myCSUSM
The San Marcos Informal Mathematics In-person Colloquium (SMIMIC)
Fall 2025
- Thursday, September 11: TBA
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, September 25: TBA
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, October 9: TBA
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, October 16 (Quaternion Day): Dr. Marshall Whittlesey
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, October 23: TBA
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, November 6: TBA
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, November 20: TBA
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, December 4: TBA
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Spring 2025
- Thursday, January 30: Stevie Ann Brosh
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: Q&A with a Mathematician at the Naval Information Warfare Center
- Bio: Stevie Brosh holds a B.S. in Mathematics with an emphasis in Statistics from California State University, Long Beach and an M.A. in Mathematics with an emphasis in Teaching Services from San Diego State University. These academic achievements have provided her with a strong analytical background, quantitative skills, and a deep understanding of problem-solving techniques which have led to a successful professional career focused on software development, test, and delivery. Ms. Brosh currently works for the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific as a scientist in the Command and Control Department. During her time at the Center, she has been a software developer, a lead test engineer, and now a deputy project manager responsible for multiple software applications supporting the US Navy and its allies.
- Thursday, February 13: Dr. Shahed Sharif
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: Scissors Beats Paper
Abstract: If I cut a piece of paper into many pieces, rearrange the pieces, and
then put them back together, what kind of shapes can I get? We'll give a
complete answer to this question, and then talk about how complicated it
gets when cutting solids in 3 dimensions. Paper and scissors will be
provided! However, rocks are prohibited. - Thursday, March 20: Dr. Daniel Chivers
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: Mathematics at Leidos
Description: Dr. Daniel Chivers, Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Senior Director of Business Operations at the Information & Data Sciences Division of Leidos, will detail some of the ways mathematics is used in his division and answer questions from the audience. The department conference room is booked immediately following the talk for continued conversation.
- Thursday, March 27: Dr. Bennet Goeckner
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: Manifold Matching Complexes
Abstract: Given a graph, a matching is a collection of its edges where no two of these edges share a common endpoint. The set of all possible matchings of a graph is called its matching complex. A great deal of research has been conducted on the topology of matching complexes for various graph families. We instead ask the opposite question: Given a manifold, when is it a matching complex? We completely characterize all graphs and manifolds that arise in this way. No previous knowledge of these topics will be needed for this talk.
- Thursday, April 10: AWM Pi a Professor
- TIME: 12:00-1:00PM
- LOCATION: Forum Plaza
- Thursday, April 17: Lunch with Dr. Ken Golden, Reid Lecture Series Speaker
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Come have lunch and an informal Q&A with Dr. Ken Golden!
- Thursday, April 17: Dr. Ken Golden delivers the Reid Lecture
Mathemagic of Sea Ice, Semiconductors, & Harry Potter
- TIME: 6:00-7:00PM
- LOCATION: USU Ballroom
- Tuesday, April 22: Math 495 Internship Info Session
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
- Thursday, May 1: Jack J. Garzella
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: Beyond FOIL: The State of the Art in Polynomial Multiplication
Abstract: We will discuss how to multiply two polynomials. “How hard can this be?” you may ask. Well, it turns out when the polynomials get big enough it gets quite hard. We’ll describe one algorithm, the so-called “Fast Fourier Transform”, which works much faster in these cases.
Fall 2024
- Thursday, September 5: Dr. Brian Freidin
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: A generalized van der Waerden game on an infinite board
Abstract: We will discuss (and play!) some games on the integers. Van der Waerden's game asks you to color the integers {1,2,...,n} using r colors and avoid k of the same color in arithmetic progression. In a variation, two players take turns coloring previously unclaimed integers, and one player wins when the numbers in their color form a specific pattern. We will discuss whether these games must end, who has a winning strategy, and how efficient that winning strategy is. This is based on joint work with students in the Auburn graduate research seminar.
- Thursday, September 19: Anna Zelenak
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: Careers in the Federal Government for Mathematicians
Abstract: Discover how the Federal Government employs mathematicians in the field of cryptanalysis. This presentation will provide an overview of mathematical applications at the National Security Agency (NSA) and explore the role of mathematics and cryptanalysis in solving complex cases at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We will conclude with a hands-on session, analyzing real-life evidence from a federal RICO case investigated by the FBI.
- Thursday, September 26: CRESE Seminar
- TIME: 12:00-1:00PM
- LOCATION: Markstein 101
- Thursday, October 3: Summer Research Presentations
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: Student Summer Research Presentations
Abstract: CSUSM students Alejandro Leon Figueroa, Carmen Gutierrez, Maxwell Kooiker, Noah Lowery, Brittany Russell, and Dylan Scofield will present on the mathematics they researched and studied over the summer.
- Thursday, October 17: Rob Howard
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: My Journey from CSUSM Math Graduate to Data-Driven Entrepreneur
Abstract: I’ll share my unique career path after graduating with a B.S. in Mathematics from CSUSM in 1999. My initial aspirations were to become a high school math teacher, but after successfully navigating the challenging B.S. coursework, I found myself wondering “what else could I do with my Math degree?” This presentation will explore how a B.S. in Mathematics from CSUSM prepared me for a rewarding and exciting career as a statistical analyst and business owner. I’ll share what a typical day looks like in my career and how the skills I learned over 25 years ago continue to play a crucial role in my success.
Bio: Rob Howard graduated in 1999 with a B.S. in Mathematics from California State University, San Marcos. Since then, he has enjoyed a rewarding career as a data analyst in the pharmaceutical industry and uses SAS to perform statistical analysis of clinical trial data in a wide range of therapeutic areas. In 2007, Rob founded Veridical Solutions and has been an independent consultant providing his analysis services to pharmaceutical companies. In 2020, he co-founded Emanate Biostats, Inc. further expanding his business endeavors in the industry.
- Thursday, October 24: CRESE Seminar
- TIME: 12:00-1:00PM
- LOCATION: Markstein 101
- CRESE Seminar
- Tuesday, November 12: Internship Presentation and Q&A
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: From Data to Dialogue: Developing the Ask Margot Chatbot for Travel Nurses
Abstract: Discover how Haley Lorenz’s Math 495 internship project with Ask Margot leverages data science to support travel nurses in finding hospitals that align with their preferences. Haley will present the development of a chatbot using Amazon Lex, designed to interpret and respond to user queries based on reviews from travel nurses.
Haley’s presentation will be followed by an internship Q&A with her, CSTEM Career and Internship specialist Breanna Caso, Career Center Internship coordinator Monica Gillie, and Math 495 faculty advisor Dr. Andre Kundgen.
- Thursday, November 14: Dr. André Kündgen
- TIME: 12:00-12:50PM
- LOCATION: Commons 206
Title: How to guard an art gallery
Abstract: Consider an art gallery formed by a polygon on n vertices. The basic question is how many guards does it take to supervise the whole gallery? We will answer this question in the worst case, even when we allow some interior walls. Here an interior wall is any interior diagonal of the gallery connecting two vertices. Each interior wall has an arbitrarily placed, arbitrarily small doorway connecting the rooms on either side.
- Thursday, November 21: CRESE Seminar
- TIME: 12:00-1:00PM
- LOCATION: Markstein 101
- Website
The SMIMIC Archives
- Spring 2024
- Dr. Brian Katz, Professor, Mathematics Education and coordinator for the Math Single Subject , CSU Long Beach
- Dr. Kate Stevenson, Professor of Mathematics, CSU Northridge
- Dr. Mary Pilgrim, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, San Diego State University
- Dr. Laird Kramer, Professor, Physics Education Research, Florida International University
- Dr. Badal Joshi, Professor, Department of Mathematics, CSU San Marcos
- Dr. Amy Buchmann
- Dr. Álvaro Lozano-Robledo, Professor of Mathematics, University of Connecticut (2024 Reid Lecture Series speaker)
- Dr. Nathan Kaplan, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, UC Irvine
- Advancement to Candidacy: Guillermo Jimenez, Iryna Razhkova
- Fall 2023
- Dr. Sixian Jin, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, CSU San Marcos
- Dr. Eva Loeser, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Statistics & Operations Research Department, UC Chapel Hill
- Dr. Emily Cilli-Turner, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of San Diego
- Advancement to Candidacy: Dylan Scofield
Individuals with disabilities who would like to attend this event please contact the CSUSM Mathematics Department at mathdept@csusm.edu regarding any special accommodation needs. It is requested that individuals requiring auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify the event sponsor at least seven working days in advance. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.