Colloquium and Seminar Schedule
Fall 2015This is the schedule of colloquia and seminars inthe Department of Mathematics and Computer Science for the Fall 2015 semester.
November 2015
- "The Durfees, Their Links to Other Institutions, and How They Are Honored on HWS Campus"
Speaker: Tasha L. Williams, Hobart William Smith Colleges
Date: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Napier 201
Refreshments will be served at 4:45.
Abstract:
The Durfees of Hobart William Smith Colleges have ties to other Departments of mathematics in the U.S. and have been recognized for their contributions to the Colleges and honored in several ways on Campus. Two were Professors of Mathematics, Chairs of the Math Department and both were Deans of Hobart College: William Pitt Durfee and his son Walter Hetherington Durfee. Specifically see and learn the significance of the Durfee windows in the Cellar Pub, the Old Student Union.
- "Image Chain Modeling with Applications in Space Imaging and Photofakery"
Speaker: Dr. Robert Fiete, Chief Technologist for the Harris Corporation
Date: Wednesday, November 18
Time: 4:45 PM
Location: Napier 201
Refreshments will be served at 4:30.
Abstract:
The process by which an image is formed, processed, and displayed can be conceptualized as a chain of physical events called the imaging chain. By mathematically modeling the imaging chain we can gain insight into the relationship between the camera design parameters and the resulting image quality. The mathematical models are critical in the design phase of a digital camera, especially for cameras that will be launched into space where design failures can be very costly. The image chain models are also useful to identify image anomalies that are inconsistent with an actual camera, thus helping to expose photofakery.
December 2015
- "Fractals"
Speaker: Alyssa Newman, WS'16
Date: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 4:45 PM
Location: Gulick 206A
Refreshments will be served at 4:30.
Abstract:
Fractals are a Mathematical phenomenon most people have come across without realizing it. Understanding this phenomenon changes your view of the world. Fractals appear all around us all of the time, in clouds, plants, rocks, and so much more. Fractals are generated by taking a shape and transforming it in some way. You could shrink it, rotate it, squish it, move it or many other things; you do this transformation over and over again and the result is the fractal. In this talk we will be discussing ways of creating these fractals, specifically two methods: the random dot iteration algorithm and iterated function systems. We will also look at a program I have been creating this past semester with professor Vaughn to allow anyone with any level of understanding of fractals to create their own fractals. The hope is to turn this program into an app on the apple store so anyone can download it to create fractals.
Past Colloquia Series
Spring 2015 Fall 2014 Spring 2014 Fall 2013 Spring 2013 Fall 2012
Spring 2012 Fall 2011 Spring 2011
If you have interest in giving a talk or know of someone who does,
please contact Prof. John Lasseter at lasseter@hws.edu