Mathematics

Midwest Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium


MUMS Logo
The ninth annual Midwest Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium (MUMS) will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14, 2012, in the Carver Science Center at Simpson College.

Purpose

  • To promote student work, including research and projects, in the mathematical sciences at the undergraduate level.
  • To provide students the opportunity to share and celebrate the work they have completed in the mathematical sciences.
  • To introduce students to topics in the mathematical sciences and applications of mathematics that they have never learned about before.
  • To inform mathematics students about career and graduate school opportunities.

Friday Night Schedule
6:00 - 6:50pm   Welcome and pizza (Carver 205)
7:00 - 7:50pm   Plenary talk by Dr. Joyati Debnath (Carver 215)
8:00 - 8:30pm   Panel discussion on REUs and study abroad opportunities (Carver 215)
Afterwards   Games and social time (Carver 205)

Saturday Schedule
8:30 - 8:50am   Registration, check-in, pastries and coffee (Carver Atrium)
9:00 - 9:50am   Plenary talk by Austin Calder (Carver 215)
10:00am - 4:00pm   Undergraduate talks, poster presentations, panel discussions with
representatives from graduate schools and various careers (throughout Carver Science Center)

Plenary Talks
We are very pleased to have Dr. Joyati Debnath from Winona State University and Austin Calder from the National Security Agency giving our plenary talks this year.  Click on the link above to read the abstracts for their presentations.

Registration

There is no registration fee and lunch is provided free of charge.  Advanced registration is preferred by Friday, March 30, but attendees may also register the morning of the conference. Travel stipends for undergraduate speakers are available - refer to the Travel Information section below.  To register, simply send an e-mail to Dr. Heidi Berger (heidi.berger@simpson.edu, 515-961-1837) with your name and the college or university you attend.  Groups can register by sending all names to Dr. Berger in one e-mail.  If you have any questions, contact one of the symposium co-directors, Dr. Berger or Dr. Bill Schellhorn (william.schellhorn@simpson.edu, 515-961-1321).

Promotional Posters
Feel free to use this MUMS poster and this Call for Presentations poster to promote the symposium to other students and faculty.  Note that the second page of the MUMS poster includes the abstracts for the plenary talks.

Information for Presenters
Click on the link above for information about giving an oral or poster presentation at MUMS, including how to submit an abstract.  The abstract deadline is Friday, March 30.

Travel Information
Click on the link above for information about travel stipends for student speakers, hotel accommodations, parking, etc.

Panel Discussion - REUs and Study Abroad Opportunities
This year there will be a panel discussion on REUs and study abroad opportunities on Friday night.  We are seeking students and faculty members to serve on the panel, which will involve briefly describing your experience in such a program and then responding to questions from students in the audience.  If you are interested in being on this panel, contact one of the symposium co-directors, Dr. Heidi Berger or Dr. Bill Schellhorn (contact information above).

Panel Discussion - Graduate Schools and Careers
This year there will be a panel discussion with representatives from graduate schools and various careers on Saturday.  In past years, representatives from universities such as the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the University of Nebraska - Lincoln have attended the symposium to promote their graduate programs.  In addition, people who use mathematics in their jobs have attended the symposium to discuss the wide variety of career options available for mathematics students.  We are seeking representatives from graduate programs and various careers to serve on the panel, which will involve briefly describing your program or career and then responding to questions from students in the audience.  If you are interested in being on this panel, contact one of the symposium co-directors, Dr. Heidi Berger or Dr. Bill Schellhorn (contact information above).

Detailed Schedule 2012
Click on the link above for the latest version of the schedule.  If you are presenting, please check your information and contact Dr. Bill Schellhorn with any necessary changes (contact information above).

Abstracts 2012
Click on the link above for the student talk and poster abstracts.  If you are presenting, please check your information and contact Dr. Bill Schellhorn with any corrections (contact information above).

Symposium Funding
Funding for MUMS 2012 is provided by NSF grant DMS-0846477 through the MAA Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Conferences program (www.maa.org/RUMC). Additional funding is provided by the Simpson College Mathematics Department (www.simpson.edu/math).

Last Updated: 4/3/12