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Social Events

Exhibit Hall & Grand Opening Reception

Wednesday, July 26, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Salon D (Exhibit Hall)

The MAA MathFest Grand Opening Reception will launch this year's MAA MathFest on a high note. This event is intended to draw attendees together in a spirit of camaraderie. We warmly invite you to enjoy complimentary light hors d'oeuvres while you mix and mingle in the Exhibit Hall with other registered participants and guests, sponsors, and exhibitors.

President's Gala: A Musical Celebration and MAA Membership Recognition

Thursday, July 27, 7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m., International Ballroom North

Click here to view the President's Gala program

Join us for an evening of musical performances by your mathematical friends and colleagues, and along the way we will recognize and honor those members of our Association who've been members for twenty-five years or more.

Master of Ceremonies:
Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College, Former President of the MAA

Organizers:
Deanna Haunsperger, Carleton College, MAA President
Dave Kung, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Project NExT

Celebrating Eighty Years of MAA Publishing

Friday, July 28, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., MAA Pavilion, Salon D (Exhibit Hall)

Join MAA for refreshments as we celebrate eighty years of publishing with MAA Press. 

Networking Session on the Mathematical Education of Teachers

Friday, July 28, 4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Salon C-8

Many mathematics departments offer courses specifically for preservice teachers, often designed and overseen by one or two faculty members per department. These courses can be stimulating to teach, yet also challenging because of the lack of shared wisdom in the community on what and how to teach in the courses. The organizers of this session are looking into the possibility of starting a SIGMAA to support the teaching of mathematics courses for preservice teachers. This session is an opportunity to gauge interest in such a SIGMAA, and more importantly, for faculty teaching these courses to share ideas and raise questions or concerns in a community. The organizers will facilitate discussion and conversation on what is known in the literature about the teaching and learning of mathematical knowledge for teaching at elementary and secondary levels, the perspectives represented in policy documents and commonly available textbooks, and approaches to these content courses.

Organizers:
Bonnie Gold, Monmouth University (emerita)
Yvonne Lai, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

MAA Committee on the Mathematical Education of Teachers (COMET)

Math Wrangle

Saturday, July 29, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Salon C-1 and C-2

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 the Joint Math Meetings 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:
Doug Ensley, Mathematical Association of America
Ed Keppelmann, University of Nevada, Reno
Philip B. Yasskin, Texas A&M
Paul Zeitz, University of San Francisco

SIGMAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA-MCST)
American Mathematics Competitions

MAA-PME Student Reception

Wednesday, July 26, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Continental Ballroom B

Undergraduate students are invited to come for refreshments and a welcome to MathFest.

NSA's Women in Mathematics Society Networking Reception

Thursday, July 27, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Continental Foyer

NSA's Women in Mathematics Society (WiMS) will host a networking session during the MathFest Conference on Thursday, July 27, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Approximately 75-125 guests are expected to engage in conversations that encourage the professional development of women. Everyone is invited to attend this event. MathFest attendees are encouraged to stop by the NSA booth in the exhibit area to find out the exact location. Invitations will be available at the booth.

Math Jeopardy

Wednesday, July 26, 5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m., Salon A-5

Answer: A fun undergraduate mathematics contest to lead off MathFest.
Question: What is Mathematics Jeopardy?

Four teams of students will provide the questions to go with the mathematical answers in many categories. All interested students in the audience can enter their names to be chosen to play on one of the four teams of four players. There will be prizes for all the participants.

Come cheer for your favorite team. The session will be emceed by Michael Berry

Organizers:
Robert W. Vallin, Lamar University
Michael W. Berry, University of Tennessee

Undergraduate Student Activity: Mock Trading with SIG

Friday, July 28, 1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m., Continental Ballroom C
Saturday, July 29, 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m., Continental Ballroom C

Join Susquehanna International Group (SIG) for a game that combines the world of trading with mathematical estimation. Working on a team, try to get better estimates for 8 numerical problems than the other teams as quickly as you can – if you fall behind, you’ll lose valuable opportunities to make money*. The only way to get ahead is to trade with other teams who have worse guesses than you do. Whoever’s got the best combination of math skills, strategy, and quick wits will take home the prize* -- will you be wolves or sheep?
*in-game money is fake, prize money is real!

Organizers:
Todd Simkin and Sam Trabucco, Susquehanna International Group

Estimathon!

Friday, July 28, 4:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Continental Ballroom C

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:

4:15 pm. Welcome, overview of rules and scoring.
4:30 pm. Estimathon contest #1
5:15 pm. Estimathon contest #2

Organizer:
Andy Niedermaier, Jane Street Capital

Pi Mu Epsilon Banquet

Friday, July 28, 6:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Waldorf

All PME members and their supporters are welcome. See the registration form for more information on this ticketed event.

MAA Ice Cream Social

Friday, July 28, 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Continental Foyer

Besides cake and ice cream, we will recognize all students who gave talks in the MAA Student Paper Sessions. Prizes will be awarded for the best of these talks, and the AWM Student Chapter Awards will also be presented. All are invited. 

Graduate Student Reception

Thursday, July 27, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Marquette Room

Graduate students are invited for some refreshments and to meet several of the invited speakers.

Organizers:
Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas
Edray Goins, Purdue University

POM SIGMAA Reception

Thursday, July 27, 5:30 – 6:00 p.m., Salon A-3

SIGMAA QL Reception and Business Meeting

Thursday, July 27, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Salon A-1

SIGMAA TAHSM Reception and Business Meeting

Thursday, July 27, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Salon C-4

Join your fellow SIGMAA TAHSM members at our annual reception and business meeting. Some SIGMAA business will be discussed, but mostly this is a time to communicate with your colleagues while enjoying some light hors d’oeuvres. We will also be recognizing the 2016 Edyth May Sliffe award winners.

WEB SIGMAA Reception and Business Meeting

Friday, July 28, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Salon A-4

Year: 
2017