Wartburg College Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, & Physics

We’re all just STEM fans posting STEM memes about STEM majors winning medals in the Olympics…

Gladys West: The Hidden Figure Behind GPS Her groundbreaking work changed global navigation

alert. After almost 2 months of nothing we finally have another CME launched towards us! Impact looks to be late Tuesday with impacts potentially reaching G2. Cloud cover looks to be fairly scattered so viewing should be pretty good!
https://www.spaceweather.gov/products/aurora-viewline-tonight-and-tomorrow-night-experimental

"It began innocently enough — with Saran Wrap and accelerometers designed for shark tracking that I bought from marine technology outfits. We didn’t know what we were doing. I needed to fasten these accelerometers to swimmers. So I got Saran Wrap and wrapped these sensors around their waists super tight. Some swimmers were just too powerful, so the sensors never stayed inside the Saran Wrap. So now I have these belts that my wife made that have a little pocket for the sensors."

How America’s Fastest Swimmers Use Math to Win Gold | Quanta Magazine Number theorist Ken Ono is teaching Olympians to swim more efficiently.

https://xkcd.com/2945/

Time for some MA 250

Hi friends, it's flood time. I haven't done this in a while, but when looking at historical data, the Janesville peak seems to be around the old Waverly peak. Right now Janesville is predicted for 13.5 ft which is minor flooding for them. The statistical prediction (see picture) is even more conservative.

For comparison, that would be approximately the September 2016 flood which interfered with Waverly Oktoberfest.

Time to Celebrate and then get back to work.

We are proud to announce that Wartburg College was one of only 25 schools nationwide and the only one in Iowa to earn a Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose. The classification acknowledges colleges and universities that have committed to campuswide efforts to advance leadership in pursuit of public goods like justice, equity, diversity and liberty.

“The acknowledgment of Wartburg College as a national exemplar in Leadership for Public Purpose is a testament to both our mission and our people. The exceptional vision of Michael Gleason in both undergraduate and graduate spaces has led to experiences both inside and outside the classroom that center communities and action in leadership education,” said Wartburg President Rebecca Ehretsman. “Our mission, vision and values focus on leadership and service as pillars of the holistic education we aim to provide, graduating the next generation who will be truly equipped to impact their communities and our world.”

Learn more: https://www.wartburg.edu/2024/06/14/wartburg-college-recognized-for-developing-leaders-for-public-purpose/

Mathematician Who Made Sense of the Universe's Randomness Wins Math's Top Prize Michel Talagrand took home the 2024 Abel Prize for his work on stochastic systems, randomness and a proof of a physics reaction that many experts thought was unsolvable

Georgia Nissen ’24 was one of only 12 applicants selected from a pool of 200 to participate in Purdue University’s 2023 summer Research Experience for Undergraduates program. During her 10 weeks, Georgia worked under Dr. Souvik Das to optimize particle tracker glue, a crucial task in physics research. She credits her success to the solid foundation built at Wartburg College.

"I had so much fun and gained invaluable experience. The collaborative environment at Purdue was amazing, and it solidified my passion for particle physics," says Georgia. 🧪✨

Check out her inspiring journey and how Wartburg prepared her for this incredible opportunity! Next stop: Florida State University for a doctorate in physics. 🎓

Read the full story here: https://www.wartburg.edu/georgia-summer-internship-leads-to-applying-to-graduate-school/

Join us in paying tribute to the remarkable achievements of Asian American mathematicians: Sun-Yung Alice Chang, Tony Chan, and Chuu Lian Terng.
Their groundbreaking work not only advances the frontiers of mathematics but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring mathematicians worldwide. As we reflect on their contributions, let's reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields.
Together, let's honor their legacy and pave the way for future generations of mathematicians.

One year in the books for new physics professor, Dr. Yan.

Congratulations JoJo. Math Education Major!

WOTF: JoJo Tyynismaa takes third in the 400m hurdles (59.96) for All-American honors! 🏅

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-guinness-brewery-invented-the-most-important-statistical-method-in/

Join us Monday, May 20 at 7 PM at the Bremer Brewing Company for MathsJam.

Our visit to the Köln cathedral

Our visit to the Köln cathedral

Named all conference singles and doubles twice, and A-Flight Doubles Champion 🐌 Georgia racked up a whopping 104 wins in her time at Wartburg.

Georgia is the example of just how much you can grow in 4 years of playing for Wartburg by sticking with it day after day. From an under the radar, late starting prospect hidden in Eldridge to one of the faces of our program and our conference. Georgia is now fluent in tennis. She hits with power and spin and controls points. She’s looking to move forward and volley to win. All “new” things for Georgia that now are a given she will bring to the table every day.

If you never got to see Georgia in terminator mode you missed out. It’s when the first set is close but somewhere around the 7th game she figures it out and the player might as well leave the court because the only positive thing that’s going to happen to them going forward is some cardio work.

And don’t forget she did all of this while off the court being wildly successful in her academics and out of the classroom experiences. But you’d never know because she balanced it all and came to practice fresh and ready to hustle herself and bring positive energy for her teammates.

Georgia: Thank you for being consistent in who you are as a worker and a teammate. Your independence and dedication has helped to transform our culture as our program has grown with you. Thank you for buying in, for always bringing your best, for your control of emotions and being intentional to give everyone a Georgia Gumball conversation. I am so impressed with what you’ve done and how, and I am so grateful to have gone on this ride with you. - Coach

Good times at the Arithmetic Museum (Arithmeum)

Using Napier's Bones at the Arithmeum

Up close and personal with our mathematical ancestors

Enjoying Bremen, Germany.