Department of Mathematics
Seminar
This seminar takes
place on both the Queens and Staten Island campuses of St. John's
University.
For directions to the Queens campus, click here.
For directions to the Staten Island campus, click here.
For directions to the Queens campus, click here.
For directions to the Staten Island campus, click here.
· Tuesday, January 29 (12:15-1:15, Room 308 St. John Hall, Queens Campus)
Alexander Kazachkov (V.
Karazin Kharkov National University - Kharkov, Ukraine)
"Adding More Math to
Inquiry-Based Science Education"
Abstract:
Presented is a cycle of educational research projects of
non-math majoring undergraduates performed in Ukraine and United
States. Studied real life phenomena were themselves amazing and
puzzling and kept students strongly focused on the research. Moreover,
the beauty of mathematics of the models suggested to explain observed
effects was utterly helpful to develop students’ intellectual need to
progress in Math. Specific
topics and problems to be surveyed with live demos and computer
animations include:
- spinning stability of Sakai paperclip
tops;
- kinematics and geometry behind the
incredible Pulfrich stereoeffect;
- cycloid revisited with a ‘mechanical
stroboscope’ illusion and a desk-rolling top;
- learning series with elastic collisions,
paper self-blocking and infinite DC current circuits.
Regular class applications and ideas for new projects are
discussed.
· Tuesday, February 5 (12:15-1:15, Room 308 St. John Hall, Queens Campus)
Marcello Lucia (CUNY
College of Staten Island)
"Isoperimetric Profile
and Uniqueness for Neumann Problems"
· Wednesday, March 5
(11:10-12:10,
Room 337 St. John Hall,
Queens Campus)
Paul
Lavergne (Vaughn College)
"Thermonuclear
Flame Studies in Rectangular Geometry"
Abstract:
We discuss a front
tracking method and associated results as applied to the propagation of
thermonuclear flames in Type Ia supernova. In particular we discuss the
following:
1. The effect of
burning on Rayleigh-Taylor instability.
2. The relationship
between the laminar flame speed and the surface
area of the flame.
3. The effect of
decreasing fuel density on the evolution of the flame.
4. The independence of
the turbulent flame speed from the laminar flame
speed.
Fall 2007
· Friday, November 30 (3:30-4:30 DaSilva Hall, St. Island Campus)
Marco Varisco
(Binghamton University)
"Calculus for
Topological Spaces"