Organizing Committee
McGill University
University of Southern California
The University of Akron
California State University, Long Beach
United States Military Academy, West Point
University of Utah
University of Maryland
Randolph-Macon College
Abstract
Spectra, the Association for LGBTQ+ Mathematicians, was conceived in the last ten years with its first official event in 2015 -- a panel discussion at the JMM in San Antonio. Since then, Spectra has organized events at various conferences to bring together people of the LGBTQ+ community.
Spectra is organizing this conference to provide opportunities for LGBTQ+ mathematicians both to celebrate achievements and to spark conversations of challenges in our community. This will be a space for attendees to share their research across all areas of mathematics (theoretical, applied, and math education) and to interact and create support networks within and across their research communities.
Spectra is proud to organize its first official conference and create an intentional space for LGBTQ+ mathematicians. This will be an event where LGBTQ+ mathematicians at all career stages can interact and network with their peers. Further, it will facilitate discussions for creating better environments and promoting mathematics in our community.
For this conference, which will be virtual, we aim for a simple format: three days consisting of:
one plenary speaker per day (one in theoretical math, one in applied math, and one in math education);
contributed short talk sessions on each of the three days;
several social events geared towards networking;
a concluding panel discussion.
This will be the first in a series of general mathematics conferences showcasing the achievements of LGBTQ+ mathematicians.
Note, Graduate Students are NOT required to provide statements of support or poster session information during the application process.
Spectra is organizing this conference to provide opportunities for LGBTQ+ mathematicians both to celebrate achievements and to spark conversations of challenges in our community. This will be a space for attendees to share their research across all areas of mathematics (theoretical, applied, and math education) and to interact and create support networks within and across their research communities.
Spectra is proud to organize its first official conference and create an intentional space for LGBTQ+ mathematicians. This will be an event where LGBTQ+ mathematicians at all career stages can interact and network with their peers. Further, it will facilitate discussions for creating better environments and promoting mathematics in our community.
For this conference, which will be virtual, we aim for a simple format: three days consisting of:
one plenary speaker per day (one in theoretical math, one in applied math, and one in math education);
contributed short talk sessions on each of the three days;
several social events geared towards networking;
a concluding panel discussion.
This will be the first in a series of general mathematics conferences showcasing the achievements of LGBTQ+ mathematicians.
Note, Graduate Students are NOT required to provide statements of support or poster session information during the application process.
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Workshop Schedule
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
12:50 - 1:00 PM EDT
Welcome
Virtual
Brendan Hassett, ICERM/Brown University
1:00 - 1:10 PM EDT
Opening Remarks
Virtual
David Crombecque, University of Southern California
1:10 - 2:10 PM EDT
How to swim through goo
Virtual
Speaker
Becca Thomases, University of California, Davis
Session Chair
Konstantina Trivisa, University of Maryland
Abstract
Non-Newtonian or complex fluids describe a wide class of materials from biological fluids like mucus and blood to everyday household products like shampoo and paint. There are many problems in physics and biology where understanding motion of (or in) complex fluids is essential for understanding natural phenomena. Tools from mathematical analysis and computational simulations can shed light on these complex problems that are significant in many biological, environmental, and industrial applications. I will describe some recent work on modeling micro-organism swimming in viscoelastic fluids, and understanding the mechanisms that lead to speed changes in complex fluids
2:10 - 2:20 PM EDT
Break
Coffee Break - Virtual
2:20 - 2:40 PM EDT
1. Diagram-Like Basis for the Multiset Partition Algebra
CONTRIBUTED TALKS SESSION A (Breakout room 1) - Virtual
Speaker
Alexander Wilson, Dartmouth College
Session Chair
Alexander Wiedemann, Randolph-Macon College
Abstract
There's a classical connection between the representation theory of the symmetric group and the general linear group called Schur-Weyl Duality. Variations on this principle yield analogous connections between the symmetric group and other objects such as the partition algebra and more recently the multiset partition algebra. The partition algebra has a well-known basis indexed by graph-theoretic diagrams which allows the algebra to be understood very visually. I will present an analogous basis for the multiset partition algebra.
2:20 - 2:40 PM EDT
2. Continuous-time quantum walks on graphs
CONTRIBUTED TALKS SESSION B (Breakout room 2) - Virtual
Speaker
Hermie Monterde, University of Manitoba
Session Chair
Rustum Choksi, McGill University
Abstract
Let $G$ be an undirected graph representing a quantum spin network, where the vertices and edges of $G$ are the qubits and their interactions in the network, respectively. One of the main interests involving quantum spin networks is the transmission of quantum states from one vertex in $G$ to another with a particular level of probability. By assigning a quantum state to a vertex of $G$, the matrix $U(t)=e^{itM}$, where $M$ is a matrix associated to $G$, determines a continuous-time quantum walk on $G$, and governs the evolution of the quantum state in the underlying graph. The entries of $U(t)$ provide information about the probability of quantum state transfer between any two vertices of $G$ at time $t$. Various types of quantum state transfer arise depending on the level probabilty set. In this talk, we discuss the different types of quantum state transfer and their properties, as well as examine how the combinatorial and spectral properties of the graph affect each type of quantum state transfer.
2:40 - 3:00 PM EDT
1. Mathematics as Relational Discourse
CONTRIBUTED TALKS SESSION A (Breakout room 1) - Virtual
Session Chair
Alexander Wiedemann, Randolph-Macon College
Abstract
This talk will be about the span of a conceptual basis for the space of mathematical practice. Using an approach to discourse aligned with feminist and queer theories, I analyze the origin of the Lorenz attractor as a collection of conversations with multiple entities: modeling equations, a computing machine, Lorenz's coding and syntax of the programming language he used, his colleagues who helped him refine his ideas (and refine his metaphor of the “butterfly effect”), and his emotions that told him he was seeing something worth investigating. We will end with a discussion of implications and new approaches to pedagogy.
2:40 - 3:00 PM EDT
2. Predicting confirmation times of Bitcoin transactions
CONTRIBUTED TALKS SESSION B (Breakout room 2) - Virtual
Speaker
Rowel Gundlach, Eindhoven university of technology
Session Chair
Rustum Choksi, McGill University
Abstract
We study the distribution of confirmation times of Bitcoin transactions, conditional on the size of the current memorypool. We argue that the time until a Bitcoin transaction is confirmed resembles the time to ruin in a corresponding Cramer-Lundberg process. This well-studied model gives mathematical insights in the mempool behaviour over time. Specifically, for situations where one chooses a fee, such that the total size of incoming transactions with higher fee is close to the total size of transactions leaving the mempool (heavy traffic), a diffusion approximation leads to an inverse Gaussian distribution for the confirmation times. The results are particularly interesting for users that want to make a Bitcoin transaction during heavy-traffic situations, as evaluation of the well-known inverse Gaussian distribution is computationally straightforward.
3:00 - 3:20 PM EDT
1. Kinetic Monte Carlo Methods for Simulating Brownian Motion with Mixed Boundaries
CONTRIBUTED TALKS SESSION A (Breakout room 1) - Virtual
Speaker
Claire Plunkett, University of Utah
Session Chair
Alexander Wiedemann, Randolph-Macon College
Abstract
Simulating Brownian motion in domains with mixed boundary conditions using standard methods can be computationally expensive. A class of methods with increased computational efficiency is kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) methods. These methods break the process of Brownian motion into two or more steps, where each step can be exactly and efficiently simulated. One use of these KMC methods is numerically calculating the capacitance of lower-dimensional objects embedded in higher-dimensional space, which is used for homogenization of mixed boundaries among other applications. I will describe several KMC methods I have developed and their application.
3:00 - 3:20 PM EDT
2. Failure to Quit: Reflections on how Queer Activism has Influenced the Way I Teach Math
CONTRIBUTED TALKS SESSION B (Breakout room 2) - Virtual
Speaker
Debra Borkovitz, Boston University
Session Chair
Rustum Choksi, McGill University
Abstract
In 1987, when I was a graduate student at MIT, I proudly pleaded guilty to the charge “failure to quit,” and was sentenced to three days in jail for participating in a mass civil disobedience action at the Supreme Court, protesting the court’s upholding of sodomy laws. Also while I was in graduate school, I co-founded one of the first grassroots organizations in the country addressing domestic violence in queer relationships and participated in many other forms of activism. My queer activist experiences thoroughly inform my work to make math education more just, more accessible, and more joyful. In this talk, I will share some history, some connections, and some musings.
3:20 - 3:25 PM EDT
Intersection of LGBT Identity and Mathematics is Non-Empty
Lightning Talks - Virtual
Speaker
Ron Buckmire, Occidental College
Session Chair
David Crombecque, University of Southern California
Abstract
In this talk I will discuss the ways that LGBT identity and applied mathematics intersect. I will also argue that mathematics is a human endeavor and thus the identities of “who does the math” is important. I believe diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (JEDI) efforts in the applied mathematics community should include LGBTQ+ people. I will provide examples that demonstrate the intersection of LGBT identity and the applied mathematics community is non-empty.
3:30 - 4:30 PM EDT
SOCIAL HOUR on GATHER.TOWN
Coffee Break - Virtual