Title: “The science of Mathematics is not crystallized into text-books” : The Bryn Mawr Mathematical Journal Club (1896 — 1924) Speaker: Jemma Lorenat, Pitzer College Abstract: As mathematics departments in the United States began to shift toward standards of original research at the end of the nineteenth century, many adopted journal clubs as forums for […]

Title: Graph Complexes and Moduli Spaces of Curves Speaker: Siddarth Kannan, UCLA Abstract: I will begin by defining a certain combinatorial object called a graph complex. Then I will give a brief introduction to the moduli space of curves. The study of the geometry of this moduli space has occupied several generations of mathematicians, across […]

Title: Math as Art and Recreation Speaker: Peter Kagey, HMC Abstract: Recreational Mathematics is an area of math which is rooted in exploration and playfulness, and includes puzzles, games, art, and more. This talk takes a closer look at these ideas, emphasizing how a foundation of curiosity and play can lead to insightful connections with various […]

Title: Shrinkage Estimation for Causal Inference and Experimental Design Speaker: Evan T. R. Rosenman, Assistant Professor of Statistics, Claremont McKenna College Abstract: Passive collection of observational data -- in settings such as medicine, insurance, and e-commerce -- is a ubiquitous feature of modern life. For statisticians, these ever-proliferating datasets are both promising and perilous. Observational […]