The American University, Washington, DC celebrated MAW with its
seventh annual problem solving contest. John Montroll, master
designer of origami, gave a talk on that art form, and Professor
Danny Gulick gave a lecture geared toward a general audience on his
research in chaotic dynamical systems and fractal geometry.
Boston University, Massachusetts held a poster exhibit on
symmetry using M.C. Escher's designs and Mathematica computer
graphics to explain tessellations. Professor Persi Diaconis was
interviewed for the MAA's Student Chapter Newsletter, in which
symmetry was a topic discussed.
Central College, Houston, Texas sponsored a week of colloquia on
the mathematical sciences. Each lecture was followed by a
reception at which students and faculty participated in informal
discussions. A portfolio of students' projects, a videotape
library, and articles about MAW were on display in the mathematics
department. The forums, displays, and colloquia were promoted in
local newspapers and on radio stations.
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond sponsored a talk given by
award-winning educator Dr. Helen Reed entitled, "Balance in a
Negative World," A contest to solve two mathematical problems was
advertised in local newspapers. Prizes included a TI-85 calculator
and a copy of Derive. The Governor issued a proclamation
designating May 26, 1995 as Mathematics Awareness Day in Kentucky.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania held its third annual poster
contest in which four mathematics classes participated. The
faculty judged the posters, which were displayed along the halls of
the mathematics classroom area.
Lake Forest College, Illinois sponsored a week of activities in
April. Events included a lecture by Dr. Kenneth Ross entitled,
"Random Walks and Shuffling," and an informal presentation and
workshop by Dr. Ronald Graham on "The Mathematics of Juggling." Dr. Graham
also gave the 11th Annual Distinguished Volwiler Science
lecture on "Searching for the Shortest Network." The college also
held activities involving high school students--a mathematics and
computer science career night, and a quiz show highlighting some of
the clever ideas, famous flaws, and fun of mathematics.
Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pennsylvania co-sponsored a
Mathematics Awareness Activity Day for 120 students from area middle schools
with the Pennsylvania College of
Technology. Hands-on sessions included
exploring polyhedra, probability, graphing calculators, mathematics
games, and fractal geometry in nature. A planetarium show was also
held.
Metro State College of Denver and the University of Colorado at Denver co-sponsored several events including a puzzle contest and
scavenger hunt. Students constructed a tetrahedral Sierpinski
sponge out of 1,024 one-inch tetrahedrons, which was displayed in
the campus bookstore. Several members of the faculty gave talks
throughout the week. Presentations on mathematics and the real
world were given by Dr. Paul Domich, National Institute for
Standards and Technology; quality analyst and statistician Tom
Gatliffe, Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site; and Chuck
Milligan, consulting engineering manager, Storage Technology
Corporation.
New Jersey Mathematics Coalition sponsored Math, Science, and
Technology month during April. Some 200 events were held
throughout the month that engaged parents and children in hands-on
interactive activities. The Governor issued a
proclamation designating April as Mathematics, Science and
Technology month in New Jersey.
Ohio State University, Lima held its annual Undergraduate
Recognition Program during MAW. Professor Robert Mills
of the Department of Physics discussed symmetry as it relates to
physics and the physical world.
Phoenix College, Arizona held a Mathematics Awareness Day filled
with a series lectures, presentations, stories, and poems about
mathematics. The students produced a newsletter dedicated to
mathematics entitled The Quadratic Chronicle.
Rochester Institute of Technology, New York held a
mathematics challenge competition for local high school students. Dr.
Herbert Hauptman, Nobel Laureate and President of the
Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute gave a lecture entitled, "A Minimal
Principle in the Phase Problem of X-Ray Crystallography."
Schenectady County Community College, New York published an
article in the campus newspaper, The Binnekill , about the
importance of mathematics. Books about mathematics were displayed in
the library.
Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan reprinted the article, Mathematics and Symmetry, by Martin Golubitsky and Paul
Davis in its monthly departmental newsletter. Extra copies of this
publication were distributed to students in upper-level mathematics
classes.
St. John's University, Jamaica, New York hosted its fourth Sonia
Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day for 168 female students and
their teachers from thirty schools throughout the metropolitan New
York area. Mathematician and sculptor Helamon Ferguson brought mathematical
concepts to life with his sculptures and his interaction with the
audience. Several of his pieces exemplified the theme of
mathematics and symmetry.
St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, Missouri
sponsored several activities including a demonstration of
interactive CD-ROMs; a demonstration of symmetry in pottery
making; a geology display; a mathematics contest for both
students and faculty; and a showing of "Monument to a Dream," a
documentary on the building of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
The University of Montana, Missoula held an awards ceremony and
reception at which Dr. Jenny McNulty gave a talk entitled,
"Symmetry in Missoula." Other events included a lecture, slide
show, and colloquium on mathematics and symmetry.
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls - sponsored several
activities including a talk by Seniro Karissa Hobert entitled,
"Detecting Symmetry, A Problem in Pattern Recognition." This talk
was based on her research in writing software to implement the
Hough transform algorithm. A videotape, "The Alhambra Past and
Present--A geometer's Odyssey," was shown on the mathematics of
symmetry in Islamic art. Local radio stations broadcast "Weekend
Radio" and played records for mathematics and symmetry.
The University of Vermont, Burlington sponsored several events
including a talk on calculus reform given by Professor Tim Pennings
from Hope College in Michigan. A pizza hour and discussion
followed the lecture. The Mathematics and Statistics Department
held a poster contest on the theme of symmetry for K-8 students
from area schools. Students acted as judges. A $50 savings
bond was awarded to the winning poster in each of the nine grades.
During MAW, mathematics questions were broadcast daily on WRUV with
a T-shirt awarded for each day's correct answer. Mathematics
Awareness T-shirts were sold for $10.
WGBH Radio, Boston, Massachusetts dedicated a program to
Mathematics in Music in celebration of Mathematics Awareness Week.
Robert J. Lurtsema, who hosts a five-hour classical music show on
weekend mornings, discussed music and symmetry with his guest
Professor David Epstein.
Westfield Insurance Companies, Westfield Center, Ohio celebrated
Mathematics Awareness Week. Its actuarial staff published a
newsletter and held a reception for employees.
Back to Math Awareness Week 1995
