LSU Mathematics Student Colloquium

The goal of the LSU Mathematics Student Colloquium is to give both undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to hear and interact with speakers from across the country, providing information and perspective possibly relevant to their graduate and postgraduate careers.

Each invited speaker will spend several days at LSU, giving multiple talks and making himself or herself available to undergraduates.

Talks are not confined to the math department but open to everyone. Those majoring in related fields are encouraged to come.

We are a chartered LSU student organization (constitution and bylaws). We are munificently funded by the Student Government Programming, Support, and Initiatives Fund (PSIF), and the LSU Mathematics Department. We are grateful for the generous past funding made by grants from the National Science Foundation (a VIGRE grant) and the Board of Regents.

Friday, April 24: Evelyn Sander

Evelyn Sander is a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Her primary areas of interest include dynamical systems and mathematical visualization and design. Recently, she has researched quasi-periodicity and chaos, computational methods for studying dynamics, rigorous computation of bifurcations, and 3D printing of mathematical objects.

Student Colloquium (Location: Lockett Hall 243; Friday, April 24, Time: 10:30pm)

Title: Stable floating configurations for 3D printed objects

Abstract: This talk concentrates on the study of stability of floating objects through mathematical modeling and experimentation. The models are based on standard ideas of center of gravity, center of buoyancy, and Archimedes’ principle. In addition to free-floating objects in a single fluid, we are able to extend these theory to consider objects floating in two-fluid interfaces, partially grounded objects, and small objects where surface tension is a critical factor. There will be a discussion of a variety of floating shapes with two-dimensional cross sections for which it is possible to analytically and/or computationally a potential energy landscape in order to identify stable and unstable floating orientations. I then will compare the analysis and computations to experiments on floating objects designed and created through 3D printing. This research is joint work with Dr. Dan Anderson at GMU and many graduate and undergraduate students. The talk will be accessible to a wide audience, including undergraduate students.

Student Colloquium (Location: Lockett Hall 243; Friday, April 24, Time: 3:30pm)

Title: Bifurcations with cyclic symmetries in partial differential equations models in biology and materials science

Abstract: In the study of pattern forming systems of partial differential equations, the bifurcation structure of the equilibrium solutions serves as an organizing structure of the dynamics. Werner and Spence (1984) developed the theory of symmetry-breaking pitchfork  bifurcation structures for dynamical systems with even and odd symmetries. In recent work with P. Rizzi and T. Wanner, we were able to extend these results to cases with dihedral symmetries, giving a computer-assisted proof of such bifurcations in the case of the Ohta-Kawasaki model for diblock copolymers. In current work with M. Breden and T. Wanner, we extend these results beyond pitchfork bifurcations to symmetry-breaking transcritical bifurcations. Additionally, we extend our set of examples to higher dimensions and also to the Shigesada-Kawasaki-Teramoto model, a partial differential reaction-diffusion system for spatial segregation in the coexistence of two competing species.

Gallery

See for photos of our previous student colloquiums.

Past Events

See our past student colloquium events listing.