Science and Math Colloquium Series
Science and Math Colloquium Series
The Science and Mathematics Colloquium Series invites distinguished
speakers from science and mathematics disciplines to present current,
exciting scientific research to Columbia College faculty, staff, and
students, as well as Chicago's South Loop community. Talks are intended
to introduce a general audience to a wide variety of important advances
in science and math, their potential applications, and public policy
implications. Reflecting the arts emphasis at Columbia College, select
talks examine the intersections among science, math, art, and the media.
All lectures are free and open to the public. A brief reception will precede each talk in the Ferguson Auditorium Lobby.
Colloquium Series Spring Brochure (.pdf file)
April 23
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Novel Tactile Sensing Systems Inspired by the Rat Vibrissal Array
Dr. Mitra J.Z. Hartmann, Assistant Professor, Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
Rats are nocturnal, burrowing animals that use tactile input from their whiskers (vibrissae) to explore objects and the external environment. Using only its vibrissae, a rat can extract information about object size, shape, orientation and texture. Tactile sensing serves as a natural complement to vision because it can operate in the dark, underground, in fog, in the very near field of view, or when reflections and glare prevent accurate visual assessment of an object. Our laboratory has developed inexpensive arrays of artificial whiskers modeled after animal vibrissal systems that can be used either in active “whisking” mode or in passive “dragging” mode. The artificial whiskers can determine obstacle distance, perform 3-dimensional extraction of object shape, and determine the velocity of a fluid flow.
Previous Spring 2009 Talks:
February 5
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Solar Energy - A Bright Spot in our Future
Dr. Sarah Kurtz, Principal Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado
In troubled times, it's uplifting to envision a world run by renewable energy. The world is rapidly adopting solar energy, because: solar energy is abundant, the cost of solar electricity is coming down, and the energy payback is good. The main challenge is what to do when sunlight is not available. The solar industry is growing rapidly, and new technologies such as multijunction solar cells may allow the industry to grow even faster.
Sarah Kurt is a Principal Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She earned her PhD at Harvard University and has worked on photovoltaic technologies throughout her career. Together with Jerry Olson, she won the Dan David Prize in 2007 for their work on multijunction solar cells.
*Co-sponsored with the Critical Encounters Human|Nature
February 26
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Is the Future Biology Shakespearean or Newtonian?
Dr. Ovidiu Lipan, Assistant Professor of Physical Biology, Richmond University
Until recently, a Shakespearean play could serve as an analogy of how biological phenomena were described, studied and understood. Each character can be envisioned as a molecule which plays a role in a complex cellular process. By studying the process experimentally, we hope to identify the characters in the play and to observe how they interact as the process proceeds. However, formatting the biological knowledge in a Shakespeare-like drama is no longer enough. As in physics or chemistry, the scientific drama must be sustained and accompanied by mathematical equations. The quantitative relations between players are as important as the players themselves.
Ovidiu Lipan received his PhD degree in Theoretical Physics from The University of Chicago, and is currently Assistant Professor of physical biology at the University of Richmond.
March 12
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
A Reality Tour of the Universe
Dr. James Sweitzer, Science and Math Department, Columbia College Chicago
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an astronaut and view our world from orbit? Would you like to sail from planet to planet and then blast millions of light years beyond our Milky Way galaxy? What would it be like to approach the farthest horizon of the observable Universe? Real-time computer modeling using scalable data sets now makes this possible. See how new software using NASA and cosmological data sets makes creating a virtual universe a reality. Experience how this software is revolutionizing both the digital planetarium world and giving us new perspectives on planet Earth.
Jim Sweitzer received his PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. Since that time, he has worked at several prominent planetariums, including the Adler in Chicago and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He has just completed work on a new digital planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and recently became one of the first members of the Climate Project, for which he was personally trained by former Vice President Al Gore. He currently teaches astronomy and energy policy at Columbia College, Chicago.
March 19
5:00-6:00 pm
Lecture Hall Room 150, 916 S. Wabash
The Uncertainty Principle
Christina Nguyen Hung, Assistant Professor, Clemson University
Christina Nguyen Hung is an interdisciplinary artist who works with electronic and biological media. Her work has been presented at numerous prominent exhibitions and anthologies. She is a founding member of subRosa, an art and research collective and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Art Department and the RCID program at Clemson University.
*Co-sponsored with the Interactive Arts and Media Department
April 2
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Sudoku: Questions, Variations and Research
Dr. Laura Taalman, Associate Professor of Mathematics, James Madison University
Sudoku puzzles and their variants are linked to many mathematical problems involving combinatorics, Latin squares, magic squares, polyominos, symmetries, computer algorithms, the rook problem, graph colorings, and permutation group theory. In this talk we will explore variations of Sudoku and the many open problems and new results in this new field of recreational mathematics. Many of the problems we will discuss are suitable for undergraduate research projects. Puzzle handouts will be available for all to enjoy!
Laura Taalman received her Ph.D in mathematics from Duke University and is currently an Associate Professor of Mathematics at James Madison University. Her research includes singular algebraic geometry, knot theory, and the mathematics of puzzles. As part of Brainfreeze Puzzles, she is an author of the puzzle book Color Sudoku.
All lectures are free and open to the public. A brief reception will precede each talk in the Ferguson Auditorium Lobby.
Spring 2009
Colloquium Series Spring Brochure (.pdf file)
April 23
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Novel Tactile Sensing Systems Inspired by the Rat Vibrissal Array
Dr. Mitra J.Z. Hartmann, Assistant Professor, Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
Rats are nocturnal, burrowing animals that use tactile input from their whiskers (vibrissae) to explore objects and the external environment. Using only its vibrissae, a rat can extract information about object size, shape, orientation and texture. Tactile sensing serves as a natural complement to vision because it can operate in the dark, underground, in fog, in the very near field of view, or when reflections and glare prevent accurate visual assessment of an object. Our laboratory has developed inexpensive arrays of artificial whiskers modeled after animal vibrissal systems that can be used either in active “whisking” mode or in passive “dragging” mode. The artificial whiskers can determine obstacle distance, perform 3-dimensional extraction of object shape, and determine the velocity of a fluid flow.
Previous Spring 2009 Talks:
February 5
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Solar Energy - A Bright Spot in our Future
Dr. Sarah Kurtz, Principal Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado
In troubled times, it's uplifting to envision a world run by renewable energy. The world is rapidly adopting solar energy, because: solar energy is abundant, the cost of solar electricity is coming down, and the energy payback is good. The main challenge is what to do when sunlight is not available. The solar industry is growing rapidly, and new technologies such as multijunction solar cells may allow the industry to grow even faster.
Sarah Kurt is a Principal Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She earned her PhD at Harvard University and has worked on photovoltaic technologies throughout her career. Together with Jerry Olson, she won the Dan David Prize in 2007 for their work on multijunction solar cells.
*Co-sponsored with the Critical Encounters Human|Nature
February 26
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Is the Future Biology Shakespearean or Newtonian?
Dr. Ovidiu Lipan, Assistant Professor of Physical Biology, Richmond University
Until recently, a Shakespearean play could serve as an analogy of how biological phenomena were described, studied and understood. Each character can be envisioned as a molecule which plays a role in a complex cellular process. By studying the process experimentally, we hope to identify the characters in the play and to observe how they interact as the process proceeds. However, formatting the biological knowledge in a Shakespeare-like drama is no longer enough. As in physics or chemistry, the scientific drama must be sustained and accompanied by mathematical equations. The quantitative relations between players are as important as the players themselves.
Ovidiu Lipan received his PhD degree in Theoretical Physics from The University of Chicago, and is currently Assistant Professor of physical biology at the University of Richmond.
March 12
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
A Reality Tour of the Universe
Dr. James Sweitzer, Science and Math Department, Columbia College Chicago
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an astronaut and view our world from orbit? Would you like to sail from planet to planet and then blast millions of light years beyond our Milky Way galaxy? What would it be like to approach the farthest horizon of the observable Universe? Real-time computer modeling using scalable data sets now makes this possible. See how new software using NASA and cosmological data sets makes creating a virtual universe a reality. Experience how this software is revolutionizing both the digital planetarium world and giving us new perspectives on planet Earth.
Jim Sweitzer received his PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. Since that time, he has worked at several prominent planetariums, including the Adler in Chicago and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He has just completed work on a new digital planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and recently became one of the first members of the Climate Project, for which he was personally trained by former Vice President Al Gore. He currently teaches astronomy and energy policy at Columbia College, Chicago.
March 19
5:00-6:00 pm
Lecture Hall Room 150, 916 S. Wabash
The Uncertainty Principle
Christina Nguyen Hung, Assistant Professor, Clemson University
Christina Nguyen Hung is an interdisciplinary artist who works with electronic and biological media. Her work has been presented at numerous prominent exhibitions and anthologies. She is a founding member of subRosa, an art and research collective and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Art Department and the RCID program at Clemson University.
*Co-sponsored with the Interactive Arts and Media Department
April 2
5:00-6:00 pm
Hokin Lecture Hall Room 109, 623 S. Wabash
Sudoku: Questions, Variations and Research
Dr. Laura Taalman, Associate Professor of Mathematics, James Madison University
Sudoku puzzles and their variants are linked to many mathematical problems involving combinatorics, Latin squares, magic squares, polyominos, symmetries, computer algorithms, the rook problem, graph colorings, and permutation group theory. In this talk we will explore variations of Sudoku and the many open problems and new results in this new field of recreational mathematics. Many of the problems we will discuss are suitable for undergraduate research projects. Puzzle handouts will be available for all to enjoy!
Laura Taalman received her Ph.D in mathematics from Duke University and is currently an Associate Professor of Mathematics at James Madison University. Her research includes singular algebraic geometry, knot theory, and the mathematics of puzzles. As part of Brainfreeze Puzzles, she is an author of the puzzle book Color Sudoku.