If you are looking for a way to engage students more effectively in a classroom activity, we can help you create effective interactive activities using Doenet, a new educational platform. With Doenet activities students can receive immediate feedback, freeing up instructors to have meaningful mathematical conversations rather than checking students’ work.
This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the core features of Doenet, including answer checking, graphing, and randomization. Participants will work on designing their own classroom-ready learning activity, with opportunities for feedback and Q&A throughout the day. By the end of the workshop, each participant will leave with an interactive activity they can implement in their own courses.
Bring an activity and we will help you to transform it into an interactive learning experience where students can actively engage with the material!
For details and to register visit our website: tinyurl.com/doenetslu
Workshop Date/Time: November 7-8, 2025, 9am - 5pm
Workshop Location: Busch Student Center 256, Saint Louis University North Campus
Friday, November 14
Speaker: Ljupcho Petrov, Washington University in Saint Louis
Title: TBA
Friday, September 19
Speaker: Jeremy T. Tyson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Title: Mathematics of Change Ringing: An Illinois Geometry Lab research project
Abstract: Change ringing is an ancient musical tradition typically played on sets of bells mounted in a tower. The bell ringers successively sound each bell multiple times, with the goal of sounding every possible permutation of bells according to certain rules (dictated by the physics and mechanics of the bell-playing process). Such a performance is known as a `change’. Mathematically, change ringing is modelled by Hamiltonian paths on the Cayley graph for the corresponding symmetric group equipped with a specific set of generators. I will talk about a Fall 2020 undergraduate research project, carried out in the Illinois Geometry Lab (now known as the Illinois Mathematics Lab), in which the students analyzed bell changes using a combination of graph theory and group theory. Along the way I’ll comment on the challenges of supervising such a research project at the height of the pandemic, the structure of the Illinois Mathematics Lab and its role in providing research experiences for undergraduate math students in the context of a large, public university, and opportunities for mathematics departments of various sizes and with diverse missions to implement similar programs for undergraduate research. In fact, the Illinois Mathematics Lab is one member in Geometry Labs United, a nationwide network of labs for undergraduate research in mathematics with an emphasis on visualization and experimentation.
Friday, October 10
Speaker: Yingying WU, University of Houston
Title: Platonic local models for Z/2 harmonic forms and spinors
Abstract: This talk introduces homogeneous local models for Z/2 harmonic 1‑forms and spinors—objects that arise in non‑convergent sequences in flat SL(2,C) connections and in Seiberg–Witten theory with spinors. The models live on R3, are homogeneous under rescaling, and have zero sets that are unions of rays pointing to the vertices (or selected face midpoints) of the tetrahedron, octahedron, and icosahedron; the construction reduces to an eigenvalue problem for a Z/2 line bundle on S2∖Z, where group actions, geometry on the sphere, and analytic estimates interlock to produce the desired regularity and vanishing at the punctures. No background is assumed, and graduate students are especially encouraged to attend. We will also navigate to the recent extension on R4.
Friday, October 17
Speaker: Emily King, Colorado State University
Title: Interpretable, Explainable, and Adversarial AI: Data Science Buzzwords and You (Mathematicians)
Abstract: Many state-of-the-art methods in machine learning are black boxes which do not allow humans to understand how decisions are made. In a number of applications, like medicine and atmospheric science, researchers do not trust such black boxes. Explainable AI can be thought of as attempts to open the black box of neural networks, while interpretable AI focuses on creating clear boxes. Adversarial attacks are small perturbations of data that cause a neural network to misclassify the data or act in other undesirable ways. Such attacks are potentially very dangerous when applied to technology like self-driving cars. The goal of this talk is to introduce mathematicians to problems they can attack using their favorite mathematical tools. The mathematical structure of transformers, the powerhouse behind large language models like ChatGPT, will also be explained.
Special Colloquium on Monday, October 20,
Location: Ritter Hall 231
Speaker: Glenn Ledder, University on Nebraska-Lincoln
Title: Mentoring Undergraduate Research Students in Mathematical Modeling
Abstract: Research experiences can have great value for undergraduates, but there are significant challenges. Most mathematics research requires graduate-level mathematics background and a level of mathematical maturity that few undergraduates have, and a significant time commitment does not guarantee results. These difficulties can be daunting, but there are ways to increase the likelihood of a good experience. In this talk, I will present a number of best practices based on lessons learned while directing some 50-100 undergraduates in research projects, both singly and in groups, some in summer programs and some during the academic year. I will also provide a detailed example of research project design.
Wednesday, November 5
Speaker: Nino Godoradze, SLU Health and Clinical Outcomes Research.
Title: Data Science in Credit Risk Analysis
Wednesday, September 3
Speaker: Dr. Bryan Clair, Saint Louis University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Title: Social Network Analysis and Economic Development in Missouri
Wednesday, September 17
Speaker: Dr. Tong Si, Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
Title: Why Time-Series Data is a Playground for Discovery
Wednesday, September 24
Speaker: Dr. Darrin Speegle, Saint Louis University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Title: Change point detection in multi-dimensional signals
Wednesday, October 8
Speaker: Dr. Kenan Li, Saint Louis University, Biostatistics.
Title: Climate, Mobility, and Health: Insights from Spatial–Temporal Studies.
Wednesday, October 22
Speaker: Dr. Vahan Huroyan, Saint Louis University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Title: TBA
Monday, September 29, Pizza Game Night
The event will include pizza, drinks, snacks, and a variety of board games. It is open to all students and faculty and provides a fun, welcoming opportunity for students to connect with peers and learn more about AWM.
Location: Ritter Hall Lobby
Monday, September 15, AWM Speaker Series (Virtual)
Speaker: Dr. Veronica Ciocanel, Duke University
Title: Protein journey inside cells: How can mathematical modeling and data analysis help?
Abstract: For cells to function properly, many molecules and proteins must move around and organize themselves into complex patterns. How do these particles move in such precise ways inside cells?
There are several types of protein filaments in cells that provide the elaborate roads along which most protein transport occurs. I will discuss examples where mathematical modeling provides exciting tools to study and understand the interactions between these filaments and motor proteins in cells. In frog egg cells, differential equations models give us insights into how messenger RNA moves along filament highways and accumulates in robust spatial patterns, which ensures that the frog embryo then develops properly. In neurons, other mathematical tools from stochastic modeling help us understand how certain proteins navigate axons and their constrictions, to maintain a healthy speed of neuronal communication. All these interdisciplinary projects lead to exciting collaborations with researchers from other fields to address complex biological questions.
Wednesday, October 29
Title: The 100 Prisoners Problem
Description: Bryan Clair will present the 100 prisoners problem to us. This famous combinatorics problem has a surprising solution, which leads to interesting questions about permutations. We will have drinks, snacks, and pizza starting at 4:00pm in Ritter Lobby. Everyone is welcome!
Wednesday, October 8
Title: Math Codenames
Description: Codenames is a card game where 2 teams compete to uncover all of their secret words. We will be making our own mathy words and then playing some custom games. It is easy to learn and we will be able to teach anyone who hasn’t played before. We will have drinks and snacks. Everyone is welcome to come and participate!
Program Details can be found here: https://www.ams.org/meetings/sectional/2322_program.html