Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics

   

Roanoke College students Mark Lucas, Amanda Coughlin and Matthew Browning attended MathFest in Portland, Oregon in August, 2009. MathFest is a national meeting of the MAA (Mathematical Association of America). Mark and Amanda gave talks at the meeting, Mark speaking on his project from Math Senior Seminar and Amanda speaking on her summer research on PGA golf statistics.

We have a tenure track opening in mathematics! Link to the description.

The Roanoke College student chapter of the MAA has been featured as an especially successful student mathematics organization in the October 2009 MAA Focus. See also Math Club in a Box.

The Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics at Roanoke College is dedicated to one-on-one interaction with students. Opportunities for student research include the Summer Scholar program, URAP and independent studies.

Department News:

Matthew Potts, a senior physics major, and Paul Vines, a sophomore computer science major, presented their summer research projects at MARCUS (the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of Undergraduate Scholarship). Paul worked with Dr. Balasubramanian on "Y-brances in Carbon Nanotubes" and Matthew worked with Dr. Fleenor on "Origins of a Galaxy Group in Cluster A3128."

Dr. Matt Fleenor, a physicist at Roanoke College, had his essay "Modeling Stupidity" published in the October 2009 issue of The Teaching Professor. This thought provoking reflection questions some of our basic premises about classroom management. At the heart of his argument is the meaning of life-long learning and how we model that for students. You can find The Teaching Professor here.

Congratulations to Dr. Chris Lee for winning the 2009 Exemplary Teaching Award! Dr. Lee was nominated by three students for his ability to bring mathematics alive and for his innovative use of technology in the classroom. Dr. Lee is the third member of the department to win this important award. Congratulations also to Dr. Roland Minton for winning the 2009 Professional Achievement Award! Dr. Minton was nominated for his work with calculus textbooks and the mathematics of sports. He is the third member of the department to win this award. It is a special honor for one department to take both awards.

Art Benjamin was here!! The MCSP Department hosted Professor Art Benjamin of Harvey Mudd College as a Copenhaver Scholar-in-residence. He is a renowned mathematics writer, teacher and performer. His talk on Thursday, March 19, featured his special blend of mathematics and magic ("Mathemagics"). He also hosted a card-trick workshop, guest lectured in classes, gave previews for his upcoming DVD series on mathematics for the Teaching Company, and generally led us in a week-long celebration of mathematics. Go here to read more and here to see pictures!

Sarah Witt, a mathematics major at Roanoke College, was named to the USTFCCA (track and field) Division III All-Academic Team following her freshman season in 2009.

She finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles in the NCAA Championships in May, and was named ODAC Rookie of the Year in track. Go here to read more. 

Mark Lucas, a senior majoring in mathematics, won first place for best mathematics talk at the 2009 Alpha Chi National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mark's talk on "The Evolution of Swarm Intelligence" is a product of his Summer Scholar work and subsequence independent studies sponsored by Dr. Jeff Spielman. Mark had previously presented work on this project at MathFest in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2008.

Dr. Chris Lee, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Roanoke College, is featured as one of Wolfram Research's Portraits of Success. Dr. Lee is a leader on campus in the use of Wolfram's software Mathematica, and was instrumental in obtaining a grant that got students copies of Mathematica at a discount. See Dr. Lee talking about Roanoke College and Mathematica here. Some of his calculus labs are featured in the clip.

The Student Chapter of MAA celebrated Pi Day (3/14) by pie-ing professors. Getting pie-faced on Thursday, March 12, were be faculty from math and other disciplines, as well as special guests from around the campus, including Chaplain Henrickson. Proceeds of over $100 went to the Salem Food Pantry. Go here to see pictures of the carnage!

Danielle Shiley, a junior at Roanoke College, won first place in the student poster competition at the Spring 2008 MAA Section in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Danielle's poster was titled "Applying Calculus to the AIDS Epidemic in Cuba" and presented work done in her URAP project. She is an economics major from New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Danielle determined parameters to fit a generic epidemiology model to data on HIV and AIDS cases in Cuba. Her poster and ability to discuss her research was judged the best of the twenty student participants.

The MCSP Conversation Series will be underway soon. The fall 2009 schedule will be posted soon. The Conversation Series includes talks by Roanoke College faculty, students, past graduates and invited speakers from other colleges. Past topics have included the statistics of national elections, the future of computing, the coming crisis in American infrastructure, how planets form and the mathematics of voting systems.

Matt Fleenor has launched Astronomy at Roanoke College, an astronomy club with student involvement and community outreach. A new astronomy course has been approved for Fall 2008, giving RC students an exciting choice for a laboratory science course. Courses for physics majors are being designed, and student research is underway. See story.

Learn more about our students and faculty!
Students: Jake Bennett, Hanan Dahche, Jessica Young, Ashley Francis
Faculty: Rama Balasubramanian (nanotech research), Matt Fleenor, Richard Grant, Steve Hughes, Roland Minton (faculty award)
Retired Faculty: Bill Ergle, Frank Munley (global warming research)