Some of the recent events hosted by the Mathematics Department include
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the 2002 Fall Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America (NES/MAA),
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a presentation by Frank Morgan, Williams College,
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a presentation by Lucy Dechene, Fitchburg State University,
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a presentation by Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College,
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a presentation by Thomas Banchoff, Brown University,
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the Spring 2006 NES/MAA Minicourse - Catalan Numbers and Their Applications, and
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the 2007 Fall Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America (NES/MAA).
The Mathematics Department hosts the NES/MAA Regional Dinner Meeting in Memory of Kenneth J. Preskenis annually in the Spring.
In November 22 - 23, 2002, the Mathematics Department hosted the Fall Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America. Speakers for the meeting included Carl Pomerance, Bell Laboratories, Emma Previato, Boston University, Dorothy Wallace, Dartmouth College, Thomas Koshy, Framingham State University, Gilbert Strang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ray Griffin, Framingham State University, and Laura Kelleher, Massachusetts Maritime Academy (the 2002 NES/MAA Distinguished Teacher Award Winner).
On January 28, 2004, Frank Morgan, Williams College, master teacher and and renown researcher, gave a presentation, "Soap Bubbles and Mathematics", that included some history of the mathematics of soap bubbles, a contest and prizes!
On March 29, 2004, Lucy Dechene, Fitchburg State University, gave the presentation, "A Tintinnabulous Introduction to Group Theory: The British Sport of Change Ringing", that included not only an introduction to Change Ringing and its relation to Group Theory but also a round of Change Ringing with student volunteers!
On December 13, 2004, Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College, wowed the students, faculty and staff with his feats of mental calculation in his presentation. Dr. Benjamin, one of the world's fastest "lightning calculators", professional magician, master teacher and renown researcher, demonstrated and explained some secrets of rapid mental calculation t the delight of his audience!
On April 25, 2005, Thomas Banchoff, Brown University, discussed how Salvador Dali become fascinated with the Fourth Dimension and how Dali's work relates to interactive computer graphics on the Internet in his presentation, "The Fourth Dimension and Salvador Dali". Dr. Banchoff's presentation featured scenes from the new documentary, "The Dali Dimension", that explores Dali's interaction with scientists and mathematicians.
On November 16 - 17, 2007, the Mathematics Department hosted the Fall Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America. Speakers for the meeting included Robert Case, Northeastern University, Thomas Banchoff, Brown University, Thomas Garrity, Williams College, Joseph Gallian, University of Minnesota Duluth, Robert Devaney, Boston University, Ezra Brown, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Frank Morgan, Williams College, P. Joseph McKenna, University of Connecticut, and Kenneth Gross, University of Vermont (the 2007 NES/MAA Distinguished Teacher Award Winner). The meeting also featured two panel discussions, "I am the Teacher Now: Advice to Future Teachers" featuring Framingham State University graduates Johanna Bolton Lynch, Newton North High School, Jennifer Lowell, Pembroke High School, and John Meany, Gardner High School, and "What Can I Do with a Mathematics Major?" featuring Framingham State University graduates Kathryn Del Vecchio, Fidelity Investments, Steve Bairos, Data Translation, and Ram Iyer, Graduate Student; Formerly of EMC2 as well as Charlotte Henderson, A K Peters, Ltd. and Steven J. Miller, Brown University.
