Public invited to hear about ‘Fun and Fame with Mathematics’

WINONA, Minn. – Dr. Sarah Greenwald will be the final speaker for the Saint Mary’s University Women in Math Colloquium Thursday, March 17. Her presentation, hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, will be “Fun and Fame with Mathematics: Spherical Rubik’s Cubes to Cartoons.”

Dr. Greenwald, of Appalachian State University, will speak about careers in mathematics, based upon her own experience as a mathematician. During this presentation, she will draw upon her widely varying adventures in a variety of topics — from Riemannian geometry to pop culture to working on an encyclopedia.

Dr. Greenwald is the recipient of the 2005 Mathematical Association of America’s Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching.

The event is planned for 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Salvi Lecture Hall, located on the third floor of Saint Mary’s Hall. A reception will begin at 4 p.m.

This colloquium is supported by a National Science Foundation grant to encourage women to study mathematics.

For further information, contact Dr. Kevin Dennis at kdennis@smumn.edu or (507) 457-6650.

Saint Mary’s awarded grant for women in mathematics series

WINONA, Minn. — The National Science Foundation has awarded Saint Mary’s University a $10,890 grant for a Women in Mathematics Colloquium Series, to be held over the next two years.

The support from this grant provides the funds for the Saint Mary’s Mathematics and Statistics Department to continue an annual colloquium highlighting successful women mathematicians and to support undergraduate travel to national conferences.

Organizers hope that through these events, high school and college-aged students will become engaged and inspired by the opportunities and challenges presented to women in the ever-progressing field of mathematics.

“This series encourages the recent upward trend of women in mathematics at Saint Mary’s and introduces undergraduate and high school women to role models who are not only successful in their mathematical profession, but also in their lives,” said Kevin Dennis, department chair of the Mathematics and Statistics Department. “This project intends to keep inspiring women to pursue terminal degrees in mathematics and also to enhance the SMU mathematics community.”

Lenhart to discuss rabies in raccoons March 31 at Saint Mary’s University

WINONA, Minn. — The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has received a grant from the Tensor Foundation to encourage women to study more mathematics.

As part of this grant, the department is hosting a colloquium series involving prominent women mathematicians.

Dr. Suzanne Lenhart from the University of Tennessee will present “Rabies in Raccoons: Optimal Control for a Discrete Time Model on a Spatial Grid” on Monday, March 31. The presentation will be from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall, with a reception starting at 3:45 in the Common Room, both located on the third floor of Saint Mary’s Hall.

Everyone in the community is welcome, especially young women interested in mathematics. For more information, contact Dr. Kevin Dennis, chair of the Saint Mary’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, at (507) 457-6650 or e-mail kdennis@smumn.edu.