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)