Day 1, Mat194: Mathematical Sciences Seminar

• Announcements
  • Thanks for signing up! I'm glad that you're here.

• Introductions (4x6 cards)
  1. Name
  2. Where are you from?
  3. What is your calling? ("a calling has to do with one's larger purpose, personhood, deepest values, and the gift one wishes to give the world.... A calling is about the use one makes of a career." David Orr, Earth in Mind)
  4. What is your career objective?
  5. Something special about yourself.

• The course website will be useful: http://www.nku.edu/~longa/classes/mat194

• Syllabus (logistics, etc.)

• Assignments will be available on the website. Keep checking on those.

• We don't have a text of any sort. We will be having a lot of visitors this semester, sharing their experiences with mathematics. Several of them are alumni, returning to give you the benefit of their accumulated wisdom since graduating with math or stat degrees.

  Your job will be to listen, interact, and summarize their messages.

• Grading: as this course is pass/fail, the grade for the course will be determined by your presence, your active participation, your attendance at talks, by some modest homework, as well as by your final poster presentation. Make it easy on yourself, and conscientiously attend.

• Speaking of project and presentation, what's this project all about? Your poster will be autobiographical, providing your answers to three questions:
  • In what ways have I loved mathematics?
  • What do I want to do (and what have I done) with mathematics?
  • Why is it important in my life, and to human civilization?
  You will shine a spotlight on at least one interesting piece of mathematics. More specific details will follow on format, length, etc. But that should get you started!

• The Class Agreement

• When you attend an event, you'll want to bring along your evaluation form.
• You will want to write well on this form. You may want to write a rough draft, and then submit the more polished version.
• Upcoming events:
  • The Spring Celebration of Undergraduate Research at NKU
  • The Spring MAA meetings (April 6-7, 2018 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY)
  • STEM Pizza Supper (next one: Wed Jan 31st 6:00pm - 7:00pm
  • Departmental lunches (usually two per semester)
  • On-campus or off-campus talks

He wrote A Mathematician's Lament, which went "viral" in mathematical circles before we talked about things going viral!:)

(Your homework assignment is to read his essay prior to next week's class, during which we will discuss the essay. There will be a short, easy quiz to start class next time, simply to assure that you have read it!)

He makes several very critical claims about how badly our society teaches mathematics today. Before we go down that somewhat dark road, let's take a moment to talk today about some of the good we've encountered in our mathematical journeys!

• What originally turned you on to mathematics? Was it one experience, a great teacher, a game, or?
• What early encounters with mathematics could be said to have led you to be in this classroom today?
• Is there a particular mathematician whom you admire greatly? If so, why?