Wright College Topological Robotics Symposium - Undergraduate Colloquium

We will have a day open to the community on

Thursday February 8th

Join us for the Undergraduate Colloquium on the morning. It will consist of two lectures aimed to undergraduate students and delivered by distinguished mathematicians.

The aim of this Colloquium is to show students the beauty and power of mathematical ideas.

All students are welcome!

Poster

Flyer

Poster presentation 1

Poster presentation 2

 
John Oprea (Cleveland State University): 
"Mathematics, Soap Films, and Biology"
10:00am-11:00am, Math Emporium

Abstract




  
  

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Why do one-celled creatures take the shapes they do? What is the mathematics of breathing? More and more, Mathematics is intruding into the realm of biology. 
Here we will see how mathematical notions of "shape" fit into our understanding of living things. Mathematicians have ways of measuring shape and of determining shape through optimization. 
This fits well with Nature's penchant for economy. Soap films, which arise from surface tension's ability to shrink surface area, are a kind of analog computer for optimizing shape. 
This talk will examine a bit of the mathematics underlying the formation of soap films and then use soap film demonstrations to illustrate the concepts. 
Since audience participation is required for soap film experiments, attendees are encouraged not to wear formal attire!
  
  
   
  




 
               

 
Student Poster Presentations
11:00am-11:30am     
               

 
Andres Angel (Universidad del Norte): 
"Topological Data Analysis"
11:30am-12:30pm, Math Emporium


Abstract