Women Seminars Spring 2007 Schedule
Meeting: Tuesday 5:00 pm in 243 Altgeld Hall
- February 20, 2007
Valerie Peterson (UIUC Math)
Title:Plaiting Polyhedra
Abstract: There are all kinds of methods for constructing
polyhedra out of strangely shaped pieces of heavy paper, but in 1983 J.
Pedersen discovered an ingeneous one using only n congruent flat strips.
Given a Platonic solid, if one assumes that (1) every edge in the model is
crossed at least once, and (2) every color used has an equal area exposed
on the model's surface, then the number of necessary and sufficient strips
to plait the tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, icosahedron, and dodecahedron
are, respectively, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. We will discuss these constructions
as well as embark on a few. Materials and instructions will be provided,
and no previous plaiting experience will be assumed.
- March 6, 2007
Jennifer Paulhus (UIUC Math)
Title:Using Algebra to Study Points on Curves
Abstract: Points on elliptic curves have a natural group
structure on them which allows us to use algebraic techniques to study the
curves. While other curves do not have such a natural structure, we can
define a special object associated to the curve which is a group and use
this group to study these curves. We give a gentle introduction to this
field, assuming no more than an undergraduate course in algebra.
- April 3, 2007
Nil Sirikci (UIUC Math)
Title:The group of Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms
Abstract: We will introduce the group of
symplectomorphisms and the group of hamiltonian diffeomorphisms on a
closed symplectic manifold and discuss how they relate. This will be an
introductory talk on the subject and the basic definitions we need will be
provided, including the definition of a symplectic manifold.
- April 17, 2007
Melissa Simmons (UIUC Math)
Title:Bow & Stern Sequences
Abstract: I will compare my recent results on the
recursive bow sequence with the famous Stern sequence. Specifically, I
will introduce the generating function for the general bow sequence, and
the bow sequence modulo 2. I will also discuss properties of b(7n+k) and
other interesting facts. The talk should be accessible to all graduate
students.
- May 1, 2007
Martha Makowski (UIUC Math)
Title:Problem solving and gender: An introduction to the
issues surrounding girls and mathematics education.
Abstract: Teaching through problem solving has many
interpretations. Most however, agree that problem solving itself is the
process by which students apply knowledge they have learned to solve new
problems. Research increasingly shows that girls struggle more with
problem solving by the time they get to high school than boys of the same
age. Part of this may be the result of the testing format, although there
is evidence to suggest that girls simply learn or choose to solve problems
differently than boys at a very early age--a difference that creates a
performance gap by the time these students reach high school. Teaching
through problem solving does not necessarily close the gap as much as
would be hoped by the reform oriented population. While I do not believe
this difference comes from the fact that girls are less inclined or able
to solve problems, it does seem that many factors contribute to the
education of girls in mathematics.