Monday, November 10
MSCS Colloquium: The Futurama Theorem
Joseph Benson, Visiting Assistant Professor, St. Olaf College
The animated sitcom Futurama (1999-2003, 2008-2013) featured on its creative staff a PhD in Applied Mathematics (Ken Keeler), a PhD in Computer Science (Jeff Westbrook), and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry (Bill Odenkirk). Set in the year 3000, the writers are able to play with far out science fiction ideas and incorporate various scientific phenomenons into the show, particularly incorporating mathematics like no other show has done before. In the episode, “Prisoner of Benda”, a bonafide original mathematical result and proof play an integral role in solving the situational problem presented in the episode. In this talk, I will discuss and demonstrate the problem arising in the episode, as well as the prove the theorem which will solve the problem. Then we will watch the episode.
3:30p.m., RNS 310
Kleber-Gery Speaker: Estimating the Net Benefits of Spatial Management in Watersheds
Stephen Polasky, University of Minnesota Regents Professor and Fesler-Lampert Professor of Ecological/Environmental Economics
Polasky’s research interests focus on issues at the intersection of ecology and economics. They include the impacts of land use and land management on the provision and value of ecosystem services, and natural capital, biodiversity conservation, sustainability, environmental regulation, renewable energy, and common property resources. His research has been published in Science, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Frontiers of Ecology and Environment, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Land Economics, and other journals.
3:30 p.m., RNS 150
Biology Seminar: The Clinical Relevance of Immunophenotyping Research in Hematologic Cancers
Andrew Menssen ’12, Hematologics, Inc.
4:00 p.m., RNS 410
Kleber-Gery Speaker: Accounting for Nature: Incorporating Ecosystem Services into Societal Decision-Making
Stephen Polasky, University of Minnesota Regents Professor and Fesler-Lampert Professor of Ecological/Environmental Economics
See seminar listing above for information on Dr. Polasky’s research.
7:00 p.m., Tomson 280
Tuesday, November 11
Environmental Science in Australia Interest Meeting
Dave Van Wylen, Dave Nitz (Program Director for 2016)
If you would like to learn more about the 2016 Environmental Science in Australia program, this interest meeting is for you!
4:30 p.m., BC 142
Wednesday, November 12
No Seminar
Impact Seminar: Innovative Minds Partnering to Advance Cardiac Theranostics
Katie Hartjes, Mayo Graduate Student, IMPACT Coordinator
This is an information and Q/A session. Come learn more about this exciting undergraduate competition! IMPACT is an undergraduate collaboratory sponsored by the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.
7:00 p.m., RNS 410
Thursday, November 13
No Seminar
Friday, November 14
MSCS Research Seminar: Using Linear Algebra and Analysis – some very interesting infinite matrices and how they operate.
Elizabeth Strouse, Universite de Bordeaux
Toeplitz matrices are matrices with constant diagonals while Hankel matrices have constant counter-diagonals. These matrices have been studied ever since people started talking about linear algebra. One can actually represent such matrices as a multiplication by some square-integrable (L2) function on the circle, followed by an orthogonal projection onto a particularly interesting subspace of L2 called the Hardy space. This representation gives us a way to answer questions like: when does the product of two Toeplitz matrices equal a Toeplitz matrix; which matrices commute with Toeplitz matrices or; which matrices act boundedly. I will try to show how this extends some ideas from linear algebra and real analysis – and shows the relationship between the two! I will also say something about my research related to and generalizing these ideas.
3:35p.m., RNS 204