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A Brief History of Calculating Machines (Prof. Yousef Daneshbod, University of La Verne)
April 19 @ 4:15 pm - 5:30 pm
Title: A Brief History of Calculating Machines
Speaker: Yousef Daneshbod, Department of Mathematics, University of La Verne
Abstract: Calculating machines are digital or analog devices designed to perform mathematical calculations. These machines have a long history, with the earliest known examples dating back to ancient times, when people used sticks and stones for counting. However, the first mechanical calculators were invented in early modern period thanks to the theoretical development of mathematics and the growing need for more sophisticated computations. Today, calculating machines are all around us; changing the way we live our lives. In this talk, I will explain the evolution of early calculating machines and the key people involved with its development.
Dr. Yousef Daneshbod, Associate Professor of Mathematics has been teaching at the University of La Verne since 2007. Prior to joining La Verne, he was a Lecturer in Mathematics at Calpoly Pomona and an Adjunct Professor at Citrus College. Dr. Daneshbod received his B.S. and M.S both in mechanical engineering from Shiraz University in Iran. In the year 2001 he abandoned his studies for a PhD in mechanical engineering just one year before completion and along with his wife immigrated to the U.S. His love for mathematics motivated him to pursue a PhD degree in applied mathematics from the Claremont Graduate University, eventually graduating in the summer of 2006. Dr. Daneshbod believes that the combination of clear classroom notes along with symbolic computer software can serve as an excellent pedagogical tool for making mathematics much more fun and intuitive for the students. His primary fields of interest include mathematical modeling in microfluidics, theoretical and computational mechanics and wave propagation in anisotropic media. He is also interested in mathematics education in a liberal arts setting where he tries to inspire his students by exposing them to historical sketches of famous scientists and mathematicians.