AMATH Prof Talk: Jeff Orchard
November 17, 2025
6:00 PM–8:00 PM
MC 4064
Come join us for an AMATH Prof Talk on neural networks and dynamical systems!
Abstract: In machine learning, neural networks are often used in a feed-forward manner. Or, when a population of neurons is recurrently connected, the updates happen in synchronized jumps. But the neurons in your brain are operating in continuous time. In this talk, I will show you some ways to bridge the gap to biology, and treat networks of interconnected neurons as a dynamical system. Then, we'll co-opt those networks to do our bidding, and get them to solve dynamical systems.
Pizza and refreshments will be provided to PMC members.
SASMS II
November 11, 2025
6:30 PM–9:00 PM
MC 4020
Come listen to us talk about math! Dinner will be provided!
Abstracts:
6:30 PM - 6:55 PM: Jason Tang
How to Come Up with Rational Approximations of sqrt(2) Quickly and Accurately to Impress your Non-math Friends
Basically, coming up with rational approximations of sqrt(2) using norm function properties and Pell's equation x^2 - 2y^2 = ±1.
7:00 PM - 7:25 PM: Amir Dadpour
how two ex-students turned on to pure mathematics and found total happiness
In the beginning, everything was void, and J. H. W. H. Conway began to create numbers. Conway said, "Let there be two rules which bring forth all numbers large and small. This shall be the first rule: Every number corresponds to two sets of previously created numbers, such that no member of the left set is greater than or equal to any member of the right set. And the second rule shall be this: One number is less than or equal to another number if and only if no member of the first number's left set is greater than or equal to the second number, and no member of the second number's right set is less than or equal to the first number." And Conway examined these two rules he had made, and behold! They were very good.
And the first number was created from the void left set and the void right set. Conway called this number "zero," and said that it shall be a sign to separate positive numbers from negative numbers. Conway proved that zero was less than or equal to zero, and he saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the day of zero.
On the next day, two more numbers were created, one with zero as its left set and one with zero as its right set. And Conway called the former number "one," and the latter he called "minus one." And he proved that minus one is less than but not equal to zero and zero is less than but not equal to one. And the evening…
7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
DINNER (PMC membership required)
8:00 PM - 8:25 PM: Natalia Weber
Skew Left Braces
The Yang Baxter equation appears in many areas of study, from quantum mechanics to braid groups. Despite its importance, it has posed researchers with a challenging problem since it was first described almost 60 years ago - how can we find all of its solutions? In the past couple decades, algebraic structures linked to the equation have been found that can help us start to answer this question. This talk will introduce the Yang Baxter Equation and one such structure called a skew left brace and explore the connection between them using some basic group theory.
8:30 PM - 8:55 PM: E-Therng Lee
Comonotonicity and Pareto optimality, with application to collaborative insurance
Have you ever wondered about how pure math (specifically measure theory) can be applied to the real world? Today we will delve deep into measure theory and its applications to actuarial science and insurance! The essence of insurance is to share risk amongst a group of people, so a natural question is how do we allocate money most optimally, and given an allocation, is there an algorithm to improve it? Well, find out in the SASMS talk happening on November 17 from 6:30 to 9:00pm! Be there or be a $\mathbb{P}$-null set!
Theorem or Fraud
November 7, 2025
5:30 PM–7:30 PM
MC 1085
Come join us for a game of Theorem or Fraud! Guess whether the facts we give you are true or false. There will be prizes!
Note: PMC membership is required to win a prize, but anyone can play for fun. So bring your friends!
AMATH Prof Talk: Chris Bauch
November 4, 2025
5:00 PM–7:00 PM
MC 4042
Our first AMATH Prof Talk is coming up soon!
Title: Applying Mathematical Models to Vaccination and Epidemiology
Abstract: Vaccine refusal has enabled previously eliminated infectious diseases--such as measles and pertussis--to re-emerge in many populations. Vaccine refusal is driven by many factors, one of which is the presence or absence of the infectious disease that the vaccine itself prevents. This suggests that disease spread and vaccine decision-making are, in fact, two parts of a single coupled system of behaviour-disease interactions. Mathematical models have a long history of application in the population biology of human pathogens, including pediatric infectious diseases, and they are increasingly applied to coupled behaviour-disease interactions as well. In this talk I will give an overview of some simple mathematical models of vaccine refusal for pediatric infectious diseases, including a discussion of what they predict and how well they match up with observational data. I will also discuss extensions of these models to the COVID pandemic.
Pizza and refreshments will be provided to PMC members.
C&O Prof Talk: Jim Geelen
October 29, 2025
4:00 PM–5:00 PM
MC 5501
Our first C&O Prof Talk of the term is right around the corner.
Title: Tutte’s spring embedding theorem
Abstract: In 1963, Tutte proved that any 3-connected planar graph admits an embedding such that each face is bounded by a convex polygon. He proved the result by pre-embedding the outer face as a polygon and then considering the edges of the graph as springs. As a consequence to the proof one gets a very novel algorithm for planarity testing.
Pizza and refreshment available for members.
SASMS I
October 21, 2025
6:30 PM–9:00 PM
AL 105
Give a 25-minute talk on a "math-related" topic of your choice, or come listen to your friends! Dinner will be provided!
Schedule:
6:30 PM - 6:55 PM: Elizabeth Cai
Introductory Mathematical Idea Behind Gauge Theory
An introduction to gauge theory from the aspect of smooth manifolds and differential geometry with some proves to the theorems in vector bundles.
7:00 PM - 7:25 PM: Samantha Pater
Inside the Gaps: What Remains After Everything Is Removed
Start with a line segment. Remove the middle third. Then remove the middle thirds of what’s left. Keep going, forever. By the end, you’ve removed everything that seems like it could possibly remain, and yet, somehow, what’s left is infinite, and is even stranger than you could imagine. This talk explores the Cantor set, one of mathematics’ simplest and strangest constructions. We’ll see how it’s built, what makes it so paradoxical, and why it is so beautiful. No measure theory or topology background required! Just curiosity and a willingness to believe that sometimes the most interesting things happen inside the gaps.
7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
DINNER (PMC members)
8:00 PM - 8:25 PM: Easty Guo
An application of the Banach fixed point theorem
The Banach fixed point theorem is a fairly surprising result from real analysis, as it seems like you don't assume a lot to get a lot of information. However, (at least in my pmath351 offering), we don't really see what this theorem is good for. In this talk, I will present a way to solve certain systems of equations using this theorem. Pre requisites are linear algebra 1 and some real analysis.
8:30 PM - 8:55 PM: Edmond Yu
infinite expressions, chaos theory and deception
We will investigate infinite expressions such as sqrt(0+sqrt(0+…)) and cos(cos(cos(…))) and x^x^x^… and give a definition from the point of view of some chaos theory. Then we observe how math deceives you.
Note: PMAMC&OC membership is required to get food.
MATH 147 Midterm Review
October 19, 2025
12:00 PM–4:00 PM
MC 2034 and MC 2035
The MATH 147 midterms are quickly apporaching! PMC will be hosting midterm review sessions for both sections of MATH 147 (yes, Madill and Alvir). Bring your friends and come join us!
MATH 145-001 Midterm Review
October 5, 2025
12:00 PM–4:00 PM
MC 2054
Join us for our MATH 145-001 Midterm Review session!