Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium
Saturday, November 18, 2017
University of Illinois at Chicago

About the symposium

The 2017 UMS was held at UIC on Saturday, November 18, 2017.

Download the symposium poster (designed by Jānis Lazovskis)

Plenary speakers

• Christine Berkesch Zamaere (U. Minnesota)
  Polynomial linear algebra and geometry
  Abstract: After an example-driven crash course in algebraic geometry for projective space, I will discuss how polynomial linear algebra can explain geometry. We'll then consider a generalization of this to other spaces, which is joint work with Daniel Erman and Gregory G. Smith. A basic understanding of vector spaces over fields might be helpful in understanding this talk, but it will not be necessary.
• Ian Morrison (Fordham U.)
  “Can you play a fair game of craps with a loaded pair of dice?” and related problems about factorization in ℝ_{≥ 0}[x]
  Slides (PDF)

  Abstract: I hope to convince you that questions about factorizations of polynomials with non-negative real coefficients---not necessarily into irreducibles and possibly with conditions on the degrees of the factors---are worth studying by discussing several examples that have interesting answers. The question in the title arises from an equivalent formulation that asks what we can say about a finite collection of dice from knowing the probability distribution of the totals that arise when the dice are rolled. No knowledge of the game of craps will be required, but you may enjoy this classic scene [warning: adult language], from the movie “ A Bronx Tale” set in the Belmont neighborhood that abuts Fordham.

• Julius Ross (UIC)
  Roots and critical points of random polynomials
  Abstract: There are many interesting questions that one can ask about solutions to the equation p(z)=0 where p(z) = a₀ + a₁z + ... + a_nzⁿ is a polynomial in one variable. The first is simply to ask how many solutions there are to this equation, the answer being given by the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra that states that if one works with the complex numbers then there are precisely n solutions (when counted correctly). In this talk we will investigate the relationship between solutions of the equation p(z)=0 (called roots of p) and solutions of the equation p'(z)=0 (called critical points of p). In particular we will present some work of Boris Hanin, that considers this problem for random polynomials whose degree n is very large.

Registration form

→ Registration/application form

Please make note of the following deadlines:

• Applications for posters are accepted until November 10.
• The latest date to register to attend the symposium is November 10.
• We are no longer accepting applications to speak at the symposium or to receive travel funding. (The deadline for these applications was October 15, 2017.)

Student lectures and posters

Five undergraduates will be given the opportunity to give a 20 minute lecture on their research project, and a poster session will give others the chance to describe their projects. Note that the symposium does not accept group applications for lectures, but only presentations by individuals. A group of students, however, may choose to collectively submit a poster.

In addition to the poster presentation on Saturday, students will also have the opportunity to preview their posters at the weekly UIC math department tea and colloquium reception at 4:00pm on Friday, November 17.

For applications to attend or speak at the symposium that were received by October 15, limited funding for travel and lodging may be available. Faculty references for these applications should be sent by email to:

Kevin Tucker (kftucker@uic.edu)

Location

• Google Maps view of SEO and UIC campus (online, interactive)
• Campus maps from UIC Facility Information Management (PDF and image downloads)

Schedule of events

Plenary lectures are 50 minutes and student lectures 20 minutes; breaks of 10 minutes between talks allow for questions and discussion. A catered lunch of sandwiches and salads is provided for all symposium participants.

Previous symposia

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Contact