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Kansas State University

KSU Math Home : Events : K-State Brainstorming and Barnstorming - REU : Program results

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Program results

The first Brainstorming and Barnstorming program took place from June 6, 2005 to July 29, 2005, and we have hosted the program every summer since. Pictures from these programs may be found on the web pages devoted to the specific programs. The students wrote a number of impressive mathematical research papers in this short period of time. The papers may be downloaded from the links below:

• G. Ehrman, A. Gurpinar, M. Thibault, D. Yetter.: Toward a classification of finite quandles.
• A. Summerville.: Computer simulations on Mahler's conjecture in 3 dimensions
• D. Love, K. Neal, J. Ranola.: The Smale conjecture
• E. Mbakop.: Reconstruciton of discontinuities in noisy data.
• P. Poggi-Corradini, N. Williamson, A. Wilson.: Modeling ground effect through complex fluid flow analysis.
• A. Scheinker.: The Gauss-Bonnet theorem.
• D. Turner.: Investigation of stable differentiation on noisy piecewise-smooth functions
• D. Hall.: Comparison of inversion techniques for ill-conditioned matrices.
• S. Rainwater.: Convex, symmetric bodies uniquely defined by their chord function.
• N. Olson, D. Rhodes.: Holonomizing and deholonomizing: the pivotal role of commutators in action.
• J. Anderson, A. Brownell, H. Potter.: Quandle basics.
• E. Abebe, J. Graber.: Fourier Series and the delta squared process.
• K. Farnsworth.: Floating Drops in R^2.
• J. Boggess, E. Bunch, C. Moore.: Fourier series and the Lubkin W-transform.
• I. Blank, Taiji Tsutsui.: On a problem from Composite Materials.
• B. Bischof, R. Kogan, and D.N. Yetter.: On a basis for the framed link vector space spanned by chord diagrams

Every student worked on at least two research projects and wrote one mathematics paper (possibly in collaboration). It is likely that several students will publish mathematical research papers as a result of their work here. The intellectual portion of the program also included a problem seminar, a basic notions of mathematics seminar and many aerospace demonstrations. At the end of the program, the students organized a workshop to present their research.

The social portion of the program kept the students busy for the entire length of the program. The students took flight lessons. We had several BBQ's, and game nights. The students went on two canoe trips, played volleyball, soccer, and basketball. We also had a trip to the Cosmosphere in Hutchison, KS. This all fit in well with the theme of mathematics related to flight. The social aspect of a research porgram is important because participants form networks with other students and faculty who eventually become colleagues. The students from our program our still keep in touch.

In the first survey of our program, one student compared the program to a mathematics REU that he attended the previous year. He wrote, ``This [KSU] REU is impressive compared to my previous REU experience. Here we have a lot of faculty mentors and a lot more interesting lectures. ... I really appreciate the openess of faculty here to discuss their research, and to talk at or above our level."