Contents 1 2 Happening Soon in MSCS 3 Weekly in MSCS 4 2008 Project Award Winners 5 2007 Pi Mu Epsilon Conference

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The Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science is brimming with activity in three vital disciplines: Mathematics; Statistics; and Computer Science. Each program is making advances, including new or revised majors and concentrations. These fields can team up with almost any other discipline or interest---and align well with many careers. Check us out!

[edit] Happening Soon in MSCS

Colloquium: Tuesday, May 6

Title: Modeling and Bio-security: A Case Study in Anthrax Speaker: Dr. Ron Brookmeyer Time: 1:30 pm (treats at 1:15) Place: SC 170 About the talk: The threat of bioterrorism is of increasing public health concern. Yet we have very limited modern experience with diseases such as anthrax and smallpox which are considered some of the major biological weapons threats. In the face of this uncertainty, the problem is how to devise rational public health policy in the event of a bio-security breach. In this talk, I discuss the case of anthrax and how statistical models, novel data sources, and efficient use of information can be brought together to address some critical public health questions. The work was motivated by the 2001 anthrax outbreak in the United States that occurred because letters contaminated with anthrax were mailed through the postal system. A huge public health intervention was initiated that involved the mass distribution of antibiotics to thousands of persons in the hopes of preventing disease. Two questions are addressed in this talk: Was the public health intervention successful? Are there lessons to learn about antibiotic use in the event of another bio-security breach? We develop statistical models to address these questions. For example, one model is a mechanistic model that accounts for the pathogenesis of infection. We show that these mechanistic considerations lead to a relatively simple competing risks model that provides insight into how long persons infected with anthrax should remain on antibiotics. In order to calibrate the models, we use data and information from multiple sources including the 2001 anthrax outbreak in the United States, an anthrax outbreak in Russia, and studies from primates. The talk illustrates how statistical reasoning, models, and novel data sources can help develop effective public health response policies in the event of future intentional or naturally occurring outbreaks. About the presenter: Dr Ron Brookmeyer is Professor of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health where he is also chair of the Johns Hopkins Master of Public Health Program. Dr. Brookmeyer’s research is at the interface of biostatistics, epidemiology and public health. He uses the tools of the statistical and informational sciences to address global public health problems such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, biosecurity issues such as anthrax, disease surveillance, and the health challenges of aging populations. Dr. Brookmeyer has authored over 150 peer reviewed articles. He has written and edited three books including AIDS Epidemiology: A Quantitative Approach.

[edit] Weekly in MSCS

Math Problem Solving, Tuesdays, 7:00 P.M. Science Center 188

The Problem Solving Group is designed to help students prepare for the North Central Section Team Contest, the Putnam Exam, the Konhauser Problemfest, and other math competitions.

We will meet each Tuesday at 7pm and work on a variety of problems, often with a central theme, and discuss problem-solving strategies. This is an excellent exercise for students pursuing careers in Math education and for students contemplating graduate mathematical study.

For more information, see Kay Smith (OMH 209) or Mike Weimerskirch (OMH 304)

Schedule of Problem Solving Events:

• Sat. Nov. 10, 2007 – MAA, North Central Section Team Contest
• Sat. Dec. 1, 2007 – Putnam Exam @ St. Olaf
• Sat. Feb. 23, 2008 – Konhauser Problemfest @ Macalester College – St. Olaf placed second!
• April 10-14, 2008 - Carlson Problem Solving Contest

Weekly MSCS Game Night, Wednesdays 6:30 P.M. Science Center 188

Description, by organizer Mike Weimerskirch: Most weeks the format is open, bring your favorite game (Quattro, Yahtzee, and Cribbage are some of my favorites). The first week of each month, I will introduce the group to a new combinatorial game. Why you should be there:

• Lots of Fun
• Meet new friends
• Improve your reasoning skills

[edit] 2008 Project Award Winners

At the Undergraduate Research Poster Session on Tuesday afternoon, a representative of the Mathematical Association of American awarded Joshua Campbell and David Swanson the $100 top prize for their project The Density and f-Density Topologies. Josh and David did their research while at Lodz University under the direction of Professors Elzbieta Wagner-Bogakowska and Malgorzata Filipczak in Poland this past summer supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Presenters were quizzed and their results judged by a team of professional mathematicians; their work was selected as one of 20 top projects from among the more than 200 presenters.

Congratulations Josh and David!

[edit] 2007 Pi Mu Epsilon Conference

On Friday afternoon, November 2 six Oles, David Swanson ’08, Thomas McConville ’09, Bjorn Paulson ’10, Rachel Darling ’11, Sarah Sprague ’11 and Paul Humke ‘XX left St. Olaf to attend the twenty-Second Annual Pi Mu Epsilon Undergraduate research conference at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.

The Friday evening session began with two parallel sessions of ten undergraduate research talks concluding with “How We Roll: The Theory and Construction of the Square Wheel Bicycle” by Alica Brinkman of St. Norbert. Keith Devlin, Stanford University gave the plenary evening lecture entitled “The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS: The Real Mathematical Story that Inspired the Hit Television Series.” Keith was the first mathematician consultant for the series. Here is a picture of the Ole group with Professor Devlin. After Devlin’s talk there was a math game show Face Off!” played by six of the college teams present followed by a pizza party.

On Saturday morning Rachel led off the Ole talks with “Balancing Massachusetts” at 9:40 followed by Sarah, speaking on “Music of the spheres.” David spoke at 10:30 on “Comparing the density and f-density topologies” and was followed by Thomas speaking on “A derivative that is not Riemann integrable.” These were all wonderful talks and professionally presented. At 11:00 Professor Devlin gave his second talk of the conference entitled “Math 20-20 vision.” The entire conference ended at 12:30, we snagged a quick Subway and headed back to Northfield, returning to campus about 6:30.

In the Press: Association of American Colleges and Universities write about St. Olaf's Math Department! See article here.

Be an ECMS scholar: exciting scholarship opportunities

Encouraging Careers in the Mathematical Sciences (ECMS) is a new program open to St. Olaf students who intend to graduate with a major in mathematics and are interested in pursuing careers in the mathematical sciences. The goal is to increase the number of students who graduate from St. Olaf who are prepared to work in a 21st century, quantitatively intensive world. Click here for more information.

International Research for Undergraduates in Real Analysis and Dynamical Systems
With significant support from the National Science Foundation and St. Olaf College, the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science will sponsor four undergraduate research scholars during summer of 2008. The grant will pay for all of your international travel and living expenses plus a $4,300 stipend.

These undergraduate research scholars will join teams of professional real analysis at one of two host institutions, Lodz University in Poland or Selesian University in the Czech Republic for ten weeks over the summer.

See our website for additional info.

Summer research opportunities at St. Olaf:
Click here for information about summer research in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and other areas.

New mathematics major A new mathematics major structure was adopted in 2005. See the mathematics webpage for more information.

First class of CS majors graduates The first crop of CS majors graduated in May 2005. See the computer science webpage for more about the major.

MSCS MESS Read the current issue.