Math conference presents new ideas

The Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Math Conference was hosted this past weekend by the Department of Mathematics. Allen Broughton, Department Head and Professor of Mathematics, Ken McMurdy, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, and with the assistance of Terri Moscan, the department secretary, organized the conference. The conference was held to highlight the accomplishments of undergraduate mathematicians.

The goal of the conference was for undergraduate students to present their project, thesis, or research work. “The only people allowed to make the presentations are the students or the main [invited] speakers. There are a growing number of these conferences across the United States being funded by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA),” commented Broughton. “We are one of the oldest places hosting [the conference], and we’ve been doing it a lot longer than funding has been available.”

The conference featured Rose students who were involved with the math club and Pi Mu Epsilon. These students introduced student speakers and kept the sessions on time. They were also hosts at the student party after the presentations on Friday.

Photo: Christina Davis Dr. Jerry L. Bona speaks to attendees about the math of tsunamis.

Students from Sienna Heights College in Michigan, University of Evansville, IUPUI, Millikin University in Illinois, and Truman State University in Missouri attended the conference and presented their work.

The conference also featured talks by Jerry L. Bona and Jennifer Quinn. Bona is a mathematics professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who presented his talk on “Big Waves on Deep Water - Tsunamis and Rogue Waves” and “Mathematics and Beach Protection”. Quinn is a mathematics and computer science professor at the University of Puget Sound in Washington, who presented her talk on “Determinants via Determined Ants.”

“It is a ‘requirement’ for all math faculty from Rose-Hulman to attend. Faculty members from [the] schools presenting attend the event,” mentioned Broughton. “It is open for the Rose community to attend the lectures and the student talks, and it usually fills up the GM room.”

After the event is over, the Rose math department receives feedback on the conference by the participants. According to Broughton, “As far as I can remember, it is very positive feedback from students and the people who attend, and people keep coming back.”

“Sienna Heights, University of Evansville, and probably IUPUI and Millikin University will probably build this into their schedule to [have students] present their results to an off campus environment,” mentioned Broughton.

“One of the benefits of the conference for our Rose students is to meet other off campus students, to meet them without going off campus, in a professional but social atmosphere. There are many opportunities for the students and faculty to interact and time for networking,” commented Broughton.

“It wouldn’t be possible to run the conference without the help of the staff of the department and the student help. They help with the party and introducing the speakers and taking pictures. It’s a really nice math related project for them and [it’s] a way to get them involved in service activities,” Broughton said. “This year, there was a big upswing in the number of Rose students presenting. Half of the talks were by Rose students. They have been very active in the departmental seminars this year.”