Baker, Freelance

Coloring the Plane with Rainbow Squares

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Mike Krebs, California State University, Los Angeles

Dividing the Plane: Variations on a Theme

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
David Molnar

Integer-Sided Triangles with Trisectible Angles

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Russ Gordon, Whitman College

On Mod n Spirals

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Andrew Richard Reiter
Robin Young, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Finding the Catalan Numbers in the Sandpile Model

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Grant Barnes, Luther College
Michael Johnson, Luther College
Cadence Sawyer, Luther College

A Characterization of Balance in Oriented Hypernetworks via Generalized Signed Walks

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Angeline Rao, Clements High School
Alexander Yang, Clements High School
Vinciane Chen, Westwood High School

Revisiting 12 Marbles, an Old-Fashioned Scale Puzzle

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Shenglan Yuan, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY

The Car Talk Trip

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Frank Lynch, Eastern Washington University

The James Function

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Christopher N. B. Hammond, Connecticut College
Warren Johnson, Connecticut College
Steven J. Miller, Williams College

Exploring Five Integer Sequences Related to the Collatz Problem

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Jay Lawrence Schiffman, Rowan University

Active Learning in Mathematics, Part II

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

David Taylor, Roanoke College
Robert Allen, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
Lorena Bociu, North Carolina State University

Surviving Active Learning in Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Jerry Dwyer, Texas Tech University
Levi Johnson, Texas Tech University
Brock Williams, Texas Tech University

Activities for Calculus

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Matt Boelkins, Grand Valley State University

Student Conjecturing in Linear Algebra

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Elizabeth Thoren, University of California, Santa Barbara

Discovering Concepts in Calculus II

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
William Abrams, Longwood University

Opening Up the Space: Creating Collaborative Learning Environments Outside of the Classroom

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Randall E. Cone, Virginia Military Institute
Angie Hodge, University of Nebraska – Omaha

Test Tuesday

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Lew Ludwig, Denison University

Mathematics without the Math: Using Group Worksheets to Circumvent Math Anxiety

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Michael Nathanson, Saint Mary’s College of California

Pre-Calculus Lab Book

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Brandy S Wiegers, National Association of Math Circles, Central Washington University
Addie Evans, SFSU
Servando Pineda, SFSU
Matthew Kim, SFSU

Algorithmic Thinking Unplugged with Puzzles and Games

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Edmund A Lamagna, University of Rhode Island

Using Games to Engage Students in Discrete Mathematics

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Tim Gegg-Harrison, Winona State University
Nicole Anderson, Winona State University

Learning Math by Doing Math: Problem-Solving Workshops in Calculus

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Silvia Saccon, The University of Texas at Dallas

Active Exploration of Graphs and Graph Theory

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Steven Klee, Seattle University

Curriculum Development to Support First Year Mathematics Students, Part I

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Developmental Mathematics Redesign at Fitchburg State University

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Mary Ann Barbato, Fitchburg State University

Comparing Student Attitudes and Successes in College Algebra using Emporium, Problem Solving, and Traditional Methods

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Lanee Young, Fort Hays State University
Jeff Sadler, Fort Hays State University

Taking Over an Existing Developmental Math Program: What Works and Determining What to Improve

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

The Math Zone: An Open Emporium-Style Model Attempting the Fast Track

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Craig Miller, University of New Haven

The Startup of a Math Emporium – Trials and Tribulations

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Senan Hayes, Western Connecticut State University

Restructuring of the Remedial Program at South Dakota State University (SDSU)

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University

Improving Remedial Success Using an Enhanced Mastery-Based Format

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Carri Hales, South Dakota State University

A Co-Requisite Model for College Algebra

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University

Rethinking First Year Mathematics to Improve Student Retention

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Cheryl Jarrell McAllister, Southeast Missouri State University
Daniel Daly, Southeast Missouri State University
Tamela Randolph, Southeast Missouri State University

It’s Not Just About the Content: Holistic Change in a First-Year Mathematics Course

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Mary Beisiegel, Oregon State University
Krista Foltz, Oregon State University
Scott L. Peterson, Oregon State University

Peer Led Team Learning in Foundation Mathematics for College Students: A University Approach

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Camille A McKayle, University of the Virgin Islands
Robert Stolz, University of the Virgin Islands

Improving Student Success in Calculus at the University of South Carolina

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Douglas B Meade, University of South Carolina
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M University

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics: How, When, Why, Part II

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Ensuring Engagement in Math Research

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Therese Shelton, Southwestern University

6959 Open Problems for Undergraduates

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Tom Edgar, Pacific Lutheran University

Exploring Auction Theory in Undergraduate Research

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
William Gryc, Muhlenberg College

Singularities of 2-Dimensional Invertible Piecewise Isometric Dynamics

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Byungik Kahng, University of North Texas at Dallas

One Approach to Undergraduate Research in Computational Galois Theory

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Chad Awtrey, Elon University

Undergraduate Research in Quantum Information Science

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
David W. Lyons, Lebanon Valley College

Effective Undergraduate Research Using Questions Derived from Institutional Research and Computational Science

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Maria Zack, Point Loma Nazarene University

Undergraduate Research Projects with a Dozen or So Math, Physics and CS Students Over the Past Decade

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
David Strong, Pepperdine University

Undergraduate Math Research at the US Naval Academy

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Will Traves, United States Naval Academy

Curriculum Development to Support First Year Mathematics Students, Part II

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

A Multi-tiered Support System

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
G. Daniel Callon, Franklin College

An Effective Approach to Increase Mathematics Readiness of Freshmen STEM Students

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Mazen Shahin, Delaware State University
Andrew Lloyd, Delaware State University
Tomasz Smolinski, Delaware State University
Melissa Harrington, Delaware State University

Creating a Mathematics First Year Seminar Course

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Frederick Butler, York College of Pennsylvania

Designing a Mathematical Support Structure for Entering Students

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Emma Smith Zbarsky, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Amanda Hattaway, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Ophir Feldman, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Embedded Tutoring in First Year College Mathematics Classes

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Michael Allen Lundin, Central Washington University

Requiring Instructor-Generated Learning Activities in Online College Algebra Can Reduce Failure and Withdrawal Rates

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Jennifer Hegeman, Missouri Western State University

How a Co-Requisite Calculus I Lab Can Improve Student Success in Calculus I

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Sharon Vestal, South Dakota State University

Remedial Efforts in Calculus Classes at Simon Fraser University: Results and Challenges

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Malgorzata Dubiel, SFU
Justin Gray, SFU
Natalia Kouzniak, SFU
Cameron Morland, SFU
Jamie Mulholland, SFU

Concepts, not Calculations: Helping First Year Mathematics Students Learn What Mathematics Is

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Bonnie Gold, Monmouth University

Precalculus Redesign: The Influence of a Placement Program and the Power of a Name

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Alison Reddy, University of Illinois
Marc Harper

Curriculum Development to Support First Year Mathematics Students, Part III

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 2:35 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

A Collaborative Transition to Applied Calculus with Modeling

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Robin A Cruz, The College of Idaho
Dave Rosoff, The College of Idaho
Nicole Seaders, Willamette University

Experiments with Large-Lecture/Lab Hybrid Models for Business Calculus

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Darci L. Kracht, Kent State University

Interactivity and Intervention: An Overview of Calculus Redesign at Missouri S&T

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Paul N Runnion, Missouri University of Science and Technology

ALEKS in Calculus I at the University of Wyoming

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Nathan P. Clements, University of Wyoming

Improving Student Success in Calculus

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Allison Henrich, Seattle University
J McLean Sloughter, Seattle University

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics: How, When, Why, Part III

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Four Steps to Undergraduate Research Success!

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Stephan Ramon Garcia, Pomona College

Strategies for Mentoring Undergraduate Research Teams: Lessons Learned from the CURM Model

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Hannah Callender, University of Portland

Research Communities as a Vehicle to Boost Students’ Interest in Mathematical Research

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine

A Student’s Perspective on Undergraduate Research

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Heather Gronewald, Southwestern University

Engaging Students as Math Researchers

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Violeta Vasilevska, Utah Valley University

Mentoring Minority Undergraduate Students in Mathematics at Norfolk State University

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Aprillya Lanz, Norfolk State University

Year Long Undergraduate Research at Minimal Cost

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Zsuzsanna Szaniszlo, Valparaiso University

Undergraduate Research with Future Teachers

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Saad El-Zanati, Illinois State University

Balancing Undergraduate Research While Teaching Four Courses

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Britney Hopkins, University of Central Oklahoma
Kristi Karber, University of Central Oklahoma

More Favorite Geometry Proofs

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

This session invites presenters to share their favorite undergraduate geometry proofs. These proofs should be suitable for Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry courses as well as for courses frequently referred to as “modern” or “higher” geometry but not those related to differential geometry or (low-level) graduate courses. Proofs must be for theorems other than the Pythagorean Theorem and should be different from those presented during the MAA MathFest 2013 paper session (see http://www.framingham.edu/~smabrouk/Maa/mathfest2013/ for more information). Presenters must do the full proof, discuss how the proof fits into the course, provide information regarding prerequisite topics for the proof, and discuss associated areas with which students have difficulty and how such concerns are addressed so that students understand the proof. Presenters are invited to discuss how they have modified the proof over time as well as to share historical information for “classic” proofs and explorations/demonstrations that they use to help students understand the associated theorem. Abstracts should include the theorem to be proved/discussed as well as brief background information.

Sarah Mabrouk, Framingham State University

A Proof of Ptolemy’s Theorem via Inversions

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer, Eastern Mennonite University

Archimedes’ Twin Circles in an Arbelos

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Dan C Kemp, South Dakota State University

Euler’s Famous Line: Gateway to The Harmonic 2:1 Centroid Concurrency

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Alvin Swimmer, Arizona State University

Reflections in Geometry

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
David Marshall, Monmouth University

Reflections on Reflections

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Thomas Q Sibley, St. John’s University

The Shortest Path Between Two Points and a Line

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Justin Allen Brown, Olivet Nazarene University

The Perfect Heptagon from the Square Hyperbola

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Genghmun Eng

The Many Shapes of Hyperbolas in Taxicab Geometry

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Ruth I Berger, Luther College

Geometry Knows Topology: The Gauss-Bonnet Theorem

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

Finding the Fermat Point by Physics and by Transformation

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Philip Todd, Saltire Software

Tags:

Contributed Paper Sessions

Year:

2014

Minicourses

1. A Beginner’s Guide to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Mathematics

Part A: Friday, August 8, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I
Part B: Saturday, August 9, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

This course will introduce participants to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in mathematics and help them begin projects of their own. We describe a taxonomy of SoTL questions, provide examples of SoTL projects in mathematics, and discuss methods for investigation. Participants will learn about collecting and analyzing different types of evidence, conducting literature searches, dealing with human subjects’ requirements, and selecting venues for presenting or publishing their work. With the presenters’ guidance, participants interactively select and transform a teaching problem of their own into a question for scholarly investigation and identify several types of evidence to gather.

Jacqueline M. Dewar, Loyola Marymount University
Curtis D. Bennett, Loyola Marymount University

2. Boolean Network Models: A Non-Calculus Introduction to Mathematical Modeling for Biology

Part A: Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I
Part B: Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

Participants will be introduced to the importance of Boolean network models in modern biology. They will learn how to build Boolean models and will work in small groups to experience how to use such models to describe, simulate, and control the dynamics of complex biological systems. Participants will learn how to work with the web-based software systems DVD and ADAM for visualization and analysis of Boolean models and how to utilize the materials in courses that do not require Calculus. We will conclude with a discussion on the advantages of Boolean models as tools for an early introduction to modeling.

Raina Robeva, Sweet Briar College
Robin Davies, Sweet Briar College

3. Enhancing Conceptual Understanding of Multivariable Calculus Using CalcPlot3D for Visualization and Exploration

Part A: Thursday, August 7, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I
Part B: Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

It is difficult for students to develop an accurate and intuitive understanding of the geometric relationships of calculus from static diagrams alone. This is especially true for the 3D concepts of multivariable calculus. In this course, we will explore ways to help students make these connections by visualizing multivariable calculus using CalcPlot3D, a versatile applet developed with NSF funding (NSF-DUE-0736968). Participants will learn how to customize this applet to create demonstrations and guided exploration activities for student use. Images created in this applet can be pasted into participants’ documents. See http://web.monroecc.edu/calcNSF/. Basic HTML experience is helpful. Bring a Java-enabled laptop.

Paul Seeburger, Monroe Community College

4. Instructional Supports for Implementing Inquiry-Oriented Curricula for Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Abstract Algebra

Part A: Friday, August 8, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III
Part B: Saturday, August 9, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

This session is designed to support mathematicians interested in implementing an inquiry oriented curriculum. By inquiry-oriented we mean that the students are engaging in authentic mathematical inquiry and the teachers are actively involved in inquiring into students’ mathematical thinking. This mini-course will have two components. In the first component participants will engage with mathematical tasks from 3 different research-based inquiry oriented curricula that have been developed for Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Abstract Algebra. The goals of this component are to familiarize participants with the curricular tasks, the nature of the instruction, and common ways of student thinking. The second component will focus on high-leverage teaching practices that can be used in any inquiry-oriented setting. Examples of such practices include leading whole class discussions and launching instructional tasks. The goal of this component is to provide instructors with opportunities to develop some of the necessary teaching practices needed to implement inquiry-oriented curricula.

Estrella Johnson, Virginia Tech
Karen Keene, North Carolina State University
Christine Andrews-Larson, Florida State University

5. Teaching Linear Algebra with GeoGebra: Making Connections between Algebra and Geometry

Part A: Thursday, August 7, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III
Part B: Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

Participants will work with GeoGebra applets supporting instruction in elementary Linear Algebra. The workshop will consist of a) an overview of the topics and design, incorporating activities fostering connections between algebra and geometry; b) participant work with selected applets, including a very short introduction to GeoGebra; c) discussion of possible pedagogical approaches incorporating the applets; d) a look at some related application problems; e) summary of preliminary evaluation results; f) wrap-up, including remarks and suggestions by participants. Links to further freely available resources will be provided.

James D. Factor, Alverno College
Susan F. Pustejovsky, Alverno College

6. SIMIODE – Teaching Differential Equations through Modeling and Technology

Part A: Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III
Part B: Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

This minicourse will permit participants to experience SIMIODE – Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations, an online community of teachers and learners of differential equations who use modeling and technology throughout the learning process. Participants will share several learning opportunities using SIMIODE materials; develop models from the student perspective; engage in collegial activities about uses of SIMIODE modeling scenarios; and initiate the creation of their own teaching scenario contributions to SIMIODE through partnering with other participants in and after the minicourse. The web home for SIMIODE is at www.simiode.org.

Brian Winkel, United States Military Academy

Year:

2014

Undergraduate Student Activities

MAA-PME Student Reception

Wednesday, August 6, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Math Jeopardy

Wednesday, August 6, 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Answer: A fun undergraduate mathematics contest to lead off MathFest.
Question: What is Mathematics Jeopardy?
Four teams of students will provide the questions to go with the mathematical answers in many categories.

New Format This Year: All interested students in the audience can enter their names to be chosen to play on one of the four teams of four players. There will be prizes for all the participants.

Come cheer for your favorite team. The session will be emceed by Michael Berry.

Organizers:
Robert Vallin, Lamar University
Michael Berry, University of Tennessee

MAA Student Paper Sessions

The MAA Student Paper Sessions need judges! The 15-minute presentations are scheduled between 8:30 – 10:25 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 5:55 p.m. on Thursday and Friday morning from 8:30 a.m. – noon. The main goal of these sessions it to give all advisor-sponsored students a chance to speak about mathematics to a supportive national audience. Judging these sessions is easy and rewarding. If you wish to volunteer your time to judge one or more student presentations contact Jennifer Bergner (jabergner@salisbury.edu) and use the subject heading “Mathfest judge”. Indicate the times that you are available, subjects that you feel comfortable judging and those you would feel uncomfortable judging, and how to contact you before and during the meetings. All judging sheets and additional information on judging will be provided at the meetings.

Organizers:
Theron J. Hitchman, University of Northern Iowa
Jennifer Bergner, Salisbury University

MAA Student Paper Session #1

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #2

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #3

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #4

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #5

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #6

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #7

Thursday, August 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #8

Thursday, August 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #9

Thursday, August 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #10

Thursday, August 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #11

Thursday, August 7, 4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #12

Thursday, August 7, 4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #13

Thursday, August 7, 4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #14

Thursday, August 7, 4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #15

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #16

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #17

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

MAA Student Paper Session #18

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

Pi Mu Epsilon Student Paper Sessions

Organizer:
Angela Spalsbury, Youngstown State University

PME Student Paper Session #1

Thursday, August 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

PME Student Paper Session #2

Thursday, August 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

PME Student Paper Session #3

Thursday, August 7, 4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

PME Student Paper Session #4

Thursday, August 7, 4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

PME Student Paper Session #5

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

PME Student Paper Session #6

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

PME Student Paper Session #7

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

PME Student Paper Session #8

Friday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

PME Student Paper Session #9

Friday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

PME Student Paper Session #10

Friday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

PME Student Paper Session #11

Friday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

PME Student Paper Session #12

Friday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

Student Hospitality Center

Thursday, August 7, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall
Friday, August 8, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall
Saturday, August 9, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

The Student Hospitality Center provides a place for students and other MAA MathFest attendees to meet for informal conversation, refreshments, and mathematical diversions.

Organizers:
Richard Neal, American Society for the Communication of Mathematics
Araceli Neal, American Society for the Communication of Mathematics

The Jean Bee Chan and Peter Stanek Lecture for Students

The Founding of Pi Mu Epsilon 100 Years Ago

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I

Jack Graver, Syracuse University

Estimathon!

Thursday, August 7, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

They’re called Fermi problems…

How many stop signs are in New York City?
How many babies were born in 1900?
How many Social Security Numbers are prime?

If you’re looking for a mindbending mixture of math and trivia, look no further! Jane Street Capital presents The Estimathon contest: attempt 13 Fermi problems in 30 minutes, ranging from totally trivial to positively Putnamesque. Work in teams (of up to 5 people per team) to come up with the best set of confidence intervals. The top teams will receive prizes!

Contest rules can be found here. If you are interested in participating, sign up here. If you have further questions, feel free to contact the organizers at estimathon@janestreet.com.

Organizer:
Andy Niedermaier, Jane Street Capital

MAA Undergraduate Student Activity

Mathematical Research, It’s Knot What You Think!

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Take a piece of string, tie a knot into it and glue the ends of the string together into a closed loop, and you have a mathematical knot. This simple process demonstrates the appeal of knot theory – it is very hands-on and accessible to undergraduate research. In this student activity, we will work with two representations of knots: knot mosaics and cubic lattice knots. Using knot kits that participants can keep, we will explore the very new area of knot mosaics (2008, Lomonaco and Kauffman) and look at open problems that you can try to solve. We will also try to construct cubic lattice knots. Very little is known about these three-dimensional knots, so participants will be conducting on-the-spot mathematical research. This activity is open to everyone; no prior knowledge of knots is required.

Activity Leader:
Lew Ludwig, Denison University

MAA Undergraduate Student Activity

Using Puzzles to Illuminate Mathematics

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

Solving a puzzle is a lot like solving a challenging problem in a math class. The “aha!” moment that is experienced in both circumstances is nearly identical, so it is natural that mathematicians enjoy puzzles and find engaging applications for them. Come explore a class of puzzles and their applications in courses such as discrete math. Participants will build their own version of an ancient Chinese linking puzzle to take with them.

Activity Leader:
Jonathan D. Stadler, Capital University

Panel Session

Non-Academic Career Paths for Students Who Like Mathematics

Friday, August 8, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

With events like recent super typhoon Haiyan and super storm Sandy occurring more frequently, many companies have come to realize that there is a greater need to hire those who can measure risk. The need to employ those with quantitative skills will continue to be in high demand. What kinds of jobs are available to those with these analytic and quantitative skill sets? Come to this panel to find out! You’ll see that there are jobs in risk management, but also jobs in the tech field as well, Moreover, there are places for mathematicians in non-profits and the government sector too! During this panel we will hear from mathematicians from these various fields. Each panelist will be given the opportunity to describe their non-academic career and how their mathematical coursework prepared them best. Then we will open the floor to questions.

Organizers:
Lisa Marano, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Karen Marrongelle, the Oregon University System
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University

Panelists:
Mike Schumacher, Portland Trail Blazers
Kenton White, Nike
Matthew Sottile, Galois
Stephen Grieco, Nike
Andy Niedermaier, Jane Street Capital

Pi Mu Epsilon Student Centennial Celebration Banquet

Friday, August 8, 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I, II, III, & IV

All PME members and their supporters are welcome. See the registration form for more information on this ticketed event.

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

Fibonacci and the First Personal Computing Revolution

Friday, August 8, 8:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I & II

Keith Devlin, Stanford University

Biography: Keith Devlin is a co-founder and Executive Director of the university’s H-STAR institute, a co-founder of the Stanford Media X research network, and a Senior Researcher at CSLI. He is a World Economic Forum Fellow, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. His current research is focused on the use of different media to teach and communicate mathematics to diverse audiences. In this connection, he is a co-founder and President of an educational video games company, InnerTube Games. He also works on the design of information/reasoning systems for intelligence analysis. Other research interests include: theory of information, models of reasoning, applications of mathematical techniques in the study of communication, and mathematical cognition. He has written 32 books and over 80 published research articles. Recipient of the Pythagoras Prize, the Peano Prize, the Carl Sagan Award, and the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award. In 2003, he was recognized by the California State Assembly for his “innovative work and longtime service in the field of mathematics and its relation to logic and linguistics.” He is “the Math Guy” on National Public Radio.

MAA Ice Cream Social

Friday, August 8, 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Besides cake and ice cream, we will recognize all students who gave talks in the MAA Student Paper Sessions, and award prizes for the best of them. All are invited.

MAA Mathematical Competition In Modeling (MCM) Winners

Saturday, August 9, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

About 400 American teams, each consisting of three undergraduates, entered the 2014 Mathematical Contest in Modeling in February. Teams choose one of two real(istic) problems. The first problem requires a model for analyzing the performance of the Keep-Right-Except-To-Pass rule for drivers. The second requires a model for choosing the best 20th century coach for a sport such as football, basketball, etc. Teams have four days to deal with the MCM challenge and may use or access any inanimate source – computers, libraries, the Web, etc. MAA judges choose a winner for each problem. The two MAA winning teams of students will present their results of the MCM four-day challenge.

Ben Fusaro, Florida State University

Student Problem Solving Competition

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Richard Neal, American Society for the Communication of Mathematics

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Portland Hilton, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to a general audience, which includes undergraduates and non-mathematicians as part of a job interview, most students do not have experience talking to a non-research audience. This session gives graduate students the opportunity to give a 20-minute talk aimed at an undergraduate audience which has been exposed to calculus and some linear algebra. Both the talks and abstracts should be designed to excite a wide range of undergraduates about mathematics. All participants in this session will receive private feedback on their presentations from an established faculty member and an undergraduate student. Time permitting, a discussion of effective techniques for delivering great general-audience talks will occur at the end of the session. Contact Jim Freeman (jfreeman@cornellcollege.edu) or Rachel Schwell (schwellrac@ccsu.edu) for help on writing an abstract and preparing a talk for a general audience. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?) on mathematical presentations. Abstracts must be submitted by June 15, 2014.

Organizers:
Jim Freeman, Cornell College
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsor:
Committee on Graduate Students

MAA Student Paper Sessions

The deadline for receipt of abstracts for student papers is Friday, June 6, 2014. Students may not apply for funding from both MAA and Pi Mu Epsilon. Every student paper session room will be equipped with a computer projector and a screen. Presenters must provide their own laptops or have access to one. Each student talk is fifteen minutes in length.

Students who wish to present at the MAA Student Paper Sessions at MAA MathFest 2014 in Portland must be sponsored by a faculty advisor familiar with the work to be presented. Some funding to cover costs (up to $750) for student presenters is available. At most one student from each institution or REU can receive full funding; additional such students may be funded at a lower rate. All presenters are expected to take full part in the meeting and attend indicated activities sponsored for students on all three days of the conference. Abstracts and student travel grant applications should be submitted at www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts. For additional information visit www.maa.org/students/undergrad.

Theron J. Hitchman, University of Northern Iowa
Jennifer Bergner, Salisbury University

Pi Mu Epsilon Student Paper Sessions

The deadline for receipt of abstracts for PME student papers is Friday, June 6, 2014. Every student paper session room will be equipped with a computer projector and a screen. Presenters must provide their own laptops or have access to one. Each student talk is fifteen minutes in length.

Students who wish to present in the Pi Mu Epsilon Student Paper Sessions at MAA MathFest 2014 must consult with their PME Chapter Advisor before submitting a paper or applying for funding. Students may not apply for funding from both PME and MAA. All PME speakers must be members of the chapter at their home institution, which is the chapter that must nominate them to speak in the PME Student Sessions. Joint presentations are not allowed in the PME Student Sessions.

Each chapter may nominate up to 5 student speakers for transportation support of up to $600 per student with a $1200 per Chapter maximum. Transportation expenses include airfare, airport parking, ground transportation, and driving mileage. In addition to travel expenses, Pi Mu Epsilon awards sustenance grants to help pay for students’ food and housing. These grants are funded by a generous grant from the National Security Agency and vary in value each year depending on the number of students needing funding.

All PME students are expected to take full part in the meeting and attend all activities sponsored for students at MAA Mathfest. These events include the Opening Student Reception, the PME Student Paper Sessions, the MAA Lecture for Students, the PME Banquet, and the J. Sutherland Frame Lecture. For additional information visit www.pme-math.org.

Angela Spalsbury, Youngstown State University

Year:

2014

Other Mathematical Sessions

MAA Prize Session

Thursday, August 7, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom I & II

Organizer:
Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary

Moderator:
Robert Devaney, Boston University, MAA President

MAA Section Officers Meeting

Thursday, August 7, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom I

This session is open to all section officers and their guests. The session consists of a short workshop on section events relating to the MAA Centennial celebration, together with brief reports from the Association headquarters.

Moderator:
Rick Gillman, Valparaiso University, Chair of the MAA Committee on Sections

Estimathon!

Thursday, August 7, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

They’re called Fermi problems…

How many stop signs are in New York City?
How many babies were born in 1900?
How many Social Security Numbers are prime?

Contest rules can be found here. If you are interested in participating, sign up here. If you have further questions, feel free to contact the organizers at estimathon@janestreet.com.

Organizer:
Andy Niedermaier, Jane Street Capital

Alder Award Session

Friday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I

Moderator:
Robert Devaney, Boston University, MAA President

The Joy of Discovery

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

Arguably, one of the highlights of mathematics research is the joy of finally completing the proof of a new result after a long period of work. On the other hand, this feeling of happiness in mathematics is foreign to many students who view mathematics as rigid computation or who give up on a problem if it cannot be solved within 5 minutes. In this talk, I will discuss my endeavors to share the joy of discovery with undergraduates at a variety of levels, including in calculus classes, an experimental mathematics course, and various undergraduate research programs.

Lara Pudwell, Valparaiso University

There’s Treasure Everywhere: When Student Work Matters

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

No one wants to believe that the work they do is unappreciated or unnoticed. All of want our efforts to matter — and this includes our students. Traditional grading of homework and tests helps their work matter (since it determines their grade), but perhaps we can help students become more invested in their coursework by making their work important to other people as well. In this talk, we describe some efforts by the author and others to guide students to invest deeply in their work, by helping them build real connections between the classroom and the larger world.

Dominic Klyve, Central Washington University

Math Circles Demonstration

Saturday, August 9, 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

A math circle is an enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. This demonstration session offers the opportunity for conference attendees to observe and then discuss a math circle experience designed for local students. While students are engaged in a mathematical investigation, mathematicians will have a discussion focused on appreciating and better understanding the organic and creative process of learning that circles offer, and on the logistics and dynamics of running an effective circle.

Organizers:
Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco
Japheth Wood, New York Math Circle
Craig Daniels, PDX (Portland) Math Circle

Sponsor:
SIGMAA MCST

Math Wrangle

Saturday, August 9, 10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Math Wrangle will pit teams of students against each other, the clock, and a slate of great math problems. The format of a Math Wrangle is designed to engage students in mathematical problem solving, promote effective teamwork, provide a venue for oral presentations, and develop critical listening skills. A Math Wrangle incorporates elements of team sports and debate, with a dose of strategy tossed in for good measure. The intention of the Math Wrangle demonstration at MathFest is to show how teachers, schools, circles, and clubs can get students started in this exciting combination of mathematical problem solving with careful argumentation via public speaking, strategy and rebuttal.

Organizers:
Steve Dunbar, American Math Competitions
Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University
Ed Keppelmann, University of Nevada, Reno
Craig Daniels, PDX (Portland) Math Circle

Sponsors:
American Mathematics Competitions
SIGMAA MCST

MAA Business Meeting

Saturday, August 9, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I & II

Organizer:
Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary

Chair:
Robert Devaney, Boston University, MAA President

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Organizers:
Jim Freeman, Cornell College
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsor:
Committee on Graduate Students

Year:

2014

Graduate Student Activities

Workshop

What’s the Story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for a General Audience

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Presenting our research to undergraduate students can be both fun and rewarding. It can also be difficult, however, since the gory details of our results often require a great deal of specific jargon and background. Nonetheless, the big ideas can almost always be presented at a variety of levels, and this workshop is designed to interactively help participants develop the skills needed to formulate a presentation on their research that is appropriate for an audience of undergraduate students. Since many colleges and universities require giving such a talk as part of a job interview, almost any graduate student will have the opportunity to do so, and the ability to communicate complex mathematical ideas to students is a valued trait in a candidate. This workshop will consist of hands-on activities and audience interaction aimed toward developing and improving the necessary skills for creating an engaging and accessible presentation for undergraduates. Participants should be prepared to discuss in groups a potential presentation on their research or other related topic.

Organizer:
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsors:
MAA Committee on Graduate Students
Young Mathematicians Network

Panel Session

How to Apply for Non-Academic Jobs

Thursday, August 7, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Many Mathematics graduates seek academic jobs, but there are a vast number of opportunities for mathematicians outside of academia. Panelists in this session will discuss the non-academic job search process from where to find job postings to interviewing. Panelists with experience in a variety of non-academic positions in business, industry and government will speak about their own experiences and what they look for in potential new hires and future colleagues.

Organizer:
Jessica Deshler, West Virginia University

Panelists:
Allen Butler, Daniel H. Wagner Associates, Inc.
Thomas Grandine, The Boeing Company
Kim Sacra, National Security Agency

Sponsor:
Committee on Professional Development

Graduate Student Reception

Thursday, August 7, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom II

Graduate students are invited for some refreshments and to meet several of the invited speakers.

Organizers:
Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas
James Freeman, Cornell College

Panel Session

Non-Academic Career Paths for Students who Like Mathematics

Friday, August 8, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Organizers:
Lisa Marano, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Karen Marrongelle, Oregon University System
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University

Panelists:
Mike Schumacher, Portland Trail Blazers
Kenton White, Nike
Matthew Sottile, Galois
Stephen Grieco, Nike
Andy Niedermaier, Jane Street Capital

Poster Session

PosterFest 2014: A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students

Friday, August 8, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

This poster session will allow early career mathematicians, including untenured faculty and graduate students, to present and discuss their scholarly activities with other attendees in an informal atmosphere. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts and and should indicate whether the presenter is a graduate student or untenured faculty. The deadline for submission is Friday, June 6, 2014. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.

Organizers:
Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University
Audrey Malagon, Virginia Wesleyan College

Sponsors:
MAA Committee on Early Career Mathematicians
Young Mathematician’s Network
MAA Committee on Graduate Students

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Organizers:
Jim Freeman, Cornell College
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsor:
Committee on Graduate Students

Year:

2014

Panel Sessions

Mentoring Matters

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

The initiation of mentoring programs for all faculty is supported not just anecdotally, but also by data-driven recommendations that appeared in publications such as 2010’s “Gender Differences in Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty” and 2006’s “Report of the Banff International Research Station’s Workshop on Women in Mathematics.” This panel offers several perspectives on mentoring, from individual experiences to programs supported by organizations such as the Association for Women in Mathematics and National Science Foundation. Additionally, the panel addresses the process of finding the right mentor and having multiple mentors; and best practices for institutions interested in developing and training mentors.

Organizers:
Magnhild Lien, California State University Northridge
Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts Boston
Jacqueline Jensen, Slippery Rock University

Panelists:
Stan Yoshinobu, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Carol Schumacher, Kenyon College
Helen Wong, Carleton College
Courtney Gibbons, Hamilton College

Sponsor:
Association for Women in Mathematics

How to Apply for Non-Academic Jobs

Thursday, August 7, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Organizer:
Jessica Deshler, West Virginia University

Panelists:
Allen Butler, Daniel H. Wagner Associates, Inc
Thomas Grandine, The Boeing Company
Kim Sacra, National Security Agency

Sponsor:
Committee on Professional Development

Lessons from Successful Calculus Programs

Thursday, August 7, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

In 2012, the MAA’s National Calculus Study, Characteristics of Successful Programs in College Calculus, visited seventeen colleges and universities that had been identified as exhibiting some measure of success in Calculus I. This panel will present some of the findings of what makes for a successful program, reported by category of institution: research universities, regional universities, undergraduate colleges, and two-year colleges.

Organizer:
David Bressoud, Macalester College

Panelists:
Eric Hsu, San Francisco State University
Nina White, University of Michigan
Jess Ellis, San Diego State University
Kate Melhuish, Portland State University

Open Source Resources for Mathematics: Benefits and Costs

Friday August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

This panel will include innovators in the development and use of open source resources for mathematics. A variety of options will be represented ranging from computer software to online homework and Open Textbooks. Significant time will be reserved for questions from the audience and between the panelists.

Each of the panelists will focus on the use of open source systems and how each can successfully enable end users to do and teach mathematics. Costs–both tangible and intangible–will be considered and compared to those normally associated with commercial products. Each panelist will address the advantages and disadvantages of these systems when compared to commercial products–and include any research on the efficacy of using their system for teaching purposes. Philosophical reasons for supporting open source products will be addressed. Additionally, avenues regarding how the audience can get involved in contributing to product development will be provided.

Organizers:
John Travis, Mississippi College
Karl-Dieter Crisman, Gordon College

Panelists:
Davide Cervone, Union University (MathJax)
Jane Long, Stephen F. Austin State University (Sage)
Albert Kim, Reed College (R)
Rob Beezer, University of Puget Sound (Open Textbooks)
Robin Cruz, College of Idaho (WeBWorK)

Sponsors:
Committee on Technologies in Mathematics Education
Professional Development Committee
WEB SIGMAA

Non-Academic Career Paths for Students who Like Mathematics

Friday, August 8, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Organizers:
Lisa Marano, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Karen Marrongelle, Oregon University System
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University

Panelists:
Representatives of NBA Trailblazers, Nike, and Galois

Problems Well-Suited for Math Circles

Friday, August 8, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

Choosing a problem which is suitable for a math circle session is arguably the most important task for a circle leader. Good problems are crucial not only for a single session – the success or a failure of a math circle depends on problems presented to participants. But what makes a problem good? Which problems and topics are suitable and why? At the session, a sequence of experienced math circle leaders will present their ideas and share handouts that describe how to run a math circle on a particular topic. A general discussion will follow these presentations.

Organizers:
Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University
Phil Yasskin, Texas A&M University

Panelists:
Brian Conrey, American Institute of Mathematics
Elgin Johnston, Iowa State University
Amanda Serenevy, Riverbend Community Math Center
James Tanton, Mathematical Association of America
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco

Sponsor:
SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST)

The New Mathways STEM Prep Initiative: Results from the Design Team

Friday, August 8, 3:10 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I

The Charles A Dana Center’s New Mathways Project has begun the work of designing a STEM Prep Pathway serving students from developmental math to calculus. For the past eight months two teams of leading researchers and educators have been gleaning promising practices from the field and synthesizing them in order to determine the Content and Structure of this re-conceptualized pathway to calculus. This panel of representatives from both teams will lead an interactive discussion on challenges of preparing students for calculus, a presentation of their findings, and an overview of the course design. The panel is interested to respond to questions and receive feedback from the audience with respect to their findings and the subsequent proposed design.

Organizer:
Frank Savina, University of Texas at Austin

Panelists:
David Bressoud, Macalester College
Susanne Doree, Augsburg College
Michael Oertman, University of Northern Colorado
Jim Roznowski, Delta College Emeritus

Chairing the Academic Department: Advice and Perspectives from the Pros

Friday, August 8, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

Department chairs are called upon to deal with courses, schedules, curricula, research, grants, prospective and current students and facultly, alumni and employers, to name a few. The specific duties and range of activities can vary between different types and sizes of institutions, as well as departments with different organizational structures and missions. Nevertheless, successfully chairing a mathematics department uniformly requires the cultivation of new skills, knowledge, and perspectives, along with the collaboration of faculty, staff, students and the administration. For those who have been a chair for a while, are about to embark on their first term as chair, or are thinking about it for the future, this panel session will feature some great advice and reflections on chairing the mathematics department from faculty who have been there.

Organizer:
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Panelists:
Mark Gockenbach, Michigan Technological University
Charlotte Simmons, University of Central Oklahoma
Linda McGuire, Muhlenberg College

Sponsor:
Committee on Professional Development

Integrating Mathematical Software into Lower-Division Mathematics Courses

Friday, August 8, 4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

This panel session will discuss the use of mathematical software as a teaching tool in math courses and techniques for successful adoption. In this panel, we will specifically focus on using mathematical software in calculus and calculus-related lower-division courses. With the growing integration of technology into peoples’ working lives, teaching students to use technology to do mathematics can be instrumental in allowing mathematics to become a tool students can apply throughout their lives. It also provides an additional avenue for students to enhance their understanding of the concepts underlying the calculations, by providing visualizations, or by allowing them to work with large, real-world data sets. The speakers will be content creators and teaching practitioners who will address not only the capabilities of the technology, but also proven best practices for using this technology in post-secondary education. This panel has been organized by the MAA Committee on Technology in Mathematics Education.

Organizers:
Natalie Linnell, Santa Clara University
Wade Ellis, Texas Instruments

Panelists:
Tom Dick, Oregon State University
Bill Bauldry, Appalachian State University
Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University

Sponsor:
Committee on Technology in Mathematics Education

Writing for MAA Journals and Magazines

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Would you like to write an article for an MAA journal or magazine? In this informal presentation, mainly for prospective authors, the editors of MAA periodicals discuss the types of articles wanted, the mechanics of preparation, and the qualities of writing that they wish to encourage. The editors of the online publication Loci will join the editors of Math Horizons, MAA Focus, College Mathematics Journal, Mathematics Magazine, and American Mathematical Monthly in this interactive conversation.
Organizers:
Ivars Peterson, Mathematical Association of America
Scott Chapman, Sam Houston State University

Panelists:
Scott Chapman, Sam Houston State University (Editor, American Mathematical Monthly)
Walter Stromquist, (Editor, Mathematics Magazine)
Michael Jones, Mathematical Reviews (Editor-Elect, Mathematics Magazine)
Brian Hopkins, St. Peter’s University (Editor, College Mathematics Journal)
David Richeson, Dickinson College (Editor, Math Horizons)
Janet Beery, University of Redlands (Editor, MAA Convergence)

Sponsors:
Council on Publications
Communications and the Committee on Journals

Innovative Curricula for Developmental Mathematics

Saturday, August 9, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Last November there was a National Math Summit, which concentrated on new innovations in developmental math courses. These courses aim to help students understand mathematics and progress to a credit level math course as fast as possible. Most of these courses are being piloted in two-year colleges, and, with the increasing number of students transferring from two-year to four-year colleges, the goal of this panel is to acquaint the audience with some of the new initiatives.

Organizer:
Joanne Peeples, El Paso Community College

Moderator:
Wade Ellis, Texas Instruments

Panelists:
Amy Getz, University of Texas at Austin
Karon Klipple, Carnegie Foundation
Linda Zientek, Sam Houston State University
Paul Nolting, State College of Florida

Sponsors:
Committee on Two Year Colleges (CUTM)
Subcommittee on Calculus Reform and the First Two Years (CRAFTY)

Open Access Publishing in Mathematics: Who?, What?, Where?, Why?, and How?

Saturday, August 9, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

This panel is intended to provide both current information and a forum for discussion about open access models of scholarly publishing in mathematics and mathematics education. Panelists will address how such publishing venues can effectively serve authors and readers, then the session will provide an opportunity for discussion between speakers and session attendees.

Organizer:
Linda McGuire, Muhlenberg College

Panelists:
James Crowley, Executive Director, SIAM
Gizem Karaali, Pomona College
Ted Mahavier, Lamar University
Allegra Swift, Claremont Colleges Library

Sponsor:
Committee on Professional Development

Year:

2014

Workshops

What’s the Story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for a General Audience

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Presenting our research to undergraduate students can be both fun and rewarding. It can also be difficult, however, since the gory details of our results often require a great deal of specific jargon and background. Nonetheless, the big ideas can almost always be presented at a variety of levels, and this workshop is designed to interactively help participants develop the skills needed to formulate a presentation on their research that is appropriate for an audience of undergraduate students. Since many colleges and universities require giving such a talk as part of a job interview, almost any graduate student will have the opportunity to do so, and the ability to communicate complex mathematical ideas to students is a valued trait in a candidate. This workshop will consist of hands-on activities and audience interaction aimed toward developing and improving the necessary skills for creating an engaging and accessible presentation for undergraduates. Participants should be prepared to discuss in groups a potential presentation on their research or other related topic.

Organizer:
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University

Sponsors:
MAA Committee on Graduate Students
Young Mathematicians Network

Workshop on Gaming in Mathematics

Thursday, August 7, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

New 3-D gaming technology allows for much more depth for playing, experimenting, and learning with mathematics. This workshop will investigate the different ways mathematics can be expressed and enjoyed through 3-D environments.

Organizer:
Charlie Van Norman, Imaginary Number Company

Workshop on Revitalizing Algebra in Remedial Courses While Preparing Instructors

Friday, August 8, 10:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

In a typical elementary algebra class at the college level, students sit watching as the instructor presents a sequence of examples of the exercises and an occasional direct application. A few appear attentive, some are taking notes, some not. Some are covertly texting or listening to music, and others are doing work for other classes. Too many others did not come to class. The REvitalizing ALgebra Project (REAL) has created a two-semester sequence that includes problems that enable students to reveal and build on their prior knowledge and that engage small groups in the mathematical discourse necessary to understanding mathematical concepts. These materials are based on approaches to teaching and learning that have been affirmed by past research. The instructors for the new courses are primarily mathematics graduate students. The graduate students are required to take a course in mathematics pedagogy in conjunction with the first time they teach the course. During the workshop participants will learn about the key components in the remedial courses and in the mathematics pedagogy course. They will engage in activities from the courses, and will look at the evaluation data about students who completed the remedial courses.

Organizers:
Diane Resek, San Francisco State University
Judy Kysh, San Francisco State University

Year:

2014

Poster Sessions

Poster Session on IBL Best Practices

Thursday, August 7, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

New and experienced instructors implementing inquiry-based learning methods are invited to share their experiences, resources, and insights in this poster session. The posters in this session will focus on IBL best practices. We seek both novel ideas and effective approaches to IBL. Claims made should be supported by data (student responses, sample work, test scores, survey results, etc.). This session will be of interest to instructors new to IBL, as well as experienced practitioners looking for new ideas. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Abstracts should be submitted at www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts. The deadline for submission is Friday, June 6, 2014. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.

Organizers:
Angie Hodge, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Dana Ernst, Northern Arizona University
Stan Yoshinobu, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

PosterFest 2014: A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students

Friday, August 8, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

This poster session will allow early career mathematicians, including untenured faculty and graduate students, to present and discuss their scholarly activities with other attendees in an informal atmosphere. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts and and should indicate whether the presenter is a graduate student or untenured faculty. The deadline for submission is Friday, June 13, 2014. Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.

Organizers:
Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University
Audrey Malagon, Virginia Wesleyan College

Sponsors:
MAA Committee on Early Career Mathematicians
Young Mathematician’s Network
MAA Committee on Graduate Students

Tags:

Poster Sessions

Year:

2014

SIGMAA Activities

SIGMAA QL: SIGMAA on Quantitative Literacy

Reception

Thursday, August 7, 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

SIGMAA QL Turns 10

A Discussion of the Past and Future of Quantitative Literacy

Thursday, August 7, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

2014 marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of the SIGMAA on Quantitative Literacy. SIGMAA QL was founded in order to provide a structure within the mathematics community to advance the understanding and teaching of quantitative literacy, which its charter defines as “the ability to adequately use elementary mathematical tools to interpret and manipulate quantitative ideas that arise in individuals’ private, civic, and work lives.” Much has changed since 2004 in the QL community, in the universities in which we teach, in K12 mathematics, and in society at large. Our panelists will reflect on the past and future of quantitative literacy and foster a discussion on how we can continue to advance our common goals.

Moderator:
Andrew J Miller, Belmont University, Past Chair of SIGMAA QL

Panelists:
Caren Diefenderfer, Hollins University, Founding Chair Elect of SIGMAA QL
Rick Gillman, Valparaiso University, Founding Past Chair of SIGMAA QL
Dorothy Wallace, Dartmouth University, Founding Editor, Numeracy
Bernie Madison, University of Arkansas, QL Author and Assessment Developer
Wm. David Burns, Executive Director, National Center for Science and Civic Engagement

POM SIGMAA: SIGMAA on the Philosophy of Mathematics

Reception

Thursday, August 7, 5:30 – 6:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Guest Lecture: Math-Speak: Syntax, Semantics, and Pragmatics

Thursday, August 7, 6:00 p.m. – 6:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Mathematics is famously difficult, especially for students first seriously encountering theory and proofs. The problem is not just that “math is hard,” but that the special language of mathematics is especially hard.

This is not surprising: communicating technical ideas and fine distinctions naturally requires extra linguistic effort. This difficulty stems, I’ll argue, only partly from the genuinely complicated syntax and semantics of mathematical language. It arises also from linguistic “pragmatics”: what’s “heard” depends not only on what’s said but also, crucially, on what “hearers” bring to the “conversation”. I’ll illustrate with examples connecting the pragmatics and the syntactical and semantic issues, and, perhaps, suggest some possible strategies.

Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College

SIGMAA MCST: SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers

Math Circle Demonstration

Saturday, August 9, 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

A math circle is an enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. This demonstration session offers the opportunity for conference attendees to observe and then discuss a math circle experience designed for local students. While students are engaged in a mathematical investigation, mathematicians will have a discussion focused on appreciating and better understanding the organic and creative process of learning that circles offer, and on the logistics and dynamics of running an effective circle.

Organizers:
Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco
Japheth Wood, New York Math Circle
Craig Daniels, PDX (Portland) Math Circle

Sponsor:
SIGMAA MCST

Math Wrangle

Saturday, August 9, 10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Organizers:
Steve Dunbar, American Math Competitions
Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University
Ed Keppelmann, University of Nevada, Reno
Craig Daniels, PDX (Portland) Math Circle

Sponsors:
American Mathematics Competitions
SIGMAA MCST

Problems Well-Suited for Math Circles

Friday, August 8, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

Organizers:
Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University
Phil Yasskin, Texas A&M University

Panelists:
Gene Abrams, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Brian Conrey, American Institute of Mathematics
Amanda Serenevy, Riverbend Community Math Center
James Tanton, Mathematical Association of America
Sam Vandervelde, St Lawrence University
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco
Joshua Zucker, Julia Robinson Math Festival

Sponsor:
SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST)

BIO SIGMAA: SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology

Contributed Paper Session

Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology

Friday, August 8, morning

Organizer:
Timothy Comar, Benedictine University

Sponsor:
SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology (BIO SIGMAA)

WEB SIGMAA: SIGMAA on Mathematics Instruction using the Web

Panel Discussion

Open Source Resources for Mathematics: Benefits and Costs

Friday August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Organizers:
John Travis, Mississippi College
Karl-Dieter Crisman, Gordon College

Sponsors:
Committee on Technologies in Mathematics Education
Professional Development Committee
WEB SIGMAA

Business Meeting

Friday, August 8, 5:30 p.m. – 5:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Discussion

What Are Effective Online Homework Problems in Mathematics?

Friday, August 8, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Online delivery of homework and other assessments in mathematics courses has become standard. This discussion will focus on best practices in developing online questions for mathematics, with the goal of creating problems that are pedagogically well-formed and which take full advantage of the online environment. Assessing the effectiveness of online problems will also be considered. In particular, what factors or metrics might be used to determine the efficacy of an online mathematics problem? Following the presentation, time will be allowed for the audience to participate in this discussion. There will be a follow-up contributed paper session titled, “Well-Designed Online Assessment: Well-formed Questions, Discovery-based Explorations, and their Success in Improving Student Learning” at JMM 2015.

Organizer:
Paul Seeburger, Monroe Community College

Year:

2014

Committee Meetings

Monday, August 4

Meetings Management Committee Meeting

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 22nd Floor, MAA Suite I

Executive Committee Meeting

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline III

Tuesday, August 5

Executive Committee Meeting

8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline III

New Governors Orientation

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline II

Wednesday, August 6

Board of Governors Meeting

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

Thursday, August 7

Committee on Sections Meeting

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom II

Professional Development Committee Meeting

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Cabinet Suite

Pi Mu Epsilon Council Meeting

8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

Committee on Journals Meeting

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom West

Committee on the Status of the Profession

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Boardroom

MAA Committee on Departmental Review Meeting

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom East

Science Policy Committee Meeting

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Plaza Suite

Committee on Early Career Mathematicians

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Cabinet Suite

Council on Members and Communities Meeting

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom II

Council on Publications and Communications

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom East

MAA Centennial Planning Committee Meeting

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Boardroom

MAA Council on the Profession Committee Meeting

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom West

Membership Committee Meeting

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom East

Committee on the Teaching of Undergraduate Mathematics Meeting

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Plaza Suite

Friday, August 8

Pi Mu Epsilon Advisors Breakfast

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Committee on Technologies in Mathematics Education Meeting

8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Boardroom

Council on Outreach Programs Meeting

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom West

MAA Convergence Editorial Board Meeting and Training Session

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Hilton Portland, 22nd Floor, MAA Suite II

Committee on MAA/Department Liaisons Meeting

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Cabinet Suite

Council on Programs and Students in the Mathematical Science Meeting

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom West

Minicourse Committee Meeting

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Plaza Suite

CUPM Committee Meeting

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Plaza Suite

Committee on Early Career Mathematics Meeting

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom West

Anneli Lax Board Meeting

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Cabinet Suite

Council on Meetings and Professional Development Meeting

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom II

Council on Prizes and Awards Meeting

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom East

SIGMAA TAHSM

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Plaza Suite

Math Horizons Board Meeting

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Cabinet Suite

CRAFTY

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom West

Saturday, August 9

Committee on Committees and Councils Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 22nd Floor, MAA Suite I

CUPM Steering Committee Meeting

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Plaza Suite

Project NExT Director Meeting

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Boardroom West

SIMIODE Board of Contributing Advisors Meeting

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Cabinet Suite

Year:

2014

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Lynette Boos, Providence College
Susan Callahan, Cottey College

Probability or Statistics

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

A Disproof of Tsallis’ Conjecture for the Exact Percolation Threshold of the Kagome Lattice

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
John Charles Wierman, Johns Hopkins University

Probabilistic Proofs of Some Binomial Coefficient Identities

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Michael Z. Spivey, University of Puget Sound

The M-tile Deviation, A New Class of Measures of Dispersion: Assessing Learner Achievement

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
David DiMarco, Neumann University
Ryan Savitz, Neumann University
Fred Savitz, Neumann University

An Investigation of Benford’s Law Characterizations

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Azar Khosravani, Columbia College Chiacago
Constantin Rasinariu, Columbia College Chicago

Efficient Use of the Negative Hypergeometric Distribution in Randomized Response Sampling

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Stephen A Sedory, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Michael Lee Johnson, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Sarjinder Singh, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Project-Based Approach to Understanding Quantile Regression

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
James Helmreich, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY
K. Peter Krog, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Assorted Teaching Topics

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Mathematics Teaching Transformed – Lessons to be Learned

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Jerry Dwyer, Texas Tech University

Passive and Active Activities in the Flipped Classroom

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
David Jay Graser, Yavapai College

Flipping Precalculus-Incorporating Online and In-Class Activities

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Mahmud Akelbek, Weber State University

Using Analogous Problems

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Victoria Kofman, Quality Engineering Education, Inc.

Zombie Models: A Sexy Approach to Improving Mathematics One Brain at a Time

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Matthew Lewis, Utah State University

Making Problem

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Tanaka Noriko

Reconceptualizing Mathematics for Elementary Teachers

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Melissa A Desjarlais, Valparaiso University

How Admissions Cutoff Scores Favor Affluent Students and Act as a Barrier for Many Minority Students

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Bryan Nankervis, Texas State University

Interdisciplinary Topics in Mathematics

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Other Liberal Arts Disciplines Taught Together with Mathematics

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Paul R McCreary, The Evergreen State College – Tacoma

Flipping Linear Algebra

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Michael Gagliardo, California Lutheran University

A Flipped Math for Nurses

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Peter Olszewski, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Jessica Resig, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Bones, Muscles and Math: Biology and Geometry Working Together

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Daniel R. Huber, University of Tampa
Leslie Braziel Jones, University of Tampa

Harold and the NMAH Object Groups: Young Children’s Responses to Crockett Johnson’s Mathematical Paintings

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, University of Maryland University College

Frieze Patterns of the Mamluks

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
B Lynn Bodner, Monmouth University

Mini-Flipping Biostatistics

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Magdalena Luca, MCPHS University

Designing a Successful Capstone Course

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Julian Michael Buck, Francis Marion University

Modeling or Applications

Thursday, August 7, 8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Measuring Mountain Impressiveness with New Topographic Functionals

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
David Metzler, Albuquerque Academy; Edward Earl, Independent Researcher

The Second-Order Lanczos Derivative and a Nonlocal Flux

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Nathanial Burch, Gonzaga University

SIMIODE – Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Brian Winkel, Emeritus US Military Academy

The Collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
George Moss, Union University

How Popular Do You Want to Be? A Mathematical Model of College Friendships

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Yan Hao, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Weddell Seal Morphometrics: An Example of Mathematical Modeling to Solve a Polar Science Problem

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Lynn Foshee Reed, Einstein Educator Fellowship

Deducing the Age of an Ancient Natural Nuclear Reactor in a Pre-Calculus Class

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Alexander Atwood, SUNY Suffolk County Community College
Andrea Blum, SUNY Suffolk County Community College

The Mathematical Contest in Modeling

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Sol Garfunkel, COMAP

Assorted Mathematics Research Topics

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:25 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Interesting Matrix Problems from Quantum Information Theory: Locally Distinguishing Quantum States

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Michael Nathanson, Saint Mary’s College of California

The Rank of a Recurrence Matrix

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Christopher R Lee, University of Portland
Valerie J Peterson, University of Portland

A Busy Beaver Problem for Infinite-Time Turing Machines

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
James Long, Lehigh University
Lee Stanley, Lehigh University

A Simplified Approach to the Cubic Formula

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Akhilan Boopathy, Lakeside School

On the Other Side of the World, or Right Next Door?

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

Exact Values of Trigonmentric Functions

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Jeremiah Bartz, Francis Marion University

Perplexing Factorizations: An Undergraduate Research Project

2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Adrian Gentle, University of Southern Indiana

Beautiful Integer Patterns

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Charlie Smith, Park University

Guarding a Koch Fractal Art Gallery

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Lauren Cassell, Ohio Northern University
William Roger Fuller, Ohio Northern University

Active Context Free Games with Finite Target Language

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Lori McCune, Missouri Western State University
David McCune, William Jewell College

Expressing Recursively Defined Polynomial Sequences in Terms of Extended Fibonacci Polynomials

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Robert Russell Molina, Alma College

Inverson Polynomials for Permutations Avoiding Consecutive Patterns

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Kendra Killpatrick, Pepperdine University
Naiomi Cameron, Lewis and Clark College

Extending the Tables of Wallis: Conjectures on Catalan Numbers and the Gamma Function

4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Lee N. Collins, County College of Morris

Repeating Fractions and Primes

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Nick Huo Han Huang, Math Lover

Teaching or Learning Introductory Mathematics

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Evangelizing for Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Kayla Bradley Dwelle, Ouachita Baptist University

Rethinking Ball State University’s Liberal Arts Math Course

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Crystal Lorch, Ball State University
John Lorch, Ball State University

PreCalculus Flipped Classroom and Active Learning

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Michael Weimerskirch, University of Minnesota

College Algebra: Improving Student Success using a Hybrid Approach

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Kay Geving, Belmont University

Active Learning Strategies to Improve Student Attitudes and Outcomes: The Studio Statistics Model at CSM

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Gus Greivel, Colorado School of Mines

Project Based Activities in Online Statistics

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Amy Wheeler, Hondros College

Bringing Variety to Elementary Statistics Problems Based on Real Data

2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
David Robert Gurney, Southeastern Louisiana University

Quantitative Reasoning for Business: An Inquiry-Based Approach

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Victor Ian Piercey, Ferris State University

Macroeconomics in Finite Math: Rediscovering and Recreating Leontief Analysis

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Gregory V Bard, The University of Wisconsin, Stout

Reaching More – A Hybrid Mathematics Course for Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education Majors

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Rebecca Metcalf, Bridgewater State University

Euclidean & Non-Euclidean Origametry

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Daniel J. Heath, Pacific Lutheran University

After the Test, What Now?

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Rachel Frankel, University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College

Characteristic of Students During and After Introductory College Level Mathematics and Statistics Training

4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Xuan Hien Nguyen, Iowa State University
Ian Mouzon, Iowa State University
Alicia Carriquiry, Iowa State University
Ulrike Genschel, Iowa State University
Elgin Johnston, Iowa State University
Andee Kaplan, Iowa State University
Wolfgang Kliemann, Iowa State University
Kenneth Koehler, Iowa State University

Developing an Introductory Mathematics Course in a South Asian Context

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Thomas Fryer, Asian University for Women

Supplemental Instruction at the University of North Alabama

4:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Ashley Johnson, University of North Alabama

Supplemental Instruction: Closing the Achievement Gap for Underrepresented Minorities

4:45 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Todd Cadwallader Olsker, California State University, Fullerton
Martin Bonsangue, California State University, Fullerton
Kathy Lewis, California State University, Fullerton
Ashley Thune-Aguayo, California State University, Fullerton
Jolene Fleming, California State University, Fullerton

Using Reading Guides in Mathematics Courses

5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Melanie Butler, Mount St. Mary’s University

Mathematics and Technology

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Inspiring Critical Thinking Through Programming Projects in a Precalculus Class

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Andrea Blum, SUNY Suffolk County Community College
Alexander Atwood, SUNY Suffolk County Community College

Using an Online Homework System for Written Homework

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Matthew Leingang, New York University

Flipped Classrooms Require – and Should Inspire – Better Software

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
John C. Miller, The City College of C.U.N.Y. (emeritus)

Evolution of a Statistics Classroom

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Steven Klassen, Missouri Western State University

Using Online Technologies to Create Journal Articles in Numerical Analysis

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Mili Shah, Loyola

Euclid 21: Euclid’s Elements for the 21st Century

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Eugene Boman, Penn State, Harrisburg Campus

The Sophisticated Pencil: Computation as Transformation of the Traditional Mathematics Curriculum

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Jeff Randell Knisley, East Tennessee State University

An Active Introduction to Sage

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Brian Katz, Augustana College

Advances in Lurch, A Word Processor that Can Check Students’ Proofs

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Nathan C Carter, Bentley University
Kenneth G Monks, University of Scranton

Dynamic Visualization’s Effect on Mathematics Graduate Student and Inservice Teachers’ Views of Transformations of Functions

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
James Anthony Mendoza Epperson, The University of Texas at Arlington
Andrew Paul Byrns, Dallas Independent School District

Experience-Driven Evolution of Technology-Based Courses

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Rebekah Gilbert, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Staying In Touch with Students with Technology

11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Ginger Harper, Kaplan University

Exploring the Use of Mobile Devices as Student Response Systems in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses

11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Jana Talley, Jackson State University
Lecretia Buckley, Jackson State University
Jessica Buck Murphy, Jackson State University
Shontrice Garrett, Jackson State University

Teaching or Learning Calculus

Friday, August 8, 8:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Making Waves in Vector Calculus

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
John Thoo, Yuba College

Impact of a Large Lecture Model in Multivariable Calculus

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Nathan P. Clements, University of Wyoming

Resequencing Calculus: An Early Multivariable Approach

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Michael Axtell, University of St. Thomas
Dave Dwyer, University of Evansville
Mark Gruenwald, University of Evansville
Ken Luther, Valparaiso University

Flipping My Calculus Classes

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
John Frohliger, St. Norbert College

A Successful Week 1 in a Flipped Calculus 1 Course

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Bob Sachs, George Mason University

Writing About Continuity

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Derek Thompson, Trine University

Classroom Investigations to Prepare Students for Calculus

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Ken Collins, Charlotte Latin School

Introductory Calculus with Meaning and without Limits

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Stacy Marie Musgrave, Arizona State University

Effectiveness of Teaching From a Bound Set of Lecture Notes in a Calculus Course

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Brandy Benedict, Merrimack College

Strategies to Promote Student Success in Calculus

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Corinne Casolara, Montana State University – Bozeman
Veronica Baker, Montana State University – Bozeman

The Effectiveness of Clickers in a Large-Enrollment Calculus Classroom

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Heather Bolles, Iowa State University
Adrian Jenkins, Iowa State University
Elgin Johnston, Iowa State University
Xuan Hien Nguyen, Iowa State University

History and Exploration in the Teaching of Calculus

11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Paul Sisson, LSU Shreveport
Tibor Szarvas, LSU Shreveport

The Impact of Placement and Curriculum Reform on Success in First-Year Courses

11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Edgar Fuller, West Virginia University
Jessica Deshler, West Virginia University

Mentoring

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:25 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Creating Sustainable Programs to Support Women Faculty in Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

MPWR: Mentoring and Partnerships for Women in RUME

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Megan Wawro, Virginia Tech
Jessica Ellis, San Diego State University
Hortensia Soto-Johnson, University of Northern Colorado

Mentoring Undergraduates

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Gary MacGillivray, University of Victoria

The Intentional Mentoring

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Noureen Khan, UNT Dallas

The Power of a Good Mentor: Lessons Learned from a Four-Year After School Mathematics Program

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Lina Sanchez leal, Rutgers University
Gabriela Garcia, Cliffside High School NJ

Measuring Educator Effectiveness & Pre-Service Teacher Supervision

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Daniel Patrick Wisniewski, DeSales University
John T. Garey, DeSales University

Outreach

Friday, August 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:25 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Texas A&M Math Circle: Structure and Activities

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Alex Sprintson, Texas A&M University
Kaitlyn Phillipson, Texas A&M University
Trevor Olsen, Texas A&M University
Frank Sottile, Texas A&M University

The UCI Math Circle: Afternoons of Mathematical Investigations for Middle and High School Students

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Leesa Anzaldo, University of California, Irvine
Timmy Ma, University of California, Irvine
Cynthia Northrup, University of California, Irvine
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine

National Association of Math Circles, First National Survey Results

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Brandy S Wiegers, National Association of Math Circles, Central Washington University

Southern Connecticut State University’s GEAR UP Summer Mathematics Program

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Klay Kruczek, Southern Connecticut State University

Supporting Mathematics Research Projects for Advanced High School Students

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Daniel Teague, NC School of Science and Mathematics

Encouraging STEM Majors to Consider a Career in Teaching Through Nonprofit Partnership

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Stephanie Anne Salomone, University of Portland

Research in Applied Mathematics

Friday, August 8, 3:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

The Study of Complex Dynamics of Methamphetamine Use and Markets in California

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Steve Szymanowski, Northeastern Illinois University

Optimal Control of the Spread of Cholera

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Javier Garza, Tarleton State University

Computing the Value Function for a Singular Optimal Control Problem

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m
Jesus Pascal, The American University of Afghanistan

Assembling Broken Surfaces using Differential Invariant Signatures

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Robert Thompson, Macalester College

Effect of Thermal Diffusion And Chemical Reaction on Heat And Mass Transfer in Micropolar Fluid

4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m..
Louis Essien Effiong, Fluid Dynamics

Heat and Mass Transfer in a Micropolar Fluid With Thermal Radiation Over a Vertical Plate

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Oahimire Imumolen Jonathan, Fluid Dynamics

Complete Synchronization on Networks of Identical Oscillators with Diffusive Delay-Coupling

4:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Stanley Ryan Huddy, State University of New York at New Paltz
Joseph Skufca, Clarkson University

Measuring Distances between Weighted Graphs by Graph Diffusion

4:45 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
David Kenric Hammond, Oregon Institute of Technology – Wilsonville
Yaniv Gur, SCI Institute, University of Utah

Research in Graph Theory or Combinatorics

Friday, August 8, 3:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Dynamic Storage Allocation using Tolerance Graphs

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Karin Saoub, Roanoke College

Eternal Colorings and

k

-Eternal Graphs

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Mark Anderson, Rollins College
Shiying Gu, Rollins College
Charles Evans Hedges, Rollins College
Felipe Quiroga, Rollins College

Extremal H-Colorings of Trees and Forests

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
John Engbers, Marquette University

Prime Labelings of Graphs

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Cayla McBee, Providence College

Group-Antimagic Labelings of Graphs

4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Richard Low, San Jose State University
Dan Roberts, Illinois Wesleyan University

Inflection Points of Reliability Polynomials

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Christina Graves, The University of Texas at Tyler
David Milan, The University of Texas at Tyler

Insights into

m -

ary Partitions from an

m -

ary Tree

4:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Timothy B Flowers, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Shannon R Lockard, Bridgewater State University

On

C z

-Factorizations with Two Associate Classes

4:45 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Michael Tiemeyer, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Hamiltonian Cycles in Cayley Graphs of Complex Reflection Groups

5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Cathy Kriloff, Idaho State University
Terry Lay, Idaho State University, Retired

Research in Analysis

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 a.m. – 9:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Hypercyclicity and the Range of an Operator

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Kevin Rion, Bridgewater State University

A Solution to Boundary Value Problems and Volterra Integral Equations with Parker and Sochacki Method

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Hamid Semiyari, James Madison University

Behavior of Boundary Convergency for Power Series

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Xiao-Xiong Gan, Morgan State University

Analytical and Numerical Investigations of the Riemann Hypothesis

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Donald Hitzl, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab (Retired)

Teaching or Learning Developmental Mathematics

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 a.m. – 9:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Using Pictures to Study Students’ Mathematical Beliefs and Attitudes

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Ben Ntatin, Austin Peay State University

Activities to Reinforce Fraction Concepts in the Developmental Math Classroom

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Ann Hanson, Columbia College Chicago

Using Critical Thinking Skills in Developmental Mathematics

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Mary B. Walkins, The Community College of Baltimore County

“Is It Time To Go Home Yet?”: Student Engagement in Extracurricular Mathematics, Grades 2-4

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Christina Tran, California State University, Fullerton
Benjamin David Blazak, California State University, Fullerton

Research in Algebra

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Various Extensions of Commutative Rings

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Papiya Bhattacharjee, Penn State Behrend

Calm Ring Extensions and Associated Primes

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Hannah Robbins, Roanoke College

The Generalization of HNP Ring, 2 Bezout Ring and P-Bezout Ring

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Irawati Irawati, Institut Teknologi Bandung

τ-Factorizations, when τ is an Equivalence Relation

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Reyes Matiel Ortiz-Albino, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus
Cesar Serna-Rapello, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

The Number of Zeros of Linear Recurring Sequences Over Finite Fields

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Suwanda Hennedige Yasanthi Kottegoda, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Two Groups Associated with an ${R, s + 1, k}$ -Potent Matrix

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Jeffrey Stuart, Pacific Lutheran University
Minerva Catral, Xavier University
Leila Lebtahi, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia
Nestor Thome, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia
James Weaver, University of West Florida

An Algebra with Characteristic Dependent Associativity

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Lydia Kennedy, Virginia Wesleyan College

The Frobenius Number of Balanced Numerical Semigroups

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Jeremy Thompson, USAFA

Isomorphy Classes of Involutions of

Sp (2 n, k)

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Robert Wayne Benim, Pacific University
Loek Helminck, North Carolina State University
Farrah Jackson, Elizabeth City State University

Directly Finite Modules of $s l_{2} d$

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Christopher Kennedy, Christopher Newport University

Characteristics of Algebraic Symbol Sense

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Margaret T. Kinzel, Boise State University

Research in Number Theory

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Difference Sets, Singer Designs, and Singer Difference Sets

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Bud Brown, Virginia Tech

Odd Numbers, Their Relation to Primitive Pythagorean Suits and Traingulares Numbers – Theorem Ren

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Renilson Adriano Silva, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Sao Paulo and University Center Modulo

Arithmetic of

k

-Regular Partition Functions

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
David Penniston, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

A Computational Method for Solving Exponential-Polynomial Diophantine Equations

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Jiayuan Wang, George Washington University
Max Alekseyev, George Washington University

A Set of Two-color Off-Diagonal Rado Numbers for

x 1 + x 2 + \dots + x m = a x 0

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Don Vestal, South Dakota State University

Squarefree Parts of Polynomial Values

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
David Krumm, Claremont McKenna College

Emergent Reducibility in Polynomial Dynamics

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Jason Preszler, University of Puget Sound

Connections Between Furstenberg’s and Euclid’s Proofs of the Infinitude of Primes

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Nathan Carlson, California Lutheran University

The Gaussian Moat Problem

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Anthony Shaheen, CSU Los Angeles

Some Palatable Morsels, Integer Sequences and Number Theory Trivia

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Jay Lawrence Schiffman, Rowan University

Divisibility Tests Unified: Stacking the Trimmings for Sums

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Edwin O’Shea, James Madison University

Research in Geometry

Saturday, August 9, 10:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Fibonacci and Logarithmic Spirals

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Steven Edwards, Southern Polytechnic State University

The Convex Body Isoperimetric Conjecture

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Frank Morgan, Williams College

Periodic Orbits in the Heisenberg-Kepler Problem

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Corey Shanbrom, California State University, Sacramento

An Intrinsic Relationship Between Finite Projective Planes and Finite (Galois) Fields

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Alvin Swimmer, Arizona State University

New Directions in Staircase Metric Geometry

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Jack Mealy, Austin College
Samantha Le, Austin College

Assessment

Saturday, August 9, 10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

University Students’ Perception on Poor Achievement of Undergraduates in Introductory Mathematics-Related Courses in Taraba State – Nigeria

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Solomon Abogunde Iyekekpolor, Federal University, Wukari – Nigeria

A Research-Based Rubric To Assess Students’ Creativity in Proof and Proving

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Gail Tang, University of La Verne
Milos Savic, University of Oklahoma
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado
Houssein El Turkey, University of Oklahoma
Molly Stubblefield, University of Oklahoma

An Improved Mixed Clustering Approach for Teaching Evaluation

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Sijie Liu, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

The Relationship between Calibration, Anxiety and Achievement in Preservice Elementary Teachers Mathematics

11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Brian Christopher, University of Northern Colorado

History or Philosophy of Mathematics

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

What is Algebra and Where Did it Come From?

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Meighan Irene Dillon, Southern Polytechnic State University

Venn-Euler-Leibniz Diagrams

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Deborah Bennett, New Jersey City University

Mechanical Solutions to the Three Construction Problems from Antiquity

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Keith M Dreiling, Fort Hays State University

The Toil and Moil in Proving the Describability of the Trigonometric Series

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Shigeru Masuda, RIMS, Kyoto University

Ming Antu’s Influence on Chinese Mathematics in Qing Dynasty

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Weiping Li, Walsh University

Truman H. Safford: A Nineteenth Century Astronomer’s Views on School Mathematics

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Eileen Donoghue, City University of New York/CSI

Was There Curricular Modernism Also?

2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Walter Meyer, Adelphi University

Can a Mathematician Write a Proof So Complex Even He Cannot Believe It?

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Jeremy Sylvestre, University of Alberta, Augustana Campus

Teaching or Learning Advanced Mathematics

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m. – 3:40 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

The Best Tasting Basis Ever!

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Alan Alewine, McKendree University

More Geometry with SET

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Timothy Edward Goldberg, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Chemistry, Legos, and Proofs

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Bonnie Amende, Saint Martin’s University
Carol Overdeep, Saint Martin’s University

Introducing Mathematical Induction Using Combinatorial Games

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
David McCune, William Jewell College

Liedoku for Abstract Algebra

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
David Nacin, William Paterson University

More Bang From Your Book: A Simple Strategy to Promote Active Reading

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Scott R Kaschner, The University of Arizona

Using Individual Oral Exams in Mathematics Courses

2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Michelle Ghrist, U.S. Air Force Academy
Dale Peterson, U.S. Air Force Academy
Ralph Boedigheimer, U.S. Air Force Academy
Benjamin Kallemyn, Air Force Institute of Technology

Programming Mathematics as an Advanced Math Course

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Lisa Oberbroeckling, Loyola University Maryland

An Ethnomathematics Graduate Course

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Ximena Catepillan, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Cynthia Taylor, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

The Over-Easy Classroom

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Lew Ludwig, Denison University

Flipping Differential Equations

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Lenny Ornas, McNeese State University

Year:

2014

Chronological Schedule

Wednesday, August 6

Social Event

Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Tour

12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Departs from Hilton Portland Lobby (Broadway Street Entrance)

Social Event

MAA-PME Student Reception

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Social Event

Math Jeopardy

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Social Event

Grand Opening Reception

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

Thursday, August 7

Social Event

Wellness Strand – Thursday

6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m., Departs from Hilton Portland Lobby (Broadway Street Entrance)

Invited Address

MAA Invited Address

First Person Solvers – Using Video Games to Learn Mathematics and Solve Real Math Problems

8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Keith Devlin, Stanford University

General Contributed Paper Session

Probability or Statistics

8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

A Disproof of Tsallis’ Conjecture for the Exact Percolation Threshold of the Kagome Lattice

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
John Charles Wierman, Johns Hopkins University

Probabilistic Proofs of Some Binomial Coefficient Identities

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Michael Z. Spivey, University of Puget Sound

The M-tile Deviation, A New Class of Measures of Dispersion: Assessing Learner Achievement

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
David DiMarco, Neumann University
Ryan Savitz, Neumann University
Fred Savitz, Neumann University

An Investigation of Benford’s Law Characterizations

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Azar Khosravani, Columbia College Chiacago
Constantin Rasinariu, Columbia College Chicago

Efficient Use of the Negative Hypergeometric Distribution in Randomized Response Sampling

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Stephen A Sedory, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Michael Lee Johnson, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Sarjinder Singh, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Project-Based Approach to Understanding Quantile Regression

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m
James Helmreich, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY
K. Peter Krog, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY

General Contributed Paper Session

Assorted Teaching Topics

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Mathematics Teaching Transformed – Lessons to be Learned

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Jerry Dwyer, Texas Tech University

Passive and Active Activities in the Flipped Classroom

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
David Jay Graser, Yavapai College

Flipping Precalculus-Incorporating Online and In-Class Activities

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Mahmud Akelbek, Weber State University

Using Analogous Problems

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Victoria Kofman, Quality Engineering Education, Inc.

Zombie Models: A Sexy Approach to Improving Mathematics One Brain at a Time

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Matthew Lewis, Utah State University

Making Problem

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Tanaka Noriko

Reconceptualizing Mathematics for Elementary Teachers

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Melissa A Desjarlais, Valparaiso University

How Admissions Cutoff Scores Favor Affluent Students and Act as a Barrier for Many Minority Students

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Bryan Nankervis, Texas State University

General Contributed Paper Session

Interdisciplinary Topics in Mathematics

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Other Liberal Arts Disciplines Taught Together with Mathematics

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Paul R McCreary, The Evergreen State College – Tacoma

Flipping Linear Algebra

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Michael Gagliardo, California Lutheran University

A Flipped Math for Nurses

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Peter Olszewski, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Jessica Resig, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Bones, Muscles and Math: Biology and Geometry Working Together

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Daniel R. Huber, University of Tampa
Leslie Braziel Jones, University of Tampa

Harold and the NMAH Object Groups: Young Children’s Responses to Crockett Johnson’s Mathematical Paintings

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, University of Maryland University College

Frieze Patterns of the Mamluks

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
B Lynn Bodner, Monmouth University

Mini-Flipping Biostatistics

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Magdalena Luca, MCPHS University

Designing a Successful Capstone Course

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Julian Michael Buck, Francis Marion University

General Contributed Paper Session

Modeling or Applications

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Measuring Mountain Impressiveness with New Topographic Functionals

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
David Metzler, Albuquerque Academy; Edward Earl, Independent Researcher

The Second-Order Lanczos Derivative and a Nonlocal Flux

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Nathanial Burch, Gonzaga University

SIMIODE – Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Brian Winkel, Emeritus US Military Academy

The Collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
George Moss, Union University

How Popular Do You Want to Be? A Mathematical Model of College Friendships

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Yan Hao, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Weddell Seal Morphometrics: An Example of Mathematical Modeling to Solve a Polar Science Problem

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Lynn Foshee Reed, Einstein Educator Fellowship

Deducing the Age of an Ancient Natural Nuclear Reactor in a Pre-Calculus Class

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Alexander Atwood, SUNY Suffolk County Community College
Andrea Blum, SUNY Suffolk County Community College

The Mathematical Contest in Modeling

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Sol Garfunkel, COMAP

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology, Part I

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Timothy Comar, Benedictine University

A New Technological Paradigm for an Undergraduate Research Experience in Agent Based Modeling

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Anne Elizabeth Yust, Birmingham-Southern College

Impulsive Models with Stochastic Behavior in Pest Management and Epidemiology

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Timothy D Comar, Benedictine University

Getting into the Game: First Steps in Math-Bio Research

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
David R Dorman, Middlebury College

A Course in Mathematical Biology Using Algebra and Discrete Mathematics

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 p.m.
Dan Hrozencik, Chicago State University

Mentoring an Undergraduate Research Project: Simulating the Effects of Plaque Aggregation on the Neuronal Network

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Irina Seceleanu, Bridgewater State University

Sensitivity Analysis of Stochastic Models of Integrin Signaling in Cellular Motility

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Hannah Biegel, University of Portland
Alex Quackenbush, University of Portland
Hannah Callender, University of Portland

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #1

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #2

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #3

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #4

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #5

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #6

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

Student Hospitality Center

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

Invited Address

MAA Invited Address

Understanding Microorganism Swimming using Mathematics

9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Ricardo Cortez, Tulane University

Invited Address

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Lecture 1: Undecidability in Number Theory

10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Bjorn Poonen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Other Mathematical Sessions

MAA Prize Session

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom

Invited Address

The Jean Bee Chan and Peter Stanek Lecture for Students

The Founding of Pi Mu Epsilon 100 Years Ago

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I
Jack Graver, Syracuse University

Workshop

What’s the Story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating Research Presentation for a General Audience

1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Panel Session

Mentoring Matters

1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Minicourse

2. Boolean Network Models: A Non-Calculus Introduction to Mathematical Modeling for Biology (Part A)

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

MIinicourse

6. SIMIODE – Teaching Differential Equations through Modeling and Technology (Part A)

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

Invited Paper Session

Mathematical Epidemiology

1:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Ricardo Cortez, Tulane University

Abstracts

Comparing Risk for Chikungunya and Dengue Emergence Using Mathematical Models

1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Carrie Manore, Tulane University

How are Fish Population Dynamics Shared by a Changing Environment? Insights from a Mathematical Model Driven by Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Data from Lake Erie

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Paul Hurtado, Mathematical Biosciences Institute

Determining Causal Networks in Nonlinear Dynamical Systems: Ecosystem Applications

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Bree Cummins, Montana State University

Epidemic Forecasting and Monitoring using Modern Data Assimilation Methods

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Kyle Hickmann, Los Alamos and Tulane University

Qualitative Inverse Problems using Bifurcation Analysis in the Recurrent Neutral Network Model

3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Stephen Wirkus, Arizona State University

Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013+: Management of Natural Resources

3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Abdul-Aziz Yakubu, Howard University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Mathematics in Honors Programs

1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Jacci White, Saint Leo University

Applying Calculus Techniques to Analyze the Motion of Single and Double Ferris Wheels

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Paul E. Seeburger, Monroe Community College

Creating a Freshman Honors Mathematics Course (for Non-Majors)

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Brian Camp, Saint Leo University

Dimension and Direction: A Journey Through Mathematical Space

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
David Clark, Randolph-Macon College

Honors Calculus at South Dakota State University

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Dan C Kemp, South Dakota State University

Searching for Great Issues in Mathematics

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Mark Bollman, Albion College

Maple in Honors Calculus

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Douglas B Meade, University of South Carolina

Honors Elementary Statistics

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Jacqueline Jensen-Vallin, Lamar University

Why Statistics??? An Opportunity for Exploration and Reflection

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Sarah L Mabrouk, Framingham State University

“To Be Honorable is to Serve” How to Align with this Motto in a General Education Honors Mathematics Course

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Lisa Marano, West Chester University

THEMED CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics: How, When, Why, Part I

1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Building Capacity for a Research Rich Curriculum in Mathematics at Georgia College

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Ryan Brown, Georgia College
Marcela Chiorescu, Georgia College
Darin Mohr, Georgia College

Creative UG Research Collaborations: Clash of the Critters; Statistical Analysis of SIDS and More

CURM: What It Is and What Are Its Results

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

HRUMC: The First Twenty Years

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Emelie Kenney, Siena College

Maple Scholars Program

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
David Housman, Goshen College

The CSUMS/MCTP Program at Arizona State University

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Eric Kostelich, Arizona State University

The Summer 2014 SURPASs Program and My Role as Faculty Mentor

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Donna Beers, Simmons College

Talk Math 2 Me: A Seminar for Students by Students

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Joni Jane Schneider, Texas State University

Research Experiences for Undergraduate Faculty: Supporting Undergraduate Faculty in Mentoring Undergraduate Research

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Assorted Mathematics Research Topics

1:00 p.m. – 4:25 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Interesting Matrix Problems from Quantum Information Theory: Locally Distinguishing Quantum States

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Michael Nathanson, Saint Mary’s College of California

The Rank of a Recurrence Matrix

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Christopher R Lee, University of Portland
Valerie J Peterson, University of Portland

A Busy Beaver Problem for Infinite-Time Turing Machines

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
James Long, Lehigh University
Lee Stanley, Lehigh University

A Simplified Approach to the Cubic Formula

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Akilhan Boopathy, Lakeside School

On the Other Side of the World, or Right Next Door?

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

Exact Values of Trigonmentric Functions

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Jeremiah Bartz, Francis Marion University

Perplexing Factorizations: An Undergraduate Research Project

2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Adrian Gentle, University of Southern Indiana

Beautiful Integer Patterns

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Charlie Smith, Park University

Guarding a Koch Fractal Art Gallery

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Lauren Cassell, Ohio Northern University
William Roger Fuller, Ohio Northern University

Active Context Free Games with Finite Target Language

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Lori McCune, Missouri Western State University
David McCune, William Jewell College

Expressing Recursively Defined Polynomial Sequences in Terms of Extended Fibonacci Polynomials

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Robert Russell Molina, Alma College

Inverson Polynomials for Permutations Avoiding Consecutive Patterns

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Kendra Killpatrick, Pepperdine University
Naiomi Cameron, Lewis and Clark College

Extending the Tables of Wallis: Conjectures on Catalan Numbers and the Gamma Function

4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Lee N. Collins, County College of Morris

Repeating Fractions and Primes

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Nick Huo Han Huang, Math Lover

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Recreational Mathematics: New Problems and New Solutions, Part I

1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

Paul Coe, Dominican University
Sara Quinn, Dominican University
Kristen Schemmerhorn, Dominican University

The Mathematics, Magic and Mystery of Martin Gardner

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Colm Mulcahy, Spelman College

Generalization of the Nine Card Problem

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Brian J Birgen, Wartburg College

The Uniqueness of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Brian J Birgen, Wartburg College

Candy Crush Combinatorics

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Dana Rowland, Merrimack College

Exploring Sliding Tile Puzzles on your Smartphone

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University

Solitaire Mancala Games and the Chinese Remainder Theorem

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Brant Jones, James Madison University
Laura Taalman, James Madison University
Anthony Tongen, James Madison University

A New Twist on Wythoff’s Game

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Alex Meadows, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Bradley Putman, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Graphs and Puzzles

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Paul Cull, Oregon State University

When You Cross Latin and Gilbreath

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Robert W. Vallin, Lamar University

Mathematics, Magic Squares, and Mirth (Humor)

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Doy Ott Hollman, Lipscomb University

A Magic Square Equation

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University

An Efficient Backtracking Method for Solving a System of Linear Equations over a Finite Set with Application for Construction of Magic Squares

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Max Alekseyev, George Washington University

THEMED CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION

EMBODIED ACTIVITIES IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF MATHEMATICS

1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Hortensia Soto-Johnson, University of Northern Colorado
Sponsored by MAA Committee on Professional Development

PRE-SERVICE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF GEOMETRIC TRANSLATIONS IN EMBODIED ACTIVITIES

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Brent Hancock, University of Northern Colorado
Marki Dittman, University of Northern Colorado

PRE-SERVICE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS’ CONCEPTION OF PERPENDICULAR BISECTOR IN AN EMBODIED REFLECTION TASK

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Marki Dittman, University of Northern Colorado
Brent Hancock, University of Northern Colorado

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO ENRICH BASIC GEOMETRY PROOFS: ANGLES IN A TRIANGLE AND PARALLELOGRAM

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Sandra Fital-Akelbek, Weber State University

MEASURING AROUND THE UNIT CIRCLE

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Susan Jeannine Durst, University of Arizona

The Use of 3D Multi-Sectional, Interlocking Geometric Models and Magnetic Nets as Teaching Aids for Spatial Ability Training and Middle School Geometry Education

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Oai Ha, Utah State University

WHAT IS THE NORISHIRO? PLANE DEVELOPMENT OF A POLYHEDRON WITH THE TABS

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Tanaka Noriko

VISUALIZING MULTIVARIATE FUNCTIONS IN A DESKTOP-SIZED 3-D COORDINATE SYSTEM

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Charlotte Ann Knotts-Zides, Wofford College

HANDS-ON EXPLORATION OF TOPOLOGICAL INVARIANTS

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Nicole Fider, UCI
Casey Kelleher, UCI
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine
Ryan Sullivant, UCI

PROBLEM SOLVING THROUGH COMPUTER SIMULATIONS

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
David Ely, The Ohio State University
Jeanette Palmiter, Portland State University

MODELING BIOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM: BIRDS, BACTERIA, AND DISEASE

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Joshua Lioi, University of Arizona

“FIELD” & STREAM: EXPERIENCING A VECTOR FIELD

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Steve B Zides, Wofford College

REPORT ON THE BODIES OF DATA WORKSHOPS

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Luke Wolcott, Lawrence University

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Teaching or Learning Introductory Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Evangelizing for Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Kayla Bradley Dwelle, Ouachita Baptist University

Rethinking Ball State University’s Liberal Arts Math Course

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Crystal Lorch, Ball State University
John Lorch, Ball State University

PreCalculus Flipped Classroom and Active Learning

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Michael Weimerskirch, University of Minnesota

College Algebra: Improving Student Success using a Hybrid Approach

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Kay Geving, Belmont University

Active Learning Strategies to Improve Student Attitudes and Outcomes: The Studio Statistics Model at CSM

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Gus Greivel, Colorado School of Mines

Project Based Activities in Online Statistics

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Amy Wheeler, Hondros College

Bringing Variety to Elementary Statistics Problems Based on Real Data

2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
David Robert Gurney, Southeastern Louisiana University

Quantitative Reasoning for Business: An Inquiry-Based Approach

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Victor Ian Piercey, Ferris State University

Macroeconomics in Finite Math: Rediscovering and Recreating Leontief Analysis

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Gregory V Bard, The University of Wisconsin, Stout

Reaching More – A Hybrid Mathematics Course for Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education Majors

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Rebecca Metcalf, Bridgewater State University

Euclidean & Non-Euclidean Origametry

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Daniel J. Heath, Pacific Lutheran University

After the Test, What Now?

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Rachel Frankel, University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College

Characteristic of Students During and After Introductory College Level Mathematics and Statistics Training

Developing an Introductory Mathematics Course in a South Asian Context

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Thomas Fryer, Asian University for Women

Supplemental Instruction at the University of North Alabama

4:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Ashley Johnson, University of North Alabama

Supplemental Instruction: Closing the Achievement Gap for Underrepresented Minorities

Using Reading Guides in Mathematics Courses

5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Melanie Butler, Mount St. Mary’s University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Flipping Pedagogy in College Mathematics Courses, Part I

1:00 p.m. – 5:35 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Flipped/Inquiry-Based Learning Approach in a ‘Large’ College Algebra Classroom: An Interim Report

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Perry Y.C. Lee, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Padraig McLoughlin, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Flipping College Algebra: A Blended Approach

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Alison Reddy, University of Illinois

Procedural and Conceptual Thinking in a Flipped College Algebra Classroom

Re “modeling” College Algebra: A Flipped, Inquiry-Based Approach

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Kathy Pinzon, Georgia Gwinnett College
Daniel Pinzon, Georgia Gwinnett College
Matt Stackpole, Georgia Gwinnett College

TEAL (Technology Enhanced Active Learning) College Algebra at Montana State University

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Heidi Staebler-Wiseman, Montana State University
Jocelyn Short, Montana State University
Kelsey Koch, Montana State University

Integrating Sustainability into Algebra Courses: A Flipped Classroom Model

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Rikki Wagstrom, Metropolitan State University

Flipping Freshman Mathematics

How Does Flipping Affect Students’ Perceptions about Learning Calculus?

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Larissa Bucchi Schroeder, University of Hartford
Jean Marie McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford
Fei Xue, University of Hartford

Flip the Calculus Classroom: What Works, For Whom and in What Context?

A Study of Flipping vs Not Flipping in Applied Calculus

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Lori Beth Ziegelmeier, Macalester College
Chad Topaz, Macalester College

Challenges and Pitfalls of Assessing the Effectiveness of Flipped Mathematics Courses

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Jean Marie McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford
Larissa Bucchi Schroeder, University of Hartford

Meta-analysis of Flipped “Pedagogy” in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado
Emilie Naccarato, University of Northern Colorado

Flipping Calculus II: Did it Improve this Infamous Course?

5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Mindy Capaldi, Valparaiso University

Flipping the Integral Calculus Classroom with Multiple Instructors

5:20 p.m. – 5:35 p.m.
Jim Rolf, Yale University
Yu-Wen Hsu, Yale University
Susie Kimport, Yale University
Jennifer Frederick, Yale University

Invited Paper Session

Connections between Logic and Arithmetic Geometry

1:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

Bjorn Poonen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstracts

Computability Theory at Work: Factoring Polynomials and Finding Roots

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Russell Miller, Queens College, City University of New York

The Zilber Trichotomy Principle for Algebraic Dynamics: Hands-On Examples of Deept Notions from Model Theory

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Alice Medvedev, University of California at Berkeley

On the Elementary Theory of Finitely Generated Fields

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Florian Pop, The Pennsylvania State University

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #1

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #2

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #7

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #8

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #9

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #10

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

Workshop

Workshop on Gaming in Mathematics

2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Panel Session

How to Apply for Non-Academic Jobs

2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Other Mathematical Session

MAA Section Officers Meeting

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom I

Minicourse

3. Enhancing Conceptual Understanding of Multivariable Calculus Using CalcPlot3D for Visualization and Exploration (Part A)

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

Minicourse

5. Teaching Linear Algebra with GeoGebra: Making Connections between Algebra and Geometry (Part A)

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

Poster Session

Poster Session on IBL Best Practices

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #11

4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #12

4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #13

4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #14

4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #3

4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #4

4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

Panel Session

Lessons from Successful Calculus Programs

4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Other Mathematical Session

Estimathon!

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Social Event

Graduate Student Reception

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

SIGMAA Activity

POM SIGMAA: SIGMAA on the Philosophy of Mathematics Reception

5:30 – 6:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

POM SIGMAA: Guest Lecture: Math-Speak: Syntax, Semantics, and Pragmatics

6:00 p.m. – 6:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

SIGMAA Activity

SIGMAA QL: SIGMAA on Quantitative Literacy Reception

5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

SIGMAA QL Turns 10: A Discussion of the Past and Future of Quantitative Literacy –

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Friday, August 8

Social Event

Wellness Strand – Friday

6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m., Departs from Hilton Portland Lobby (Broadway Street Entrance)

Social Event

AWM-MAA Morning Coffee

8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Ballroom Foyer

Invited Address

AWM-MAA Etta Z. Falconer Lecture

From Algebraic to Weak Subintegral Extensions in Algebra and Geometry

8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Marie A. Vitulli, University of Oregon

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology, Part II

8:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Timothy Comar, Benedictine University
Sponsored by SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology (BIO SIGMAA)

Mathematical Biology as a Capstone Option for Science Majors

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Sheldon Lee, Viterbo University

An Optimization Method for the Spent Fuel Pool Storage at Nuclear Power Plants

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Nathan Robert LaFerney, Texas A&M University

Social Aggregation in Pea Aphids: Experimental Measurement and Stochastic Modeling

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Chad Topaz, Macalester College
Andrew Bernoff, Harvey Mudd College

Spatial Simulations of Chaparral Vegetation Response to Frequent Wildfires

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Timothy A Lucas, Pepperdine University

Studying Imperfect Vaccine of Malaria Using Mathematical Models

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Ruijun Zhao, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Understanding the Scales of Locomotion for Caenorhabditis Elegans in a Viscous Fluid

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Katie Marie Sipes, James Madison University

GENERAL CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSIONS

TEACHING OR LEARNING CALCULUS

8:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

MAKING WAVES IN VECTOR CALCULUS

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
John Thoo, Yuba College

IMPACT OF A LARGE LECTURE MODEL IN MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Nathan P. Clements, University of Wyoming

RESEQUENCING CALCULUS: AN EARLY MULTIVARIABLE APPROACH

FLIPPING MY CALCULUS CLASSES

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
John Frohliger, St. Norbert College

A SUCCESSFUL WEEK 1 IN A FLIPPED CALCULUS 1 COURSE

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Bob Sachs, George Mason University

WRITING ABOUT CONTINUITY

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Derek Thompson, Trine University

CLASSROOM INVESTIGATIONS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CALCULUS

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Ken Collins, Charlotte Latin School

INTRODUCTORY CALCULUS WITH MEANING AND WITHOUT LIMITS

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Stacy Marie Musgrave, Arizona State University

EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHING FROM A BOUND SET OF LECTURE NOTES IN A CALCULUS COURSE

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Brandy Benedict, Merrimack College

STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS IN CALCULUS

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Corinne Casolara, Montana State University – Bozeman
Veronica Baker, Montana State University – Bozeman

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLICKERS IN A LARGE-ENROLLMENT CALCULUS CLASSROOM

HISTORY AND EXPLORATION IN THE TEACHING OF CALCULUS

11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Paul Sisson, LSU Shreveport
Tibor Szarvas, LSU Shreveport

THE IMPACT OF PLACEMENT AND CURRICULUM REFORM ON SUCCESS IN FIRST-YEAR COURSES

11:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Edgar Fuller, West Virginia University
Jessica Deshler, West Virginia University

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #15

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #16

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #17

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ACTIVITY

MAA STUDENT PAPER SESSION #18

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Studio Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #5

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #6

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Active Learning in Mathematics, Part I

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

David Taylor, Roanoke College
Robert Allen, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
Lorena Bociu, North Carolina State University

Active Learning in Redesigned College Algebra: Lessons Learned from Implementation

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Krista Foltz, Oregon State University
Mary Beisiegel, Oregon State University
Scott L. Peterson, Oregon State University

Active Learning for Pre-service and In-service Teachers

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Bernadette Mullins, Birmingham-Southern College

Turning Homework Problems into Inquiry Based Classroom Activities

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Suzanne Ingrid Doree, Augsburg College

Active Learning in Mathematics: The Math Telephone Game

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Peter Banwarth, Oregon State University

Active Algebra

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Mary D Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University

Making Abstract Algebra Less Abstract

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Emma Norbrothen, Plymouth State University

Strategies to Progressively Increase Students’ Intellectual Engagement in the Learning of Abstract Algebra

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine

Actively Learning Real Analysis

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University

Pull Out Your Phone: A Quick Search for Relevant Statistics

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Ben Galluzzo, Shippensburg University

Exploring Velocity and Acceleration Vectors Visually

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Paul E. Seeburger, Monroe Community College

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Flipping Pedagogy in College Mathematics Courses, Part II

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Reading Guides in a Flipped Classroom

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Mary D Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University

A Measured Approach to Flipping the Analysis Classroom

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Christine Ann Shannon, Centre College

A Day in the Life of an Inverted Classroom

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Reza O Abbasian, Texas Lutheran University
John T Sieben, Texas Lutheran University

Flipping the Classroom in Introductory Statistics

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Emily Cilli-Turner, Salve Regina University

Introductory Statistics in a Flipped Format for Community College Students

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Jessica Knoch, Lane Community College

Math Bio or BioMath? Flipping a Mathematical Biology Course

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Eric Eager, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse

An Activity-Based Approach to Flipping Quantitative Literacy

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University

Flipping the Discrete Math Classroom

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Benjamin V.C. Collins, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
James A. Swenson, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Technology Tips for Creating Videos in a Flipped Mathematics Course

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Fei Xue, University of Hartford
Larissa Bucchi Schroeder, University of Hartford

Selling the Concept – a Primer on Salesmanship of the Flipped Classroom Model

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Alex Capaldi, Valparaiso University

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ACTIVITY

PME STUDENT PAPER SESSION #7

8:30 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

THEMED CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION

PROJECT-BASED CURRICULUM, PART I

8:50 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

A PROJECT-BASED GENERAL EDUCATION MATH COURSE

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Victor Ian Piercey, Ferris State University

HIGH DIMENSIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PROJECTS IN A FRESHMAN MATHEMATICS CLASS

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Bruce Piper, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Kristin Bennett, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

HOW TO SUSTAIN PROJECTS IN COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND FINITE MATHEMATICS

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
David Jay Graser, Yavapai College

RESEARCHING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN ELEMENTARY STATISTICS

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Dianna Spence, University of North Georgia
Brad Bailey, University of North Georgia

COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS USING REAL-WORLD DATA

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
G. Daniel Callon, Franklin College

UNDERSTANDING MATHEMATICS FOR GOOD: UNDERGRADUATES, ETHICAL CONSULTING, AND SERVICE LEARNING

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Judith E Canner, California State University, Monterey Bay

MATHEMATIZING SOCIAL JUSTICE: BRINGING UNIVERSITY EVENTS INTO THE MATHEMATICS CLASSROOM

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Ksenija Simic-Muller, Pacific Lutheran University

MODELING CALCULUS: A PROJECT-BASED, FIRST TERM CALCULUS CLASS

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Mariah Birgen, Wartburg College
Brian J Birgen, Wartburg College

Undergraduate Student Activity

Student Hospitality Center

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

Invited Address

EARLE RAYMOND HEDRICK LECTURE SERIES

LECTURE 2: UNDECIDABILITY IN ANALYSIS AND TOPOLOGY

9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Bjorn Poonen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Workshop

Workshop on Revitalizing Algebra in Remedial Courses While Preparing Instructors

10:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Invited Address

AMS-MAA Joint Invited Address

What is the Value of a Computer Proof in Research and Teaching?

10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Sara Billey, University of Washington

Invited Address

NAM David Harold Blackwell Lecture

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I
Mark Lewis, Cornell University

Undergraduate Student Activity

Mathematical Research, It’s Knot What you Think!

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Undergraduate Student Activity

Using Puzzles to Illuminate Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

SIGMAA Activity

WEB SIGMAA: SIGMAA on Mathematics Instruction using the Web Panel Discussion: Open Source Resources for Mathematics: Benefits and Costs

1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Mentoring

1:00 p.m. – 2:25 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Creating Sustainable Programs to Support Women Faculty in Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

MPWR: Mentoring and Partnerships for Women in RUME

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Megan Wawro, Virginia Tech
Jessica Ellis, San Diego State University
Hortensia Soto-Johnson, University of Northern Colorado

Mentoring Undergraduates

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Gary MacGillivray, University of Victoria

The Intentional Mentoring

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Noureen Khan, UNT Dallas

The Power of a Good Mentor: Lessons Learned from a Four-Year After School Mathematics Program

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Lina Sanchez leal, Rutgers University
Gabriela Garcia, Cliffside High School NJ

Measuring Educator Effectiveness & Pre-Service Teacher Supervision

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Daniel Patrick Wisniewski, DeSales University
John T. Garey, DeSales University

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Outreach

1:00 p.m. – 2:25 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Texas A&M Math Circle: Structure and Activities

The UCI Math Circle: Afternoons of Mathematical Investigations for Middle and High School Students

National Association of Math Circles, First National Survey Results

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Brandy S Wiegers, National Association of Math Circles, Central Washington University

Southern Connecticut State University’s GEAR UP Summer Mathematics Program

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Klay Kruczek, Southern Connecticut State University

Supporting Mathematics Research Projects for Advanced High School Students

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Daniel Teague, NC School of Science and Mathematics

Encouraging STEM Majors to Consider a Career in Teaching Through Nonprofit Partnership

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Stephanie Anne Salomone, University of Portland

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Open and Accessible Problems in Real or Complex and Analysis

1:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Lynette Boos, Providence College
Su-Jeong Kang, Providence College

Quotient Sets

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Stephan Ramon Garcia, Pomona College

The Sum of Golden Ana Sets

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Robert W. Vallin, Lamar University

A Topology of Subdivision for the Real Numbers

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Jeffrey Clark, Elon University

Linear Operators, Zeros of Polynomials, and Orthogonal Polynomials

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Andrzej Piotrowski, University of Alaska Southeast

Locating the Roots of a Family of Polynomials: Three Open Questions

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Michael Brilleslyper, U.S. Air Force Academy
Beth Schaubroeck, U.S. Air Force Academy

The Two Body Problem Elevated to the Complex Domain

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Donald Leigh Hitzl, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab (Retired)
Frank Zele, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (Retired)

MINICOURSE

6. SIMIODE – TEACHING DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS THROUGH MODELING AND TECHNOLOGY (PART B)

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

MINICOURSE

2. BOOLEAN NETWORK MODELS: A NON-CALCULUS INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL MODELING FOR BIOLOGY (PART B)

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Project-Based Curriculum, Part II

1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Annexation Question Leads to Applied Project

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Nora Strasser, Friends University

Challenge-Based Instruction: Analysis of Bullet Proof Vest

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Andres Abelardo Padilla-Oviedo

Building a Successful Project-based Mathematical Modeling Course

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Jean Marie Linhart, Texas A&M University/Central Washington University

Encouraging Deeper Understanding Through Mathematical Modeling-Focused Projects

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Corban Harwood, George Fox University

PIC Math: Preparing Students for Careers in Business, Industry, and Government

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

Embedding Undergraduate Research in a Senior Capstone Course

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Shawn Chiappetta, University of Sioux Falls

Implementing Project-Based Learning in the Differential Equations Curriculum

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Sukanya Basu, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Undergraduate Curriculum on the Relationship between Mathematics and Computer Science with Other Disciplines

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Agendia Timothy Atabong, Madonna University Nigeria

Using Matlab to Present Multidimensional Information

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Emma Smith Zbarsky, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Recreational Mathematics: New Problems and New Solutions, Part II

1:00 p.m. – 4:35 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Paul Coe, Dominican University
Sara Quinn, Dominican University
Kristen Schemmerhorn, Dominican University

The Elusive Mobius and the Intractable Hexagon: Geometric Cross Sections in Bead Crochet

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Susan Goldstine, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Ellie Baker, Freelance

Coloring the Plane with Rainbow Squares

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Mike Krebs, California State University, Los Angeles

Dividing the Plane: Variations on a Theme

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
David Molnar

Integer-Sided Triangles with Trisectible Angles

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Russ Gordon, Whitman College

On Mod n Spirals

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Andrew Richard Reiter
Robin Young, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Finding the Catalan Numbers in the Sandpile Model

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Grant Barnes, Luther College
Michael Johnson, Luther College
Cadence Sawyer, Luther College

A Characterization of Balance in Oriented Hypernetworks via Generalized Signed Walks

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Angeline Rao, Clements High School
Alexander Yang, Clements High School
Vinciane Chen, Westwood High School

Revisiting 12 Marbles, an Old-Fashioned Scale Puzzle

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Shenglan Yuan, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY

The Car Talk Trip

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Frank Lynch, Eastern Washington University

The James Function

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Christopher N. B. Hammond, Connecticut College
Warren Johnson, Connecticut College
Steven J. Miller, Williams College

Exploring Five Integer Sequences Related to the Collatz Problem

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Jay Lawrence Schiffman, Rowan University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Active Learning in Mathematics, Part II

1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

David Taylor, Roanoke College
Robert Allen, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
Lorena Bociu, North Carolina State University

Surviving Active Learning in Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Jerry Dwyer, Texas Tech University
Levi Johnson, Texas Tech University
Brock Williams, Texas Tech University

Activities for Calculus

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Matt Boelkins, Grand Valley State University

Student Conjecturing in Linear Algebra

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Elizabeth Thoren, University of California, Santa Barbara

Discovering Concepts in Calculus II

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
William Abrams, Longwood University

Opening Up the Space: Creating Collaborative Learning Environments Outside of the Classroom

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Randall E. Cone, Virginia Military Institute
Angie Hodge, University of Nebraska – Omaha

Test Tuesday

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Lew Ludwig, Denison University

Mathematics without the Math: Using Group Worksheets to Circumvent Math Anxiety

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Michael Nathanson, Saint Mary’s College of California

Pre-Calculus Lab Book

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Brandy S Wiegers, National Association of Math Circles, Central Washington University
Addie Evans, SFSU
Servando Pineda, SFSU
Matthew Kim, SFSU

Algorithmic Thinking Unplugged with Puzzles and Games

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Edmund A Lamagna, University of Rhode Island

Using Games to Engage Students in Discrete Mathematics

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Tim Gegg-Harrison, Winona State University
Nicole Anderson, Winona State University

Learning Math by Doing Math: Problem-Solving Workshops in Calculus

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Silvia Saccon, The University of Texas at Dallas

Active Exploration of Graphs and Graph Theory

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Steven Klee, Seattle University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Curriculum Development to Support First Year Mathematics Students, Part I

1:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Developmental Mathematics Redesign at Fitchburg State University

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Mary Ann Barbato, Fitchburg State University

Comparing Student Attitudes and Successes in College Algebra using Emporium, Problem Solving, and Traditional Methods

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Lanee Young, Fort Hays State University
Jeff Sadler, Fort Hays State University

Taking Over an Existing Developmental Math Program: What Works and Determining What to Improve

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

The Math Zone: An Open Emporium-Style Model Attempting the Fast Track

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Craig Miller, University of New Haven

The Startup of a Math Emporium – Trials and Tribulations

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Senan Hayes, Western Connecticut State University

Restructuring of the Remedial Program at South Dakota State University (SDSU)

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Donna Flint, South Dakota State University

Improving Remedial Success Using an Enhanced Mastery-Based Format

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Carri Hales, South Dakota State University

A Co-Requisite Model for College Algebra

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University

Rethinking First Year Mathematics to Improve Student Retention

It’s Not Just About the Content: Holistic Change in a First-Year Mathematics Course

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Mary Beisiegel, Oregon State University
Krista Foltz, Oregon State University
Scott L. Peterson, Oregon State University

Peer Led Team Learning in Foundation Mathematics for College Students: A University Approach

4:20 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Camille A McKayle, University of the Virgin Islands
Robert Stolz, University of the Virgin Islands

Improving Student Success in Calculus at the University of South Carolina

4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Douglas B Meade, University of South Carolina
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M University

Invited Paper Session

Computational Aspects of Algebra, Geometry and Combinatorics

1:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

Sara Billey, University of Washington
Benjamin Young, University of Oregon

Abstracts

The Combinatorics of CAT(0) Cubical Complexes and Robotic Motion Planning

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Federico Ardila, San Francisco State University

A Borsuk-Ulam Equivalent that Directly Implies Sperner’s Lemma

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Kathryn Nyman, Willamette University

The Combinatorics of Fully Packed Loops and Razumov-Stroganov Conjectures

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dan Romik, University of California, Davis

Parking Functions and Tree Inversions

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
David Perkinson, Reed College

Expanding Hall-Littlewood Polynomials into Schur Functions

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Austin Roberts, University of Washington

Self-Organizing Cellular Automata

4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Alexander E. Holroyd, Microsoft Research

Other Mathematical Sessions

Alder Award Session

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom

The Joy of Discovery

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Lara Pudwell, Valparaiso University

There’s Treasure Everywhere: When Student Work Matters

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Dominic Klyve, Central Washington University

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #8

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Executive Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #9

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Senate Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #10

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Forum Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #11

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Council Suite

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #12

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Hilton Portland, 3rd Floor, Directors Suite

Invited Paper Session

The Mathematics of Biological Fluid Dynamics

2:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Ricardo Cortez, Tulane University

Abstracts

Neuromechanics and Fluid Dynamics of an Undulatory Swimmer

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Lisa Fauci, Tulane University

Mathematical Modeling of Sperm Motility and Mucociliary Transport

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Robert Dillon, Washington State University

Modeling E. Coli Aspartate Chemotaxis in a Stokes Flow

3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Hoa Nguyen, Trinity University

Modeling Interactions between Tumor Cells, Interstitial Fluid and Drug Particles

3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Katarzyna A. Rejniak, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and University of South Florida

Sperm Motility and Cooperativity in Epithelial Detatchment

4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Julie Simons, Tulane University

Swimming through Heterogeneous Viscoelastic Media

4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Jacek Wrobel, Tulane University

Panel Session

Non-Academic Career Paths for Students who Like Mathematics

2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

SIGMAA Activity

SIGMAA MCST: SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers: Problems Well-Suited for Math Circles

2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom II

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Research in Applied Mathematics

3:00 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

The Study of Complex Dynamics of Methamphetamine Use and Markets in California

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Steve Szymanowski, Northeastern Illinois University

Optimal Control of the Spread of Cholera

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Javier Garza, Tarleton State University

Computing the Value Function for a Singular Optimal Control Problem

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Jesus Pascal, The American University of Afghanistan

Assembling Broken Surfaces using Differential Invariant Signatures

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Robert Thompson, Macalester College

Effect of Thermal Diffusion And Chemical Reaction on Heat And Mass Transfer in Micropolar Fluid

4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Louis Essien Effiong, Fluid Dynamics

Heat and Mass Transfer in a Micropolar Fluid With Thermal Radiation Over a Vertical Plate

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Oahimire Imumolen Jonathan, Fluid Dynamics

Complete Synchronization on Networks of Identical Oscillators with Diffusive Delay-Coupling

4:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Stanley Ryan Huddy, State University of New York at New Paltz
Joseph Skufca, Clarkson University

Measuring Distances between Weighted Graphs by Graph Diffusion

4:45 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
David Kenric Hammond, Oregon Institute of Technology – Wilsonville
Yaniv Gur, SCI Institute, University of Utah

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Research in Graph Theory or Combinatorics

3:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Dynamic Storage Allocation using Tolerance Graphs

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Karin Saoub, Roanoke College

Eternal Colorings and

k

-Eternal Graphs

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Mark Anderson, Rollins College
Shiying Gu, Rollins College
Charles Evans Hedges, Rollins College
Felipe Quiroga, Rollins College

Extremal H-Colorings of Trees and Forests

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
John Engbers, Marquette University

Prime Labelings of Graphs

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Cayla McBee, Providence College

Group-Antimagic Labelings of Graphs

4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Richard Low, San Jose State University
Dan Roberts, Illinois Wesleyan University

Inflection Points of Reliability Polynomials

4:15 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Christina Graves, The University of Texas at Tyler
David Milan, The University of Texas at Tyler

Insights into

m -

ary Partitions from an

m -

ary Tree

4:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Timothy B Flowers, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Shannon R Lockard, Bridgewater State University

On

C z

-Factorizations with Two Associate Classes

4:45 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Michael Tiemeyer, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Hamiltonian Cycles in Cayley Graphs of Complex Reflection Groups

5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Cathy Kriloff, Idaho State University
Terry Lay, Idaho State University, Retired

Panel Session

The New Mathways STEM Prep Initiative: Results from the Design Team

3:10 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom I

Minicourse

1. A Beginner’s Guide to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Mathematics (Part A)

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

Minicourse

4. Instructional Supports for Implementing Inquiry-Oriented Curricula for Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Abstract Algebra (Part A)

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

Poster Session

PosterFest 2014: A Poster Session of Scholarship by Early Career Mathematicians and Graduate Students

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

Panel Session

Chairing the Academic Department: Advice and Perspectives from the Pros

4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Ballroom II

Panel Session

Integrating Mathematical Software into Lower-Division Mathematics Courses

4:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

SIGMAA Activity

WEB SIGMAA: Business Meeting

5:30 p.m. – 5:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

SIGMAA Activity

WEB SIGMAA: Discussion: What Are Effective Online Homework Problems in Mathematics?

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Social Event

Pi Mu Epsilon Centennial Celebration Banquet

6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway

Invited Address

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

Fibonacci and the First Personal Computing Revolution

8:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Keith Devlin, Stanford university

Social Event

MAA Ice Cream Social and Undergraduate Awards Ceremony

9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway

Saturday, August 9

Social Event

Wellness Strand – Saturday

6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m., Departs from Hilton Portland Lobby (Broadway Street Entrance)

Invited Address

James R. C. Leitzel Lecture

Research in Mathematics by Undergraduates: Past, Present, and Future

8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Joseph Gallian, University of Minnesota Duluth

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Research in Analysis

8:30 a.m. – 9:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Hypercyclicity and the Range of an Operator

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Kevin Rion, Bridgewater State University

A Solution to Boundary Value Problems and Volterra Integral Equations with Parker and Sochacki Method

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Hamid Semiyari, James Madison University

Behavior of Boundary Convergency for Power Series

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Xiao-Xiong Gan, Morgan State University

Analytical and Numerical Investigations of the Riemann Hypothesis

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Donald Hitzl, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab (Retired)

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Teaching or Learning Developmental Mathematics

8:30 a.m. – 9:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

Using Pictures to Study Students’ Mathematical Beliefs and Attitudes

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Ben Ntatin, Austin Peay State University

Activities to Reinforce Fraction Concepts in the Developmental Math Classroom

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Ann Hanson, Columbia College Chicago

Using Critical Thinking Skills in Developmental Mathematics

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Mary B. Walkins, The Community College of Baltimore County

“Is It Time To Go Home Yet?”: Student Engagement in Extracurricular Mathematics, Grades 2-4

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Christina Tran, California State University, Fullerton
Benjamin David Blazak, California State University, Fullerton

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Research in Number Theory

8:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Difference Sets, Singer Designs, and Singer Difference Sets

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Bud Brown, Virginia Tech

Odd Numbers, Their Relation to Primitive Pythagorean Suits and Traingulares Numbers – Theorem Ren

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Renilson Adriano Silva, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Sao Paulo and University Center Modulo

Arithmetic of

k

-Regular Partition Functions

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
David Penniston, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

A Computational Method for Solving Exponential-Polynomial Diophantine Equations

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Jiayuan Wang, George Washington University
Max Alekseyev, George Washington University

A Set of Two-color Off-Diagonal Rado Numbers for

x 1 + x 2 + \dots + x m = a x 0

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Don Vestal, South Dakota State University

Squarefree Parts of Polynomial Values

9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
David Krumm, Claremont McKenna College

Emergent Reducibility in Polynomial Dynamics

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Jason Preszler, University of Puget Sound

Connections Between Furstenberg’s and Euclid’s Proofs of the Infinitude of Primes

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Nathan Carlson, California Lutheran University

The Gaussian Moat Problem

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Anthony Shaheen, CSU Los Angeles

Some Palatable Morsels, Integer Sequences and Number Theory Trivia

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Jay Lawrence Schiffman, Rowan University

Divisibility Tests Unified: Stacking the Trimmings for Sums

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Edwin O’Shea, James Madison University

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Research in Algebra

8:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Various Extensions of Commutative Rings

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Papiya Bhattacharjee, Penn State Behrend

Calm Ring Extensions and Associated Primes

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
Hannah Robbins, Roanoke College

The Generalization of HNP Ring, 2 Bezout Ring and P-Bezout Ring

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Irawati Irawati, Institut Teknologi Bandung

τ-Factorizations, when τ is an Equivalence Relation

9:15 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Reyes Matiel Ortiz-Albino, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus
Cesar Serna-Rapello, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

The Number of Zeros of Linear Recurring Sequences Over Finite Fields

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Suwanda Hennedige Yasanthi Kottegoda, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Two Groups Associated with an ${R, s + 1, k}$ -Potent Matrix

An Algebra with Characteristic Dependent Associativity

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Lydia Kennedy, Virginia Wesleyan College

The Frobenius Number of Balanced Numerical Semigroups

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Jeremy Thompson, USAFA

Isomorphy Classes of Involutions of

Sp (2 n, k)

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Robert Wayne Benim, Pacific University
Loek Helminck, North Carolina State University
Farrah Jackson, Elizabeth City State University

Directly Finite Modules of $s l_{2} d$

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Christopher Kennedy, Christopher Newport University

Characteristics of Algebraic Symbol Sense

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Margaret T. Kinzel, Boise State University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics: How, When, Why, Part II

8:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Ensuring Engagement in Math Research

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Therese Shelton, Southwestern University

6959 Open Problems for Undergraduates

8:50 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Tom Edgar, Pacific Lutheran University

Exploring Auction Theory in Undergraduate Research

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
William Gryc, Muhlenberg College

Singularities of 2-Dimensional Invertible Piecewise Isometric Dynamics

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Byungik Kahng, University of North Texas at Dallas

One Approach to Undergraduate Research in Computational Galois Theory

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Chad Awtrey, Elon University

Undergraduate Research in Quantum Information Science

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
David W. Lyons, Lebanon Valley College

Effective Undergraduate Research Using Questions Derived from Institutional Research and Computational Science

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Maria Zack, Point Loma Nazarene University

Undergraduate Research Projects with a Dozen or So Math, Physics and CS Students Over the Past Decade

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
David Strong, Pepperdine University

Undergraduate Math Research at the US Naval Academy

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Will Traves, United States Naval Academy

Themed Contributed Paper Session

Curriculum Development to Support First Year Mathematics Students, Part II

8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

A Multi-tiered Support System

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
G. Daniel Callon, Franklin College

An Effective Approach to Increase Mathematics Readiness of Freshmen STEM Students

Creating a Mathematics First Year Seminar Course

9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Frederick Butler, York College of Pennsylvania

Designing a Mathematical Support Structure for Entering Students

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Emma Smith Zbarsky, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Amanda Hattaway, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Ophir Feldman, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Embedded Tutoring in First Year College Mathematics Classes

9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Michael Allen Lundin, Central Washington University

Requiring Instructor-Generated Learning Activities in Online College Algebra Can Reduce Failure and Withdrawal Rates

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Jennifer Hegeman, Missouri Western State University

How a Co-Requisite Calculus I Lab Can Improve Student Success in Calculus I

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Sharon Vestal, South Dakota State University

Remedial Efforts in Calculus Classes at Simon Fraser University: Results and Challenges

10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Malgorzata Dubiel, SFU
Justin Gray, SFU
Natalia Kouzniak, SFU
Cameron Morland, SFU
Jamie Mulholland, SFU

Concepts, not Calculations: Helping First Year Mathematics Students Learn What Mathematics Is

11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Bonnie Gold, Monmouth University

Precalculus Redesign: The Influence of a Placement Program and the Power of a Name

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Alison Reddy, University of Illinois
Marc Harper

SIGMAA Activity

SIGMAA MCST: Math Circle Demonstration

9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Undergraduate Student Activity

MaA Mathematical Competition in Modeling (MCM) Winners

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ACTIVITY

STUDENT HOSPITALITY CENTER

9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Exhibit Hall

Invited Address

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Lecture 3: Undecidability in Analysis and Topology

9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Bjorn Poonen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Research in Geometry

10:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

Fibonacci and Logarithmic Spirals

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
Steven Edwards, Southern Polytechnic State University

The Convex Body Isoperimetric Conjecture

10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Frank Morgan, Williams College

Periodic Orbits in the Heisenberg-Kepler Problem

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Corey Shanbrom, California State University, Sacramento

An Intrinsic Relationship Between Finite Projective Planes and Finite (Galois) Fields

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Alvin Swimmer, Arizona State University

New Directions in Staircase Metric Geometry

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Jack Mealy, Austin College
Samantha Le, Austin College

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Assessment

10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

University Students’ Perception on Poor Achievement of Undergraduates in Introductory Mathematics-Related Courses in Taraba State – Nigeria

10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Solomon Abogunde Iyekekpolor, Federal University, Wukari – Nigeria

A Research-Based Rubric To Assess Students’ Creativity in Proof and Proving

An Improved Mixed Clustering Approach for Teaching Evaluation

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
Sijie Liu, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

The Relationship between Calibration, Anxiety and Achievement in Preservice Elementary Teachers Mathematics

11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Brian Christopher, University of Northern Colorado

Invited Address

MAA Invited Address

Mathematical Models of the Retina and In Silico Experiments: Shedding Light on Vision Loss

10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Erika Camacho, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Arizona State University

SIGMAA Activity

SIGMAA MCST: Math Wrangle

10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Other Mathematical Sessions

MAA Business Meeting

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ACTIVITY

STUDENT PROBLEM SOLVING COMPETITION

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

PANEL SESSION

WRITING FOR MAA JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES

1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

THEMED CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT FIRST YEAR MATHEMATICS STUDENTS, PART III

1:00 p.m. – 2:35 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor AB

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Rebecca Diischer, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

A COLLABORATIVE TRANSITION TO APPLIED CALCULUS WITH MODELING

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Robin A Cruz, The College of Idaho
Dave Rosoff, The College of Idaho
Nicole Seaders, Willamette University

EXPERIMENTS WITH LARGE-LECTURE/LAB HYBRID MODELS FOR BUSINESS CALCULUS

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Darci L. Kracht, Kent State University

INTERACTIVITY AND INTERVENTION: AN OVERVIEW OF CALCULUS REDESIGN AT MISSOURI S&T

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Paul N Runnion, Missouri University of Science and Technology

ALEKS IN CALCULUS I AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Nathan P. Clements, University of Wyoming

IMPROVING STUDENT SUCCESS IN CALCULUS

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Allison Henrich, Seattle University
J McLean Sloughter, Seattle University

INVITED PAPER SESSION

THE EYES HAVE IT: MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF THE RETINA

1:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion West

Erika Camacho, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Arizona State University

Abstracts

MECHANICAL MODELS FOR EXUDATIVE RETINAL DETACHMENTS

1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Thomas Chou, Department of Biomathematics, UCLA

NEW PARADIGMS IN RETINAL BLOOD FLOW SIMULATION

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Andrea Dziubek, Mathematics Department, SUNY Institute of Technology

ANALYTICAL MECHANICS AND EVOLUTION OF A DETACHING RETINA

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
William J. Bottega, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University

STOCHASTIC MODELING OF MELANOPSIN ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Christina Hamlet, Center for Computational Science, Tulane University

General Contributed Paper Sessions

History or Philosophy of Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria III

What is Algebra and Where Did it Come From?

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Meighan Irene Dillon, Southern Polytechnic State University

Venn-Euler-Leibniz Diagrams

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Deborah Bennett, New Jersey City University

Mechanical Solutions to the Three Construction Problems from Antiquity

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Keith M Dreiling, Fort Hays State University

The Toil and Moil in Proving the Describability of the Trigonometric Series

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Shigeru Masuda, RIMS, Kyoto University

Ming Antu’s Influence on Chinese Mathematics in Qing Dynasty

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Weiping Li, Walsh University

Truman H. Safford: A Nineteenth Century Astronomer’s Views on School Mathematics

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Eileen Donoghue, City University of New York/CSI

Was There Curricular Modernism Also?

2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Walter Meyer, Adelphi University

Can a Mathematician Write a Proof So Complex Even He Cannot Believe It?

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Jeremy Sylvestre, University of Alberta, Augustana Campus

Minicourse

3. Enhancing Conceptual Understanding of Multivariable Calculus Using CalcPlot3D for Visualization and Exploration (Part B)

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

Minicourse

5. Teaching Linear Algebra with GeoGebra: Making Connections between Algebra and Geometry (Part B)

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

INVITED PAPER SESSION

FAST ALGORITHMS ON LARGE GRAPHS (AND MATROIDS)

1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion East

Brigitte Servatius, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Martin Milanič, University of Primorska

Abstracts

PICK A TREE, ANY TREE

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Gary Gordon, Lafayette College

MULTI-SOURCE SPANNING TREES OF GRAPHS

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Andrzej Proskurowski, University of Oregon

LARGE GRAPHS IN INTERNET TOMOGRAPHY AND CYBER DEFENSE

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Randy Paffenroth, Numerica Corporation

LARGE AND SPARSE GRAPHS

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Brigitte Servatius, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

THEMED CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics: How, When, Why, Part III

1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria II

Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Casey Douglas, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Angela Gallegos, Loyola Marymount University

Four Steps to Undergraduate Research Success!

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Stephan Ramon Garcia, Pomona College

Strategies for Mentoring Undergraduate Research Teams: Lessons Learned from the CURM Model

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Hannah Callender, University of Portland

Research Communities as a Vehicle to Boost Students’ Interest in Mathematical Research

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine

A Student’s Perspective on Undergraduate Research

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Heather Gronewald, Southwestern University

Engaging Students as Math Researchers

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Violeta Vasilevska, Utah Valley University

Mentoring Minority Undergraduate Students in Mathematics at Norfolk State University

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Aprillya Lanz, Norfolk State University

Year Long Undergraduate Research at Minimal Cost

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Zsuzsanna Szaniszlo, Valparaiso University

Undergraduate Research with Future Teachers

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Saad El-Zanati, Illinois State University

Balancing Undergraduate Research While Teaching Four Courses

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Britney Hopkins, University of Central Oklahoma
Kristi Karber, University of Central Oklahoma

General Contributed Paper Sessions

Teaching or Learning Advanced Mathematics

1:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Parlor C

The Best Tasting Basis Ever!

1:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Alan Alewine, McKendree University

More Geometry with SET

1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Timothy Edward Goldberg, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Chemistry, Legos, and Proofs

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Bonnie Amende, Saint Martin’s University
Carol Overdeep, Saint Martin’s University

Introducing Mathematical Induction Using Combinatorial Games

1:45 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
David McCune, William Jewell College

Liedoku for Abstract Algebra

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
David Nacin, William Paterson University

More Bang From Your Book: A Simple Strategy to Promote Active Reading

2:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.
Scott R Kaschner, The University of Arizona

Using Individual Oral Exams in Mathematics Courses

Programming Mathematics as an Advanced Math Course

2:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Lisa Oberbroeckling, Loyola University Maryland

An Ethnomathematics Graduate Course

3:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Ximena Catepillan, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Cynthia Taylor, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

A Capstone Seminar on the Mathematics of Voting

3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Jan Cameron, Vassar College

The Over-Easy Classroom

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Lew Ludwig, Denison University

Flipping Differential Equations

3:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Lenny Ornas, McNeese State University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

More Favorite Geometry Proofs

1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Galleria I

Sarah Mabrouk, Framingham State University

A Proof of Ptolemy’s Theorem via Inversions

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer, Eastern Mennonite University

Archimedes’ Twin Circles in an Arbelos

1:20 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
Dan C Kemp, South Dakota State University

Euler’s Famous Line: Gateway to The Harmonic 2:1 Centroid Concurrency

1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Alvin Swimmer, Arizona State University

Reflections in Geometry

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
David Marshall, Monmouth University

Reflections on Reflections

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Thomas Q Sibley, St. John’s University

The Shortest Path Between Two Points and a Line

2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Justin Allen Brown, Olivet Nazarene University

The Perfect Heptagon from the Square Hyperbola

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Genghmun Eng

The Many Shapes of Hyperbolas in Taxicab Geometry

3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Ruth I Berger, Luther College

Geometry Knows Topology: The Gauss-Bonnet Theorem

3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

Finding the Fermat Point by Physics and by Transformation

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Philip Todd, Saltire Software

GRADUATE STUDENT ACTIVITY

GREAT TALKS FOR A GENERAL AUDIENCE: COACHED PRESENTATIONS BY GRADUATE STUDENTS

1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway I & II

Invited Address

Martin Gardner Centennial Lecture

The Magic of Martin Gardner

2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m., Hilton Portland, Ballroom Level, Grand Ballroom
Persi Diaconis, Stanford University

This event is free and open to the public.

PANEL SESSION

INNOVATIVE CURRICULA FOR DEVELOPMENTAL MATHEMATICS

2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Broadway III & IV

PANEL SESSION

OPEN ACCESS PUBLISHING IN MATHEMATICS: WHO?, WHAT?, WHERE?, WHY?, AND HOW?

2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Hilton Portland, 23rd Floor, Skyline 2

Minicourse

1. A Beginner’s Guide to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Mathematics (Part B)

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom I

Minicourse

4. Instructional Supports for Implementing Inquiry-Oriented Curricula for Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Abstract Algebra (Part B)

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Portland Executive Tower, Salon Ballroom III

Social Event

Closing Banquet

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Hilton Portland, Plaza Level, Pavilion

Emcee: Annalisa Crannell, Franklin & Marshall College
Speaker: Michael Starbird, University of Texas at Austin

Sunday, August 10

Social Event

Willamette Valley Wine Tour

12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Departs from Hilton Portland Lobby (Broadway Street Entrance)

Year:

2014

2015

Invited Addresses

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Algebra Over Finite Fields

Karen Smith, University of Michigan

Hedrick Lecture 1

Wednesday, August 5, 9:30 AM – 10:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Starting with a little trick I learned in third grade to check my multiplication homework, I’ll share my fascination with algebra as it grew through middle school, high school, college and eventually led to research in characteristic p rings. Along the way, I’ll point out the importance of many mentors and teachers who led me to eventually pursue my career in mathematics.

Hedrick Lecture 2

Friday, August 7, 9:30 AM – 10:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

In the second talk, I will explain how doing algebra over finite fields can deepen our understanding of geometry. Specifically, I’ll discuss how understanding solutions to polynomials over finite fields can help understand the geometry of algebraic varieties defined by real or complex polynomials. Miraculously, rings of characteristic p have some very special properties that can be powerful tools in analyzing them, often replacing tools like integration for real manifolds.

Hedrick Lecture 3

Saturday, August 8, 9:30 AM – 10:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

In the third talk, I will explain some of these recent tools in “characteristic p” algebra—specifically Frobenius splitting and related tools— which have made an impact on different areas of math, including the minimal model program for complex algebraic varieties and cluster algebras in combinatorics/representation theory. Some of this work is joint work with my PhD students and post-docs.

MAA Centennial Lecture 1

Replicators, Transformers, and Robot Swarms: Science Fiction through Geometric Algorithms

Wednesday, August 5, 8:20 AM – 9:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Erik Demaine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Science fiction is a great inspiration for science. How can we build reconfigurable robots like Transformers or Terminator 2? How can we build Star Trek-style replicators that duplicate or mass-produce a given shape at the nano scale? How can we orchestrate the motion of a large swarm of robots? Recently we’ve been exploring possible answers to these questions through computational geometry, in the settings of reconfigurable robots (both modular and folding robots that can become any possible shape), robot swarms (which may be so small and simple that they have no identity), and self-assembly (building computers and replicators out of DNA tiles).

MAA Centennial Lecture 2

Network Science: From the Online World to Cancer Genomics

Wednesday, August 5, 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Jennifer Chayes, Microsoft Research

Everywhere we turn these days, we find that networks can be used to describe relevant interactions. In the high tech world, we see the Internet, the World Wide Web, mobile phone networks, and a variety of online social networks. In economics, we are increasingly experiencing both the positive and negative effects of a global networked economy. In epidemiology, we find disease spreading over our ever-growing social networks, complicated by mutation of the disease agents. In biomedical research, we are beginning to understand the structure of gene regulatory networks, with the prospect of using this understanding to manage many human diseases. In this talk, I look quite generally at some of the models we are using to describe these networks, processes we are studying on the networks, algorithms we have devised for the networks, and finally, methods we are developing to indirectly infer network structure from measured data. I’ll discuss in some detail particular applications to cancer genomics, applying network algorithms to suggest possible drug targets for certain kinds of cancer.

MAA Centennial Lecture 3

Mathematics for Art Investigation

Thursday, August 6, 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Ingrid Daubechies, Duke University

Mathematical tools for image analysis increasingly play a role in helping art historians and art conservators assess the state of conservation of paintings, and probe into the secrets of their history. The talk will review several case studies, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Van Eyck among others.

MAA Centennial Lecture 4

The Role and Function of Mathematical Models in Interdisciplinary Mentorship through Research: Lessons from the World of Epidemics

Thursday, August 6, 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University

We live in an interconnected world in which seeking solutions to societal problems no longer makes sense within the confines of single-discipline organized institutions. The nation’s ability to train 21st century scientists depends on systems of learning and thinking that are naturally embedded within interdisciplinary educational research/mentorship models. The use of multiple modes of doing science including the systematic use of computer experiments and data science (Big Data) must be at the heart of a modern 21st Century STEM education.

As Steve Strogatz observes “… cancer will not be cured by biologists working alone. Its solution will require a melding of both great discoveries of 1953 [Fermi-Pasta-Ulam introduction of the computer experiment and Watson & Creek discovery of the chemical structure of DNA]. Many cancers, perhaps most of them, involve the derangement of biochemical networks that choreograph the activity of thousands of genes and proteins. As Fermi and his colleagues taught us, a complex system like this can’t be understood merely by cataloging its parts and the rules governing their interactions. The nonlinear logic of cancer will be fathomed only through the collaborative efforts of molecular biologists — the heirs to Dr. Watson and Dr. Crick —and mathematicians who specialize in complex systems — the heirs to Fermi, Pasta and Ulam.”

In this lecture, I will highlight (1) the role that interdisciplinary research challenges has played in shaping the training and mentorship of students from high school to the postdoctoral level and (2) the impact that has had on my own research program. The discussion will be centered on questions that arise in the study of disease dynamics (Ebola and Influenza) across levels of organization and over multiple spatiotemporal scales.

The examples used are the result of the research carried out with a myriad of collaborators (undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral students and colleagues) over the past three decades.

MAA Centennial Lecture 5

CSHPM Kenneth O. May Lecture

“We Are Evidently on the Verge of Important Steps Forward”: The American Mathematical Community, 1915-1950

Friday, August 7, 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Karen Parshall, University of Virginia

The American mathematical community experienced remarkable changes over the course of the thirty-five years from the founding of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in 1915 to the establishment of the National Science Foundation in 1950. The first fifteen years witnessed not only the evolution of the MAA with its emphasis on the promotion of mathematics teaching but also the “corporatization” and “capitalization” of the American Mathematical Society as mathematicians worked to raise money in support of research-level mathematics. The next decade, one characterized by the stock market crash and Depression, almost paradoxically saw the building of mathematics departments nationwide and the absorption into those departments of European mathematical refugees. Finally, the 1940s witnessed the mobilization of America’s mathematicians in the war effort and their subsequent efforts to insure that mathematics was supported as the Federal government began to open its coffers in the war’s immediate aftermath. This talk will explore this period of optimism in which the American mathematical community sensed, as Roland Richardson put it, “we are evidently on the verge of important steps forward.”

MAA Centennial Lecture 6

Recent Results Toward the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture

Saturday, August 8, 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Manjul Bhargava, Princeton University

Over the past half-century, the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture has become one of the most notoriously difficult unsolved problems in mathematics, and has been listed as one of the seven million-dollar “Millennium Prize Problems” of the Clay Mathematics Institute. In this talk, we describe the problem in elementary terms, and the surprising and beautiful ways in which it is related to several well-known open problems in number theory. Despite the difficulties in solving it, there is actually quite a bit known now towards the conjecture. We will give a survey of what is known – including several recent advances – and, finally, what remains to be done!

AMS-MAA Joint Invited Address

The Arithmetic of the Spheres

Thursday, August 6, 9:30 AM – 10:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Jeffrey Lagarias, University of Michigan

Beginning with historical remarks on the harmony of the spheres, this talk tours two topics at the interface of number theory and dynamical systems. The first concerns the Farey tree, Ford circles and the Minkowski question-mark function. The second concerns Farey fractions, radix expansions and the Riemann zeta function.

MAA James R. C. Leitzel Lecture

Calculus at Crisis

Saturday, August 8, 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

David Bressoud, Macalester College

The predominance of calculus in high school, recognition of the importance of modeling dynamical systems—especially in the biosciences, and existence of sophisticated online resources have changed what students need from college calculus. Despite recent insights into what it means to understand calculus and how students achieve this knowledge, failure rates are unacceptably high, and passing is no guarantee of ability to use the ideas of calculus. Together, these forces confront departments with a series of decision points around what to teach and how to teach it.

Erica Walker

AWM-MAA Etta Z. Falconer Lecture

“A Multiplicity All At Once”: Mathematics for Everyone, Everywhere

Friday, August 7, 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Erica Walker, Columbia University

What does it mean to learn mathematics? What does it mean to say that some people are “math people”? In this talk, I draw upon 20 years of research and teaching to describe multiple contexts for mathematics learning and socialization across the lifespan. I share findings from studies with elementary students, high school youth, teachers, and mathematicians to describe how they engage in mathematical practice, develop mathematics identities, and craft meaningful spaces for rich mathematics learning. I discuss implications of this work for reframing teaching and learning, both within and outside of schools, to better foster people’s success, interest, and creativity in mathematics.

MAA Chan Stanek Lecture for Students

Seventy-Five Years of MAA Mathematics Competitions

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Joseph Gallian, University of Minnesota Duluth

In this talk we provide facts, statistics, oddities, curiosities, videos, and trivia questions about the mathematics competitions that the MAA has sponsored for 75 years.

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

G-sharp, A-flat, and the Euclidean Algorithm

Friday, August 7, 8:00 PM – 8:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Noam Elkies, Harvard University

Why does Western music almost universally use the same repeating pattern of 7+5 notes seen in the piano’s white and black keys, and why does each of these notes (especially the black ones, like G-sharp / A-flat) get more than one name? Using a piano, the audience’s voices, and more traditional lecture materials, I’ll outline how music, physics, and mathematics converged to produce this structure, including an overlap between one thread of music history and the first few steps of the Euclidean algorithm applied to the logarithms of 2 and 3.

Terrence Blackman

NAM David Harold Blackwell Lecture

Mathematics, Mathematicians, Mathematics Education and Equity: Challenges and Opportunities

Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Terrence Blackman, The University of Denver

African Americans have a long and honorable tradition of doing Mathematics and Mathematics Education in the African American community. In this talk, from a perspective of excellence and equity, I will address the critical necessity of engagement in Mathematics Education, by all mathematicians and in particular, African American mathematicians. In so doing, I will describe some of the challenges and opportunities for undergraduates considering careers in the mathematical sciences.

Year:

2015

Minicourses

All MAA MathFest 2015 Minicourses will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert St NW
Washington, DC 20008
Map.

MAA Minicourses are partially supported by the William F. Lucas Fund. Read more about Prof. Lucas here.

1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Mathematics

Part A: Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room
Part B: Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room

A guided tour of some little known attractions of elementary mathematics, all closely related to and easily accessible from freshman-sophomore college mathematics. In the midst of these seemingly mundane surroundings lurk wonders to surprise, delight, and intrigue the mathematical eye. Some may make great enrichment topics for the participants’ students, but the course’s primary motivations are the edification and enjoyment of the participants themselves.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Mathematics answers questions like these: What simple method reveals the sum of the reciprocals of a polynomial’s roots? What does the quadratic formula have to do with the functions max(x,y) and min(x,y)? What is the point of reversing a polynomial and its derivative, and then dividing one into the other? What are palindromic polynomials, and how can they be solved up to degree 9?

Participants are encouraged to bring a calculator (or mobile device/laptop with basic computing functionality).

Dan Kalman, American University
Bruce Torrence, Randolph-Macon College

2. The Mathematics of Games and Gambling

Part A: Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room
Part B: Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room

In this course, you will learn about the mathematics that underlies many of the great games that people enjoy today. Learn the optimal basic strategy for playing blackjack, along with some simple card counting techniques. Learn the mathematics needed to play great poker and other games. Since you’re a mathematician, most people assume that you’re already good at these things. This course will teach you those skills and you’ll learn some fun mathematics along the way.

The Game Plan:

Great Expectations and Winning Wagers Optimal Blackjack and Simple Card Counting
Scams and Hustles  Zero Sum Games and Practical Poker Probabilities

All material in the course will be accessible to undergraduates. The instructor takes no responsibility for any get-rich-quick schemes that students learn from this class.

Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College

3. Heavenly Mathematics: The Forgotten Art of Spherical Trigonometry

Part A: Wednesday, August 5, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room
Part B: Friday, August 7, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room

Trigonometry came into being at the birth of science itself, merging Greek geometric models of the motions of celestial bodies with the desire to predict where the planets will go. With the sky as the arena, spherical trigonometry was the “big brother” to the ordinary plane trigonometry our children learn in school. We shall explore the surprisingly elegant theory that emerges, as well as its appropriation into mathematical geography motivated by the needs of Muslim religious ritual. The beautiful modern theory of spherical trigonometry (including the pentagramma mirificum), developed by John Napier along with his logarithms, leads eventually to an astonishing alternate path to the subject using stereographic projection discovered only in the early 20th century. We conclude with a consideration of some of the ingenious techniques developed by navigators in the 19th century to find their locations, using as data only a couple of observations of stellar altitudes.

Glen Van Brummelen, Quest University
Joel Silverberg, Roger Williams University

4. Recruiting Students to Take More Mathematics Courses and to Be Mathematics Majors

Part A: Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room
Part B: Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room

We will discuss some principles and specific activities we have used to increase the number of students taking mathematics courses and becoming math majors. Principles include creating a culture of “Math is cool!”, exposing students to careers and opportunities available to those who study mathematics, and being proactive in your efforts. Specific activities include a “Careers in Mathematics” seminar, a freshman/sophomore class titled “Intro to being a math major,” the creation of a student advisory council, a big screen HDTV display with a PowerPoint presentation about mathematics, a set of math t-shirts, and the “We Use Math” website.

Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

5. Using Videos of Students Developing Proofs to Guide Teaching and Learning

Part A: Thursday, August 6, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room
Part B: Saturday, August 8, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room

This minicourse will be of interest to anyone engaged in the teaching of proof- writing. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of students’ struggles as they view and discuss short videos of students constructing proofs for problems used in introduction-to-proof courses. The emphasis of the minicourse will be on identifying and implementing teaching strategies that help students overcome their difficulties and help them develop more effective proof-writing skills. Participants will be provided ongoing access to a library of edited student videos, developed by the organizers, which can be used as a classroom tool.

James Sandefur, Georgetown University
Connie Campbell, Millsaps College
Kay Somers, Moravian College 

6. Creating Flipped Learning Experiences in the College Mathematics Classroom

Part A: Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room
Part B: Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room

In the “flipped learning” approach to teaching, sometimes called the flipped classroom, direct instruction is moved outside the class meeting space, and the resulting freedup time in class is used for group explorations of the most challenging ideas. In this minicourse, participants will work together to learn about the core ideas of the flipped classroom and create materials for flipped learning in college mathematics. We will also discuss related issues such as formative and summative assessment, getting student buyin, technical questions about content creation, and making the flipped classroom a sustainable professional practice.

Robert Talbert, Grand Valley State University

7. Teaching Mathematics with Bead Crochet

Part A: Wednesday, August 5, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room
Part B: Friday, August 7, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room

We are all on the lookout for ways to entice people into mathematical discovery, especially those who might otherwise be intimidated by math. Bead crochet offers an entrée into many fields of mathematics, including geometry, topology, and abstract algebra. In this course, participants will learn ways to motivate deep ideas in math for their students through bead crochet models and the design and practice of bead crochet. In the first session, everyone will learn the basics of bead crochet needed to make their own mathematical models. In the second session, we will discuss how to use bead crochet models and puzzles in the classroom.

Susan Goldstine, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Ellie Baker, Freelance

8. Getting Started in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Part A: Thursday, August 6, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room
Part B: Saturday, August 8, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room

This course will introduce participants to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in mathematics and help them begin projects of their own. We describe a taxonomy of SoTL questions, provide examples of SoTL projects in mathematics, and discuss methods for investigation. Participants will learn about collecting and analyzing different types of evidence, dealing with human subjects requirements, and selecting venues for presenting or publishing their work. With the presenters’ guidance, participants interactively select and transform a teaching problem of their own into a question for scholarly investigation and identify several types of evidence to gather.

Jackie Dewar, Loyola Marymount University
Pam Crawford, Jacksonville University

Year:

2015

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#1: The History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, mornings and afternoons

This session welcomes contributions from all areas related to history and philosophy of mathematics. This includes reports on research, survey talks, and issues related to the use of history and philosophy of mathematics in the classroom. The session will also include special sessions on mathematical communities and on the philosophy of mathematics. There will also be a group of talks in honor of Karen Parshall (one of the MAA Centennial lecturers) and also in memory of Jackie Stedall (a well known historian of mathematics who passed away in the early fall).

Maria Zack, Point Loma Nazarene University
Thomas Drucker, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
Robin Wilson, Open University and Oxford University
June Barrow-Green, Open Universityf
Jean-Pierre Marquis, University of Montreal
Sloan Despeaux, Western Carolina University
Sponsored by HOM SIGMAA, POM SIGMAA, CSHPM, and BSHM

Part A – History of Mathematics

Wednesday, August 5, 10:30 AM – 11:55 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Ellipsographs: Drawing Ellipses and the Devices in the Smithsonian Collections

10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Amy Shell-Gellasch, Montgomery College

Charter Members of the MAA and the Material Culture of American Mathematics

11:00 AM – 11:25 AM
Peggy A. Kidwell, Smithsonian Institution

History of Mathematics in Washington, DC

11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Florence Fasanelli, MAA

Part B – History of Mathematics

Wednesday, August 5, 10:30 AM – 11:55 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Eisenhower, the Binomial Theorem, and the $64,000 Question

10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Cathleen O’Neil, Johnson County Community College

John Horton Conway: Certainly a Piece of History

11:00 AM – 11:25 AM
Siobhan Roberts, Freelance Writer, Math & Science Journalist, Biographer

A Pair of Early MAA Presidents = A Pair of Mathematics Historians: Florian Cajori and David Eugene Smith

11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Eileen Donoghue, City University of New York/CSI

Part C – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 2:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Doing Arithmetic in Medieval Europe

1:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Chuck Lindsey, Florida Gulf Coast University

Imagination and Reading the Third Dimension in Early Modern Geometry

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Travis D. Williams, University of Rhode Island

The Arc Rampant in 1673: An Early Episode in the History of Projective Geometry

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Christopher Baltus, SUNY Oswego

William Brouncker’s Rectification of the Semi-Cubical Parabola

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Andrew Leahy, Knox College

Part D – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Wednesday, August 5, 1:30 PM – 3:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Inspiration for Elementary Mathematics Descriptions from a “Heritage” Reading (in the sense of Grattan-Guinness) of On the Nonexistent by Gorgias

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Ann L. von Mehren, Arcadia University and University of Houston

Going to the Source

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Thomas Q. Sibley, St. John’s University, College of St. Benedict

Rope Geometry of Ancient India in the Classroom

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Cynthia J. Huffman, Pittsburg State University
Scott V. Thuong, Pittsburg State University

Getting to the Root of the Problem

3:00 PM – 3:25 PM
Steven J. Tedford, Misericordia University

Reenactment of the Calculus Controversy: Newton vs Leibniz

3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Abraham Ayebo, North Dakota State University

Part E – The Mathematics of Euler

Wednesday, August 5, 3:30 PM – 5:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Euler and Phonetics: The Untold Story of the Mathematics of Language

3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Dominic Klyve, Central Washington University
Olivia Hirschey, Central Washington University

Leonhard Euler: The Final Decade 1773 to October 1783

4:00 PM – 4:25 PM
Ronald S. Calinger, Catholic University of America

Euler’s Method for Computing the Movement of a Mortar Bomb

4:30 PM – 4:55 PM
William W. Hackborn, University of Alberta

Euler on L’Hôpital’s Analyse

5:00 PM – 5:25 PM
Robert E. Bradley, Adelphi University

Euler’s OTHER Constant

5:30 PM – 5:55 PM
Jonathan Martin, Purdue University
Andy Martin, Kentucky State University

Part F – Special Session in Memory of Jackie Stedall

Thursday, August 6, 8:30 AM – 11:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Sylvester’s Amphigenous Surface

8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
June Barrow-Green, The Open University

Jackie Stedall and the Mathematics of Thomas Harriot

9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
Janet L. Beery, University of Redlands

The Construction of Map Projections in the Works of Lambert and Euler

9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Rosanna Cretney, The Open University

Soviet Views of Early (English) Algebra

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
Christopher Hollings, University of Oxford

Bolzano’s Measurable Numbers: Are They Real?

10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Steve Russ, University of Warwick
Katerina Trlifajova, Centre for Theoretical Studies, Prague

The BSHM, 1971-2015

11:00 AM – 11:25 AM
Robin J. Wilson, Oxford University, UK

Part G – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 2:25 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Robert Patterson: American ‘Revolutionary’ Mathematician

1:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Richard DeCesare, Southern Connecticut State University

Lisbon: Mathematics, Engineering and Planning in the Eighteenth Century

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Maria Zack, Point Loma Nazarene University

Vera on the Foundations of Mathematics

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Alejandro R. Garciadiego, UNAM

Part H – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 2:25 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Yoshikatsu Sugiura: A Good Japanese Friend of Paul Dirac

1:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Michiyo Nakane, Nihon University Research Institute of Science and Technology

Ramanujan, Robin, Highly Composite Numbers, and the Riemann Hypothesis

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Jonathan Sondow, Independent Scholar
Jean-Louis Nicolas, University of Lyon, France

A Visit to the Vatican Library

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Matthew Haines, Augsburg College

Part J – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Thursday, August 6, 2:30 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Mathematical Structuralism and Mathematical Applicability

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Elaine Landry, University of California, Davis

Designing Mathematics: the Role of Axioms

3:00 PM – 3:25 PM
Jean-Pierre Marquis, Université de Montréal

Does the Indispensability Argument Leave Open the Question of the Causal Nature of Mathematical Entities?

3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Alexandru Manafu, IHPST Paris

How Does the Mind Construct/Discover Mathematical Propositions?

4:00 PM – 4:25 PM
Carl Behrens, Alexandria, VA

What is an Adequate Epistemology for Mathematics?

4:30 PM – 4:55 PM
Jeff Buechner, Rutgers University-Newark

Part K – Special Session on Mathematical Communities

Friday, August 7, 8:00 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

A Partial History of Math Circles

8:00 AM – 8:25 AM
Diana White, University of Colorado Denver
Brandy Wiegers, University of Central Washington

An American Postulate Theorist: Edward V. Huntington

8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
Janet H. Barnett, Colorado State University – Pueblo

Combatting the “Legion of Half-Wits”: the Contentious Mathematicians of the Paris Academy of Sciences

9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
Lawrence D’Antonio, Ramapo College

The Mathematics in ‘Mathematical Instruments’: The Case of the Royal Geographical Society, London, in the Mid to Late Nineteenth Century

9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Jane Wess, Edinburgh University/Royal Geographical Society-IBG

Did American Professors Form a Mathematical Community in the Early 19th Century?

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, University of Maryland University College

Part M – Special Session in Honor of Karen Parshall

Friday, August 7, 2:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Leonard Dickson’s Other Doctoral Student from 1928

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Della Dumbaugh, University of Richmond

Spreading the Wealth: The Ford Foundation and Eugene Northrop’s Advancement of Mathematics and Science at Home and Abroad

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Patti W. Hunter, Westmont College

The Annals of Mathematics: From the Fringes of Civilization to the University of Virginia, 1873-1883

3:00 PM – 3:25 PM
Deborah Kent, Drake University

Karen Parshall and a Course on the History of Mathematics in America

3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
David Zitarelli, Temple University

Fuzzy Logic and Contemporary American Mathematics: A Cautionary Tale

4:00 PM – 4:25 PM
Joseph W. Dauben, City University of New York

American Mathematicians Beyond the Iron Curtain: The US-Soviet Interacademy Exchange Program

4:30 PM – 4:55 PM
Brittany Shields, University of Pennsylvania

Part N – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Saturday, August 8, 8:30 AM – 11:55 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Some Original Sources for Modern Tales of Thales

8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
Michael Molinsky, University of Maine at Farmington

A Prehistory of Arithmetic

9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
Patricia Baggett, New Mexico State University
Andrzej Ehrenfeucht, University of Colorado

Adelard’s Euclid and the Arabic Transmission Attributed to al-Ḥajjāj

9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Gregg De Young, The American University in Cairo

Al-Khwarizmi, Anselm, and the Algebra of Atonement

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
Valerie J. Allen, John Jay College, CUNY

Approaches to Computation in Third Millennium Mesopotamia

10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Duncan J. Melville, St. Lawrence University

Famous Mathematicians from Iran but Whom You May Not Know

11:00 AM – 11:25 AM
Samaneh Gholizadeh Hamidi, Brigham Young University

The Quest for Digital Preservation: Will Part of Math History Be Gone Forever?

11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Steve DiDomenico, Northwestern University Library
Linda Newman, University of Cincinnati Libraries

Part P – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Saturday, August 8, 8:30 AM – 11:55 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Finding the Roots of a Non-Linear Equation: History and Reliability

8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
Roger Godard, RMC

J. D. Forbes and the Development of Curve Plotting

9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
Isobel Falconer, University of St Andrews

“Remarkable Similarities”: A Dialogue Between De Morgan & Boole

9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Gavin Hitchcock, University of Stellenbosch

Clifford and Sylvester on the Development of Peirce’s Matrix Formulation of the Algebra of Relations 1870-1882

10:00 AM – 10:25 AM
Francine F. Abeles, Kean University

Polygonal Numbers from Fermat to Cauchy

10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Susan Martin, Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance

Orson Pratt: A Self Taught Mathematician on the American Western Frontier

11:00 AM – 11:25 AM
Troy Goodsell, Brigham Young University-Idaho

Five Families Around a Well: A New Look at an Ancient Problem

11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Ezra Brown, Virginia Tech

Part Q – Special Session in Memory of Ivor Grattan-Guinness

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:25 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Ivor Grattan-Guinness (1941-2014) and his Contributions to the History of Analysis, Set Theory, and Applied Mathematics

1:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Joseph W. Dauben, City University of New York

Grattan-Guiness’s Work on Classical Mechanics

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Roger Cooke, University of Vermont

Ivor Grattan-Guinness’s Legacy to History and Philosophy of Logic

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
John W. Dawson, Penn State York

“Another Big Book”: I Grattan-Guinness as Editor and Organizer

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Albert C. Lewis, Educational Advancement Foundation

“Same Time Next Week?”: Ivor Grattan-Guinness as a Ph.D. Advisor

3:00 PM – 3:25 PM
Adrian Rice, Randolph-Macon College

Part R – History of Mathematics

Saturday, August 8, 3:30 PM – 5:25 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Humanistic Reflections on Mathematics Magazine Problem 1951 and a Solution

3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Joel Haack, University of Northern Iowa Timothy Hall, PGI Consulting

The Interplay of “Hard” and “Soft” Analysis in the History of Summabiliy Theory: Preliminary Report

4:00 PM – 4:25 PM
Alexander F. Kleiner, Drake University

The Life and Letters of William Burnside

4:30 PM – 4:55 PM
Howard Emmens, BSHM

Prehistory of the Outer Automorphism of

S 6

5:00 PM – 5:25 PM
James Parson, Hood College

TCPS#2: The Contributions of Women to Mathematics: 100 Years and Counting

Part A – Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 3:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 2
Part B – Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 2

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the MAA, the AWM sponsors this session to acknowledge and recognize the contributions, achievements, and progress of women mathematicians over the past 100 years. This century has seen great mathematical achievements by women, the most recent and most public being Maryan Mirzakhani winning the Fields Medal. To honor this and other advances in mathematics by women, this session welcomes talks about mathematics done by women and historical or biographical presentations celebrating women in mathematics.

Alissa S. Crans, Loyola Marymount University
Jacqueline Jensen-Vallin, Lamar University
Maura Mast, University of Massachusetts Boston
Sponsored by The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)

Part A

Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 3:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 2

One of the Most Significant Woman in Matrix Theory – Olga Taussky-Todd

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Sandra Fital-Akelbek, Weber State University

Pie Charts, Pearson, and the Prussian Army: Celebrating Florence Nightingale and FN David

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Samuel Luke Tunstall, Appalachian State University

American Women Mathematics PhDs of the 1940s and 1950s

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Margaret Murray, University of Iowa

African American Women Mathematicians

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Darlene Butler, Arkansas State University-Beebe

Making Her Mark on a Century of Turmoil and Triumph: A Tribute to Polish and Polish-American Women in Mathematics

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Emelie Kenney, Siena College

A Well-Kept Secret: Women in Mathematics Education

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Jacqueline Dewar, Loyola Marymount University

Interesting Women in the Missouri MAA Section

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Leon Hall, Missouri S&T

Life and Research of Vasanti Bhat-Nayak

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Pallavi Jayawant, Bates College

Part B

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 2

Teaching Students about Women and Mathematics: A Dialogue between Two Course Designers

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Sarah J. Greenwald, Appalachian State University
Jacqueline Dewar, Loyola Marymount University

Gender and the Pursuit of Mathematics: An Examination of the Participation Gap in Math Careers

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Kevin T. Maritato, Suffolk County Community College

Positive Female Role Models in Mathematics: The Importance, Influence, and Impact of Their Contributions in Attracting Females to Mathematics

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Joan E. DeBello, St. John’s University

The Daughters of Hypatia: A Mathematical Dance Concert Celebrating Women Mathematicians

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Karl Schaffer, De Anza College

Application of Knot Theory: Using Knots to Unravel Biochemistry Mysteries

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Candice Renee Price, United States Military Academy, West Point

Dessin D’Enfants and Shabat Polynomials

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Alejandra Alvarado, Eastern Illinois University

An Introduction to Interval Exchange Transformations

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Kelly B. Yancey, University of Maryland

TCPS#3: Math Circle Problems in Honor of the MAA’s 100th Anniversary

Friday, August 7, 8:30 AM – 11:05 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6

A mathematics circle is an enrichment activity for K-12 students or their teachers, which brings them into direct contact with mathematics professionals, fostering a passion and excitement for deep mathematics in the participants. It is usually a weekly or monthly activity, but it can also be an intensive summer experience. Circles provide rich open-ended problems that enable students or their teachers to strengthen their problem-solving skills and deepen their appreciation for and excitement about mathematics. In honor of the MAA’s 100th anniversary, we especially encourage talks that address a problem or topic involving the number 100 that was successful at your math circle.

Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco
Sponsored by SIGMAA MCST

Coordinating a State-Wide Math Contest

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Abraham S. Mantell, Nassau Community College

Abbot and Costello Numbers

8:50 AM – 9:05 AM
Mary Garner, Gateway Community Math Center
Virginia Watson, Gateway Community Math Center

Exploring the 100 (and 1) Spaces of Prime Climb in a Math Teachers’ Circle

9:10 AM – 9:25 AM
Jialing Dai, University of the Pacific
Christopher Goff, University of the Pacific
Sara Malec, Hood College
Dennis Parker, University of the Pacific

Growing Math Circles for the Next 100 Years

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Brandy Wiegers, Central Washington University/National Association of Math Circles
Diana White, University of Colorado, Denver/National Association of Math Circles

100 Problems Involving the Number 100

9:50 AM – 10:05 AM
James Tanton, MAA

The Cell Phone Dropping Problem

10:10 AM – 10:25 AM
Japheth Wood, Bard College
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M University

From 100s in a Number to 100 Squares on a 10×10 Checker Board (Or Are There More?)

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Victoria Kofman, Quality Engineering Education, Inc.

Spinout, The Brain, Gray Code, and 100

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM
George McNulty, University of South Carolina
Nieves McNulty, Columbia College
Douglas B. Meade, University of South Carolina

TCPS#4: Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology

Friday, August 7, 1:20 PM – 4:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Timothy D. Comar, Benedictine University
Sponsored by BIO SIGMAA

Building a Math-Bio Research Program at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Zachary Abernathy, Winthrop University

Ten Years of Math/Bio Research Collaboration with Undergraduates

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Jeffrey L. Poet, Missouri Western State University
Laurie J. Heyer, Davidson College
Todd T. Eckdahl, Missouri Western State University
A. M. Campbell, Davidson College

Modeling Delay in Axon Circuit

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Mikhail Shvartsman, University of St Thomas
Pavel Bělík, Augsburg College

The Dynamics of Pulse Vaccination Models

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Timothy D. Comar, Benedictine University

Simulating and Animating the Spatial Dynamics of Interacting Species Living on a Torus-shaped Universe

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Boyan Kostadinov, City Tech, CUNY

Leaf Hydraulic Conductance: Modeling Geometry

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Frank Lynch, EWU

Cancer Classification of Gene Expression Data by Top Scoring Pairs, Consensus Clustering and Support Vector Machines

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Andrea E. Ekey, Howard University
Louise A. Raphael, Howard University
Ahmed Tadde, Howard University

Integrating Mathematics and Biology Through Mathematical Modeling

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Debra Mimbs, Lee University

Classification: A Fundamental Tool in Biology and Mathematics

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Atabong T. Agendia, Madonna University Nigeria

TCPS#5: Recreational Mathematics: New Problems and New Solutions

Part A – Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1
Part B – Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

Paul R. Coe, Dominican University
Sara Quinn, Dominican University
Kristen Schemmerhorn, Concordia University Chicago

Part A

Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

Elvis Lives: An Exploration of Greedy and Global Path Optimization in a Game of Fetch

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Steve J. Bacinski, Davenport University
Mark J. Panaggio, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Timothy J. Pennings, Davenport University

Logarithms are Hot Stuff and a New Rating Scale for Chili Peppers

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Eric Landquist, Kutztown University

Turning Infinity Inside Out: A Seamstress’s Conundrum

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Ellie Baker, Freelance

Geometric Modeling of Hexagonal Joints: Carving Mathematics Out of Wood

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
James S. Sochacki, James Madison University
Anthony Tongen, James Madison University

A Trouble-some Simulation

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Geoffrey Dietz, Gannon University

Penney’s Game and Roulette

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Robert W. Vallin, Lamar University

Multi-Opponent James Functions

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Christopher N. B. Hammond, Connecticut College
Warren P. Johnson, Connecticut College

Sylver Coinage – An Algebraist’s Investigation

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Jeremy Thompson, USAF Academy

Winning Moves in Fibonacci Nim

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Cody Allen, San Diego State University
Vadim Ponomarenko, San Diego State University

The n-Queens Problem with Forbidden Placements

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Doug Chatham, Morehead State University

A New Approach to Chinese Chess Knight’s Tour Using Gauss’ Area Formula

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Matthew Mak, ACS Independent
Suling Lee, ACS Independent

Part B

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

Cracking the SafeCracker 40 Puzzle

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Brittany Shelton, Albright College
Tyler VanBlargan, Albright College

Nonclassical Logic Puzzles

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Jason Rosenhouse, James Madison University

The Mathematics of Triphos, A World without Subtraction

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Brian Hollenbeck, Emporia State University

Counting with Fractals and the Mysterious Triangles of Behrends and Humble

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Michael A. Jones, Mathematical Reviews
Lon Mitchell, Mathematical Reviews
Brittany Shelton, Albright College

‘Cover the Spot’ and Homothetic Covering of Convex Bodies

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Muhammad A. Khan, University of Calgary

Dissecting and Coloring Polygons Using Power Series

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Alison G. Schuetz, Hood College
Gwyneth R. Whieldon, Hood College

Exploring Two Fascinating Integer Sequences

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Jay L. Schiffman, Rowan University

TCPS#6: Mathematics and Art

Part A – Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A
Part B – Thursday, August 6, 8:50 AM – 11:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

Mathematics and art have a long historical relationship throughout the centuries. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks incorporated several mathematical relationships into their lives and art. In this session we encourage talks and presentations that connect mathematics and art. We would like to see a broad range of art: visual art, decorative art and performing art. The emphasis will be on college level mathematics that connects math and art in problems and projects that can enrich mathematics teaching. Puzzles, games and other activities that relate math and art are also encouraged.

Sandra Fital-Akelbek, Weber State University
Mahmud Akelbek, Weber State University

Part A

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

A Kaleidoscopic Journey

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

Artistic Patterns on Triply Periodic Polyhedra

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Douglas Dunham, University of Minnesota – Duluth

Maps of Strange Worlds: Beyond the Four-Color Theorem

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Susan Goldstine, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Virtual Bumblebees

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
James P. Howard, University of Maryland University College

Surprises from Iterating Discontinuous Functions

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Brian Heinold, Mount St. Mary’s University

The Many Lessons in Fractals

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Lisa A. Oberbroeckling, Loyola University Maryland

Parametric Equations at the Circus: Trochoids and Poi Flowers

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Eleanor Farrington, Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Modeling the Mathematical: Man Ray, Equational Mimesis, and Kinesthetic Learning

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Steve Zides, Wofford College

Pythagoras to Secor: Generalized Keyboards and the Miracle Temperament

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Anil Venkatesh, Ferris State University

Mathematics and Poetry: The Sweetest Noise

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Randall E. Cone, Salisbury University

Differential Equations in Music, Dance, and the Visual Arts

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Lorelei Koss, Dickinson College

Counting with Your Toes!

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Julian Chan, Weber State

Part B

Thursday, August 6, 8:50 AM – 11:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

Geometry in Paintings: Where Two Dimensional Becomes Three Dimensional

8:50 AM – 9:05 AM
Blair Lewis, Weber State University

Geometric Islamic Star Patterns of Carved Mamluk Domes

9:10 AM – 9:25 AM
Lynn Bodner, Monmouth University

Geometry in 18th Century Japan: Exploring and Creating Sangaku

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
David Clark, Randoph-Macon College

Randomness and Structure in Computer-generated Art and Design

9:50 AM – 10:05 AM
Vincent J. Matsko, University of San Francisco

“iFlakes”: Interactive Line Designs for iOS

10:10 AM – 10:25 AM
James E. Mihalisin, JedMDesigns

Ten Years of Student Art in a Math Class

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Bryan Clair, Saint Louis University

Art of Teaching Mathematics

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM
Radmila Sazdanovic, North Carolina State University
Andrew Cooper, North Carolina State University

Math = Art (or: How to Enhance Threaded Discussions)

11:10 AM – 11:25 AM
Debra M. Kean, DeVry University

TCPS#7: Financial Mathematics

Wednesday, August 5, 1:20 PM – 2:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6

Financial Mathematics encompasses all the mathematical and statistical tools, theories and techniques involved in the applied areas usually described as Quantitative Finance, Computational Finance, and Financial Engineering. Research in these areas of financial market modeling include derivatives pricing, risk-and-portfolio management and the theory of interest. Such works have resulted in Nobel Prizes in 1990 and 1997. This session welcomes presentations on any aspect of Financial Mathematics, including the history of this topic, the teaching of this topic, new applications or items of purely academic interest.

Richard Stephens, Columbus State University
Alin Stancu, Columbus State University

Insurance and Financial Investment Strategy under a Stochastic Process Model

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Wanwan Huang, Roosevelt University

Social Security Benefit: Now or Later?

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Amanda Mummert, Washington & Jefferson College
Katie Linthicum, Washington & Jefferson College
Kadie Clancy, Washington & Jefferson College

An Undergraduate Research Experience in Financial Mathematics

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Jeong-Mi Yoon, UH-Downtown

Actuarial Present Value: Calculations for Two Parametric Models

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Veera Holdai, Salisbury University
Barbara Wainwright, Salisbury University

TCPS#8: Mathematics in Video Games

Saturday, August 8, 3:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 3

Video games are a part of popular culture and they show up everywhere and in different forms: computer or console, online or offline, on phones or other mobile devices. There are many applications of mathematics in the gameplay and creation of games that are popular today. This session seeks presentations that share some of the mathematical applications that appear in recent games. Presenters are encouraged to show college-level mathematics that might appear in a range of courses. This session will be of interest to gamers and instructors looking for innovative examples to use in their classes.

Heidi Hulsizer, Hampden-Sydney College

Using Turn Based Games to Introduce Modeling and Optimization

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Glenn Berman, Dakota State University

Mathematics of Ingress

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Kimberly Anne Roth, Juniata College
Erika Ward, Jacksonville University

Quaternions in Action

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Susan H. Marshall, Monmouth University

Mathematics of Fez

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Raena King, Christian Brothers University

A Math Course for Game Programming Majors

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Scott Stevens, Champlain College

Extracting Mathematical Pedagogy from Video Games

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Aaron M. Montgomery, Baldwin Wallace University

TCPS#9: What Can a Mathematician Do with a 3D Printer?

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia B

This session is dedicated to the intersection of 3D printing and mathematics: the creation of objects through the application of college-level mathematics or research-level mathematics, or the incorporation of 3D printing into the teaching of mathematics. In terms of the creation of objects on a 3D printer, of particular interest are those works that answer the question, “What can a mathematician do with a 3D printer?” This may include fractal images, knots, smooth manifolds, polyhedra, and demonstrations of theoretic or historical constructs. For teaching, of particular interest is the incorporation of 3D printing into college-level courses like geometry, topology, or multivariable calculus.

Edward Aboufadel, Grand Valley State University
Laura Taalman, James Madison University

3D Printed Catalan Wireframes: Designing with Mathematica, MeshLab, and TopMod

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Laura Taalman, James Madison University

I Can Touch the Math!

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Lila F. Roberts, Clayton State University

3-D Printing and Triply-Periodic Minimal Surfaces

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Rebekah Durig, Southern Illinois University
Oneal Summers, Southern Illinois University
Gregory Budzban, Southern Illinois University

Printing Fractals: Experiences with Julia Sets and Diffusion-Limited Aggregates

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Mark J. Stock, Independent Artist

Teaching Mathematical Art: Coordinating Design and 3D Printing

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Christopher R. H. Hanusa, Queens College, CUNY

Exploring Visualizations: An Overview of a Seminar in 3D Modeling and Printing

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Nicholas J. Owad, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

How You Too Can Join the 3D Printing Craze!

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Lewis Ludwig, Denison University

Cy: A 3D-Printed Robot for Calculus Teaching

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Jason H. Cantarella, University of Georgia

A Voluminous Vessel

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Brenda Edmonds, Johnson County Community College
Cathleen O’Neil, Johnson County Community College
Rob Grondahl, Johnson County Community College

Goblet Design in Calculus II

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Scott Dunn, University of South Carolina
Douglas B. Meade, University of South Carolina
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M University

Topology, Calculus and 3D visualization

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Elizabeth Denne, Washington & Lee University

3D Printing Projects for Multivariate Calculus and College Geometry

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Edward Aboufadel, Grand Valley State University

TCPS#10: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Collegiate Mathematics

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 5:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 2

In the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), faculty bring disciplinary knowledge to bear on questions of teaching and learning and systematically gather evidence to support their conclusions. Scholarly work in this area includes investigations of the effectiveness of pedagogical methods, assignments, or technology, as well as probes of student understanding. The goals of this session are to: (1) feature scholarly work focused on the teaching of postsecondary mathematics, (2) provide a venue for teaching mathematicians to make public their scholarly investigations into teaching/learning and (3) highlight evidence-based arguments for the value of teaching innovations or in support of new insights into student learning. Appropriate for this session are preliminary or final reports of post-secondary classroom-based investigations of teaching methods, student learning difficulties, curricular assessment, or insights into student (mis-)understandings. Abstract submissions should have a clearly stated question that was (or is) under investigation and should give some indication of the type of evidence that has been (or is being) gathered and will be presented. For example, papers might reference the following types of evidence: student work, participation or retention data, pre/post-tests, interviews, surveys, think-alouds, etc.

Russell E. Goodman, Central College
Jessie Hamm, Winthrop University
Jackie Dewar, Loyola Marymount University
Curt Bennett, Loyola Marymount University

Comparing Oral and Traditional Assessments in Math Content Courses for Pre-Service Elementary Teachers

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Daniel Visscher, University of Michigan
Nina White, University of Michigan

Assessing the Effects of Interactive Technology on Concept Retention in Precalculus

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University
Lea Adams, Shippensburg University
Barbara Kaskosz, University of Rhode Island

Curing the High DFW Rate in First Year Calculus

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Adam Childers, Roanoke College
Jan Minton, Roanoke College
Hannah Robbins, Roanoke College
Kristin Emrich, Roanoke College
David Taylor, Roanoke College

Increasing Student Success in the Calculus Sequence

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Mary Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University

Investigating Student Learning Gains from Content Videos in a Flipped Calculus I Course

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
John (Zig) Siegfried, James Madison University
Cassie Williams, James Madison University

Does Calculus Help with Algebra?

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Cory Johnson, California State University, San Bernardino

Introducing Technology to a Vector Calculus Course

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Tyler Kloefkorn, University of Arizona

Engaged Learning Through Writing: A Faculty Development Project

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Mary E. Pilgrim, Colorado State University
Sue Doe, Colorado State University
Hilary Freeman, Colorado State University
Kate Kiefer, Colorado State University

From Scratch to Proof: Preliminary Report

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Margaret L. Morrow, SUNY Plattsburgh

SoTLE: Assessing the Effectiveness of Moodle Glossaries

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Jill E. Thomley, Appalachian State University
Sarah J. Greenwald, Appalachian State University

The Emporium Teaching Model and Its Effect on Students’ Conceptions of Mathematics, Metacognitive Awareness and Course Performance

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Yevgeniya Rivers, University of New Haven
Joshua Goss, University of New Haven

Student Beliefs on Math Ability and Sense of Belonging to a Math Community

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Frank Hassebrock, Denison University
Lewis Ludwig, Denison University

Assessing the Cognitive Levels of Exam Problems in Mathematics: A Comparison Across Years

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Sandra M. Merchant, University of British Columbia
Wesley Maciejewski, University of Auckland

Development of Students’ Bayesian Reasoning Skill

5:20 PM – 5:35 PM
Frank Wang, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY

TCPS#11: Cultivating Critical Thinking through Active Learning in Mathematics

Part A – Thursday, August 6, 8:30 AM – 11:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1
Part B – Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 5:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities. “We think critically when we have at least one problem to solve. One is not doing good critical thinking, therefore, if one is not solving any problems.” (Richard Paul, Think Magazine, 1992). Mathematics is solving problems. The session will focus on the role of active learning in mathematics, and how a teacher can use it to cultivate critical thinking. We invite instructors to share their experiences and provide useful tips and tricks on implementing active learning strategies and overcoming obstacles to active learning in general. Examples and ideas can come from any type of course, from undergraduate non-major service courses and early-major mathematics courses to late-major and even graduate-level classes. Speakers are encouraged to include assessment data on the effectiveness of their active learning strategies or empirical feedback from students and/or faculty about their strategies.

David Taylor, Roanoke College
Robert Allen, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
Lorena Bociu, North Carolina State University

Part A

Thursday, August 6, 8:30 AM – 11:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

Teaching Elements of Effective Thinking Through Mathematics

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Michael Starbird, The University of Texas at Austin

Fostering Critical Thinking in a Liberal Arts Mathematics Course through Graph Theory

8:50 AM – 9:05 AM
Elizabeth S. Wolf, Saint Mary’s College

Creative, Critical and Correct: Achieving Common Objectives in an Introductory Proofs Course

9:10 AM – 9:25 AM
Kayla B. Dwelle, Ouachita Baptist University

Active Learning in Linear Algebra Through Preview and In-class Activities

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Feryal Alayont, Grand Valley State University
Steven Schlicker, Grand Valley State University

RAMScholars: Increasing Student Engagement in Learning Calculus Through PBL, Oral Assessments, and Writing

9:50 AM – 10:05 AM
Jessica Gehrtz, Colorado State University
Mary E. Pilgrim,Colorado State University

Beginning an Emerging Scholar’s Program in Calculus II

10:10 AM – 10:25 AM
Jacqueline Jensen-Vallin, Lamar University

Wonders of 11 Stars: Mathematical Cultivations through Paper Folding

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Duk-Hyung Lee, Asbury University

Teaching Validity and Soundness of Arguments Using the Board Game ‘The Resistance’

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM
Derek Thompson, Taylor University

Puzzles + Games = Mathematical Thinking

11:10 AM – 11:25 AM
Edmund A. Lamagna, University of Rhode Island

Part B

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 5:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

Using Projects to Enrich and Expand in the Classroom

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Meghan De Witt, St Thomas Aquinas College

Using Learning Logs to Cultivate Critical Thinking Skills

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Roger Wolbert, University at Buffalo

Linked Math and English in an Active Learning Classroom

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Victor Piercey, Ferris State University

Active Learning through Formative Assessments

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Maggie McHugh, La Crosse School District
Jennifer Kosiak, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Making Problem ~Asking the Students to Make Up Problem~

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Noriko Tanaka, Toyota-nishi High School (Japan)

Teaching with Your Mouth Shut – Inquiry Based Learning in Upper Level Mathematics Courses

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Shay Fuchs, University of Toronto Mississauga

Student Centered Learning of Number Theory for Reluctant Mathematics Majors

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Daniel R. Shifflet, Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Putting the “Real” Back in Real Analysis

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Justin Wright, Plymouth State University

Discussing Mathematical Creativity at the Undergraduate Level

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Houssein El Turkey, University of New Haven
Gulden Karakok, University of Northern Colorado
Milos Savic, University of Oklahoma
Gail Tang, University of La Verne
Emilie Naccarato, University of Northern Colorado

Mathematics Applied Through Programming, Modeling, and Games

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Leslie Jones, University of Tampa
Britney Hopkins, University of Central Oklahoma

Blended Delivery and Asynchronous Active-Learning Strategies in Developmental Math: a Case Study

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Filippo Posta, Grand Canyon University

Achieving a Successful Active Learning Environment in an Online Math/Stat Undergraduate Course

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Christy S. Langley, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Julie Roy, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Synchronous Active Learning in Online and Hybrid Environments

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Carolyn Johns, The Ohio State University

TCPS#12: Improving Undergraduate Math Writing

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 5:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia A

From the simplest modeling equations to the most complex proofs, students often lack the writing abilities to properly communicate their solutions. In order to help students achieve coherent arguments that are both logical and sequential, math-writing skills need to be developed. Students in introductory math classes must be able to find the solution to a problem by writing down all the necessary steps and reasons for each step leading up to the answer. Students in advanced math classes must be able to delineate hypothesis from conclusion in proving statements and be able to use the definitions, assumptions, and related results accurately in justifying their proofs. In this session, we invite participants to share useful approaches to teaching students not only how to reason critically, but also to communicate in writing in a way that fully demonstrates conceptual understanding. We encourage instructors that actively practice mathematical writing across all levels of the curriculum to share best practices for student writing objectives. We are interested in hearing about specific problems and/or projects, as well as the assessment tools for these projects, which have been used to address the issue of writing mathematics.

Kerry M. Luse, Trinity Washington University
Sita Ramamurti, Trinity Washington University

Creating and Assessing Writing Prompts in Calculus and Below

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Garry Johns, Saginaw Valley State University

I Need Some Focus! Helping Calculus Students Navigate Mathematical Writing

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
David Clark, Grand Valley State University

Student Engagement and Learning through Reading and Writing in Differential Equations

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Michael C. Barg, Niagara University

Using Writing in Introductory Statistics to Enhance Understanding

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Tonya Adkins, Johnson & Wales University

Writing with Critical Thinking and Values for Effective Problem Solving

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Jacci White, Saint Leo University
Monika Kiss, Saint Leo University
Brian Camp, Saint Leo University

Definitions as Proof Blueprints

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Andrew Cooper, North Carolina State University

Product and Process: Writing Portfolios and Feedback in Introduction to Proof Techniques

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
May Mei, Denison University

Revised Writing Across the Math Major

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Jacqueline Anderson, Bridgewater State University

Typesetting Homework in LaTeX: Best Practices that Support Teaching and Learning in Post-Calculus

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
James Quinlan, University of New England

Revising for Clarity

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Jeffrey Clark, Elon University

Why Induction Is Like Ice Cream: Writing About Analogies in Discrete Mathematics Courses

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Joshua Holden, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Emphasizing Mathematical Writing in On-line Courses

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Byungik Kahng, University of North Texas at Dallas

Teaching Mathematical Proof Writing Skills in a General Education Course: Graph Theory Algorithms and Color-Coding

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Robin L. Blankenship, Morehead State University

TCPS#13: Successful STEM Programs for Elementary Education Majors

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 2

As president Obama stated regarding STEM, “We need to make this a priority to train an army of new teachers in these subject areas.” In response to this need, many institutions have developed programs that provide STEM certification or other credentialing for pre-service elementary education majors. This session solicits presentations regarding programs that have been developed to provide this type of credentialing. As mathematics plays a significant role in these programs, the mathematical aspects of these programs should be highlighted. Presentations about programs under development are also encouraged.

Timothy W. Flood, Pittsburg State University
Karla Childs, Pittsburg State University
Aaron Flood, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Lecturing Left on the Cutting Room Floor: A Video Project for Pre-service Teachers

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Matthew D. Zawodniak, University of Georgia

Examining the Features and Outcomes of a STEM-Focused Elementary Teacher Preparation Program

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Temple A. Walkowiak, North Carolina State University
Valerie N. Faulkner, North Carolina State University
Paola Sztajn, North Carolina State University

Calculus for Pre-Service Elementary Teachers

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Alina N. Duca, North Carolina State University
Karen Keene, North Carolina State University

Graduate Certificate in STEM Education

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Cynthia Orona, University of Arkansas

An Overview of a Successful Mathematics Minor in Elementary Math Teaching at PUC

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Diana Underwood, Purdue University Calumet
Catherine Murphy, Purdue University Calumet

The Pennsylvania Math Initiative: The First Three Years

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Andrew Baxter, Penn State University, University Park
Fran Arbaugh, Penn State University, University Park
George Andrews, Penn State University, University Park

Reflections on Twenty Years of Wheelock College’s Math/Science Majors for Prospective Elementary Teachers

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Debra K. Borkovitz, Wheelock College

TCPS#14: Projects, Applications and Demonstrations to Enhance a Numerical Analysis or Computational Mathematics Course

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 2:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 3

Computational mathematics is an important subject that is either an independent course or a component across multiple courses. This session seeks to gather ideas and further the scholarly discussion regarding the delivery of a course in: numerical analysis, numerical methods, modeling, and the use of Computer Algebra Systems to solve problems. All applicable ideas are welcome, but we would like to encourage presentations in areas like:

New techniques for presenting numerical methods to an undergraduate audience
New resources or tools that can be incorporated into a course
Applications that illustrate the power of computational mathematics
Contemporary research that is accessible to undergraduate students
Assessment tools that could be used in this type of course

Kyle Riley, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

The Everyday Examples in Engineering (E3) Program in a Scientific Computing Course

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Mike Nicholas, Colorado School of Mines

Project-Based Numerical Mathematics and Computation Course at Augsburg College

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Pavel Bělík, Augsburg College

A Project-Based Numerical Analysis Course

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
G. Daniel Callon, Franklin College

A Novel Newton’s Method Project

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
James Sochacki, James Madison University

Assessing Student Motivation in a Numerical Methods Class

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Kyle Riley, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

TCPS#15: Democratizing Access to Authentic Mathematical Activity

Friday, August 7, 1:20 PM – 3:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

Essential to the learning of mathematics is that students engage in “authentic” mathematical activity, or what mathematicians would recognize as “doing math.” However, too often deficit explanations (i.e., students’ lack of background knowledge, lack of math ability, lack of motivation) have been used to deny students access to authentic experiences. This session is a vehicle to promote a more equitable orientation to the learning of mathematics for all students in a range of learning situations (not just the “top” kids in ideal situations). We invite talks illustrating viable, evidence-based strategies that promote access to authentic mathematical activity through inquiry that honors the diversity of students’ mathematical knowledge. Topics may include 1) innovative, equity- and inquiry-oriented methods of teaching and learning in remedial, developmental, or introductory courses and courses for non-majors; 2) lessons that allow students to use mathematics to address important equity and social justice issues in their communities; and 3) programs that provide students with opportunities to engage in the kinds of authentic mathematical activities and research projects that embrace the knowledge and experiences they bring to school.

Catherine Buell, Fitchburg State University
Steven Greenstein, Montclair State University
Zahava Wilstein, Berry College

Mathematics and Social Justice: Perspectives and Resources for the College Classroom

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Gizem Karaali, Pomona College
Lily Khadjavi, Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles

Opening a Gateway to Mathematical Inquiry

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Brian Katz, Augustana College

Seeding Mathematical Interest in Inner-City Latino Students

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine
Li-Sheng Tseng, University of California, Irvine
Andres Forero, University of California, Irvine

What Evidence Do You Have? Data-Based Investigations into Contemporary Race Relations in a General Education Math Class

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Victor Piercey, Ferris State University

Mathematical Modeling for Elementary Mathematics Teachers

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Elizabeth A. Burroughs, Montana State University

Undergraduate Research, Outreach and Student Activities for a “Fair” Mathematical Experience

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Emek Kose, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

TCPS#16: Curriculum Development to Support First Year General Education Mathematics Students

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 3:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 3

A common focus of university administration is student retention and graduation. First year mathematics courses- remedial and general education- have relatively high drop/fail/withdraw rates, which place them under scrutiny by administration. In this session, we would like to hear what you have been doing to improve pass rates and student persistence in first year courses with traditionally high DFW rates. We hope to focus on department efforts (rather than specific classroom approaches) to support students in these first year Mathematics courses. Presentations could include complete multi-section redesign, restructure of curriculum, efforts to standardize. We would like to hear about successful, in progress, and unsuccessful efforts. Presentations with a description of the initiative along with data supporting the success or failure are encouraged.

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

Redesigning a Liberal Arts Math Course for Student Performance

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Crystal Lorch, Ball State University
John Lorch, Ball State University

Design and Implementation of a Quantitative Literacy Course at a Large Research Institution

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Vince Melfi, Michigan State University
Dave Bramer, Michigan State University
Jeff Craig, Michigan State University
Richard A. Edwards, Michigan State University
Andrew Krause, Michigan State University
Amanda Lorenz, Michigan State University

Just Enough Algebra — Or How Teaching Interesting, Useful Algebra in Applied Contexts Incorporating Active Learning Led to Higher Student Engagement and Success

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Suzanne I. Dorée, Augsburg College

System-wide Co-requisite Pedagogical Approaches for Learning Support Mathematics Students

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Minsu Kim, University of North Georgia

Eliminating Pre-Foundational and Comprehensively Redesigning First Year General Education Mathematics Courses at Trinity Washington University

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Kent Kraft, Trinity Washington University

Reorganization and Innovation in First Year General Education Mathematics Courses

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Grace E. Cook, Bloomfield College
Michael Schiro, Bloomfield College
Kevin Kline, Bloomfield College

Alternative Pathway for General Education Mathematics Students

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Rachel M. Bates, Redlands Community College

Building Learning Communities for Students and Instructors in Introductory and Intermediate Algebra

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Janet Nichols, Colorado State University – Pueblo

TCPS#17: Curriculum and Course Development to Support First Year STEM Students

Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 2:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 3

Poor retention in the STEM fields is often tied to students’ initial difficulties and/or lack of motivation in mathematics courses early in their academic career. In this session, we would like to hear about efforts to help struggling students in first year mathematics courses for STEM students or to help motivate students in these courses. We are particularly interested in departmental efforts, rather than specific classroom teaching activities. We would like to hear about successful, in progress, and unsuccessful efforts. Presentations with a description of the initiative along with data supporting the success or failure are encouraged.

Donna Flint, South Dakota State University
Dan Kemp, South Dakota State University
Charles Bingen, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

Supporting Students in Health Sciences

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Magdalena Luca, MCPHS University

A Watershed Year in STEM Education at Sonoma State University

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Martha Shott, Sonoma State University

FastTrack: A Collaborative Effort to Support STEM Students

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Jennifer Kosiak, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
James Sobota, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Robert Hoar, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Maggie McHugh, La Crosse School District

Summer Curriculum for Selected Incoming Freshmen and Transfer STEM Students

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Amanda L. Hattaway, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Kathleen Grace Kennedy, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Emma Smith Zbarsky, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Implementing Learning Labs as Instructional Support for Freshman Calculus

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
K. Grace Kennedy, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Emma Smith Zbarsky, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Amanda Hattaway, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Joan Giblin, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Thinking On Your Feet Does No Harm

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Paul N. Runnion, Missouri S&T

TCPS#18: Using Modeling for Teaching Differential Equations: Before, During, After

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 4:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia A

Often modeling is associated with differential equations courses as a motivator for learning and as a way of showing how mathematics is applied in other disciplines such as physics, biology, and economics. Modeling can be used (1) as a way of leading up to the mathematics being taught, (2) during the instruction on the mathematics and techniques, and/or (3) after the mathematics has been taught. These three times—before, during, or after—for using modeling have the potential to support students and motivate their learning. We invite colleagues who use modeling, especially with real data, to share their experiences with special attention paid to the timing of the modeling activities with respect to associated differential equations concepts and techniques. This session is sponsored by SIMIODE – Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations and presenters will be invited to submit their modeling scenarios for peer-reviewed publication at www.simiode.org.

Brian Winkel, US Military Academy
Karen Bliss, Quinnipiac University
Jessica Libertini, Virginia Military Institute
Nakeya Williams, US Military Academy

Modeling from Calculus to Numerical Analysis (and Everything in Between)

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Meagan C. Herald, Virginia Military Institute

Coloring Inside the Lines: My Experiences Adding Modeling to an Existing DE Curriculum Without Sacrificing Content

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Jessica M. Libertini, Virginia Military Institute

Using Real Data to Study the Heat Equation

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Kimberly Spayd, Gettysburg College

Using Differential Equations to Analyze the Energy Future

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
James Case, SIAM

Validating Groundwater Flow Models

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Michael A. Karls, Ball State University

Predator-Prey Modeling

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Hubert Noussi Kamdem, Roger Williams University

Modeling Duck-Gull-Human Interactions in California

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Christopher Brown, California Lutheran University

Two Differential Equations Projects to Help Students Apply and Synthesize Mathematics

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Michelle Ghrist, United States Air Force Academy

Inquiry-Based Learning in ODE Classes: Stable or Unstable?

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Randall E. Cone, Salisbury University

Modeling in an Inquiry-Oriented Differential Equations Course

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Karen A. Keene, North Carolina State University
William H. Hall, North Carolina State University

Day One Modeling Discussions

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Benjamin Galluzzo, Shippensburg University

TCPS#19: Innovative Approaches in the Calculus Sequence

Part A – Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 3:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6
Part B – Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6

There has been a significant amount of investigation into the flaws of traditional calculus courses and possible improvements, from the Calculus Reform movement beginning in the late 1980s to the recent MAA study finding significant attrition during the calculus sequence. This session shines a spotlight on recent efforts from instructors to make a productive change. In this session, we ask instructors to share creative ideas for instruction from the calculus sequence. We are interested in general approaches and/or specific activities that a) help students engage in the mathematics of calculus in innovative ways and/or b) promote group work and conversation about the mathematical content. Submitted abstracts should include a description of the approach/activity, how it meets these objectives, and observed strengths and weaknesses compared with the traditional approach. We encourage presentations in which the audience can experience the innovative teaching and learning.

Aaron Wangberg, Winona State University
Brian Fisher, Lubbock Christian University
Jason Samuels, City University of New York

Part A

Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 3:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6

Calculus for Life Sciences: A Two-Semester Calculus Sequence for Biology and Health Science Majors

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Anthony DeLegge, Benedictine University

Resequencing Calculus I & II

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Charlotte Knotts-Zides, Wofford College

Rethinking the Sequence of the Content of Calculus I for Deeper Conceptual Understanding

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Jose A. Jimenez, Penn State Hazleton

Multivariable Calculus Reordered and Rethought

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Robert Sachs, George Mason University

An Innovative, Three-Dimensional Approach to Multivariable Calculus Instruction

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Jason Samuels, City University of New York
Aaron Wangberg, Winona State University
Brian Fisher, Lubbock Christian University

Exploring Multivariable Calculus Concepts in Context through Physical Surfaces

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Dale Buske, St. Cloud State University

Inquiry Based Instructional Supplement (IBIS) for Calculus Sequence

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Karmen T. Yu, Montclair State University
Justin Seventko, Montclair State University
Trina Wooten, Montclair State University

An Instructor’s Perspective of Flipping Calculus: The Pros and Cons

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Caleb Adams, Radford University

Part B

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 3:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6

Teaching Calculus Using Movies and Television Shows

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Elana Reiser, St. Joseph’s College

Beyond Computation: A Team-Based Learning Approach to the Limit Definition of the Derivative

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Carly J. A. Briggs, University at Albany

Elements of the Successful Calculus Computer Lab Assignment

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Stepan Paul, California Polytechnic State University

Creating Online Problems that Develop Mathematical Strategies and Reduce Student Frustration

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Geoffrey Cox, Virginia Military Institute

Where is the Differential in Differential Calculus?

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Eugene Boman, Penn State, Harrisburg Campus
Robert Rogers, SUNY, Fredonia

Five Things The Calculus Texts Leave Out and What We Can Do About It

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Meighan Dillon, Kennesaw State University

A Small Adjustment to the Definition of the Limit of a Function

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Andy Martin, Kentucky State University

Finite Topological Spaces as a Pedagogical Tool for Teaching Concepts in Calculus

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Daniel C. Cheshire, Texas State University

Students’ Perceptions of and Expectations for Videos in a Flipped Calculus Course

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Fei Xue, University of Hartford
Larissa Schroeder, University of Hartford
Jean McGivney-Burelle, University of Hartford

TCPS#20: Evidence-Based Approaches to the Mathematical Preparation of Secondary Teachers

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 1:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

The mathematical preparation of secondary teachers has received substantial attention by mathematicians and mathematics teacher educators for many years, but how do university instructors and program coordinators know their efforts are making a difference? While the program evaluation process, which can include accreditation reports (e.g., CAEP) and teacher candidate surveys, encourages faculty to seriously consider this question, it is tempting to focus program evaluation on outcomes such as: graduation rates, teacher placement rates, and scores on teacher licensure exams or performance-based teacher assessments (e.g., edTPA). In this session, we invite mathematics content and methods instructors and program coordinators to share ways they gather and analyze data for the purpose of making decisions about their programs. Presentations should focus on one or two program goals directly linked to the mathematical preparation of secondary teachers. Examples include: How do you know that teachers can promote mathematical thinking and learning in ways consistent with the Common Core Standards for Mathematics (NGA Center & CCSSO, 2010)? How is your program addressing the recommendations in the Mathematical Education of Teachers II document (CBMS, 2012)? How does your program work with mentor teachers to develop candidates’ use of formative assessment?

Laurie O. Cavey, Boise State University
Scott A. Courtney, Kent State University

Lesson Study: A Capstone Experience to Address the Recommendations of the MET II Document

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Connie Yarema, Abilene Christian University
David Hendricks, Abilene Christian University

Focusing on Mathematical Arguments

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
AnnaMarie Conner, University of Georgia
Laura Singletary, Lee University

Investing the Preparation of Teachers of Mathematics: The Influence of Content Knowledge on Novice Teaching

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Allyson Hallman-Thrasher, Ohio University
Jeff Connor, Ohio University
Derek J. Sturgill, Ohio University

TCPS#21: Show Me Geometry: Geometry Software and Tablet Demonstrations

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 2:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia C

This session invites presenters to share demonstrations, using geometry software or tablet applications, which help students to understand aspects of undergraduate geometry. These demonstrations should be suitable for Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry courses as well as for courses frequently referred to as “modern” or “higher” geometry but not those related to differential geometry or (low-level) graduate courses. Presenters must perform the full demonstration (or a key portion of it) and discuss the aspects of the demonstration that help students to understand an associated theorem. Information regarding prerequisite topics and related areas with which students have difficulty should be discussed as should problems, if any, experienced in using the software or tablet application. Presenters are invited to discuss how they have modified the demonstration over time as well as to share information about software or tablet explorations performed with students that have helped students understand the associated theorem. Abstracts should include the name of the software or application, the platform (computer or tablet), and the associated theorem as well as a brief description of the demonstration. Presenters must provide their own laptop or tablet.

Sarah L. Mabrouk, Framingham State University

Investigation of Geometric Theorems Using Geometer’s Sketchpad

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Nora Strasser, Friends University

Active Exploration of Desargues’ Theorem and Projective Geometry

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Michael Hvidsten, Gustavus Adolphus College

The Poincaré Disk Model in GeoGebra

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Martha Byrne, Earlham College

GeoGebra and Hyperbolic Geometry

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Violeta Vasilevska, Utah Valley University

Math on a Sphere: an Interactive Programming System for Spherical Geometry

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Michael Eisenberg, University of Colorado
Hilary Peddicord, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Sherry Hsi, Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley

Using A Dynamic Software Program to Develop Geometric Constructions

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Laura Singletary, Lee University

Year:

2015

Draft K-12 Activities

Below are some of the featured sessions our K-12 audience will find especially enriching.
Register for the AMC 8 or AMC 10/12 Contest(s), and you’re automatically enrolled as a K-12 Teacher Member. Invite your students to attend MAA MathFest 2015. The High School Student rate is only $49.

Radical Dash

Wednesday, August 5, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 1

The Radical Dash, a daily scavenger hunt filled with math challenges and creativity for teams of undergraduates. Every day up to five clues will be released via Instagram including a code to break, a mathematical brainteaser, a number of Instagram targets to find throughout the meeting, creative math artwork to fashion, and math to find in everyday objects. So, how quick are you on your feet at solving math problems? Can you picstitch? Would you like to create a sculpture with George Hart? How about your brain being puzzled by Joe Gallian? If any of this sounds like fun to you, join us at MAA MathFest 2015 for the Radical Dash. Individuals are welcome and encouraged to participate; they will be formed into teams on site.

Jennifer Bergner, Salisbury University
Lisa Marano, West Chester University

Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters

Maryland/DC/Virginia Section

Secrets of Mental Math

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Art Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College

Dr. Arthur Benjamin is a mathematician and a magician. In his entertaining and fast-paced performance, he will demonstrate and explain how to mentally add and multiply numbers faster than a calculator, how to figure out the day of the week of any date in history, and other amazing feats of mind. He has presented his mixture of math and magic to audiences all over the world.

Special Presentation for High School Students, Parents, and Teachers

A Dozen Proofs that 1=2: An Accessible and Quirky Overview of Mathematics for K12 Teachers and Their Students

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2

James Tanton, The Saint Mark’s Mathematics Institute and MAA

Guidobaldo del Monte (1545-1647), a patron and friend of Galileo Galilei, believed he had witnessed the creation of something out of nothing when he established mathematically that zero equals one. He thereby thought he had proven the existence of God! James Tanton doesn’t claim to be so bold, but he is willing to prove instead that one equals two. And, moreover, just to convince you that he is right, he will do so a dozen times over, drawing upon a wide spectrum of mathematical techniques: school algebra and arithmetic, probability and mechanics, pure thought and physical action! Will you be able to find fault with any of his “proofs?” This will be a math talk of the like you’ve never seen before. All are welcome!

Math Circle Demonstration

Saturday, August 8, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

A math circle is an enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. This demonstration session offers the opportunity for conference attendees to observe and then discuss a math circle experience designed for local students. While students are engaged in a mathematical investigation, mathematicians will have a discussion focused on appreciating and better understanding the organic and creative process of learning that circles offer, and on the logistics and dynamics of running an effective circle.

Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Japheth Wood, New York Math Circle

SIGMAA MCST

Math Wrangle

Saturday, August 8, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

Math Wrangle will pit teams of students against each other, the clock, and a slate of great math problems. The format of a Math Wrangle is designed to engage students in mathematical problem solving, promote effective teamwork, provide a venue for oral presentations, and develop critical listening skills. A Math Wrangle incorporates elements of team sports and debate, with a dose of strategy tossed in for good measure. The intention of the Math Wrangle demonstration at the Math Fest is to show how teachers, schools, circles, and clubs can get students started in this exciting combination of mathematical problem solving with careful argumentation via public speaking, strategy and rebuttal.

Mark Saul, MAA American Mathematics Competitions
Ed Keppelmann, University of Nevada

SIGMAA MCST

Year:

2015

Invited Sessions

MAA Invited Paper Session

Generations of Monthly Gems

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 3:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 1

The session is designed to help celebrate the MAA’s Centennial. With thousands of papers to draw on, 6 speakers will give 25-minute talks on papers chosen from throughout the Monthly’s history. Speakers will highlight the significance of these papers and remark on their impact on mathematics and science in general.

Scott Chapman, Sam Houston State University
Dan Velleman, Amherst College
Bruce Palka, National Science Foundation
Roger Horn, University of Utah
John Ewing, Math for America

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

1894 – 1919

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
Karen Parshall, University of Virginia

1920 – 1939

1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
John Stillwell, University of San Francisco

1940 – 1959

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Ron Graham, University of California at San Diego

1960 – 1979

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Bob Devaney, Boston University

1980 – 1999

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College

2000 – 2015

3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Rebecca Goldin, George Mason University

MAA Invited Paper Session

The Non-Traditional “Traditional NSA Mathematician”

Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM – 3:45 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware B

The National Security Agency’s (NSA) mathematicians create breakthroughs in cryptography and communications security. It is common to associate number theory and discrete mathematics with cryptography. However, problems tackled by NSA mathematicians actually draw upon a much broader variety of fields including statistics, geometry, analysis, topology, graph theory, neuroscience, big data analytics, theoretical computer science, and computational linguistics. As a result, the research community at NSA includes experts in a wide range of mathematics and math-related subjects.

The purpose of this session is to highlight both usual and unusual problems applied to national security, with all talks being at the general non-expert level. NSA mathematicians have produced fascinating and significant results over the years, however much of the work is not published. This session is a great opportunity for the MAA community to be exposed to some of NSA’s leading mathematicians and learn about the important role mathematics plays in a variety of problems.

Carla D. Martin, National Security Agency

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

The Coming of Enigma

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
David Perry, National Security Agency

Public Key Cryptography: From Abelian Groups to Yellow Padlocks in 30 Minutes Flat

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
David Fu, National Security Agency

Extending Pairwise Element Similarity to Set Similarity Efficiently

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Steve Knox, National Security Agency

Teaching Computers to See

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Christine Edwards, National Security Agency

MAA Invited Paper Session

Improving Access to Mathematical Modeling Research

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 4:20 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware B

Recently with documents such as the Common Core State Standards, there has been an increasing push for mathematical modeling in every classroom. But the picture of mathematical modeling that applied mathematics researchers have is very different from the word problems provided in textbooks for teachers. This session is dedicated to closing the gap between applied mathematics research, mathematics education research, and what goes on in classrooms around the United States. With an eye to creating environment(s) that support students and teachers in mathematical modeling throughout the united states, at all mathematical and economic levels: How can we improve teacher’s and students understanding of modeling research, and improve access to the experience of mathematical modeling research to populations that do not typically receive graduate training in the field?

Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University
Carlos Castillo-Garsow, Eastern Washington University

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

Global Disease Monitoring and Forecasting with Wikipedia

1:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Sara Del Valle, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Engaging students in applied mathematics via experiential learning through research

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Sherry Towers, Arizona State University

Overcoming Epistemic Obstacles to Teaching Mathematical Modeling in Calculus

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Patrick Thompson, Arizona State University

Mathematical Modeling Experiences in Secondary Schools

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Kathleen R. Fowler, Clarkson University

Mathematics Education Commentary: At the Interface Between Applied Mathematics and Mathematics Education

3:00 PM – 3:25 PM
Carlos Castillo-Garsow, Eastern Washington University

Applied Mathematics Commentary: Math at Top Speed: The Role of Mathematical Modeling in Science and in My Personal Life

3:30 PM – 4:20 PM
Richard Tapia, Rice University

MAA Invited Paper Session

Algebraic Structures Motivated by Knot Theory

Friday, August 7, 9:00 AM – 11:20 AM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware A

The area of knot theory has been developing rapidly in recent years. Most recent advances rely on the connections between algebra, homological algebra and knot theory. Examples include the Jones polynomial, topological quantum field theories, skein modules of links in 3-manifolds, Khovanov link and Heegard-Floer homologies, homology of distributive structures (i.e. quandles, racks, distributive lattices) and Yang-Baxter operators, as well as categorifications of knot polynomials and other appropriate combinatorial structures. These new developments relate knot theory to other branches of mathematics including number theory, Lie theory, statistical physics, etc, and employ tools far beyond the traditional ones from algebraic topology. These ideas mark the beginning of a new era in knot theory that includes relationships with four-dimensional problems and the creation of new forms of algebraic topology relevant to knot theory. Moreover, knot theory has numerous results and open problems requiring only knowledge of linear algebra, and are therefore accessible to undergraduates. We propose to bring together students and faculty active in these areas to share them with the broader mathematical community and encourage future collaboration and investigation.

Alissa Crans, Loyola Marymount University
Jozef Przytycki, George Washington University
Radmila Sazdanovic, North Carolina State University

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

Knots and Knot Theory

9:00 AM – 9:40 AM
Lou Kauffman, University of Illinois at Chicago

Knot Coloring: A Diagrammatic Approach to Algebraic Invariants

9:50 AM – 10:30 AM
Heather Russell, Washington College

Topological Symmetries of Molecules

10:40 AM – 11:20 AM
Erica Flapan, Pomona College

An Introduction to Quandles

1:00 PM – 1:40 PM
Alissa Crans, Loyola Marymount University

Enhancements of Counting Invariants

1:50 PM – 2:30 PM
Sam Nelson, Claremont McKenna College

An Introduction to Quandle Cohomology

2:40 PM – 3:20 PM
J. Scott Carter, University of South Alabama

What is Categorification?

3:30 PM – 4:10 PM
Mikhail Khovanov, Columbia University

From Jones to Chebyshev: Adventures in Categorification

4:20 PM – 5:00 PM
Radmila Sazdanovic, North Carolina State University

MAA Invited Paper Session

Concrete Computations in Algebra and Algebraic Geometry

Friday, August 7, 1:00 PM – 3:20 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware B

This session will bring together researchers in computational or combinatorial algebra and algebraic geometry whose research is concrete and accessible.

Sarah Mayes-Tang, Quest University
Karen Smith, University of Michigan

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

Continued Fractions Can Resolve Singularities?!

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
Robert Walker, University of Michigan

The Search for Indecomposable Modules

1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
Courtney Gibbons, Hamilton College

The Importance of

α

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Mike Janssen, Dordt College

Pictures of Syzygies

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Timothy Clark, Loyola University

When Do 10 Points Lie on a Cubic Curve?

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Will Traves, US Naval Academy

AMS-MAA Invited Paper Session

The Arithmetic of the Spheres

Thursday, August 6, 1:00 PM – 3:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware A

This session deals with topics in number theory, geometry and dynamics related to Farey fractions, circle packings, and dynamical systems where mode locking appears.

William Abram, Hillsdale College
Alex Kontorovich, Rutgers University
Jeffrey Lagarias, University of Michigan

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

The Apollonian Structure of Imaginary Quadratic Fields

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
Katherine Stange, University of Colorado Boulder

Circles in the Sand

1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
Lionel Levine, Cornell University

Pythagoras Meets Euclid: A Euclidean Algorithm for Pythagorean Triples

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Dan Romik, University of California Davis

Dynamics of Apollonian Circle Packings

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Elena Fuchs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Variations on Apollonian Circle Packing Rules

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Steve Butler, Iowa State University

Geometry and Number Theory of Integral Sphere Packings

3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Kei Nakamura, University of California Davis

Special Invited Session

The Geometry of Triangles

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 2:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 1

Richard Guy and John Conway will share their latest ideas about the geometry of Euclidean triangles.

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

A Triangle Has Eight Vertices (But Only One Centre)

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Richard Guy, University of Calgary

New Ideas about the Geometry of Triangles

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM
John Conway, Princeton University

Special Session

“Notes of a Native Son”: The Legacy of Dr. Abdulalim A. Shabazz (1927-2014)

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 4:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware B

Dr. Abdulalim A. Shabazz was a distinguished mathematician who is credited for mentoring over half of all African-Americans with a doctorate in Mathematics. “Notes of a Native Son” is a title of a collection of essays by James Baldwin. This title is fitting for a session honoring the life of Dr. Shabazz for three reasons. First, Dr. Shabazz is native to Washington, DC as he spent many years of his life there. Second, this session will feature various speakers whose careers were directly transformed by Dr. Shabazz’s mentorship. Third, this session will also include Dr. Shabazz’s peers who will discuss his active role in the mathematical community.

Monica Jackson, American University
Talitha M. Washington, Howard University

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session

Dr. Abdulalim A. Shabazz—Statistically Significant!

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
Monica Jackson, American University

“In a Beautiful Way”: Lessons for Mathematics Education from Dr. Abdulalim Shabazz

1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
Erica Walker, Teachers College, Columbia University

“The Teacher and the Mentor: A Combination that Instills Mathematical Greatness”

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Ronald Mickens, Clark Atlanta University

More than Equations

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Gwendolyn Irby, Lockheed Martin

The Impact of Dr. Abdulalim Shabazz on the Business Community

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Shree Taylor, Delta Decisions of DC

Dr. Abdulalim A. Shabazz: An Example of a Living Topological Isomorphism

3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Brett Sims, Borough of Manhattan Community College

To STEM or Not STEM

4:00 PM – 4:20 PM
Gelonia Dent, Medgar Evers College

Sharing the Impacts of Dr. Abdulalim Shabazz

4:30 PM – 4:50 PM
Talitha M. Washington, Howard University

Year:

2015

Other Mathematical Sessions

Project NExT Lecture

Reducing Stereotype Threat in the Mathematics Classroom

Wednesday, August 5, 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 1

Catherine Good, Baruch College, City University of New York

Research has shown that stereotype threat can negatively affect student performance in the classroom. What exactly is it? What causes it? How can we mitigate its effects in the classroom? In this presentation, we will examine research on stereotype threat as well as interventions to reduce its effects on our students. This presentation is intended for all audiences.

MAA Section Officers Meeting

Wednesday, August 5, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Wilson A/B/C

This session is moderated by Elizabeth Mayfield, Hood College, Chair of the MAA Committee on Sections. It is open to all section officers and their guests. Our discussion will focus on outreach efforts in the Sections – to high school students and teachers, to community college faculty, and others.

Special Panel Session on Science Policy

Wednesday, August 5, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Science and policy interact in many ways. Mathematical scientists – including mathematicians, applied mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, and mathematical sciences educators – can contribute to initiatives to advance national priorities that are in the best interests of all citizens. A key aspect of this interaction centers on education in the mathematical sciences, currently in the national spotlight due to the role it plays in economic mobility as well as its prominence in recent reports such as “Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” (President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2012) and “The Mathematical Sciences in 2025” (National Research Council, 2013).

This panel will focus on the role that mathematicians and mathematics educators can play in addressing national priorities such as increasing college completion rates and improving the STEM skills of all graduates. Panelists will also discuss concrete ways to get involved in policy matters at the local, state, and national levels.

Linda Braddy, MAA
Karen Saxe, Macalester College

Panelists:
James Gates, University of Maryland
David Manderscheid, Ohio State University
Rush Holt, Chief Executive Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Executive Publisher, Science Family of Journals

Click here to read panelist biographies.

Committee on Science Policy

MAA Prize Session

Thursday, August 6, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

The session is organized by Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary, and is moderated by Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College, MAA President.

Presidential Reminiscences

Thursday, August 6, 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Past presidents of the MAA will share memories of their time in office and offer their thoughts on the future of the Association. Francis Su, current president of the MAA, will introduce the session.

Victor Katz, University of the District of Columbia
Jim Tattersall, Providence College

Speakers

Henry O. Pollack, Teachers College, Columbia University; MAA President 1975-1976
Lynn Steen (Paul Zorn with video presentation by Gerry Alexanderson), MAA President 1985-1986
Gerald Alexanderson (Frank Farris), MAA President 1997-1998
Lida K. Barrett, West Point (retired); MAA President 1989-1990
Kenneth Ross, University of Oregon (professor emeritus); MAA President 1995-1996
Thomas F. Banchoff, Brown University; MAA President 1999-2000

The Man Who Knew Infinity: Sneak Peek and Expert Panel

Thursday, August 6, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

The Man Who Knew Infinity film will be released in late 2015. The film, which stars Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel, is based on the New York Times Best Selling biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel. An expert panel will discuss Ramanujan, his life, and the film. The panel will include: Matthew Brown (Director of the film), Manjul Bhargava (Mathematician), Robert Kanigel (biographer), Ken Ono (Mathematician). A sneak peek of the film will be screened.

Ken Ono, Emory University

Alder Award Session

Friday, August 7, 2:00 PM – 3:20 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Presentations by the Alder Award recipients. The session will be moderated Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College, MAA President.

Click here to see abstracts of the talks in this session.

Reality Shifting: Building Mathematical Confidence

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Talithia Williams, Harvey Mudd College

A Taste of Research

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Patrick X. Rault, SUNY Geneseo

Be Inspirable!

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Allison K. Henrich, Seattle University

Estimathon!

Friday, August 7, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland C

They’re called Fermi problems…
How many stop signs are in New York City?
How heavy is the Empire State Building?
How many primes have distinct digits?
If you’re looking for a mindbending mixture of math and trivia, look no further! Jane Street Capital presents The Estimathon contest: attempt 13 Fermi problems in 30 minutes, ranging from totally trivial to positively Putnamesque. Work in teams to come up with the best set of confidence intervals. The top teams will receive prizes!

Andy Niedermaier, Jane Street Capital

Presidential Reminiscences

Friday, August 7, 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Past presidents of the MAA will share memories of their time in office and offer their thoughts on the future of the Association. Francis Su, current president of the MAA, will introduce the session.

Victor Katz, University of the District of Columbia
Jim Tattersall, Providence College

Speakers

Ann E. Watkins, California State University Northridge; MAA President 2001-2002
Ronald L. Graham, University of California, San Diego; MAA President 2003-2004
Carl C. Cowen, Indiana University – Purdue; MAA President 2005-2006
Joseph A. Gallian, University of Minnesota Duluth; MAA President 2007-2008
David M. Bressoud, Macalester College; MAA President 2009-2010
Paul M. Zorn, St. Olaf College; MAA President 2011-2012
Robert L. Devaney, Boston University; MAA President 2013-2014

Special Presentation for High School Students, Parents, and Teachers

A Dozen Proofs that 1=2: An Accessible and Quirky Overview of Mathematics for K-12 Teachers and Their Students

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2

James Tanton, The Saint Mark’s Mathematics Institute and MAA

MAA Council on Outreach

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, August 8, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland C

Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to a general audience, which includes undergraduates and non-mathematicians as part of a job interview, most students do not have experience talking to a non-research audience. This session gives graduate students the opportunity to give a 20-minute talk aimed at an undergraduate audience, which has been exposed to calculus and some linear algebra. Both the talks and abstracts should be designed to excite a wide range of undergraduates about mathematics. All participants in this session will receive private feedback on their presentations from an established faculty member and an undergraduate student. Time permitting, a discussion of effective techniques for delivering great general-audience talks will occur at the end of the session. Contact Jim Freeman (jfreeman@cornellcollege.edu),Rachel Schwell (schwellrac@ccsu.edu) or Aliza Steurer (asteurer@dom.edu) for help on writing an abstract and preparing a talk for a general audience. Informal optional sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday for session participants to get feedback on their presentations from the session organizers. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?) on mathematical presentations. A limited amount of travel support is available and will be processed in the order received. Contact a session organizer on how to apply for funds. Abstracts must be submitted by May 1, 2015.

James Freeman, Cornell College
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
Aliza Steurer, Dominican University

MAA Committee on Graduate Students

Math Circle Demonstration

Saturday, August 8, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

A math circle is an enrichment experience that brings mathematics professionals in direct contact with pre-college students and/or their teachers. Circles foster passion and excitement for deep mathematics. This demonstration session offers the opportunity for conference attendees to observe and then discuss a math circle experience designed for local students. While students are engaged in a mathematical investigation, mathematicians will have a discussion focused on appreciating and better understanding the organic and creative process of learning that circles offer, and on the logistics and dynamics of running an effective circle.

Katherine Morrison, University of Northern Colorado
Japheth Wood, New York Math Circle

SIGMAA MCST

Math Wrangle

Saturday, August 8, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

Math Wrangle will pit teams of students against each other, the clock, and a slate of great math problems. The format of a Math Wrangle is designed to engage students in mathematical problem solving, promote effective teamwork, provide a venue for oral presentations, and develop critical listening skills. A Math Wrangle incorporates elements of team sports and debate, with a dose of strategy tossed in for good measure. The intention of the Math Wrangle demonstration at the Math Fest is to show how teachers, schools, circles, and clubs can get students started in this exciting combination of mathematical problem solving with careful argumentation via public speaking, strategy and rebuttal.

Mark Saul, MAA American Mathematics Competitions
Ed Keppelmann, University of Nevada

SIGMAA MCST

Year:

2015

Chronological Schedule

Tuesday, August 4

Registration

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Registration 1/2

Wednesday, August 5

Registration

7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Registration 1/2

Invited Address

MAA Centennial Lecture 1

Replicators, Transformers, and Robot Swarms: Science Fiction through Geometric Algorithms

8:20 AM – 9:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Erik Demaine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Invited Address

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Hedrick Lecture 1

9:30 AM – 10:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Karen Smith, University of Michigan

Invited Address

MAA Centennial Lecture 2

Network Science: From the Online World to Cancer Genomics

10:30 AM – 11:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Jennifer Chayes, Microsoft Research

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#1: The History and Philosophy of Mathematics Part A – History of Mathematics

10:30 AM – 11:55 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Ellipsographs: Drawing Ellipses and the Devices in the Smithsonian Collections

10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Amy Shell-Gellasch, Montgomery College

Charter Members of the MAA and the Material Culture of American Mathematics

11:00 AM – 11:25 AM
Peggy A. Kidwell, Smithsonian Institution

History of Mathematics in Washington, DC

11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Florence Fasanelli, MAA

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#1: The History and Philosophy of Mathematics Part B – History of Mathematics

10:30 AM – 11:55 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Eisenhower, the Binomial Theorem, and the $64,000 Question

10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
Cathleen O’Neil, Johnson County Community College

John Horton Conway: Certainly a Piece of History

11:00 AM – 11:25 AM
Siobhan Roberts, Freelance Writer, Math & Science Journalist, Biographer

A Pair of Early MAA Presidents = A Pair of Mathematics Historians: Florian Cajori and David Eugene Smith

11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
Eileen Donoghue, City University of New York/CSI

Other Mathematical Session

Project NExT Lecture

Reducing Stereotype Threat in the Mathematics Classroom

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 1

Catherine Good, Baruch College, City University of New York

Invited Address

MAA Chan Stanek Lecture for Students

Seventy-Five Years of MAA Mathematics Competitions

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Joseph Gallian, University of Minnesota Duluth

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#20: Evidence-Based Approaches to the Mathematical Preparation of Secondary Teachers

1:00 PM – 1:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 1

Lesson Study: A Capstone Experience to Address the Recommendations of the MET II Document

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Connie Yarema, Abilene Christian University
David Hendricks, Abilene Christian University

Focusing on Mathematical Arguments

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
AnnaMarie Conner, University of Georgia
Laura Singletary, Lee University

Investing the Preparation of Teachers of Mathematics: The Influence of Content Knowledge on Novice Teaching

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Allyson Hallman-Thrasher, Ohio University
Jeff Connor, Ohio University
Derek J. Sturgill, Ohio University

Panel Session

Panel 7. Implementing the 2015 CUPM Curriculum Guide

1:00 PM – 2:20 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware A

Workshop

What’s the Story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for a General Audience

1:00 PM – 2:20 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland C

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#7: Financial Mathematics

1:20 PM – 2:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6

Insurance and Financial Investment Strategy under a Stochastic Process Model

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Wanwan Huang, Roosevelt University

Social Security Benefit: Now or Later?

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Amanda Mummert, Washington & Jefferson College
Katie Linthicum, Washington & Jefferson College
Kadie Clancy, Washington & Jefferson College

An Undergraduate Research Experience in Financial Mathematics

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Jeong-Mi Yoon, UH-Downtown

Actuarial Present Value: Calculations for Two Parametric Models

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Veera Holdai, Salisbury University
Barbara Wainwright, Salisbury University

General Contributed Paper Session

Teaching or Learning Introductory Mathematics Part A

1:00 PM – 2:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland B

Exploring Probability Using The Settlers of Catan

1:00 PM – 1:10 PM
Jathan Austin, Salisbury University
Susanna Molitoris Miller, Kennesaw State University

Estimating the Number of Extraterrestrial Civilizations in a Statistics Class

1:15 PM – 1:25 PM
Alexander G. Atwood, Suffolk County Community College

Elementary Statistics using Facebook

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM
Krishna Kaphle, University of Maine at Fort Kent

Experiences and Experiments in Implementing a Flipped Classroom Design in an Introductory Statistics Course

1:45 PM – 1:55 PM
William J. Heuett, Marymount University

Integrating Worked Examples into a Flipped College Algebra Classroom

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Tyrone Washington, Millersville University

Collins Math Magic Number Blocks and the Wobble-Square Method of Multiplication

2:15 PM – 2:25 PM
Dennis G. Collins, UPR-Mayaguez
Glenn H. Collins

Promoting Student Understanding of Properties of Logarithms

2:30 PM – 2:40 PM
Erin R. Moss, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Applications of R to Introductory and Intermediate Statistics

2:45 PM – 2:55 PM
Leon Kaganovskiy, Touro College Brooklyn Campus

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#1: The History and Philosophy of Mathematics Part C – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

1:00 PM – 2:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Doing Arithmetic in Medieval Europe

1:00 PM – 1:25 PM
Chuck Lindsey, Florida Gulf Coast University

Imagination and Reading the Third Dimension in Early Modern Geometry

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Travis D. Williams, University of Rhode Island

The Arc Rampant in 1673: An Early Episode in the History of Projective Geometry

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Christopher Baltus, SUNY Oswego

William Brouncker’s Rectification of the Semi-Cubical Parabola

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Andrew Leahy, Knox College

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#21: Show Me Geometry: Geometry Software and Tablet Demonstrations

1:00 PM – 2:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia C

Investigation of Geometric Theorems Using Geometer’s Sketchpad

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Nora Strasser, Friends University

Active Exploration of Desargues’ Theorem and Projective Geometry

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Michael Hvidsten, Gustavus Adolphus College

The Poincaré Disk Model in GeoGebra

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Martha Byrne, Earlham College

GeoGebra and Hyperbolic Geometry

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Violeta Vasilevska, Utah Valley University

Math on a Sphere: an Interactive Programming System for Spherical Geometry

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Michael Eisenberg, University of Colorado
Hilary Peddicord, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Sherry Hsi, Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley

Using A Dynamic Software Program to Develop Geometric Constructions

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Laura Singletary, Lee University

Minicourse

2. The Mathematics of Games and Gambling Part A

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room

Minicourse

4. Recruiting Students to Take More Mathematics Courses and to be Mathematics Majors Part A

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#16: Curriculum Development to Support First Year General Education Mathematics Students

1:00 PM – 3:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 3

Redesigning a Liberal Arts Math Course for Student Performance

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Crystal Lorch, Ball State University
John Lorch, Ball State University

Design and Implementation of a Quantitative Literacy Course at a Large Research Institution

Just Enough Algebra — Or How Teaching Interesting, Useful Algebra in Applied Contexts Incorporating Active Learning Led to Higher Student Engagement and Success

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Suzanne I. Dorée, Augsburg College

System-wide Co-requisite Pedagogical Approaches for Learning Support Mathematics Students

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Minsu Kim, University of North Georgia

Eliminating Pre-Foundational and Comprehensively Redesigning First Year General Education Mathematics Courses at Trinity Washington University

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Kent Kraft, Trinity Washington University

Reorganization and Innovation in First Year General Education Mathematics Courses

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Grace E. Cook, Bloomfield College
Michael Schiro, Bloomfield College
Kevin Kline, Bloomfield College

Alternative Pathway for General Education Mathematics Students

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Rachel M. Bates, Redlands Community College

Building Learning Communities for Students and Instructors in Introductory and Intermediate Algebra

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Janet Nichols, Colorado State University – Pueblo

General Contributed Paper Session

Algebra and Linear Algebra

1:00 PM – 3:40 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia B

Linear Algebra and Forensics

1:00 PM – 1:10 PM
Donna Beers, Simmons College
Catherine Crawford, Elmhurst College

New Algorithms for Solving a System of Linear Equations

1:15 PM – 1:25 PM
Michael F. Zimmer, Teradata, Inc

New Canonical Forms for Matrices Over a Principal Ideal Domain

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM
Peter M. Joyce, CCBC

On the Structure of Generalized Symmetric Spaces of the Special Linear and General Linear Groups of Degree 2 Over Finite Fields

1:45 PM – 1:55 PM
Jennifer Schaefer, Dickinson College

The Index of a Numerical Semigroup in Four Generators

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Bernadette Boyle, Sacred Heart University

The Space of Biorders on Some Solvable Groups

2:30 PM – 2:40 PM
Kelli Karcher, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Polynomials, Discriminants, and Root Counting in Number Fields

2:45 PM – 2:55 PM
Chad Awtrey, Elon University

Can this Polynomial be Factored?

3:15 PM – 3:25 PM
Gary Brookfield, California State University, Los Angeles

Valuation Derived from Graded Ring and Module and Krull Dimension Properties

3:30 PM – 3:40 PM
Mohammad Hassan Anjom Shoa, University of Birjand
Mohammad Hossein Hosseinie, University of Birjand

Invited Session

MAA Invited Paper Session: The Non-Traditional “Traditional NSA Mathematician”

1:00 PM – 3:45 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware B

The Coming of Enigma

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
David Perry, National Security Agency

Public Key Cryptography: From Abelian Groups to Yellow Padlocks in 30 Minutes Flat

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
David Fu, National Security Agency

Extending Pairwise Element Similarity to Set Similarity Efficiently

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Steve Knox, National Security Agency

Teaching Computers to See

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Christine Edwards, National Security Agency

Invited Session

MAA Invited Paper Session: Generations of Monthly Gems

1:00 PM – 3:50 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 1

1894 – 1919

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM
Karen Parshall, University of Virginia

1920 – 1939

1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
John Stillwell, University of San Francisco

1940 – 1959

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM
Ron Graham, University of California at San Diego

1960 – 1979

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Bob Devaney, Boston University

1980 – 1999

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College

2000 – 2015

3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Rebecca Goldin, George Mason University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#6: Mathematics and Art Part A

1:00 PM – 4:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland A

A Kaleidoscopic Journey

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Jeff Johannes, SUNY Geneseo

Artistic Patterns on Triply Periodic Polyhedra

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Douglas Dunham, University of Minnesota – Duluth

Maps of Strange Worlds: Beyond the Four-Color Theorem

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Susan Goldstine, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Virtual Bumblebees

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
James P. Howard, University of Maryland University College

Surprises from Iterating Discontinuous Functions

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Brian Heinold, Mount St. Mary’s University

The Many Lessons in Fractals

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Lisa A. Oberbroeckling, Loyola University Maryland

Parametric Equations at the Circus: Trochoids and Poi Flowers

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Eleanor Farrington, Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Modeling the Mathematical: Man Ray, Equational Mimesis, and Kinesthetic Learning

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Steve Zides, Wofford College

Pythagoras to Secor: Generalized Keyboards and the Miracle Temperament

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Anil Venkatesh, Ferris State University

Mathematics and Poetry: The Sweetest Noise

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Randall E. Cone, Salisbury University

Differential Equations in Music, Dance, and the Visual Arts

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Lorelei Koss, Dickinson College

Counting with Your Toes!

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Julian Chan, Weber State

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#12: Improving Undergraduate Math Writing

1:00 PM – 5:15 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia A

Creating and Assessing Writing Prompts in Calculus and Below

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Garry Johns, Saginaw Valley State University

I Need Some Focus! Helping Calculus Students Navigate Mathematical Writing

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
David Clark, Grand Valley State University

Student Engagement and Learning through Reading and Writing in Differential Equations

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Michael C. Barg, Niagara University

Using Writing in Introductory Statistics to Enhance Understanding

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Tonya Adkins, Johnson & Wales University

Writing with Critical Thinking and Values for Effective Problem Solving

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Jacci White, Saint Leo University
Monika Kiss, Saint Leo University
Brian Camp, Saint Leo University

Definitions as Proof Blueprints

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Andrew Cooper, North Carolina State University

Product and Process: Writing Portfolios and Feedback in Introduction to Proof Techniques

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
May Mei, Denison University

Revised Writing Across the Math Major

3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Jacqueline Anderson, Bridgewater State University

Typesetting Homework in LaTeX: Best Practices that Support Teaching and Learning in Post-Calculus

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
James Quinlan, University of New England

Revising for Clarity

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Jeffrey Clark, Elon University

Why Induction Is Like Ice Cream: Writing About Analogies in Discrete Mathematics Courses

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Joshua Holden, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Emphasizing Mathematical Writing in On-line Courses

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Byungik Kahng, University of North Texas at Dallas

Teaching Mathematical Proof Writing Skills in a General Education Course: Graph Theory Algorithms and Color-Coding

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Robin L. Blankenship, Morehead State University

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#10: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Collegiate Mathematics

1:00 PM – 5:35 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 2

Comparing Oral and Traditional Assessments in Math Content Courses for Pre-Service Elementary Teachers

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Daniel Visscher, University of Michigan
Nina White, University of Michigan

Assessing the Effects of Interactive Technology on Concept Retention in Precalculus

1:20 PM – 1:35 PM
Doug Ensley, Shippensburg University
Lea Adams, Shippensburg University
Barbara Kaskosz, University of Rhode Island

Curing the High DFW Rate in First Year Calculus

Increasing Student Success in the Calculus Sequence

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Mary Shepherd, Northwest Missouri State University

Investigating Student Learning Gains from Content Videos in a Flipped Calculus I Course

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
John (Zig) Siegfried, James Madison University
Cassie Williams, James Madison University

Does Calculus Help with Algebra?

2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Cory Johnson, California State University, San Bernardino

Introducing Technology to a Vector Calculus Course

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Tyler Kloefkorn, University of Arizona

Engaged Learning Through Writing: A Faculty Development Project

From Scratch to Proof: Preliminary Report

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM
Margaret L. Morrow, SUNY Plattsburgh

SoTLE: Assessing the Effectiveness of Moodle Glossaries

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Jill E. Thomley, Appalachian State University
Sarah J. Greenwald, Appalachian State University

The Emporium Teaching Model and Its Effect on Students’ Conceptions of Mathematics, Metacognitive Awareness and Course Performance

4:20 PM – 4:35 PM
Yevgeniya Rivers, University of New Haven
Joshua Goss, University of New Haven

Student Beliefs on Math Ability and Sense of Belonging to a Math Community

4:40 PM – 4:55 PM
Frank Hassebrock, Denison University
Lewis Ludwig, Denison University

Assessing the Cognitive Levels of Exam Problems in Mathematics: A Comparison Across Years

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Sandra M. Merchant, University of British Columbia
Wesley Maciejewski, University of Auckland

Development of Students’ Bayesian Reasoning Skill

5:20 PM – 5:35 PM
Frank Wang, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#1: The History and Philosophy of Mathematics Part D – History and Philosophy of Mathematics

1:30 PM – 3:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 5

Inspiration for Elementary Mathematics Descriptions from a “Heritage” Reading (in the sense of Grattan-Guinness) of On the Nonexistent by Gorgias

1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Ann L. von Mehren, Arcadia University and University of Houston

Going to the Source

2:00 PM – 2:25 PM
Thomas Q. Sibley, St. John’s University, College of St. Benedict

Rope Geometry of Ancient India in the Classroom

2:30 PM – 2:55 PM
Cynthia J. Huffman, Pittsburg State University
Scott V. Thuong, Pittsburg State University

Getting to the Root of the Problem

3:00 PM – 3:25 PM
Steven J. Tedford, Misericordia University

Reenactment of the Calculus Controversy: Newton vs Leibniz

3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Abraham Ayebo, North Dakota State University

Other Mathematical Session

Special Panel Session on Science Policy

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Panel Session

Panel 6. The Updated AP Calculus AB/BC courses: What Does This Mean For You?

2:35 PM – 3:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware A

Other Mathematical Session

MAA Section Officers Meeting

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Wilson A/B/C

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#1: The History and Philosophy of Mathematics Part E – The Mathematics of Euler

3:30 PM – 5:55 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Euler and Phonetics: The Untold Story of the Mathematics of Language

3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
Dominic Klyve, Central Washington University
Olivia Hirschey, Central Washington University

Leonhard Euler: The Final Decade 1773 to October 1783

4:00 PM – 4:25 PM
Ronald S. Calinger, Catholic University of America

Euler’s Method for Computing the Movement of a Mortar Bomb

4:30 PM – 4:55 PM
William W. Hackborn, University of Alberta

Euler on L’Hôpital’s Analyse

5:00 PM – 5:25 PM
Robert E. Bradley, Adelphi University

Euler’s OTHER Constant

5:30 PM – 5:55 PM
Jonathan Martin, Purdue University
Andy Martin, Kentucky State University

Poster Session

Highlights from AWM Chapters

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Marriott Foyer

Minicourse

3. Heavenly Mathematics: The Forgotten Art of Spherical Trigonometry Part A

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Hampton Room

Minicourse

7. Teaching Mathematics with Bead Crochet Part A

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Calvert Room

Panel Session

Panel 4. A Discussion of the MAA/NCTM Joint Position Statement on Calculus

4:10 PM – 5:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware A

Panel Session

Panel 11. Congratulations on Getting Tenure! Now What?

4:10 PM – 5:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 6

Undergraduate Student Activity

Radical Dash

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 1

Social Event

Centennial Reception

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Exhibit Hall A

Social Event

Mathematical Carnival at the Centennial Reception

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Exhibit Hall A

Social Event

Cirque de Mathematiques

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Thursday, August 6

Registration

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Marriott Wardman Park, Registration 1/2

General Contributed Paper Session

Mentoring and Outreach

8:15 AM – 11:10 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Maryland B

What’s It Like to Be Editor-in-Chief of the Notices of the American Mathematical Society?

8:15 AM – 8:25 AM
Frank Morgan, Williams College

Upper Elementary Outreach Mobius Bands and Polyhedra

8:30 AM – 8:40 AM
Beth Schaubroeck, United States Air Force Academy

“Energizing” Students

8:45 AM – 8:55 AM
Elizabeth Yanik, Emporia State University

Girls in Science: Over 15 Years of STEM Outreach for Middle School Girls

9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Susan Kelly, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse

Expanding Your Horizons at James Madison University: Math and Science Outreach to Middle and High School Girls

9:15 AM – 9:25 AM
Elizabeth Arnold, James Madison University
Katie S. Quertermous, James Madison University

Rural STEM Model

9:30 AM – 9:40 AM
Elizabeth Mauch, Bloomsburg University

How to Hook Pre-Service Teachers on Professional Development

9:45 AM – 9:55 AM
Pari Ford, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Amy Nebesniak, University of Nebraska at Kearney

Impact of 2015 National Math Festival on Undergraduate Mathematics Students

10:00 AM – 10:10 AM
Alice E. Petillo, Marymount University
Nicole Ferree, Marymount University

Increasing Diversity in the Classrooms: A Path towards Inclusion in Mathematics

10:15 AM – 10:25 AM
Li-Sheng Tseng, University of California, Irvine
Alessandra Pantano, University of California, Irvine

Native American-based Mathematics Materials for Undergraduate Courses

10:30 AM – 10:40 AM
Charles P. Funkhouser, California State University Fullerton
Miles R. Pfahl, Turtle Mountain Community College
Harriet Edwards, California State University Fullerton

Creating a Meaningful Undergraduate Research Project

10:45 AM – 10:55 AM
Brandon Samples, Georgia College & State University

Supporting the Success of Women Faculty through an NSF ADVANCE Grant: Looking Back, Moving Forward

11:00 AM – 11:10 AM
Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University
D. P. O’Neal, Louisiana Tech University

Invited Address

MAA Centennial Lecture 3

Mathematics for Art Investigation

8:30 AM – 9:20 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Salon 2/3

Ingrid Daubechies, Duke University

Undergraduate Student Activity

MAA Student Paper Session #1

8:30 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia A

MAA Student Paper Session #2

8:30 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia B

MAA Student Paper Session #3

8:30 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Virginia C

MAA Student Paper Session #4

8:30 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Wilson A

MAA Student Paper Session #5

8:30 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Wilson B

MAA Student Paper Session #6

8:30 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Wilson C

Undergraduate Student Activity

PME Student Paper Session #11

8:30 AM – 10:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Delaware B

Themed Contributed Paper Session

TCPS#1: The History and Philosophy of Mathematics Part F – Special Session in Memory of Jackie Stedall

8:30 AM – 11:25 AM, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington 4

Sylvester’s Amphigenous Surface

8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
June Barrow-Green, The Open University

Jackie Stedall and the Mathematics of Thomas Harriot

9:00 AM ̵

MAA MathFest Archive

2012

Invited Addresses

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

MAA-AMS Joint Invited Address

MAA Invited Addresses

MAA-AWM Etta Z. Falconer Lecture

James R. Leitzel Lecture

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

NAM David Blackwell Lecture

MAA Lecture for Students

Invited Paper Sessions

Convex Algebraic Geometry

Applied and Computational Topology

Discrete Probability on Surfaces

Combinatorics and Matrices

Mathematics and Systems Biology

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

Contributed Paper Sessions

STUDENT PAPER SESSIONS

MAA-AMS Special Session

Minicourses

Panels/Posters/Workshops

Graduate Student Activities

Undergraduate Student Activities

SIGMAA Activities

Other Mathematical Sessions

Other Mathematical Sessions

Abstracts

2013

Invited Addresses

Earle Raymond Hedrick Lecture Series

Lecture 1: Zeros of Polynomials via Structured Matrices and Continued Fractions

Lecture 2: Approximation Theory Meets Algebra and Combinatorics

Lecture 3: Communication Complexity of Algorithms

AMS-MAA Joint Invited Address

Coding Theory: A Cornucopia of Mathematics

MAA Invited Addresses

Algebra, Analysis, and the Way You Eat Corn: The Complete Story

Improving Numerical Weather Predictions Using Ideas from Nonlinear Dynamics

Financial Mathematics: A Two-Way Bridge Between Finance and Mathematics

AWM-MAA Etta Z. Falconer Lecture

Improving Equity and Education: Why and How

James R. Leitzel Lecture

Statistics Isn’t Mathematics: So How’s That Working Out?

Pi Mu Epsilon J. Sutherland Frame Lecture

Matrices I Admire

NAM David Blackwell Lecture

Bridging a Gap Between Creative Literacy and Quantitative Literacy: Using Poetry to Improve Quantitative Reasoning

CSHPM Kenneth O. May Lecture

Henri Poincaré: Mathematician, Physicist, Philosopher

MAA Lecture for Students

Optimal Pentagonal Tilings

Invited Paper Sessions

Open and Accessible Problems in Knot Theory

Developments in Commutative Algebra

Complex Geometry Research and Accessible Problems

AMS-MAA Special Session: Coding Theory and …

Recent Developments in Mathematical Finance

Climate and Geophysical Modeling

Contributed Paper Sessions

Contributed Paper Sessions

1. Best Practices for Teaching Online Courses

2. History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Euler’s Mathematics

Twentieth Century, Part 1

Twentieth Century, Part 2

Using History and Philosophy in Teaching Mathematics

The Arc of Time

3. Interactions Between History and Philosophy of Mathematics

Part 1

Part 2

4. My Favorite Geometry Proof

5. Inquiry-Based Learning Best Practices

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

6. Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology

7. Research in Mathematics for High School and Community College Students

8. The Mathematics of Planet Earth in Research