黑洞社区

9:00 - 9:20

Continental Breakfast and Registration

9:20 - 9:30

Opening Remarks by TBA and a Welcome from the organizers

9:30 - 10:15

Workshop: Modular Origami 

Abstract: Though origami is most closely tied to Japan, it has roots in China and Europe and was most likely invented shortly after the invention of paper itself in 105 AD. The mathematics of origami dates back to 1893, when T. Sundara Rao published a book that used paper folding to demonstrate some proofs of geometrical constructions. In this book, it was implied that a cubic equation could not be solved by origami. In 1936, Margherita P. Beloch showed that use of the "", later used in the sixth of the , in fact allowed the general cubic equation to be solved using origami.

In this workshop we'll explore some of the mathematics of origami and build two modular origami units.

10:15-10:30 

 Break and Snacks

10:30 - 11:15

Plenary Lecture: Math Girl Magic

Speaker:

Abstract: I didn鈥檛 always love math. To me, it was just another subject, something everyone had to take, like gym or history. It wasn鈥檛 exactly fun, but it wasn鈥檛 awful either. It just鈥� existed.

That all changed when I placed out of pre-algebra in middle school and found myself face-to-face with a new challenge: algebra. Suddenly, math wasn鈥檛 just numbers鈥攊t was letters, symbols, and a whole lot of mystery. I called it 鈥淭he Land of Unknowns,鈥� and at first, it felt like enemy territory. With a little pre-algebra background, I struggled!

But I wasn鈥檛 in it alone. I had a no-nonsense teacher who pushed me to do better and parents who had always been in my corner, never demanding perfection 鈥� just my best. With their encouragement (and a lot of determination), I fought through the frustration, tackled the unknowns, and鈥攕omewhere along the way鈥攆ell in love with the challenge. Algebra wasn鈥檛 the enemy anymore. It was a puzzle waiting to be solved.

And that鈥檚 how I went from 鈥渏ust taking math鈥� to becoming an aspiring mathematician.

In today鈥檚 talk, I will share my journey as a mathematician, highlighting the early parts. I will also present a hands-on introduction to difference equations, which are used in my research.

11:15 - 11:30

Break

11:30 - 12:15

Workshop: The Game of Spot it!

Abstract: The game of Spot It! is designed using the projective plane of degree 7. In this workshop we will learn about projective planes in general, make our own version of Spot It! based on the projective plane of degree 3 and then play both the game you created as well as the game of Spot It!

12:15 - 1:15

Lunch

1:15 - 2:15

Workshop: Modern Math and Art

Abstract: This workshop invites students to explore the fascinating intersection of mathematics and modern art. Through hands-on activities, participants will learn more about how mathematical concepts like the golden ratio and other mathematical algorithms are integral to the creation of a number of iconic modern artworks.

2:15 - 2:30

Break and Snacks

2:30 - 3:15

Panel Discussion:  Women in STEM

3:15 - 3:30

Closing and Evaluations