1996 K-State Undergraduate Lecture Series in Mathematics
Lectures by four distinguished visiting mathematicians, three alumni, and a government representative were the highlights of our Undergraduate Lecture Series at Kansas State University in 1996.Vera Pless, a distinguished mathematician from the University of Illinois at Chicago, visited K-State in the spring and gave a mini-course on Error correcting codes. Vera described the basic concepts of coding theory and how codes are used to detect and correct errors on transmission channels caused by noise. In the fall, Bert Yood, an eminent mathematician from the University of Pennsylvania, visited K-State and gave a mini-course on The rise of abstraction in analysis. Bert described the development of functional analysis and explored many interesting facets of this subject. Michael Frame, a noted mathematician from Union College, also visited K-State in the fall and gave a mini-course on Fractals, chaos, and complexity. Michael developed the basic ideas of fractals and chaos theory and presented a new, visual method for quantifying the complexity of natural and mathematical objects. These three mini-courses were very well received, attracting visitors from Lawrence, Topeka, and Wichita.
Michael Aschbacher, a world famous mathematician from the California Institute of Technology, gave an outstanding undergraduate lecture on Symmetry in which he described how mathematicians make the idea of symmetry precise and use algebraic objects called groups to study symmetry. He also described how error correcting codes are used in compact disk players and to communicate with deep space probes.
Yaping Liu, a 1993 K-State mathematics alumnus, gave a presentation entitled The story of Pi. Yaping is now teaching mathematics at Pittsburg State University. Claudinna Rowley, a 1989 K-State mathematics alumna, gave a presentation entitled There is life after graduation - including: how I survived a Fullbright teacher exchange. Claudinna is on the faculty at Johnson County Community College. Mufid Abudiab, a 1993 K-State mathematics alumnus, gave a presentation entitled Learning mathematics at KSU and its effect on my career. He is now a mathematics professor at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi.
Al Davis and Iris Pruit, representing the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command Analysis Center in Fort Leavenworth, described The Career Experience Program. This new program provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain work experience that is directly related to their educational and career goals.