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Other Sessions

MAA Prize Session

Thursday, August 4, 11:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Regency Ballroom

This session is organized by Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary, and is moderated by Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College, MAA President.

MAA Section Officers Meeting

Thursday, August 4, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Franklin B

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. The Committee on MAA/Department Liaisons will lead a discussion on liaisons in the Sections -- how are some Sections using liaisons, what suggestions do they have for others, how can we use this resource in the future? And the Committee on SIGMAAs will lead a similar discussion on the intersection of SIGMAAs and Sections. Bring your experiences and ideas!

Speed Interviewing Marathon for Students

Thursday, August 4, 4:10 - 5:25 p.m., McKinley

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 for undergraduate students, graduate students and early career mathematicians will start with an overview of best practices and tips on job interviewing, then guide participants 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 participants, as well as opportunities to network with fellow interviewees.

Organizers:
Jenna Carpenter, Campbell University
Michael Dorff, Brigham Young University

Committee on Professional Development
Committee on Graduate Students
Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters

Alder Award Session

Friday, August 5, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Hayes

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 members whose teaching has been extraordinarily 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 in this session. The session is moderated by Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College, MAA President.

Click here to see abstracts for the talks in this session

Do You: How Mathematics+Mentoring+Passion=Opportunities

2:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Dandrielle Lewis, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Two Human Faces of Mathematics: Students and Medicine

3:00 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Jana Gevertz, College of New Jersey

Modeling Across the Curriculum

3:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Benjamin Galluzzo, Shippensburg University

Estimathon!

Friday, August 5, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Taft A

They're called Fermi problems...

  • How heavy is the Eiffel Tower?
  • How many prime numbers have distinct digits?
  • How many calories would you be eating if you had "one of everything" at the Cheesecake Factory?

If you're looking for a mindbending mixture of math and trivia, look no further! Jane Street Capital presents The Estimathon contest: teams will have 30 minutes to work on 13 problems, ranging from totally trivial to positively Putnamesque. Can your team beat the all-time best score?? The top teams will receive prizes!
As in past years, we will run 2 contests. Feel free to show up to either one!
(Please show up 15 minutes before the start time of the contest you want to join.)
Our target schedule is as follows:

  • 4:00 pm. Welcome, overview of rules and scoring.
  • 4:15 pm. Estimathon contest #1
  • 5:00 pm. Estimathon contest #2

Organizer:
Andy Niedermaier, Jane Street Capital

Town Hall Meeting

Revising Guidelines on the Recruitment, Retention, Development, and Evaluation of Faculty

Friday, August 5, 4:10 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., McKinley

The MAA Committee on the Status of the Profession invites ideas and suggestions regarding ongoing updates and revisions to The Guidelines for Programs and Departments in Undergraduate Mathematical Sciences. These Guidelines are intended to be used by mathematical sciences programs in self-studies, planning, and assessment of their undergraduate programs, as well as by college and university administrators and external reviewers.
In order to have the future online statements in the Guidelines be as complete and useful as possible, the committee is soliciting input from MAA members. In this session, panelists and committee members will take comments and questions from the audience regarding the sections on Program Faculty and Staffing. Specific topics will include guidelines related to emerging trends in recruiting, retaining, developing, and evaluating faculty.

Organizers:
Committee on the Status of the Profession

Moderator:
Tim Flowers, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Panelists:
Edward Aboufadel,
Grand Valley State University
Emily Puckette, The University of the South
Jennifer Quinn, The University of Washington, Tacoma

Committee on the Status of the Profession

ECM Mentoring Network Social

Friday, August 5, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Peppercorn

The Committee on Early Career Mathematicians (ECM) will host its inaugural mentoring network social from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Peppercorn Room, immediately following PosterFest on Friday, August 5th. The social is open to mentors and mentees already in the MAA Mentoring Network, as well as all those interested in joining the Mentoring Network. Early-career mathematicians are especially encouraged to attend - refreshments will be provided along with a cash bar.

Organizer:
Audrey Malagon, Virginia Wesleyan College

Special Presentation for High School Students, Parents, and Teachers

The Astounding Mathematics of Bicycle Tracks

Saturday, August 6, 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m., Hayes

James Tanton, MAA

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle asked a question: If you come across a pair of bicycle tracks in the snow, could you determine in which direction the bicycle went? He got the answer wrong! So let’s ride a bicycle, look at its tracks, and get the answer right. Even though this puzzle is now classic in the mathematics community (thanks to the charming MAA book Which Way did the Bicycle Go?... and Other Intriguing Mathematical Mysteries by Konhauser, Velleman, and Wagon), there is still much more we can say and do with bicycle tracks, all leading to some astounding surprises for students, teachers, mathematicians, and math enthusiasts alike. Hold on to your wheels for this one! This is a general outreach lecture presented by James Tanton of the MAA and designed to inspire relevant and exciting mathematical thinking and doing for the high-school classroom. All are so welcome to attend!

Organizer:
Deanna Haunsperger,
Carleton College

Council on Outreach

Math Teacher's Circle Demonstration

Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Morrow

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 teachers. While teachers 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:
Amanda Serenevy, Riverbend Community Math Center
Bob Klein, Ohio University
Tatiana Shubin, San Jose State University

SIGMAA MCST

Math Wrangle

Saturday, August 6, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Morrow

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 MAA 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:
Ed Keppelmann, University of Nevada
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco
Mark Saul, American Math Competitions

SIGMAA MCST

MAA Business Meeting

Saturday, August 6, 11:35 a.m. - 11:55 a.m., Hayes

The meeting is organized by Barbara Faires, Westminster College, MAA Secretary, and is chaired by Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College, MAA President.

Graduate Student Paper Session

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

Saturday, August 6, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Madison/Knox/Marion

Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to an audience consisting of undergraduates and non-mathematicians (possibly as part of a job interview), most students do not have much 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 (speakers should assume the audience has been only exposed to calculus and possibly 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. Contact a session organizer for help writing an abstract or preparing your talk for a general audience. Optional Q&A sessions with the organizers will be held at MathFest for presenters to receive feedback on their talks. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?).

Submit an abstract

Organizers:
James Freeman, Cornell College
Rachel Schwell, Central Connecticut State University
Aliza Steurer, Dominican University
May Mei, Denison University

MAA Committee on Graduate Students

Closing Banquet Reception

Saturday, August 6, 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Franklin Foyer

Closing Banquet

Tom Lehrer Sing-along

Saturday, August 6, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Franklin

Master of Ceremonies
Art Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College
Ezra Brown, Virginia Tech

After Dinner: Bud Brown (at the piano) and Art Benjamin will sing favorite songs by mathematician/political satirist Tom Lehrer, including many that have a mathematical flavor to them, such as New Math, Lobachevsky, The Elements, and That's Mathematics. Song lyrics will be projected and the audience will be invited to sing along.

Year: 
2016