Colloquium Schedule of Mathematics Department
Central Michigan University
Spring 2016 and
Fall 2015

Schedule (Last updated: 04/28/2016, 04:13 PM EST)
Note 1: because there might be a time delay for the updates on this webpage, please always first check with the Colloquium Speaker Committee for the available dates.
Note 2: Typically the colloquium talk would occur from 4-5pm in PE227, but there may be exceptions. Please check the following table for more accurate information.

Spring 2016:
 Date Speaker Affiliation Time/Room Talk title Remark 02/04/2016 Thursday Suk-Ho Lee Dongseo University, South Korea 4-5pm, PE 227 Kernel based Deep Learning 03/03/2016 reserved reserved 4-5 reserved reserved for graduate area meeting 03/17/2016 Thursday Catherine Lewis Mills College 4-5pm, PE 227 Lesson Study to Improve Mathematics Instruction: Recent Research Department Invited Speaker Series 3/22/2016 Tuesday Carolyn Gordon Dartmouth College You can't hear the shape of a drum Department Invited Speaker Series 03/24/2016 Thursday reserved reserved reserved reserved reserved for department meeting 04/07/2016 Thursday Nancy Reid University of Toronto 4-5pm, PE 227 Statistical inference, learning and models for Big Data Department Invited Speaker Series 04/14/2016 Thursday Louis Nirenberg New York University 4-5pm, French Auditorium The maximum principle and some applications Fleming Lecture 04/15/2016 Friday Louis Nirenberg New York University 4-5pm, French Auditorium The maximum principle and some applications Fleming Lecture 05/03/2016 Tuesday, cancelled Alexander Alexandrov cancelled Centre de Recherche Mathematique in Montreal cancelled TBA cancelled cancelled

Fall 2015
 Date Speaker Affiliation Time/Room Talk title Remark 09/10/2015 Thursday Hengguang Li Wayne State University 4-5pm, PE 227 Finite Element Approximations of Singularities 10/01/2015 Thursday Emil Straube Texas A&M 4-5pm, PE 227 $\overline{\partial}$-Methods in Complex Analysis 10/08/2015 Thursday Mandi A. Schaeffer Fry Metropolitan State University of Denver 4-5pm, PE 227 On the Action of Galois Automorphisms on Characters of Groups of Lie Type 10/15/2015 Thursday Michael Pokojovy University of Konstanz, Germany 4-5pm, PE 227 A Multistep, Cluster-Based Multivariate Chart for Retrospective Monitoring of Individuals 10/30/2015 Friday Stephen Yau Tsinghua University, China Friday 3-3:50pm, PE223 Distinguishing Proteins From Arbitrary Amino Acid Sequences 11/05/2015 Thursday Scott Kersey Georgia Southern University 4-5pm, PE 227 Polynomial Approximation on Quasi-Uniform Grids

Abstracts:

Speaker: Hengguang Li
Time/Room: Thursday, 9/10/2015, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title: Finite Element Approximations of Singularities
Abstract: First, we review the finite element formulation in a general mathematical setting. Then, we discuss recent advances in the development of effective finite element algorithms approximating a class of singular solutions, including corner singularities with different boundary conditions and singularities from the non-smooth points on the interface in transmission problems. We establish a-priori estimates (well-posedness, regularity, and the Fredholm property) for the singular solution in weighted Sobolev spaces. Then, based on these theoretical results, we propose a simple and explicit construction of the finite element space to recover the optimal convergence rate of the numerical solution. We also mention applications in physics and engineering.

Speaker: Emil Straube
Time/Room: Thursday, 10/1/2015, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title:  $\overline{\partial}$-Methods in Complex Analysis
Abstract: We will first discuss the inhomogeneous $\overline {\partial}$-equation in one complex variable and show how it can be used to give a simple proof of the classical Mittag-Leffler Theorem on prescribing poles (including principal parts) of a meromorphic function. In the second part, we show how to solve $\overline{\partial}$ in $\mathbb{C}^{2}$ ( for a compactly supported right hand side). This solution then gives a short proof of the Hartogs Extension Theorem , one of the striking new phenomena that arise in several complex variables, clearly distinguishing the higher dimensional theory from the one dimensional case.

Speaker: Mandi A. Schaeffer Fry
Time/Room: Thursday, 10/08/2015, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title: On the Action of Galois Automorphisms on Characters of Groups of Lie Type
Abstract: Given a finite group with size n, the Galois group Gal(Q(\omega)/Q), where \omega is an nth root of unity, acts naturally on the irreducible characters of G.  We discuss some parametrizations for characters of groups of Lie type and the problem (and its motivation) of describing this Galois action in terms of these parametrizations.

Speaker: Michael Pokojovy
Time/Room: Thursday, 10/15/2015, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title: A Multistep, Cluster-Based Multivariate Chart for Retrospective Monitoring of Individuals
Abstract: The presence of several outliers in an individuals retrospective multivariate control chart distorts both the sample mean vector and covariance matrix, making the classical Hotelling's T2 approach unreliable for outlier detection. To overcome the distortion or masking, we propose a computer-intensive multistep cluster-based method. Compared with classical and robust estimation procedures, simulation studies show that our method is usually better and sometimes much
better at detecting randomly occurring outliers as well as outliers arising from shifts in the process location. Additional comparisons based on real data are given. This is joint work with J. Marcus Jobe (Miami University, Oxford, OH).

Speaker: Stephen Yau
Time/Room: Friday, 10/30/2015, 3:00-3:50pm, PE223
Title: Distinguishing Proteins From Arbitrary Amino Acid Sequences
What kinds of amino acid sequences could possibly be protein sequences? From all existing databases that we can find, known proteins are only a small fraction of all possible combinations of amino acids. Beginning with Sanger's first detailed determination of a protein sequence in 1952, previous studies have focused on describing the structure of existing protein sequences in order to construct the protein universe. No one, however, has developed a criteria for determining whether an arbitrary amino acid sequence can be a protein. Here we show that when the collection of arbitrary amino acid sequences is viewed in an appropriate geometric context, the protein sequences cluster together. This leads to a new computational test, described here, that has proved to be remarkably accurate at determining whether an arbitrary amino acid sequence can be a protein. Even more, if the results of this test indicate that the sequence can be a protein, and it is indeed a protein sequence, then its identity as a protein sequence is uniquely defined. We anticipate our computational test will be useful for those who are attempting to complete the job of discovering all proteins, or constructing the protein universe.

Speaker: Scott Kersey
Time/Room: Thursday, 11/05/2015, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title: Polynomial Approximation on Quasi-Uniform Grids
Abstract: A simple generalization of univariate polynomial interpolation and approximation to the bivariate setting is by tensor products. Here, one can easily construct a polynomial interpolant (in Lagange or Newton form) or quasi-interpolant (using Bernstein polynomials and dual functionals) over uniform bivariate grids, and compute the error in approximation based on the error in univariate polynomial interpolation. In this talk we focus on interpolation and approximation over certain quasi-uniform'' grids.  These are grids much sparser than full tensor product grids.  In particular, we will construct a quasi-interpolant on these grids, and derive an error of approximation. In particular, we show that for certain quasi-uniform grids we can achieve the same rate of approximation as by interpolation on the full tensor product grid.  Hence, we have a class of serendipity'' elements analogous to those in the finite element literature.  The construction involves a technique called discrete blending based on Boolean sum methods for interpolation and approximation.  We conclude with a brief mention of the construction of a subdivision scheme on quasi-uniform grids.

Speaker: Suk-Ho Lee
Time/Room: Thursday, 02/04/2016, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title: Kernel based Deep Learning
Abstract : Nowadays, deep learning based on neural networks has opened a new era of revolution in many areas like automatic driving, face recognition etc. Drived by the results of neural network based deep learning, people are starting to adapt the idea of multi-layer learning to support vector machines, especially to kernel based learning. In this talk, I will introduce the basic concepts of deep learning and some recent results of it, and also introduce how people try to build up a similar learning archtecture in kernel based learning.

Speaker: Catherine Lewis
Time/Room: Thursday, 03/17/2016, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title: Lesson Study to Improve Mathematics Instruction: Recent Research
Abstract: Lesson study consists of cycles of collaborative, practice-focused professional learning, centered around joint observation of live classroom instruction. In Japan, lesson study has long been credited for the shift to teaching mathematics through problem-solving and to teaching for understanding.  Recent research suggests that lesson study can positively impact teachers’ and students’ mathematical knowledge in the U.S., as well. Of 643 mathematics professional learning studies reviewed using What Works Clearinghouse criteria, only two studies showed impact on student mathematical proficiency (while meeting scientific design criteria), and one was lesson study.  This presentation will highlight recent research that points to the role of high-quality content resources in supporting successful lesson study in the U.S.

Speaker: Carolyn Gordon
Time/Room: Tuesday, 03/22/2016, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title: You can't hear the shape of a drum
Abstract: In spectroscopy, one attempts to recover the chemical composition of, say, a star from the characteristic frequencies of emitted light. Analogously, Mark Kac's question "Can one hear the shape of a drum?" asks whether the shape of a vibrating membrane  (a drumhead) can be determined from its characteristic frequencies of vibrations (its fundamental tone and overtones). We will answer this question in the negative by constructing explicit examples of exotic shaped "sound-alike" drums, and we will listen to a simulation of their sound, developed by Dennis DeTurck of the University of Pennsylvania.

Speaker: Nancy Reid
Time/Room: Thursday, 04/07/2016, 4-5pm, PE 227
Title:  Statistical inference, learning and models for Big Data
Abstract: The Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute and the Fields Institute for Research in the Mathematical Sciences recently completed a six month thematic research program on Big Data. I will give an overview of the topics covered with emphasis on linkages between different areas, common problems, and common strategies. While the program was only able to cover a small fraction of the world of Big Data, the breadth of the material covered by the large number of speakers was very stimulating.

Speaker: Louis Nirenberg
Time/Room: Thursday, 04/14/2016, and Friday 4/15/2016, both from 4-5pm at French Auditorium
Title: The maximum principle and some applications
Abstract: The lectures will be devoted to the maximum principle and various applications. These will be to geometry and to properties of solutions of elliptic partial differential equations. Some proofs will be given, and the talks will be expository.

Speaker: Alexander Alexandrov
Time/Room: Tuesday, 05/03/2016
Title:
Abstract: