SMS scnews item created by Catherine Meister at Thu 8 May 2025 1449
Type: Meeting
Distribution: World
Expiry: 29 May 2025
Calendar1: 12 May 2025 1630-1830
CalLoc1: A16.04.N410D.Badham Building.Badham Seminar Room N410D, The University of Sydney
Auth: cmeister@w95s10l3.staff.sydney.edu.au (cmei0631) in SMS-SAML

Celebrating women in mathematics on May12

This year, we shall celebrate with 4 talks, a special showcase featuring interesting 3D geometry, and an exhibit on honeybee hive monitoring. There will also be pizza!

Schedule:
Welcome: 16:30 – 16:40
Introduction: 16:30 – 16:40

Talks:

Charlotte Chan (UMich): 16:40 – 17:00
Title: Set
Abstract: SET is a card game invented by geneticist Marsha Falco in 1974. I will talk about this game and its very natural relationship to mathematics. This is based on Diane Maclagan's article "The Card Game SET."

Zsuszanna Dansco (USyd): 17:00 – 17:20
Title: The number theory of knots
Abstract: You probably know that every positive whole number can be written as a product of prime numbers, and even better, there is only one way to do so, except for the ordering. For example, the primes that make up 6 are 2 and 3; no other prime will ever appear as a factor of 6. In this talk I will tell you how the same is true for knots! But wait… how do you multiply knots? What is a prime knot? Come along to find out!

Caroline Wormell (USyd): 17:20 – 17:40
Title: Randomness and pattern-finding in chaotic systems
Abstract: TBA

Karina Arias Calluari (USyd): 17:40 – 18:00
Title: What can be learned about honeybee hives from their weight and temperature datasets?
Abstract: Honeybee hives are essential for the environment, but they are failing at an alarming rate when subjected to a combination of various environmental and habitat alteration stressors. Rapid depopulation and sensitivity to environmental temperature are typical indicators of hive distress but are usually evident too late for effective intervention.
Our model opens the possibility of developing early warning indicators for honeybee colony failure, allowing for timely intervention to save the hives upon detecting changes in inferred parameters from two different approaches.

Showcase and pizza: 18:00 – 18:30