News
Dave Kung to visit GVSU
February 10, 2017
Dr. Dave Kung, Professor of Mathematics at St. Mary's College of Maryland and Director of Project NExT (a national professional development program for new faculty in the mathematical sciences) will visit the GVSU Mathematics Department on Monday, March 13. He will give two talks, one aimed at faculty and one aimed at students.
About Dave Kung
Dave Kung’s varied interests are a perfect match for a liberal arts institution like St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In addition to teaching mathematics, using his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, he plays violin with students and in the local community orchestra, runs with the cross country team, and marches alongside campus activists. He has authored a variety of articles on topics in harmonic analysis and mathematics education, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2006 Teaching Award from the MD/VA/DC section of the MAA. His passion for leveling the playing field for women and minorities in STEM fields has led to the creation of an Emerging Scholars Program, an REU, and a math circle. Two Great Courses lecture series, on math/music and mind-bending paradoxes, have engaged audiences around the world. He serves as director of MAA Project NExT, a professional development program for new faculty in the mathematical sciences.
Faculty talk: Rising to the Challenge of Diversifying STEM Fields
Monday, March 13, 1:00 p.m. A-2-155 MAK
Women and under-represented minorities are more likely to fall out of the STEM pipeline at every stage from middle school on. Why do we need to address this issue? What can we do in our classrooms, departments, and institutions to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to succeed? Research suggests that interactive teaching methods, in contrast to passive lectures, might help us successfully address issues of diversity. Why do they work? What else must we do to make the mathematics world more equitable?
Student talk: Mind-Bending Paradoxes & the Possibility of Changing Your Mind
Monday, March 13, 4:00 p.m., MAN 102
Great riddles and paradoxes have a long and illustrious history, serving as both tests and games for intellectual thinkers across the globe. Passed through the halls of academia and examined in-depth by scholars, students, and amateurs alike, these mind-benders have brought frustration and joy to those seeking intellectual challenges. Choosing to confront these conundrums, we put ourselves in that special moment when we acknowledge that what we previous thought conflicts with some new piece of evidence. Those are the moments - rare and precious - when we might actually change our minds! Topics will range from the philosophical to the statistical, from physics to psychology, all from the perspective of a mathematician. Prepare to have your mind bent - and maybe even changed.