2019 Data Visualization Expo

Student Presentations

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, December 4, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

 

Classifying Fruits with Python Will Henschell
For my capstone project, I built a fruit classifier using Python libraries. I will discuss the use of neural networks in these libraries to classify fruits, showing examples of the classifier being used and ideas for future development.
Data Research Assistant at Fastenal Jim Doffing
	I’ll share how I found my position and give an overview of my daily responsibilities, including customer market classification and report creation. I’ll also describe the tools, programs, skills and classes that have helped me at Fastenal.

Dr. Wangberg Featured in the Post

Dr. Aaron Wangberg's use of 3-D manipulatives in Multivariable Calculus were highlighted in the Winona Post:

With three-dimensional physical models, students at Winona State University (WSU) are learning multivariable calculus in a new fashion that involves drawing on the surfaces to help identify and work with different mathematical concepts before formally learning about them. The homegrown models have been shared with institutions throughout the U.S. as well.

Aaron Wangberg is a professor of mathematics at WSU who collaborated with students and engineering department faculty members on the making of the models and has used them to help students learn multivariable, or three-dimensional, calculus. The surfaces are dry erasable and large enough for multiple students to use as a common workspace on which to draw as they work through math problems and interpret what factors such as the height and the slope mean, Wangberg explained. ... continued 

Seminar Speaker

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Monday, November 25, Gildemeister 329

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 319. 

Life as a Graduate Student in Pure Math

Le Tang
 University of Iowa
 2017 WSU Alumnus

 

Ever wondered about life as a graduate student in pure mathematics? Come hear WSU alumnus (2017) Le Tang share his experiences as a graduate student at the University of Iowa. He will also talk about the transition from undergraduate to graduate life, and how his undergraduate education relates to his graduate school experience.

Student-Faculty Social Event

Math Ed Panel

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, November 20, Gildemeister 329

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 319. 

Mathematics Education Question and Answer Session
Scott Halverson Winona Sr. High School	Conager Mrozek Houston Sr. High School WSU Alumnus
Veteran teacher Scott Halverson and beginning teacher Conager Mrozek will share their experiences in the teaching profession. This informal question and answer session will include discussion of the job application process and coaching opportunities.

Student Internship Seminar

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, November 6, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

 

Working as a Data Analyst at WinCraft Colin Fakler
I’ll give an overview of my internship in Forecasting and Product Development at WinCraft and how I helped improve how we forecast raw materials.
Data Science Internship at Merchants Bank     Nalima Pandey
	I’ll give an overview of my summer as a Data Science Intern at Merchants Bank, describing the projects I worked on, the challenges I faced, and how I tackled those challenges.

Student Internship Seminar

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, October 23, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

Jennifer Ackermann
Arrowhead LP Gas intern

Bryce Banton
Mayo Clinic intern

Sawyer Fratzke
Optum intern

WSU students will present on their experiences as summer interns at three different companies. This informal seminar will also allow audience members to ask questions about internship experiences and opportunities.

Student Seminar

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, October 9, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

 

SIB’s Research: Determining Opioid Usage Based on Personality Factors Kaisey Skibba
I will give an overview of my Summer Institute in Biostatistics ( or “SIBs”) research experience and my final project studying the relationship between personality factors and opioid usage.

Dr. Duncan's Research Celebrated

Dr. Jacob Duncan's work on mathematical modeling of addiction has been featured in numerous media outlets.

From the Winona Post:

Duncan and two co-authors, psychology professor Teresa Aubele-Futch and mathematician and statistician Monica McGrath, recently published an academic paper in the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems explaining how a similar mathematical model used to predict pine beetle outbreaks could be useful in treating addiction. “We came up with a frequency prediction that we hope could be used by doctors or clinicians in the field,” Duncan said. “When you know you’re about to relapse again, you can take certain steps to prevent it,” he explained.
Normally, ecology and psychology researchers do not overlap too much. “You wouldn’t think there would be similarities,” Duncan said of the pine beetles and addiction. “That’s the nice thing about mathematics. You can find one equation that can describe one phenomenon, and it may do a really good job of describing another.” 

Student Seminar

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, May 1, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

 

Digital Data Analytics at Securian Financial Tom Gathje
As an intern at Securian Financial, I created the company's first data quality dashboard, used to ensure that data being pulled for business insights was complete and valid.
Working as a Data Research Assistant at Fastenal    Cassandra Shelton
	As a Data Research Assistant, I applied empirical data analytics, conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses of research data, and assisted in providing methodologies.

Student Seminar

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Friday, April 26, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

 

Los Angeles Parking Citations Mapping and Visualization Kevin Okome
In a case study of Los Angeles Parking Violation citations, we use data transformation to enable mapping of physical addresses, with the goal of establishing information that would help motorists determine which locations are recommended and which should be avoided.

Student Seminar

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, April 24, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

 

Spectral Graph Theory Conager Mrozek
Spectral Graph Theory studies graphs via their associated matrices and eigenvalues. I will show the usefulness of this approach in analyzing large networks and search algorithms.
Academic Cheating Behaviors of Nursing Students    Yulun Xu
	My research project compares two different studies on academic cheating behaviors of nursing students and how they associate with different characteristics such as social desirability and measures to minimize cheating.

Department Seminar

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, March 20, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

Picking your NCAA Bracket with Linear Algebra  

Dr. Aaron Wangberg
Winona State University

Abstract: How do you pick your NCAA Bracket? Do you value home wins, early season games, and blowouts against Division II and III foes? Or is it better to base everything on the last five games of the season? Bring your computer to fill out your NCAA Bracket and hear the math that has helped WSU Linear Algebra students finish in the top 10% of ESPN's Bracket Challenge.

Department Colloquium

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, March 6, Gildemeister 155

Refreshments served beforehand Gildemeister 135. 

Squigonometry Dr. Bill Wood University of Northern Iowa

The trigonometric functions cosine and sine report the coordinates of a point on the unit circle at a given angle. The circle and its associated functions have perfect symmetry, which we will study by seeing what happens when we break it. The Euclidean unit circle has equation x^2+y^2=1, but we will change the 2's to p's in the distance function and study the curve with equation |x|^p+|y|^p=1. As p gets larger, the circle flattens out and looks more and more like a square; we thus call these curves "squircles." We will look at the analogues of the trigonometric functions in this family of geometries, called p-norms, and explore some interesting connections to special functions, calculus, and number theory.

Distinguished Lecture Series

Session 1

Sunday Feb 24, 3 pm, Stark 103

Visualization for Effective

Communication

Scientists usually believe that good and clear design consists just of “beautifying” their charts, graphs, and maps. This should be an afterthought, as what truly matters is to “show the data”. This session explains why reasoning about design decisions is as important as reasoning about the data we present to audiences.

Session 2
Sunday Feb 24, 7 pm, Stark 103
How Charts Lie: Getting Smarter
About Visual Information

Graphic designers, data analysts, and journalists are taught that “a picture is worth a thousand words”, that we should “show don’t tell”, and that charts are “intuitive” and useful to “simplify” information. This talk explains why these myths, if taken at face value, are wrong and dangerous, and what we can do to become better readers and designers of graphics.

Session 3
Monday Feb 25, 12pm, Gild 155
Engagement and Future Trends
in Data Communication

Visualization is a language in constant evolution. This session will focus on how designers of visualization can make their graphics more attractive and engaging, and on several potential futures of data communication.

Department Spaghetti Dinner

Location: Holzinger Lodge (925 W Lake Blvd)

Department Colloquium

12:00 - 12:50 PM, Wednesday, February 6, SLC 120

Applying Data Analysis in the Business World   Rick Fredrickson Supply Chain Lead, Fastenal Company

Come hear from WSU mathematics alumnus Rick Fredrickson how his Supply Chain team is applying data analysis in the business world to drive customer service levels, manage $1.28 billion dollars in inventory investments, and optimize operational efficiencies. What are the key numbers behind the scenes that allow these business goals to merge together? Learn about opportunities to put your mathematics, statistics, or data science degree to work with a publicly-held, international company.