“That’s So Random!” – Colloquium by Prof. Keegan Kang; Thursday Aug. 31 at Noon in Olin 268

Bucknell Mathematics Student Colloquium Series

Thurs, Aug. 31 | Noon-12:50PM  | Olin 268

That’s So Random!
Presented by Keegan Kang, Assistant Professor of Statistics, Bucknell University

ABSTRACT: Think of a large number N. Now imagine you and your friends each picking a random number between 0 and N. Can these random numbers be used meaningfully? Surprisingly, yes! 
We will discuss how we can use statistics to get an approximation to computationally difficult problems, and show how such randomness can be used in web search and plagiarism detection.

Arrive early for Free Pizza!

poster containing an picture of professor kang along with the title and abstract of the talk

“Curing Cancer: Mathematicians Want a Piece of That!” at noon on Thursday 2/27 in Olin 268

Student Colloquium Talk by Professor Allison Lewis, Lafayette College

Abstract: How can mathematical modeling assist in the development of treatment protocols for cancer? Recent technological advances make it possible to collect detailed information about tumors, and yet clinical assessments of treatment responses are typically based on extremely sparse datasets. We propose a workflow for choosing an appropriate model for tumor growth and treatment response, verifying parameter identifiability, and assessing the amount of data necessary to precisely calibrate model parameters in order to make accurate predictions of tumor size at future times. Throughout this talk, we will discuss ways in which we can bridge the gap between mathematical modelers and clinical physicians to better harness the power of both worlds to meet a common goal.

“Factoring Rook Polynomials” at noon on Thursday 2/13 in Olin 268

Student Colloquium Talk by Professor Kenny Barrese, Bucknell University

Abstract: Rook theory is a branch of mathematics which considers how many ways you can put rooks on a board so that no two are attacking each other. Here a “rook” is the usual chess piece, but the “board” that we are placing on probably is not an eight by eight square. One way to consider the numbers you obtain is as coefficients of a polynomial, the rook polynomial. It is a key result in rook theory that, if you define the rook polynomial correctly, it always factors completely! In fact, we will see that this factorization arises not by algebraic manipulation, but by counting things in a clever way.

“A Basic Overview of the Actuarial Profession” at noon on Thursday 1/30 in Olin 268

Student Colloquium Talk by Gloria Asare, AXA Insurance, Toronto, Canada

Abstract: Come learn what it takes to become fully certified and work as an actuary. Our presenter Gloria Asare, ACAS, MAAA will touch on various topics of interest related to the actuarial field. These include: how to become an actuary; the different types of actuaries that exist; the types of mathematical problems actuaries solve; what one’s journey to being an actuary could look like; and diversity in the actuarial profession.

Anyone interested in the actuarial profession (even if you don’t know what it is) is welcome! A mathematical background is not required to attend.

Bio: Gloria Asare is a Specialist Actuary in Pricing at AXA Insurance in Toronto, Canada. She is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society (ACAS) and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA). She has ten years of experience working as an actuary in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry supporting various lines of business. After graduating Cum Laude from the Wharton School – The University of Pennsylvania with Bachelor of Science in Economics with a Concentration in Actuarial Science, and a minor in African Studies, she started out her career in Exton, PA (about two hours away from Lewisburg) before relocating to lower Manhattan in New York City, and then to Toronto. Gloria is interested in helping people from all backgrounds get interested in and succeed in the actuarial profession, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Gloria is an active member of the CAS and the International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA). She has also served on the Scholarship committee of the Ontario Conference of Casualty Actuaries (OCCA – a regional affiliate of the CAS), on the Scholarship Committee of IABA, and last year founded the Toronto affiliate of IABA. She serves as mentor to a number of students and early career professionals in the field as well. Gloria is proudly African with roots in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. She is also a wife, and a mother to two spirited children.

“From the Bridges of Königsberg to Data Analysis” at noon on Thursday 11/21 in Olin 268

Student Colloquium talk by Professor Chris Johnson, Bucknell University

Abstract:  The Prussian city of Königsberg once contained four land masses connected by a series of bridges, and citizens of the city would sometimes ponder the following simple puzzle: is it possible to walk through the city crossing each bridge exactly once?  In analyzing this question, Leonhard Euler noted that the most important feature was how the bridges connected the land masses to one another.  Understanding “connectedness” is one part of a branch of mathematics called topology, and in this talk I will give an overview of a few particular topological ideas.  Beginning with Euler’s nearly 300 year old analysis of the bridges of Königsberg puzzle and ending with some recent developments concerning the shape of a data set, we will see that topological tools can have surprising applications.

“What Did You Do Last Summer?” at noon on Thursday 11/7 in Olin 268

The Mathematics Department Student Colloquium Series will present talks by Bucknell Students this Thursday, November 7 at 12:00 PM in Olin 268. Moderator will be Hannah Bokma ’20 where students will discuss “What Did You do Last Summer?”

Speakers:
Hannah Bokma ’20 – teaching intern, Breakthrough Houston
Elise Covert ’20 – data analytics, American Institute for Research
Mady Lawrence ’21 – data analytics, Highmark Health
Phil Thompson ’20 – financial sales and business development intern, IHS Market

Abstract: There are many exciting summer opportunities for students in the mathematical sciences! These range from internships in financial companies to research experiences at other universities to leadership development programs. In this week’s colloquium, a panel of your peers will tell you their experiences. What did they enjoy about their experiences? When did they apply? There will also be ample time for questions and answers. These varied opportunities, as well as being terrific fun, are also immensely valuable as you begin to think about your careers after Bucknell.

“Archimedes’ Cattle Problem” at noon on Thursday 10/24 in Olin 268



Student Colloquium talk by Professor Krishnan (Ravi) Shankar, University of Oklahoma

Title:  Archimedes’ Cattle Problem

Abstract:  Back in antiquity Archimedes devised a mathematical problem in the form of 22 elegiac couplets and delivered them to Eratosthenes of Cyrene (as a challenge of sorts). The problem is in three parts of increasing difficulty and the solution is rather astonishing, both for its complexity and for the problem’s ability to anticipate mathematics that didn’t come about for 2000 years (Pell’s equation). We will explore the problem and its solution (which was only completely solved in 1889 by Amthor) and ask ourselves the age old question: “What did Archimedes know?”



“Understanding Statistical Significance” at noon on Thursday 9/19 in Olin 268

Student Colloquium talk by Professor Kari Lock Morgan, Penn State University

Title: Understanding Statistical Significance

Abstract:  You may or may not have heard of results being “statistically significant,” and you may or may not know that results qualify as statistically significant if the p-value falls below a given threshold.  Regardless of whether these phrases currently hold any meaning for you, the goal of this talk will be to shed light on the actual meaning of a p-value and statistical significance (beyond just “p < 0.05”).  This will be accomplished by covering a modern and computationally intensive way of computing a p-value that will be illustrated both by hands-on and online activities (so bring a laptop or tablet if you want to play along!).  This simulation-based approach will be both accessible to those who have never taken any statistics, and valuable to those who have taken statistics but want a deeper understanding or a more modern approach.

“Interacting with the Shadow of Data” at noon on Thursday 9/5 in Olin 268

Student Colloquium talk by Professor J.T. Fry, Bucknell University

Title: Interacting with the Shadow of Data

Abstract:  In our first statistics class, we learn how to build a scatterplot to visualize two variables at once. But what happens when we have many variables? Projection methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) can create 2D pictures of higher-dimensional data, much like how the sun projects our 3D body into a 2D shadow. However, exploring these high-dimensional datasets can be complicated. In this talk, we present a visual analytics model that allows the user to combine their personal knowledge with a projection method to find novel ways of exploring the data. 

“Problems and Pipelines: A story from the frontline of data science” at noon on Thursday 4/25 in Olin 268

 

Student Colloquium talk by Professor Patrick McDonald, New College of Florida

Title: Problems and Pipelines: A story from the frontline of data science

Abstract: Suppose you were to suddenly obtain access to a remarkably rich data source, say, a trove of health records. What would you do? In this talk I will sketch how a group at New College handled such a situation. In so doing I will provide you with a glimpse of what it is like to work on a large-scale data science project, paying special attention to the vast array of required skill sets, social constraints and behavior patterns.