Abstracts of Plenary Talks: Fall 2011 Seaway Section Meeting

Abstract: Ten years ago, 2,753 people were killed from the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. The victim identification process was the largest and most complex forensic project in history. This presentation will describe the events of 9/11 from a forensic perspective and detail the mathematics of DNA victim identification. These include DNA Fingerprinting, Kinship Analysis and other genetic applications of Forensic Mathematics.

In 2001, Jonathan Hoyle was Senior Software Engineer and Mathematician at Gene Codes Forensics and was responsible for implementing the mathematical algorithms used in M-FISys, the forensic software written specifically for the World Trade Center project. Jonathan received his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Delaware and his graduate work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Today he is a Macintosh Software Architect at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY. 

Workshop: Writing Mathematics Well

Abstract: The importance of communicating mathematics clearly and effectively is evident in the many ways in which mathematicians must write. With a focus on exposition, this workshop offers tips for improving writing skills, from grammar and usage to organization and manuscript or slide preparation.

Abstract: The world’s population is projected to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, approximately 50% greater than in 2000. We are already facing challenges related to climate change, peak oil, and general ecosystem degradation. A main finding of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted. Education is key to helping students understand the challenges they will face. This talk will provide examples of how sustainability issues can be covered in mathematics classes as part of the typical curriculum from Calculus through research project for seniors. While introducing sustainability topics and making math matter to students we may also be increasing their engagement and understanding of the material.

Tom Pfaff is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Ithaca College. His main teaching interest is incorporating sustainability issues into mathematics courses. Pfaff is the lead-PI of the Multidisciplinary Sustainability Education Project, and he has given several presentations on sustainability in the curriculum. He also maintains a page of sustainability curriculum materials for Mathematics.

Abstract: I'll start from a problem I've encountered in real life and really wanted to solve - something about finding the optimal path to move a camera from one perspective to another - and then tell you how its very simple solution is related to several of the most important concepts in modern mathematics, including the least action principle and non-Euclidean geometry.

I believe math is too deep. Rather than making it deeper, a better use of my time would be to make some deep ends easier and more accessible. I believe math is too abstract, or at least appears to be too abstract, for much of what may be computed hardly ever is. Thus, whenever I can, I code. Yet I have sinned a few times and written on deep math that was not accompanied with programs. I usually work on knot theory and its surprising relationship with algebra, geometry and quantum field theory. I got my Ph.D. at Princeton, did time at Harvard, Hebrew U., Berkeley and MSRI, and I now work at the University of Toronto. Practically everything I've ever done (including even this paragraph) can be found somewhere on my website.