The Undergraduate Mathematical Sciences Seminar is designed to introduce UW undergraduates to research and career opportunities in the mathematical sciences. The seminar is open to all undergraduates at the University of Washington who have completed a calculus sequence. It is also advisable that students have some familiarity with differential equations and linear algebra.
Speakers will represent a variety of fields where mathematical sciences are used in research. Past topics come from diverse fields including: computer graphics, bioengineering, numerical modeling of tsunamis, probabilistic weather forecasting, and more! Each speaker will describe the work they do, why it's interesting and how they use mathematical sciences in what they do each day.
Thursday, April 4th
Speaker: Tom Duchamp
Title: Organizational Meeting
Thursday, April 11nd
Speaker : Christopher
Hoffman, Department of Mathematics, UW
Title : Is Divorce Inevitable?
Abstract: It may be so in a world where people and their
preferences change. But in this talk we will consider a model where
people's preferences don't change. In this setting Gale and Shapley
produced an algorithm which shows that "stable marriages" can always be
found. This is both a beautiful theoretical result as well as a practical
one. It led to a Nobel Prize in economics. In this talk we will explain the
setting of the problem, look and Gale and Shapley's algorithm and see how
well the theory and practice of stable marriages line up.
Tuesday, April 16th, 4:00-5:00, Smith 120 (note unusual day,
time, and location)
2012-2013
Milliman Lectures
Speaker : Bernd Sturmfels, University of California- Berkeley
Title : Convex Algebraic Geometry
Abstract: We introduce convex bodies with an interesting
algebraic structure. A primary focus lies on the geometry of semidefinite
optimization. Starting with elementary questions about ellipses in the
plane, we move on to discuss the geometry of spectrahedra, orbitopes, and
convex hulls of real varieties. This lecture has many beautiful pictures
and can be enjoyed by undergraduate students.
Thursday, April 25th
Speaker : Tom Duchamp, Department of Mathematics, UW
Title : Surface Light Fields for 3D Photography
Abstract:
A surface light field is a function that assigns a color to each ray
originating on a surface. Surface light fields are well suited to
constructing virtual images of shiny objects under complex lighting
conditions. I will discuss work of our 3D photography group at the
University of Washington in which we develop a framework for construction,
compression, interactive rendering, and rudimentary editing of surface
light fields of real objects.
3:30, Friday, May 3rd, 220 Kane Hall (note time and day),
Speaker : Richard
Tapia, Rice University
Title : Math at top speed: exploring and braking myths in the
drag racing folklore
(Math Across Campus Series)
Abstract: In this talk the speaker will identify elementary
mathematical frameworks for the study of old and new drag racing
beliefs. In this manner some myths are validated, while others are
destroyed. The first part of the talk will be a historical account of
the development of drag racing and will include several lively videos
and pictures depicting the speaker's involvement in the early days of
the sport.
Thursday, May 9th
Speaker : Duane Storti, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UW
Title : Wavelet-interpolated Signed Distance Function Representations (WSDF-reps):
From 3D Imaging to Useful Solid Models via Wavelets and GPU-based Parallel Computing
Abstract: Volumetric scanners such as CT, MR, and PET have
become widely available and are now producing staggering amounts of
data. Unfortunately, there has not been a corresponding growth in the
tools available for doing anything truly three-dimensional (like
designing/analyzing custom joint replacements) based on the 3D scan
data. Current usage is largely limited to viewing of 2D projections or
slices; such approaches can produce pretty pictures, but they do not
support 3D design and analysis. The traditional approach to capturing a
solid shape from 3D imaging (segmentation and polygonization) is tedious,
labor intensive, and unreliable. Even when it succeeds, the resulting
model involves a huge amount of data, has no chance of faithfully
describing smooth surfaces, and is not compatible with typical
computer-aided design (CAD) software. This talk presents an alternative
implicit modeling approach that is designed to provide a format compatible
with objects acquired from 3D scans while readily supporting interaction
with objects imported from traditional CAD systems. A software
demonstration will be presented to show that GPU-based parallel computing
on even a relatively low-end graphics card supports real-time operations
on WSDF-rep models.
Thursday, May 16th
Speaker : Emily
Fox, Department of Statistics, UW
Title : TBA
Thursday, May 23nd : (no meeting this week)
Thursday, May 30th
Speaker : Ken Bube, Department of Mathematics, UW
Title : TBA
Thursday, June 6th
Speaker : Guillaume Lajoie, Department of Applied Mathematics, UW
Title : TBA
For information on the Applied and Computational Math Sciences (ACMS)
Degree at the UW, click here: ACMS Website
Please send comments, corrections, and suggestions to:
greenbau[at]math[dot]washington[dot]edu or vvasan[at]u[dot]washington[dot]edu.