2009 Section Meeting

Invited talks

Colin Adams, Williams College

Blown Away: What Knot To Do When Sailing

Abstract: This talk will be given by Sir Randolph Bacon III, cousin-in-law to Colin Adams (or is it just Colin in disguise?!?!). Being a tale of adventure on the high seas involving great risk to the tale teller, and how an understanding of the mathematical theory of knots saved his bacon. No nautical or mathematical background assumed.

Tom Hull, Western New England College

Origami Math and its Increasing Intersections

Abstract: Mathematical studies of origami (paper folding) have been enjoying growing attention over the past 7 years. Computational folding problems have found applications in protein folding, and engineering fields from nanotechnology to solar panels in outer space have turned to origami for assistance. Such attention had led to a deeper understanding of the various ways in which paper folding can be modeled mathematically. One surprise has been the sheer number of different branches of math that can be applied to origami. From geometry to abstract algebra to number theory to combinatorics, origami seems to crimp its way into everything. This talk will present a survey of the diverse field that is origami mathematics, with particular attention placed on recent discoveries of both old and new connections.

Betty Mayfield, Hood College

Women & Mathematics in the Time of Euler

Abstract: In 2007, mathematicians around the world focused on All Things Euler: his life, his work, his legacy. We were treated to special conferences, books, papers, posters, a study tour, and sessions at national meetings. We will examine a slightly different topic: female contemporaries of Leonhard Euler (1707 - 1783), some famous, some not so famous. We will look at their lives and their work, at mathematics that was written by and - surprisingly - for women in the time of Euler. This talk grew out of an experimental summer research project with a group of undergraduate students in the history of mathematics.