Friends of Mathematics Newsletter Winter 2013

Endowment Enriches Graduate Program

he Department of Mathematics is honoring a late professor and Sciences have contributed additional funding to establish Twith a graduate enrichment program. something more permanent: the David Surowski Memorial Professor Dave Surowski was a strong advocate of the Endowment for the Enrichment of Graduate Mathematics. department’s graduate program. He served as the director of This will provide a range of opportunities for the graduate graduate studies from 1986 until his retirement in 2003, and he program and graduate students. For example, this fund will directed Ph.D. and master’s dissertations for be used to provide dissertation fellowships several students. After his retirement from so that students can have a semester or a K-State, Surowski spent seven years teaching year to focus on their dissertations, free from at the Shanghai American School in China, the commitments of teaching. The fund will where he was a very popular teacher. also be used for recruiting, graduate student He died in March 2011. conferences, graduate student travel to conferences, and scholarships. In his honor, his wife, Susan Zhang, and daughter, Laura Sapp, set up the David “Surowski always wanted to be able to support Surowski Memorial Fund. graduate students through scholarships and fellowships and to provide support for activities Recognizing the commitment Surowski gave such as travel,” said Professor Louis Pigno, head to graduate education, the Department of the Department of Mathematics. “This fund of Mathematics, through the Friends of will greatly enhance our graduate program. He Mathematics Fund, and the College of Arts would have been very proud of this.”

Alum Rodnianski wins Fermat Prize He has held many visiting positions and received several awards for his research. Rodnianski was the Department of gor Rodnianski, 1999 Ph.D. graduate, was a co-recipient of the Mathematics 2010 Distinguished Alumnus. I2011 Fermat Prize for Mathematics Research. He received the award “for fundamental contributions to the study of equations of general relativity and the propagation of light in curved In Memoriam: Alexander Rosenberg space-times.” t is with great sorrow that the Department of Mathematics The Fermat Prize is awarded every two years by the Institut de announces the death on November 24 of Professor Alexander Mathématiques de Toulouse to one or more I Rosenberg. Sasha, arguably the founder of the field of under the age of 45 in a field in which the famous noncommutative algebraic geometry, was much beloved Pierre de Fermat made decisive contributions. throughout the mathematical community and will be greatly The prize carries a cash award of 20,000 euros. missed. He is survived by his wife Tatiana and adult children After completing his Ph.D. under the direction of Professor Lev Maria and Leo. The department has already established a Kapitanski, Rodnianski was a professor at Princeton University memorial endowment in his name. A campus memorial service until moving to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in will be held early next semester. 2011.

Department of Mathematics Friends of Mathematics Newsletter Winter 2013

New mathematics center opens on campus

new center in the Department of Mathematics will focus Israel; University of Milan, Italy; and Chinese University, Hong Aon a relatively new field in mathematics, joining leading Kong. universities around the world. The M-Center already has hit the ground running. The M-Center supports and promotes research in mathematical It has established a lecture series of distinguished researchers questions arising from string theory, in which mirror symmetry in the field, mentors several graduate students, and hosts a and tropical geometry play a central role. visiting assistant professorship program funded by K-State’s During the past 25 years, there has College of Arts and Sciences. The been intensive interaction between center mentors two postdoctoral string theory and geometry, which students: Garrett Alston from the has led to a creation of entirely new University of Wisconsin-Madison and mathematical areas. Zheng Hua from British Columbia. String theory has suggested that In 2011, the center co-organized conventional geometry emerges from three international research the quantum theory at certain limits. conferences in Calabria, Italy; Vienna, Then various string dualities give Austria; and Split, Croatia. equivalent but mathematically very The center also hosted a regional different descriptions of the same conference on mirror symmetry physical quantities. sponsored by the National Science Mirror Symmetry is the simplest but M-Center Research Staff Foundation held at K-State in fall mathematically best understood 2011. The conference is expected example of string duality. In particular it models the physical to rotate between K-State and UW-Madison, and it will co- duality between strong and weak interactions as the organize a research program at the Erwing Schroedinger mathematical duality between symplectic and algebraic Institute in Vienna in 2013. geometry (the toy model for which is the famous Fourier The National Science Foundation partially funds some of the transform). Furthermore it makes complicated non-linear activities organized by the center through a three-year, $1.5 objects into much simpler piecewise linear ones (this procedure million grant. is called tropicalization, and in a sense it is analogous to the taking of the QFT limit of String Theory). The future looks bright for the center. The M-Center was created under the leadership of its Director It is expected to expand rapidly in many areas, including Yan Soibelman with the aim to secure the prominent role graduate student and postdoctoral mentoring, a visiting played by the research of its members and establish new scholar program, and research and training activities, such as contacts and collaboration with other world centers. Those research seminars, workshops and conferences. include the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics at Stony The M-Center will continue to develop deep connections with Brook University in New York and the Center for Topology other research centers and university departments around the and Quantization of Moduli Spaces at Aarhus University in globe. Denmark. For more information, please visit: www.math.ksu.edu/ Research staff of the M-Center include (besides Professor research/m-center. Soibelman) Professors Ricardo Castano-Bernard, Ilia Zharkov, postdoc Zheng Hua and several graduate students interested in the subject of Mirror Symmetry and Tropical Geometry. In just its first year of existence, the M-Center has become a hub Q and A with , for a growing research network that includes young and senior mathematician and filmmaker collaborators from top U.S. universities, including the University of California, Berkeley; University of California, San Diego; dward Frenkel, this year’s Friends of Mathematics lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and University of Miami. Eis a prolific mathematician of international repute. Frenkel is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and he At the international level, research contacts of the M-Center has published nearly 100 articles in major journals. His work include the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, France; during the last two decades has contributed to the fields of University of Strasbourg and University of Paris, France; , algebraic geometry, mathematical University of Geneva, Switzerland; University of Vienna and physics, and in recent years, film. Frenkel is working on his Erwing Schroedinger Institute, Austria; Hebrew University, 2 Department of Mathematics

second film to bring math to a general audience. He recently The question is, how do you even begin to talk to people talked with Sarah Reznikoff, assistant professor, about math about this? In my experience it is difficult to do directly. A lot and film. of people have a bad experience with math. I had this idea to Sarah Reznikoff: What was your upbringing like? try to convey math in a more artistic way. I was in Paris and met a filmmaker, Reine Graves, and we came up with this idea of Edward Frenkel: I grew up in and went to school in making a short film about a mathematician who finds a formula Moscow. I did my Ph.D. at Harvard, and I stayed on at Harvard of love. It’s a fairy tale, if you will. It’s appealing to people at a as a junior fellow and associate professor. Then I moved to more emotional level. Some people get it, and some people Berkeley in 1997. don’t. It was a learning experience for sure. This was my way of SR: Have you been back to Russia at all? trying to convey math in a very unconventional and different way. And now I’m trying to do it in another way, with a second EF: No, my family followed me here. My parents, my sister and film and a book. family all live in the Boston area. SR: The first film was met with some critical acclaim, along with SR: What are you currently working on? some controversy. What do you make of some critics calling the EF: The , which is — I’m slightly film sexist? exaggerating, maybe — a grand unified EF: First of all, I have to say that all of this theory in mathematics. It needs to be a came as a culture shock to me because theory that connects different branches of nobody has ever complained about my mathematics. It doesn’t explain everything mathematical work; it made me think more in math, but it points to some patterns about this very special place of mathematics, and phenomena that are very persistent. and the difference between math and art. (Robert) Langlands started it in 1967, and One of the main differences is that math his idea was to connect number theory is objective. There is only one truth, and with harmonic analysis, but since that time one can even say one path to the truth. we have already seen the same patterns In the world of art it is different, it’s not appear in other areas of mathematics, objective; there is no truth, and there are representation theory and other areas, many interpretations. It’s all in the eye of the including quantum physics. beholder. SR: What other fields of math are exciting My co-director told me it was good if people to you? judged. She was no stranger to controversy; EF: I started out in algebraic topology. she had made controversial films before. My advisor, , who I have In retrospect, it’s true in a way: If it elicits collaborated with for years and am still a reaction, it is doing its job. The worst collaborating with, instilled in me that it thing you can say about a work of art is that is important to connect different areas of math, and for that you’re indifferent — that you don’t care about it. In Europe it you need to understand different areas. It goes back to his was received very well, then when it was shown in Berkeley, it advisor, (Israel) Gelfand, who had the idea that there is a unity caused some controversy. in mathematics: There is only one mathematics. That’s what Now, what were the concerns? I think some of the fascinated me the most. concerns that people had were gender issues in math — SR: Many people know about your work in mathematics, but an underrepresentation of women. I think when trying to some may not know about your work in film. What was your communicate mathematics, one of the goals is to humanize experience like making a film? it, to make people understand that our creative process is like EF: The first film, “Rites of Love and Math,” has been made. It an artistic pursuit. I cannot separate my emotions from my was inspired by a Japanese film called the “Rite of Love and mathematical work. I don’t think we should pretend that we Death.” A lot of people ask me, “Why did you decide to make can separate them. People think that we are one-dimensional a film?” To me, it was a natural continuation of what I was creatures, but I think that if we humanize math, we can bring doing in math, because what really fascinated me was building more women into mathematics. That will make our field connections between math and also quantum physics. The healthier if we eliminate the gender imbalance. I feel like what next natural step was trying to communicate mathematics to I’m doing is trying to bring more women to math. I felt it ironic people who are not mathematicians. This area is an important that people thought I was doing the opposite. area to our cultural heritage. SR: Where does your next film, “The Two-Body Problem,” stand? 3 Friends of Mathematics Newsletter Winter 2013

EF: It’s in development. There is a producer in France who Students attend a brief marathon of lectures on the proposed is interested in producing it, so we are negotiating it at the projects and then form teams to work on them under the moment. In Berkeley, we worked with a very good theater guidance of a faculty mentor. director, Barbara Oliver, who helped us improve the script. Out of the 24 alumni of the program, 16 have received We’ve been doing rewrites with my co-author for about two undergraduate degrees, 14 are attending graduate school or years. We have a version that we are very happy with now. It’s will start this fall, one is in a science other than mathematics, just been published as a book that we just got from the printer, one is working as an actuary, and one is working at the U.S. which should be available on Amazon. Census Bureau. SR: Would you like to be in the second movie? Most of the research projects done in the two first years have EF: Yes, I would like to play another mathematician. been presented at conferences, including two presentations SR: Do you anticipate any controversy from the next film? by faculty mentors in professional mathematics meetings. All publications of the REU have been in traditional mathematics EF: I hope not. It’s about life and relationships between men journals, in contrast to similar programs in which results are and women. It shows that men have flaws and women have published in undergraduate research journals. flaws. I think that in the script, men have more flaws than women, but people can judge for themselves. The program prides itself on having students solve problems that are approachable by undergraduates but have I don’t think that it will elicit the same kind of reaction as the mathematical interest on their own. first film because it is so different. It has more intellectual content than a typical film. As a drama, it has emotions — the Professors Marianne Korten and David Yetter are coordinators kinds of things that people can relate to. The twist is that the of the program. Of the 16 projects of SUMaR in three years, characters are also engaged in an intellectual pursuit. One is a I-Center postdoctoral fellows directed three. mathematician, one is a writer, and the main idea is to see how To see a brief video about the program, please visit: http:// many of the questions that everyone has to grapple with — youtu.be/iFFE73dXd58. questions of love and relationships and heartbreak — affect them if they’re actually a mathematician. Even though the mathematician is a man, I think both women and men Elementary and middle school students can relate. participate in math competition

Manhattan-area elementary and middle school students Summer undergraduate research competed in an international math competition called Math Kangaroo in 2012 and showed off some of the skills they program continues its success learned at K-State Math Circle Seminars. This year marked the first time the competition was held in Manhattan. About 60 ndergraduate students studying mathematics spend a area students competed, and eight students received state and Usummer at K-State to conduct research while getting paid. national recognition. The Summer Undergraduate Mathematics Research, or SUMaR, Math Kangaroo started in Australia and came to the United is a Research Experience for Undergraduates, or REU, program States in 1998. Students in grades 1-12 complete a multiple- partially funded through the National Science Foundation choice test. Nearly 200 students took the test statewide in 2012, and K-State’s Student Undergraduate Research Opportunity with the other testing centers in Lawrence and Overland Park. Program. The Friends of Mathematics Endowment and the Havley Mathematics Department Fund provide some support Those from the Manhattan and Ogden district receiving for social activities. recognition in their respective levels included: The eight-week program offers funding and housing to 12 • Justin Li, grade 2, second place in state, seventh nationwide bright and high-performing students from across the nation for • Styopa Zharkov, grade 4, first place in state, third intensive mathematics study and research at K-State. SUMaR nationwide prides itself in attracting diverse participants and accepts • Amy Li, grade 4, second place in state, fourth nationwide students about to enter their junior or senior year. • Caleb Bavlnka, grade 7, first in state, 10th nationwide Students in the program learn the process of mathematical research through lectures by philosophy faculty. Students take • Sumin Tark, grade 3, first in state one short series on propositional logic and another on the • Shawn Meng, grade 3, second in state epistemology of math. They become familiar with what makes • Ava Chae, grade 2, third in state a mathematical statement true, as opposed to a statement in experimental science. • Bryce Easton, grade 7, second in state 4 Department of Mathematics

Professor Chermak’s recent research generates worldwide interest

rofessor Andrew Chermak’s recent work on local group Chermak showed that a unique “centric linking system” can be Ptheory has resulted in international recognition. associated to any fusion system; this is a positive result, as such Chermak has participated in speaking engagements around an association facilitates the description of the classifying space the world, and a 98-page paper co-authored by Michael of the fusion system. Aschbacher of the California Institute of Technology has been Acta Mathematica, one of the most prestigious journals in published in the Annals of Mathematics, one of the top three mathematics, has provisionally accepted an 86-page paper journals of mathematics. detailing his results. The reviewer of the paper called it The paper, titled “A group-theoretic approach to a family of “a monumental work and a valuable resource for anyone 2-local finite groups constructed by Levi and interested in the theory of fusion systems and Oliver,” gives an alternate perspective on their associated categories.” 2-local finite groups by showing that a 2-local Chermak’s work has garnered attention from finite group can be represented as a 2-local algebraists worldwide. In summer 2011, the group (of a not necessarily finite group). It University of Copenhagen in Denmark hosted was published in 2010 in Volume 171, Issue 2 a conference based on his Acta paper, the of the Annals of Mathematics. “Masterclass and workshop on Fusion systems Chermak subsequently settled an important and p-local .” conjecture in local group theory. This field During spring and summer 2012, Chermak — the study of the relation between a finite spent a sabbatical in Europe. Stops on group and its proper subgroups — has Chermak’s tour included Groups 2012, a proven to have useful applications to fusion high-profile conference at Bielefeld University systems, which are relevant to homotopy in Germany, where he spoke on “localities,” a theory and other areas. new notion developed for his proof. He also visited Barcelona, where he delivered a series of lectures on linking systems. Department again awards record number of Ph.D.s ine students earned a Ph.D. from • Todd Moore, whose advisor is Professor of Mathematics Nthe Department of Mathematics Education Andrew Bennett. Todd will be an assistant professor in 2011-2012. This beats the record at Fort Hays State University in Kansas. set during the last academic year, in • Ibrahim Saleh, whose advisor is which eight students earned a Ph.D. Professor Zongzhu Lin. Ibrahim It is the most since the inception of will be an assistant professor at the the doctoral program in 1969. University of Wisconsin-Marathon After graduation, students will County. pursue careers throughout the U.S. • Sharad Silwal, whose advisor and the world. They include: is Associate Professor Diego • Zhaobing Fan, whose advisor is Maldonado. Sharad will be an Professor Zongzhu Lin. Zhaobing will assistant professor at Northland be in a postdoctoral position at the College in Wisconsin, where he Zhaobing Fan University at Buffalo. will be teaching Sharad Silwal undergraduate level • Santosh Ghimire, whose advisor is Professor math and statistics Charles Moore. Santosh will return to his native courses. Kubrom Teka country of Nepal to join the faculty at Tribhuvan • Kubrom Teka, whose University in Kathmandu. advisor is Assistant Professor Ivan Blank. Kubrom • IkJae Lee, whose advisor is Professor David Yetter. will be an assistant professor at the State IkJae has accepted a position at Rowan Univeristy University of New York at Oswego. in . • Xiaojing Zhang, whose advisor is Professor • Dany Majard, whose advisor is Professor Louis Charles Moore. Xiaojing will remain at K-State to Crane. Dany has accepted a postdoctoral position finish her master’s degree in statistics. at Masaryk University in Brno in the Czech Republic. 5 Friends of Mathematics Newsletter Winter 2013

Faculty members involved in community

aculty members in the Department of Mathematics are giving back to the Fcommunity. They’re preparing the next generation of mathematicians and helping Manhattan- area students get excited about mathematics. The department has a long tradition of inspiring future mathematicians through contests, outreach and education. “There is an obvious reason why we became mathematicians: we love math,” said Natasha Rozhkovskaya, an assistant professor who helps organize a math seminar. “At every lecture and event, we share our admiration of this beautiful science. We would be happy if everyone around us would love mathematics as much as we do.” Math seminars

Faculty members and graduate students teach weekly Math Circle Seminars in Cardwell Hall for students in grades 1-12 who have a strong interest in mathematics and science. The free enrichment program is offered at three levels. Students in grades 1-4 solve mathematical problems and participate in hands-on activities, while older students Natasha Rozhkovskaya with Math Circle Students attend academic seminars. Faculty members rotate teaching lectures on different topics and methods in solving problems. Faculty members include Ilya Zharkov, Gabriel Nagy, Roman Fedorov, Victor Turchin, Yan Soibelman and Rozhkovskaya, and graduate students include Art museum project Xiaojing Zhang and Vincent Pigno. In fall 2011, the department started a joint project The seminars complement the curriculum of local schools, and everything that with the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art on students learn at a Math Circle is new, challenging and exciting, Rozhkovskaya said. campus. In collaboration with Kathrine Schlageck, “One of the main goals of the Math Circle Seminar program is to introduce the a senior educator at the museum, students younger generation to the culture of mathematics,” she said. “The crucial component involved in the Math Circle Seminars participated of the mathematical culture is the ability to make arguments and prove statements. in math workshops based on art. The program has special focus on training students in logical reasoning. Homework Participants were invited to visit the museum after is assigned every week, and in the traditions of the best mathematical schools, hours to discuss art objects in the collection that students submit for grading not only correct answers, but the written proofs — even involve symmetry, to solve some related math the first-graders.” problems and to work on hands-on activities. With support from the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, the program gives away prizes to the most active participants and best problem-solvers. Prizes include Library outreach mathematics and science books and logical puzzles and games. One parent says her fourth-grade daughter has greatly benefited from the fun and In 2010, with the help of the staff of the engaging program. Manhattan Public Library, the department created a list of literature for all ages about recreational “My daughter is always very eager to show me what she has done in class,” the math available for check out at the library. parent said. “The instructors clearly understand how to use math to inspire and motivate. It is really impressive to see kids leaving class, clutching homework and The department complemented the library already strategizing on how to solve the problems.” collection with new mathematics books and materials. The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute sponsored the donations to the public School Partnerships library. The department collaborates with several gifted education teachers in the Manhattan area. More information “Our community is very lucky to have devoted educators who eagerly commit their Math competitions: www.math.ksu.edu/math/ time and efforts to various science projects for school students,” Rozhkovskaya said. highschools/hscomp.htm The department has helped coordinate the American Mathematics Contest 8, a Olympiad: www.math.ksu.edu/K-12/olympiad/ 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice exam for middle school students. index.html The department also hosts the annual Manhattan Mathematical Olympiad, part of Math Circle Seminars: www.math.ksu.edu/events/ the All-University Open House activities. The Department of Mathematics has hosted mathcircle the competition since 1997 for students in grades 5-12.

6 Department of Mathematics

Awards banquet recognizes students, faculty

he Department of Mathematics honored the achievements of Tstudents, graduates and faculty at the annual Friends of Mathematics awards banquet held in the main ballroom of the K-State Student Union on April 19, 2012. The department recognized elementary school winners in the Kansas section of the American Mathematical Competitions, undergraduate scholarship winners, Ph.D. candidates who excel at academics or teaching, and all students who planned to graduate in May or August. In addition to the numerous awards bestowed, the evening featured two short addresses. Distinguished alumnus Chet Wilcox gave an inspirational talk, titled “Wow! My math instructors sent me on some journey!” to those beginning their careers. He spoke of the many jobs and experiences that his mathematics degree made possible, including working on underwater acoustics for the Navy, and the many places he lived because of his work. He offered this advice to those beginning a career: “Know exactly what is expected, and then do more.” Edward Frenkel, the Friends of Mathematics lecturer and a mathematics professor at the University of California, Berkley, gave the keynote address, titled “Mathematics with a human face.” He noted that the use of mathematics is more prevalent than ever. He pointed out that any time someone sends a text or uses a computer, mathematical algorithms run in the background. However, mathematics is in a blind spot for many people, Frenkel said, and some see math as torture. Mathematicians appreciate the beauty of mathematics, Frenkel said, but because of its abstract nature, mathematics may be difficult for non-mathematicians to appreciate. Mathematics teachers are the gatekeepers and need to talk about the subject to try to make it more accessible, Frenkel said. This may involve communicating mathematics in nontraditional ways — through films, graphic novels or apps, for example. Mathematics is elegant and beautiful, Frenkel said. People should not be afraid to present the human component of the field. Distinguished Alumnus Chet Wilcox Student scholarship winners recognized at the banquet

7 Friends of Mathematics Newsletter Winter 2013

Undergraduate Lecture Series highlights opportunities in mathematics

n fall 2011 the Department of Mathematics played host to from years in the trenches to help students avoid some Imany campus lectures by well-known mathematicians in the future career issues. He worked for Shell Oil Co. in the field of Undergraduate Lecture Series. exploration geophysics.

Marianne Korten, professor of mathematics, Kansas State John Nelson, president, The Applied Research Co. University “Futures and Options Pricing” “How to Be the Best Math Student You Can Be” 1:30 p.m., Oct. 3, 122 Cardwell Hall 1:30 p.m., Aug. 22, 122 Cardwell Hall The Futures Industry Association reports that 22.3 billion This talk focused on what Korten wished she had known futures and options contracts traded hands during 2010, an when she started college, and what she thinks would have increase of 25.6 percent over 2009. These financial instruments helped her students. She has experience helping her graduate determine the price of everything from stocks and bonds and undergraduate students search for jobs and writing to gold, gasoline and coffee. Pricing and measuring the risk recommendation letters for them. associated with these contracts involves using a collection of methods utilizing calculus, probability, statistics and Karl Kandt, assistant director, Career and Employment Services, numerical analysis. Nelson, a K-State alumnus, looked at how Kansas State University these contracts are structured, how they are traded, by whom “The Career Fair, Internships and Co-op Work Experiences” and why. He also examined the Black-Scholes option pricing 1:30 p.m., Aug. 29, 145 Cardwell Hall formula, the standard pricing method for options worldwide. Finally, he bought a futures option and tracked its profit and Kandt discussed CES services, career options for math majors, loss in the market real-time. resume development, helpful websites to consider, CES events, fairs and special programs. Gary Gabrielson, senior systems engineer, Raytheon Corp., and adjunct instructor, Pike Peaks Community College Mark Lesperance, actuarial analyst, Producers Agriculture Insurance Co. “Who was Professor Coakley?” 1:30 p.m., Oct. 10, 122 Cardwell Hall “A Delicious Introduction to Auto Rates and the Actuarial Profession” While supporting a project on an old manuscript collection 1:30 p.m., Sept. 12, 122 Cardwell Hall at The Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon, Gabrielson came across a 19th century set of notes on The actuarial profession is a challenging and rewarding field, trigonometry attributed to George Washington Coakley. and it provides great opportunities to utilize mathematics and Gabrielson, a K-State alumnus, discussed what he found out statistics in real applications. This presentation provided a brief about Coakley and 19th century trigonometry. background on actuarial careers and job prospects. Lesperance, a K-State alumnus, discussed the complexities of insurance Harold Albrecht, retired software developer, IBM Corp. pricing and utilized candy to illustrate a simple example for “Career Fields of Opportunity” auto insurance. Audience participation was encouraged. 1:30 p.m., Oct. 17, 122 Cardwell Hall Eric Mann, actuarial analyst, Allstate Insurance Corp. Albrecht, a K-State alumnus, discussed how his math “Finding an Actuarial Internship” background contributed to his success at IBM. He focused on 1:30 p.m., Sept. 19, 122 Cardwell Hall current fields of opportunity, many of which opened up or become more visible as a result of events that unfolded starting This talk covered several important elements for finding an in the 1990s, beginning with the launching of the Hubble actuarial internship: passing actuarial exams, performing well in telescope up until more recent events such as the IBM Watson college, looking for companies, preparing a resume and cover “Jeopardy!” Challenge in 2011. letter, and interviewing. Mann, a K-State alumnus, discussed resources available at K-State to make students outstanding internship candidates.

Samuel Musil, retired exploration geophysicist, Shell Oil Co. “Mathematics, Linear Programming, and Geophysics as a Career” 1:30 p.m., Sept. 26, 122 Cardwell Hall Musil, a K-State alumnus, offered his tips for success gleaned

8 Department of Mathematics

Jeffrey Hicks, National Science Foundation Graduate Research career as a U.S. Air Force officer, where he had various duties Fellow, Kansas State University in cryptology, electronic countermeasures, and test and evaluation; as squadron, group and base commander; and as “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: But Nothing a mathematics instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He Serious” had the opportunity to serve in the military in several jobs 1:30 p.m., Oct. 24, 122 Cardwell Hall that employed his mathematics degree, working important Hicks, a K-State alumnus, discussed his life and experiences, problems that challenged him to continue to study and along with the many opportunities available for those with a mature in his knowledge and understanding of mathematics. mathematics degree. Even as his duties became more leadership oriented and less mathematical/technical, he continued to benefit from the Amir Bahadori, radiation scientist, University of Houston- problem-solving foundation that comes from the study of Downtown, and contractor for the NASA Johnson Space Center mathematics. “Mathematics in Space Radiation Protection” 1:30 p.m., Oct. 31, 122 Cardwell Hall Garry Hart, retired professor and chair of mathematics and former dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, California Radiation is undetectable by human senses. It is all around us, State University, Dominguez Hills yet most are unaware of its presence. Everyone is exposed to radiation from natural background sources, including radon, “Do Math and You Can Do Anything” cosmic background and even food. Generally, exposure 1:30 p.m., Nov. 28, 122 Cardwell Hall from background radiation is unavoidable and not limited Hart, a K-State alumnus, discussed his journey from assistant by regulatory bodies, with the exception of radon. Some professor of mathematics to dean of the College of Arts and individuals are exposed to radiation as a result of occupation. Humanities at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He For these people, the amount of radiation received must discussed assignments along the way that included a stint in be estimated to ensure that limits governing exposure are admissions and records and as the chair of the mathematics, not exceeded and to explore means of reducing exposures. computer science and history departments. Astronauts are occupationally exposed to a unique radiation environment in space. It largely consists of protons trapped Steve Cramer, assistant actuary, Protective Life Corp. in Earth’s geomagnetic field, protons from solar particle “The Theory of Interest and Derivatives Markets” events and galactic cosmic rays. The NASA astronaut radiation 11:30 a.m., Dec. 1, 146 Cardwell Hall exposure limit is 3 percent risk of exposure induced death with a 95 percent confidence limit. To ensure these limits are not Cramer, a K-State alumnus, discussed how the theory of interest exceeded, the NASA Radiation Health Office couples one- and derivatives markets apply in the typical projects that arise dimensional deterministic radiation transport with models of in an actuarial position. vehicular and body self-shielding to estimate radiation dose Virginia Naibo, professor of mathematics and director of the to the astronaut. Radiation dose is then correlated to risk I-Center, Kansas State University through epidemiological models. In this talk, K-State alumnus Amir Bahadori discussed the role of mathematics in space “The Work of I-Center Undergraduate Scholars” radiation protection, including modeling the space radiation 1:30 p.m., Dec. 5, 122 Cardwell Hall environment, radiation transport and radiation epidemiology. The Center for the Integration of Undergraduate, Graduate He also presented research in the areas of new astronaut and Postdoctoral Research, or I-Center, is a unit within the computational models and the use of Monte Carlo radiation Department of Mathematics. It supports mathematical research transport for the space radiation environment. experiences for undergraduate students under the guidance of faculty and postdoctoral fellows. During the seminar, current Mukta Bhandari, professor, Chowan University in North undergraduate scholars at the I-Center presented their work Carolina on various topics: mathematical methods for compression of 1:30 p.m., Nov. 7, 122 Cardwell Hall signal and digital images, the use of mathematics to accurately Bhandari is a K-State alumnus. describe how biological epidemics can spread in rural settings, and mathematical models describing the motion of two masses Paul Laugesen, retired colonel, U.S. Air Force along a surface. This was an excellent chance for undergraduate “I Want to Be a Mathematician, Too (Apologies to the Late Paul students to learn about opportunities for undergraduate Halmos)” research as they pursue their mathematics degree. 1:30 p.m., Nov. 14, 122 Cardwell Hall Laugesen discussed how the passion he developed for mathematics as a student at K-State shaped his 25-year 9 Friends of Mathematics Newsletter Winter 2013

Lectures feature range of prominent international mathematicians

uring the 2011-2012 academic year, the 7th Brent P. Smith Lecture American-Scandinavian Foundation Thord- DDepartment of Mathematics welcomed David Nualart, University of Kansas Gray Fellowship, and he has been at the a variety of distinguished lecturers to K-State University of Washington since 1976, where he from top institutions around the world. “Fractional Brownian Motion: Stochastic served as department chair from 1998-2001. Speakers included: Calculus and Applications” Feb. 23, 2012 8th Brent P. Smith Lecture 44th William J. Spencer Lecture Nualart, who has been a professor at the George Andrews, Pennsylvania State Ron Donagi, University of Pennsylvania University of Kansas since 2005, has more than University 230 published articles in refereed journals and “Quantum Sheaf Cohomology” refereed proceedings written in collaboration “The Prescient Ramanujan” Nov. 3, 2011 with more than 85 co-authors. He is a member April 12, 2012 Donagi is a mathematical physicist, known of several professional societies. Andrews is the Evan Pugh mathematics for his work in algebraic geometry and professor at Pennsylvania State University string theory. He has been a professor of 45th William J. Spencer Lecture and is an expert on the theory of partitions. mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania Nicholas Kuhn, University of Virginia He has a long-term interest in the work since 1988. of S. Ramanujan, whose last notebook he “Polynomial Functors in Homotopy Theory” unearthed in 1976. 22nd Harry E. Valentine Lecture March 8, 2012 Nicolai Reshetikhin, University of California, Kuhn’s research is centered around algebraic 49th William J. Spencer Lecture Berkeley topology and homotopy theory. His research Ronald Brown, Bangor University interests have broadened to include algebraic “Quantum Field Theory: Are We There Yet?” K-theory and group representation theory. “Motion, Space, Knots, and Higher-dimensional Dec. 6, 2011 Kuhn has been at the University of Virginia Algebra” Reshetikhin has been a professor of since 1986. April 17, 2012 mathematics at the University of California, Brown has pursued an idea of “higher Berkeley, since 1993. He has been recognized 46th William J. Spencer Lecture dimensional group theory” since the with numerous awards, including designation Naichung Conan Leung, Institute for mid-1960s, which has resulted in many as a Prize Fellow at Harvard, a Sloan Fellowship Mathematical Sciences/Chinese University of collaborations and articles and involved many and a Humboldt Award. Hong Kong students. He has also been involved in the popularization of mathematics, resulting in 23rd Isidore & Hilda Dressler Lecture “SYZ Transformation In Mirror Symmetry” classes at Bangor for 13-year-olds since 1985. March 15, 2012 Ken Ono, Emory University Leung received the Chern Prize in 2010. 30th annual Friends of Mathematics Lecture “Adding and Counting” He has served on the editorial boards for Jan. 24, 2012 Edward Frenkel, University of California, mathematics journals and been involved in Berkeley Ono’s research areas include algebra, many conferences and workshops. Leung has arithmetic geometry, combinatorics and refereed numerous papers for journals and “What Do Fermat’s Last Theorem and number theory. He has won numerous awards, been a reviewer for Mathematical Reviews and Electro-magnetic Duality Have In Common?” including the National Science Foundation Zentralblatt für Mathematik. April 19, 2012 Director’s Distinguished Teaching Scholar Frenkel became a professor at the University Award, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the H.I. 47th William J. Spencer Lecture of California, Berkeley, at the age of 28. He Romnes Fellowship and the Alfred P. Sloan Arkady Berenstein, University of Oregon has won the Hermann Weyl Prize, the Packard Foundation Research Fellowship. Fellowship in Science and Engineering, and the “Quantum Cluster Algebras” first Chaire d’Excellence award from Fondation 23rd Harry E. Valentine Lecture March 27, 2012 Sciences Mathematiques de Paris. His recent Lev Borisov, Berenstein has taught at the University of work has focused on the Langlands Program Oregon since 2006. His principal research and dualities in Quantum Field Theory. “What is Mirror Symmetry in String Theory?” interests are in representation theory, Feb. 21, 2012 quantum groups, combinatorics and birational 9th Brent P. Smith Lecture Borisov has been a professor at Rutgers algebraic geometry. University since 2009. His research specialty Jan Hesthaven, Brown University is algebraic geometry and related areas. The 48th William J. Spencer Lecture “Reduced Models You Can Believe In” National Science Foundation has supported Donald Marshall, University of Washington May 3, 2012 Borisov’s research since 2002. Borisov serves as Hesthaven serves as the deputy director of an editor for the Proceedings of the AMS. “Conformal Welding” March 29, 2012 the National Science Foundation’s Institute for Computational and Experimental Research Marshall has served on the National Science in Mathematics at Brown University. He has Foundation Panels on Real, Complex, and been awarded an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, Harmonic Analysis, and Geometric Function a Manning Assistant Professorship and a Theory for five years. He received the National Science Foundation Career Award. 10 Department of Mathematics

Your support makes a difference

Scholarships, lecture series, world-class lecturers, competitions and more. They enhance the educational experience offered by the Department of Mathematics and are crucial to the department’s continued growth and success. But these programs would not exist without the substantial gifts we have received from our alumni and friends over the past several decades. These generous gifts have allowed us to establish scholarships for talented undergraduates — the Hostinsky, Fuller, Miller, Stromberg and Rector scholarships — as well as the S. Thomas Parker scholarship competition and Fung’s Achievement Award. Alumni Survey These gifts also helped the department establish the Dressler, Spencer, Valentine, Name Thomas, Stromberg, Smith, Chatelain and Friends of Mathematics lecture series, all of which bring the world’s best mathematicians to our department to lecture. Class and degree The importance of these scholarships and lecture series for mathematics at K-State Address cannot be overemphasized. Gifts to the department, large and small, have had a profound effect on both our undergraduate and graduate programs and have raised the reputation of our department regionally, nationally and internationally. Phone Here’s the proof: Email • Our graduate program has granted 63 master’s degrees and 29 doctorates over the past 10 years. Home page address • Our doctorate and master’s graduates are employed at educational institutions in all Company or graduate school levels, as well as in the insurance industry, the financial industry and with government. • Based on current rankings by the National Research Council, our graduate program is ranked higher than most other regional programs in mathematics. Occupation and title • Twenty-seven K-State mathematics majors have now won Goldwater Scholarships. With 64 total Goldwater scholars, K-State ranks first among the nation’s 500 public Recent promotions, awards, universities. or special achievements in your work • Recent K-State mathematics graduates have gone on to graduate study at dozens of highly ranked universities throughout the world. • Our graduates are employed by insurance companies, financial institutions, government, the defense industry, scientific labs, the communication industry and as Personal happenings you would like to share teachers. • Our mathematics majors have recently earned a Fulbright Scholarship, the Clare Boothe Luce Scholarship, a Department of Defense Research Fellowship and three National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. Six of our majors have been McNair Scholars. One major recently earned honorable mention for the Alice T. Schafer Prize. • Many of our majors are involved with summer internships or research at companies K-State notice of nondiscrimination and academic institutions throughout the U.S. and across the world. Kansas State University is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, military status, veteran status, or other non-merit reasons, in admissions, educational programs or activities and employment, Help us keep this momentum going. We want to continue providing scholarships to including employment of disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam Era, as required by applicable laws and regulations. Responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, attract top students. We are, and want to continue to be, recognized for our use of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, has been delegated to the Director of Affirmative Action, Kansas State computers and technology in our courses and for the important skills these provide. University, 214 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-0124, (Phone) 785-532-6220; (TTY) 785-532-4807. Scholarships and technology represent pressing financial needs for our department. That’s why we call on all our alumni and friends to continue helping us attain our goal of becoming one of the top 50 mathematics departments in the U.S., and to allow us to continue to provide an excellent education for our students. You can find out more about our current — and past — achievements at our department webpage, math.ksu.edu, and remember to follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/group.php?gid=138010466235. You can now donate online at www.found.ksu.edu/math. 11

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