Clark State Community College and Johns Hopkins University will host interactive Spring Math Lectures on April 14 at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center in Springfield. This is the first Spring Math Lecture series sponsored by the two colleges.
“Schools, parents and organizations are highly encouraged to bring youth to the Spring Math Lectures,” said Kanesha Hall, Clark State STEM programming manager. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a chance to capture the interest of our students who truly have a knack for mathematics.”
The morning lecture will begin at 9:30 a.m. Dr. Edward Schneirman, mathematician, professor and vice dean for education at Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, will present the interactive math lecture: “What If?” focusing on how we know something is true. The standard is mathematical proof, and in this presentation students will learn about powerful aids called “proof by contradiction” beginning with, “What If It Were False?” Schneirman holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Princeton and a bachelor’s from Brown University.
Schneirman’s evening lecture will begin at 7 p.m. The topic will be, “This Will Probably Surprise You: Life is Uncertain.” Attendees will learn to cope with uncertainty through the use of the Probability Theory; a powerful tool for modeling an unpredictable world. It will also illuminate some surprising paradoxes. Attendees will be asked to do some modest calculations and are asked to bring a pencil and a calculator.
Both events are free of cost. The morning interactive math lecture is open to students in grades 6-12, parents, teachers and teacher education faculty of colleges and universities in the region.
Hall said schools are encouraged to bring a maximum of 25-30 students. The evening math lecture event is open to anyone who would like to attend.
Clark County’s top American Math Competition participants will be honored during the evening event. The Spring Math Lectures and American Math Competition events precede the second annual Johns Hopkins University Engineering Innovation program and Phone & Games programs.
Engineering Innovation is for high school students and will be held June 27 – July 22, 2016. The Phone & Games program will be held June 27 – July 1, 2016.
“Both programs create annual cohorts of 24 students who perform highest in their schools in STEM related courses,” said Hall. “These Johns Hopkins University summer programs are offered at Clark State Community College and are funded fully so that students who apply can attend free of expenses.”
Local philanthropist Rosayln Bullock has provided the funds to spearhead a partnership between Johns Hopkins University and Clark State Community College. Her service to local youth is in honor of her late husband Willis Bullock and Attorney Daniel Harkins.
For lecture RSVPs and/or applications for the Johns Hopkins University summer programs, contact Kanesha Hall, STEM programming manager, at (937) 328-6079.