News and Events

Mathematics and Statistics Departmental Seminar: To Infinity and Beyond

Dr. Biji Wong, NSF MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellow and a Griffiths Assistant Research Professor of Math at Duke University

Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at 3 p.m. with refreshments starting at 2:30 p.m.

Emerson Auditorium, Palamountain Hall

For our final seminar talk of the fall semester, Skidmore's Mathematics and Statistics Department is excited to welcome speaker Dr. Biji Wong from Duke University. Please join us at 2:30 pm in Emerson Auditorium for refreshments and conversation. Dr. Wong’s talk will begin at 3 pm.

Abstract:  In this talk, I will give a gentle introduction to surfaces, objects that resemble the outer layer of a soccer ball or the glaze on a donut. Along the way, we will talk about what it means to live on a surface and how to use our understanding of surfaces to study our universe.

Mathematics and Statistics Departmental Seminar: “Rainbow Problems in Groups”

Dr. Michael Young, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Carnegie Mellon University

Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, 3 p.m. with refreshments starting at 2:30 pm

Palamountain 202 

For our October seminar talk, Skidmore's Mathematics and Statistics Department is excited to welcome speaker Dr. Michael Young from Carnegie Mellon University. Please join us at 2:30 p.m. in Palamountain 202 for refreshments and conversation. Dr. Young’s talk will begin at 3 p.m.

Abstract: A set is considered rainbow if each element of the set is assigned a distinct color. In this talk, we will discuss problems and techniques about determining the minimum number of colors needed in order to guarantee that every coloring of the integers contains a set of integers that is rainbow and a solution to a given equation.

Mathematics and Statistics Departmental Seminar presents Graduate School Panel Discussion

Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, 7 p.m.

Glotzbach Atrium of the Center for Integrated Sciences

The Math/Stat Departmental Seminar is excited to announce that we'll be hosting a Graduate School Panel Discussion. This event is open to students of all years who want to learn more about mathematics and statistics graduate programs. You do not need to be a declared math major/minor or stat minor to attend. Come enjoy a slice of pizza while asking all the questions you have about grad school -- things like "What can I do with a graduate degree?", "What is grad school like?", "How do I prepare?", and "Where should I apply?" Our panel consists of four experts, two of whom are Skidmore alums. The panelists are:

Dr. Michael Young (Carnegie Mellon University) - Michael Young is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and the Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Carnegie Mellon University. He is an accomplished discrete mathematics researcher and the former Director of Iowa State University's Postbaccalaureate Certificate program. 

Dr. Kelly Isham '16 (Colgate University) - Kelly Isham graduated from Skidmore in 2016 and got her PhD in mathematics at the University of California, Irvine in 2021. She has been at Colgate University since 2021, first as a Visiting Assistant Professor, and now as an Assistant Professor.

Dr. Vojtech Kejzlar (Skidmore College) - Vojtech Kejzlar completed his PhD in Statistics at Michigan State University in 2020. He is an Assistant Professor of Statistics in the Mathematics and Statistics Department at Skidmore.

Suzanne O'Hara '21 - Suzanne O'Hara is currently a graduate student at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. They are in their second year of studies toward a PhD in mathematics with a concentration in algebra.

 

RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. You can email Dr. Kirsten Hogenson to RSVP or for more information about the event.

Mathematics and Statistics Departmental Seminar: “Dating the Demise of the Dinosaurs”

Dr. Steve C. Wang, Professor of Statistics, Swarthmore College

Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, Refreshments at 2:30 pm, Remote Talk at 3:00 pm

We are excited to kick off the 2022-2023 seminar series with speaker Dr. Steve C. Wang from Swarthmore College. Please join us for refreshments starting at 2:30 pm, followed by talk starting at 3:00 pm. This will be a virtual talk and attendees are welcome to attend the Zoom presentation in CIS 348 or join via Zoom from another location.

Why did the dinosaurs go extinct, and when? And how do we know? Much of our knowledge of the history of life comes from the fossil record. But the fossil record is incomplete, and as a result, potentially misleading. How, then, can we learn anything about life on earth millions of years ago? In this talk I will discuss my research on how we can recognize mass extinctions --such as the one that killed the dinosaurs --from imperfect clues in the fossil record. Along the way we will explore some seemingly unrelated topics, including how the Allies estimated the strength of enemy forces during World War II.

Please email Dr. Csilla Szabo at cszabo@skidmore.edu for the Zoom link.

Mathematics and Statistics Departmental Seminar: “Math and Civic Tech”

Dr. Nelson Colón, Digital Service Expert (AI/ML & Cyber) at Defense Digital Service

Friday, April 15, 2022, 3-4 p.m. via Zoom

We are pleased to welcome speaker Dr. Nelson Colón who will lead an informal conversation about mathematics and its applications in the private sector and civic tech, and other possible career paths outside of academia for students with a STEM background. 

Dr. Colón is a Mathematician and Data Scientist with a passion for Education, Equity and Civic Tech.  Nel received a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Iowa for his work in Topological Quantum Field Theory.  He also worked at Microsoft for the Intellectual Property Products & Solutions team where he led the development of Machine Learning products to detect Fraud, Waste & Abuse.  Nel left the private sector to serve as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow for three terms, leading the development of AI products to accelerate Benefit processing for our Nation's Veterans.  He is currently on a two-year tour of service at the Department of Defense, where he serves as a Subject Matter Expert on AI and Cybersecurity to the Department.

Please email Dr. Kirsten Hogenson at khogenso@skidmore.edu for the Zoom link.

Mathematics and Statistics Departmental Seminar

“Crocheting Mathematics”
Dr. Hanne Kekkonen, Assistant Professor at TU Delft, Netherlands
Friday, March 25, 2022, 12-1 p.m., hyflex in Tang Museum Malloy Gallery and on Zoom

We are pleased to welcome speaker and Radical Fiber artist Dr. Hanne Kekkonen who will give the general-level talk “Crocheting Mathematics.”  This talk will be broadcast in the Tang Museum so afterward attendees can view Dr. Kekkonen’s work, as well as the full Radical Fiber exhibit. 

Visit us for the abstract, Zoom link, and an RSVP form.  Please email Dr. Kirsten Hogenson if you have any questions.

Professors Mark Huibregtse, Rachel Roe-Dale, and Becky Trousil serve as faculty advisors for Tang exhibit

For most of the past two years, three members of the MAMS Department (Mark Huibregtse, Rachel Roe-Dale, and Becky Trousil) were members of the faculty advisory committee that assisted Rebecca McNamara (Tang Associate Curator) in planning the exhibit titled Radical Fiber: Threads Connecting Art and Science.  The exhibit features a wide variety of pieces in the fiber arts that exemplify deep connections and paths of influence between the arts and the sciences (including mathematics), with the paths of influence and inspiration flowing both ways.  The advisory committee helped with the selection of pieces that would be most relevant to Skidmore courses and wrote short “wall label” essays describing certain of the pieces and the related scientific ideas.  We also participated in the opening reception for the exhibition, including by serving as guides during the live-streamed curator’s tour. Now that the exhibit is up and running (through June 12,2022), the advisory committee members will be working on their “book essays,” contributions to the exhibition catalogue that expand on the wall labels.  We all enjoyed the experience of working on the advisory committee, and we urge everyone to be sure to see the exhibit.

Mathematics and Statistics “ExploreMore” Information Session & Pi Day

Friday, March 4, 2022, 2–3 p.m.

CIS room 348

Join us to learn about the Mathematics major and Mathematics & Statistics minor programs, about various opportunities for independent study, about extra-curricular educational and social departmental events, pi(e), and more.

Mathematics and Statistics Departmental Seminar

"Fixed Points, Stability, and Oscillations: How can we manipulate systems?"

Dr. Kim Ayers, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at California State University San Marcos

Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, 2-3 p.m.via Zoom

We are pleased to welcome speaker Dr. Kim Ayers, who will give the talk "Fixed Points, Stability, and Oscillations: How can we manipulate systems?"  Please see the attached poster for abstract.

For a Zoom link to attend this talk, please email:  Dr. Kirsten Hogenson: khogenso@skidmore.edu