Spring 2013

• February 1 Dr. Ainissa  RamirezMaterials Scientist & Science Evangelist
  
  

  Changing the World (with STEM)

   

  In this presentation, Dr. Ramirez will give an inspirational talk on what is STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), and how you can change the world with it. She will discuss women and African-American science role models that have made great strides, and present how any student can use STEM to do important work. Dr. Ramirez will highlight some of her materials science research and discuss the hot science fields of nanotechnology (the world of the small and curious), which will be part of our everyday lives in the near future.

• February 22 Dr. Aaron ClarkAssociate Professor of Mathematics (SCSU)
  
  

  When is a knot not a knot?

  
  Knots are interesting.  On the one hand, they are common place physical objects which we've all seen - in shoelaces, for example, or in anything which we need to uncoil in a hurry.  On the other hand, they can be viewed as abstract mathematical objects linked to deep questions in geometry and topology.
  
  Questions about knots are easy to formulate (but not so easy to answer).  For example, what exactly is a knot?  What does it mean for two knots to be the same (or different)?  How can we tell when one knot can be transformed into another knot?  Can you determine when a knot is, in fact, not knotted?
  
  
  In this presentation, I will discuss the mathematical theory of knots and provide a gentle introduction to many of their characteristics.  I will also talk about the surprising history of knot theory and its application to contemporary problems in chemistry, physics, and microbiology.