# Welcome

### Upcoming Events

#### Algebra Seminar

MONDAY Apr. 20, 04:30 PM CW 120

Title: TBA
TBA Kansas State University

#### M-seminar

TUESDAY Apr. 21, 03:30 PM CW 120

Title: Gluing Fukaya categories
Zach Sylvan UC Berkeley

#### Algebra Seminar

MONDAY Apr. 27, 04:30 PM CW 120

Title: TBA
TBA Kansas State University

### Recent News

#### Undergraduate mathematics students succeed in the Putnam competition

April 2015

Eight Kansas State University students have placed highly in the Putnam competition. The Mathematical Association of America has released results from the 75th annual Putnam Mathematical Competition, the most prestigious mathematics contest for undergraduates at colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. The Kansas State University team finished in the top 20 percent of the 577 colleges and universities and 4,320 students that participated in the competition. The university team also had one member who placed in the top 22 percent in the competition: Fernando Roman, senior in mathematics, Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.

#### Winners of the 17th Parker Competition announced

April 2015

Five Kansas State students placed at the top in the 2015 S. Thomas Parker Mathematics Competition: Aaron Messerla, mathematics major, took first place. Three students tied for second place: Nicholas Donohoue, mathematics and physics major; Jessica McCall, mathematics and biology major; and Natasha Graham, physics major. Finally, Sarah Featherstone, chemical engineering major, took third place. Awards will be presented Tuesday, April 14 at the annual Friends of Mathematics Banquet. Each Parker competition winner will receive a cash award and two certificates: a personal certificate and a framed certificate for the student organization of his or her choice that honors the achievement.

March 2015

A K-State team comprising Max Goering, Joshua Klarmann, and Aaron Messerla placed second in the Kansas Collegiate Mathematics Competition, held at Fort Scott Community College on March 27-28, 2015, in conjunction with the 100th meeting of the Kansas Section of the MAA. Max Goering also presented his paper "Inventory accumulation and quadrangulations of the sphere" at the meeting, for which he received a $50 prize. #### K-State Hosts Inaugural Central States Mathematics Undergraduate Research Conference March 2015 The first annual Central States Mathematics Undergraduate Research (CeSMUR) Conference took place at K-State on February 27-28, 2015. CeSMUR, a joint project of Kansas State University and Truman State University, will annually provide undergraduates who are engaged in mathematical research projects the opportunity to present their work to peers and faculty from Kansas, Missouri, and neighboring states. #### Mathematics major Aaron Messerla one of four KState nominees for Goldwater Scholarship February 2015 Messerla, a sophomore in mathematics and music, is working with David Auckly, professor of mathematics, on a dance program that depicts a specific class of geometric shapes using ropes. He is a member of Pi Mu Epsilon math honor society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He also is a mathematics department I-Center Scholar and a member of the university's Concert Band and Cat Band. He has received a College of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Scholarship, Putnam Scholarship, Fort Riley Combined Scholarship, James R. Foster Jr. Memorial Arts and Sciences Scholarship, Thomas L. and Elouise J. Miller Scholarship for Excellence in Mathematics, Riley County 4-H Foundation Scholarship and the Mary Lou Gibbs State 4-H Scholarship. A 2012 graduate of Riley County High School, Riley, he is the son of Dave and Dawn Messerla, Manhattan. #### David Auckly and three collaborators selected as a Structured Quartet Research Ensemble at the American Institute of Mathematics January 2015 Dave Auckly is collaborating with Hee Jung Kim, Paul Melvin, and Danny Ruberman to better understand the structure of surfaces in four-dimensional spaces. In a paper to appear in the next issue of the Journal of the London Math Society they describe pair of embedded spheres that may be continuously deformed into each other, but crinkles must appear at some point in the deformation. When a worm-hole is added to the space, the spheres may be deformed into each other without crinkles at some point in the deformation. Auckly and his collaborators will make several extended visits to the American Institute of Mathematics over the next few years to extend this research. #### David Auckly has another puzzle in New York Times NumberPlay November 2014 Professor Auckly has another puzzle in the New York Times NumberPlay this week, see here. The story of the puzzle is about trading sheep in the Navajo Nation. This puzzle is easier than the last one he contributed to NumberPlay, see here . Dr Auckly used a version of the sheep puzzle at the summer math camp that he helped run on the Navajo Nation this past summer. This particular puzzle is suitable for use with elementary school students. Indeed groups of fourth graders have had fun playing with it. #### Distinguished alumnus Paul Laugesen receives the Alumni Merit Award October 2014 Paul Laugesen, who was commissioned by the K-State Air Force ROTC program and graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1983, received the Alumni Merit Award during the fifth annual Eisenhower Circle Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Established in 2010, the Eisenhower Circle Celebration is a special event recognizing the college's alumni award recipients, student scholarship winners and loyal alumni and friends who give$250 or more to the college annually.

"Paul has excelled in his service to our nation as a defense intelligence senior executive, making him one of the university's highest-ranking government alumni," Andy Bennett said. "He is a model for our students who aspire to both academic excellence and public service."

#### Roman Fedorov receives NSF-DMS award

October 2014

Assistant Professor Roman Fedorov receives an NSF-DMS award to support his research on Principal bundles on local schemes and a duality for Hitchin systems.

#### Kansas State University chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon inducts new members

May 2014

Pi Mu Epsilon is a national honorary society for mathematics students. It is dedicated to the promotion of mathematics and recognition of students who successfully pursue mathematical understanding.

The advisors of the Kansas State University Chapter are Dave Auckly and Marianne Korten. The new student members inducted this spring are:

Max Goering, Melissa Coats, Ryan Sutton, Anna Armstrong, Fernando Roman, Aaron Messerla, Joseph Sheppard, and Joshua Klarmann.

Congratulations to these students for this honor!

May 2014

#### Todd Cochrane receives the College of Arts and Sciences Stamey Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

April 2014

William L. Stamey is a mathematician who served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for seventeen years from 1970-1987. The William L. Stamey Award was established in recognition of Dean Stamey's outstanding record in recruiting excellent faculty to Kansas State University and in recognition of the continuing need to foster excellence in teaching and advising.

Professor Cochrane was recognized for his extraordinary ability to make difficult mathematics clear and for inspiring students to achieve. Cochrane is equally adept at teaching upper-division courses for math majors and introductory service courses. He is committed to his students and always goes the extra mile to be sure students have all the support they need.

#### New Mathematics Undergraduate Student Research Seminar

April 2014

A group of undergraduate students, veterans in undergraduate research with the I-Center, and active Math Club members, have created the undergraduate student research seminar.