Day 7, Mat194: Mathematical Sciences Seminar

• Today we welcome Prof. Emeritus Dan Curtin to talk about "Math, and History, and Lamentation" (not necessarily in that order).

  Dr. Curtin received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979. In addition to 38 years as a professor at NKU, he also served in multiple administrative capacities: as Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as Interim Director of CINSAM, and as Acting Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (where he once made the mistake of hiring me!:).

  So he has some 'splainin' to do....

  But he has no need to explain his Meritorious Service Award from the MAA, which was awarded in 2013. This is awarded only once every 5 years for a given section!

  Dr. Curtin's extensive record of service no doubt contributed to this award: in particular, he served as Governor of the Kentucky section of the MAA (2005-2008).

• Upcoming events:
  • 3/22, Friday: next department lunch! Dogs and burgers, in anticipation of opening day of the baseball season.

  • 3/29-3/30, Friday, Saturday: KYMAA (Centre College; overnight, with expenses "almost-all" paid -- you might have to buy a lunch)

    I'll be among those presenting there, with one of our students (Jacob Englert).

    And remember the Alli and Parker will also be presenting (along with Jacob Englert!). Jacob's a busy guy....

  • 4/5-4/6, Friday, Saturday: Pop-Up Conference: origami on Friday afternoon, and domino math on Saturday morning. We'll need student help for this!

  • 4/9-4/10: The Student Celebration of Research and Creativity is also coming up April -- the 9th and 10th. There are opportunities to visit talks, or the big poster session.

    You'll see Alli and Parker again, perhaps.

  • On-campus or off-campus talks (coming soon! One or two in April)

• Your short essays about Parker and Alli's visit are due today. You can email me those (but remember that I'd like your notes, too).

Today we enjoy a visit with a historian of mathematics, Prof. Daniel Curtin, a man uniquely qualified to comment on Lockhart's Lament.

Three of our final talks I conceived of as "Math in Action". These three speakers are seasoned veterans of some particular area of mathematics:

• Dr. Curtin: Mathematics in Academia
• Dr. Dan McGee: Mathematics in Government and Education
• Steve Long: Mathematics in Business