The conference is sponsored by the Moravian College chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, with support from USG and Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC):
 
 

Additional Information: Fees, tentative schedule, directions and deadlines.
Call For Papers: Presentation details.
Link to 2000's conference:
Link to 1999's conference:
Link to Registration Form:
Link to Speaker Registration Form:

Picture made on Kaleidomania

Marjorie Senechal grew up in Kentucky and received her BS from the University of Chicago, and MS and PhD degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has taught at Smith College since 1966, where she is now Louise Wolff Kahn Professor in Mathematics and History of Science and Technology. Her areas of mathematics research are  discrete geometry, tiling theory, and mathematical crystallography and she is the author or editor of seven books, in addition to numerous articles. She is also the director of Smith's Program in the History of Science and Technology, and the Northampton Silk Project.

Abstract:
The kaleidoscope is, at age 185, as popular as ever, as the steady sales of its many variants in craft stores and museum shops attests. Yet its inventor, the Scottish physicist David Brewster, would be disappointed: for him, the kaleidoscope was not a toy but a serious tool for transforming  production in "the fine and useful arts".  Although his hopes were never realized, the kaleidoscope did inspire a rich vein of mathematical research that continues even today. We will trace some of this research and show how it can be applied to a problem of which Brewster might approve.

The Moravian College chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon invites you to the fifteenth annual MORAVIAN COLLEGE STUDENT MATHEMATICS CONFERENCE on February 17, 2001, a unique opportunity for undergraduate students in the Tri-State area to meet and discuss mathematics.  The day begins with a lively invited address, which is followed by a program devoted to student talks in the fields of mathematics, statistics, operations research, and computing.

Our invited speaker will be Marjorie Senechal, Professor of Mathematics at Smith College.  She will speak on "Reflections on the Kaleidoscope."

We hope that you will choose to attend, either to give a talk or just to listen.  It is a great chance to socialize with students and faculty from throughout the Tri-State area.  The conference, to be held in the HUB and Collier Hall of Science, will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 4:00 p.m.

We are looking for undergraduate students interested in giving talks at the conference.  The talks should be either 15 or 25 minutes in length and may be on any topic related to MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS, OPERATIONS RESEARCH, or COMPUTING.  Possibilities would include the following:
 

• Student research projects (honors, independent study, etc.)
• Topics not usually covered in standard courses (could be done in survey fashion)
• Class projects
• Field studies
• Interesting problems or applications
• Summer jobs

If you are interested in giving a talk, please contact Dr. Doris Schattschneider (schattdo@moravian.edu).  We need a title, time of presentation (15 or 25 minutes), and an abstract of approximately 50 words by no later than Monday, February 5, 2001.
 
 

Tentative Schedule:
 

9:00 a.m.	Registration in the lobby of Collier Hall of Science (#11 on the map of the main campus) coffee, hot chocolate, doughnuts
9:30 a.m.	Welcome address by Dean Curt Keim.
9:40 a.m.	Marjorie Senechal, Reflections on the Kaleidoscope
10:40 a.m.	LVAIC Math Competition Award Presentation
10:50 a.m.	Student Talks
12:05 p.m.	Lunch
1:15-4:00 p.m.	Student Talks

Lunch: There will be a buffet lunch. The cost will be $7.50 for those who preregister and, if still available, $10.00 for those who register the day of the conference. Student speakers will receive complimentary lunches. Luncheon reservations are guaranteed for anyone registering by Monday, February 5, 2001.  We may have to limit the number of reservations accepted after that date. However, that limit would apply only to the luncheon, not to attendance at the conference sessions.

Parking: Since on-street parking is usually taken, we suggest that you use the West Locust Street lot (across Main Street and due west of Collier Hall of Science).

Directions to Moravian College:

Preregistration deadline: Monday, February 5, 2001

Inquiries: Doris Schattschneider, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Moravian College, 1200 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018-6650. Phone: 610-861-1373; Fax: 610-861-1462; E-mail: schattdo@moravian.edu

Moravian College Mathematics Home Page.