Inspiring Talks by Mathematicians

See photos of the Speakers and their Talks here.

This is a funded series of virtual talks for undergraduates by under-represented mathematicians.   The speaker gives a talk about their research as a video (posted publicly on Youtube and linked below) followed by a discussion to inspire math majors to consider pursuing a doctorate.  They are aimed at mathematics majors who have at most completed courses in vector calculus and linear algebra.     

Please contact me if you would like to recommend a speaker or would like one to visit your class to present a specific topic.   If your institution can pay the $300 honorarium that would allow for more than the initial ten speakers.   This series was initially funded for visitors to come speak at Lehman College including travel and hotels but has gone virtual since 2020.  

 

Organized by Christina Sormani sormanic@gmail.com

 

Links to the Inspiring Talks:


Dr. Taboka P Chalegbwa

A (very) mild introduction to Transcendence

(speaking to Analysis students at Lehman College)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Kuei-Nian Lin 

Blow Up Chemical Networks

(speaking to Vector Calculus Students at Lehman College)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. John Urschel 

Jacobi's Eigenvalue Algorithm

(speaking to Linear Algebra Students at Lehman College)

(video is linked above at the title)

 

Dr. Fedya Manin (Pride Month Speaker)

Stretching Soap Bubbles over Random Knots

(speaking to students at Lehman College)

(prerequisite: Vector Calc and Linear Algebra)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Ayo Adeniran

Parking Functions and Some Interesting Generalizations

(speaking to Combinatorics students at Williams)

(video is linked above at the title)

 

Dr. Jorge Basilio

Areas of Parametrized Surfaces and Wormholes

(speaking to students at Lehman College)

(prerequisite: Vector Calc and Linear Algebra)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Alexander Diaz Lopez

A (Mathematical) Journey through Popular Games

(speaking to Lehman College Students)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Edinah Gnang

The Kotzig-Ringal-Rosa Conjecture

(a talk on Graph Theory for Lehman Math Majors)

(video is linked above at the title) 


Dr. Pamela Harris 

Invisible Lattice Points

(a talk on Number Theory at U Montana)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Dennis Ipke

Bayesian Statistics

(speaking to advanced statistics students at Lehman College)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Omayra Ortega

The Statistics behind Driving while Black

(speaking to students at Swarthmore)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Candice Price

Unraveling Biochemical Mysteries: Knot Theory applied to Biochemistry

(speaking to students at USD)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Juan M Restrepo

Mathematics of Climate Change

(speaking to the City College Math Club)

(video is linked above at the title)


Dr. Manuel Luis Rivera

The Borsuk-Ulam Theorem

(speaking to students taking Modern Algebra at Lehman College)

(video is linked above at the title) 


Dr. Ashley Wheeler

Defining Equations for Matroid Theory

(speaking to Lehman College Students)

(video will be posted in the summer)


Dr. Shelby Wilson

The Dynamics of Coupled Neurons

A talk on Mathematical Biology

(talk sponsored by Virginia Tech)

(video is linked above at the title)


2018-2019 Talks that were given in person at Lehman College:


Dr. Anarina Murillo

Mathematical, Computational Modelling, and Statistical Approach to Diabetes Research 

(live talk at Lehman College, no video)

 

Dr. Cheikh Birahim Ndiaye

Finding Minima and Barycenters

(live talk at Lehman College, no video)

 

Other Resources with Free Online Math Talks:

 

List at the American Mathematical Society

 

Efrain Vega’s Youtube channel

 

Mohammed Omar’s Youtube channel with Math GRE Prep

 

About the Inspiring Talks by Mathematicians

 

We have funding to invite under-represented minority mathematicians to give virtual talks on mathematics to inspire undergraduates pursue doctorates.   The talks cover a topic from a course followed by a discussion to inspire undergrads at various colleges to consider pursuing a doctorate.  The talks are aimed at math majors who have at most completed courses in vector calculus and linear algebra.   The speaker will give the talk as a video posted publicly on Youtube and then meet with your students online to chat about pursuing the doctorate.    The goal is to invite junior mathematicians who are missing opportunities to give talks due to Covid and would benefit from the honorarium and the talk on their resume.   Please contact me if you would like to recommend a speaker or would like one to visit your class to present a specific topic.   If your institution can pay the $300 honorarium that would allow for more than the initial ten speakers.