1992 K-State Undergraduate Lecture Series in Mathematics
Lectures by five distinguished visiting mathematicians, three alumni, and two business representatives were the highlights of our Undergraduate Lecture Series at Kansas State University in 1992.John Conway, a world famous mathematician from Princeton University, gave an outstanding undergraduate lecture on Game theory in the spring of 1992. In the fall of 1992, John Kelley, a renowned author and mathematician from the University of California at Berkeley, visited Kansas State and gave an undergraduate mini-course on Finite functional analysis. Professor Kelley also gave a William J. Spencer lecture on The nature of mathematics. Louis de Branges, a renowned mathematician from Purdue University, gave another undergraduate mini-course on A theorem of Arne Beurling. Gary Seitz, an eminent mathematician from the University of Oregon, gave a lecture on The classification of the finite simple groups. Uri Treisman, an eminent mathematician from the University of Texas, gave a William J. Spencer lecture entitled Reconstructing the undergraduate mathematics curriculum: student needs and faculty lives.
Ross Freeman, a 1961 K-State mathematics alumnus, delivered a lecture entitled The profit aspect of mathematics. From 1961-1964, Ross worked as a numerical analyst at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in West Palm Beach. While there, he worked on the third stage engine of the Saturn moon rocket. Later he graduated from Washburn Law School and Harvard Business School. Ross now owns ZAX, Incorporated in Topeka which makes control panels for the military, for airports, and for manufacturers. Dave Ewing, a 1984 K-State mathematics alumnus, gave a presentation entitled Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble. Dave used soap films to teach us about minimum curves and surfaces. He is on the faculty at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. Lori Winningham, a 1987 K-State mathematics alumna, gave a presentation entitled What I did with my math degree. After graduation, Lori worked for the Air Force in the Atlas space program, and she is now teaching at Butler County Community College.
Gary Eisenbarth, an actuary representing the Security Benefit Group of Topeka, gave a presentation On becoming an actuary. Marti Orth, an actuary representing the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company in Manhattan, gave a presentation entitled The casualty actuarial society exams.