Pi Mu Epsilon Conference

April 16-17, 2010
Featuring Guest Speaker Claudia Neuhauser University of Minnesota-Rochester
Peter Engel Science Center, SJU

Modeling Spatial Dynamics: From Theory to the Field and the Lab

In part one of this two-part talk, we introduce a mathematical framework for modeling complex spatial interactions among agents, such as the spread of an epidemic in a geographically dispersed population or competitive interactions between two species in a spatial habitat. In part two, we present two case studies. The first case study looks at the effects of habitat destruction on the maintenance of a diverse prairie community. The second case study looks at the interplay of exploitation of resources and dispersal ability of a viral pathogen in a microcosm.

Although the second talk is related to the first one, it can be understood independently of the first one. Both talks are intended for a general audience.

Claudia Neuhauser

Claudia Neuhauser received a Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1990. She was a faculty member in mathematics departments at the University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin Madison, University of California Davis, and the University of Minnesota. In 2008, she moved to the University of Minnesota Rochester where she is Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs after spending five years as department head in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She is the author of the textbook “Calculus for Biology and Medicine” (3^rd edition). Her research interests include mathematical modeling of ecological and evolutionary dynamics and development of statistical and bioinformatics tools for analysis of genome data. She received teaching awards from the University of Minnesota and was named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor in 2006.

If you are a student interested in giving a talk, please download the application form. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact Dr. Kris Nairn at knairn@csbsju.edu.

Where to Stay

Saint John's University is located 10 miles west of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Transportation to and from St. Cloud will be provided to those who request it. Some free on-campus lodging will be available for students willing to share a dorm room (bring a sleeping bag). Ample motel accommodations are available in the St. Cloud area:

Super 8, St Joseph: 320-363-7711 or 800-800-8000
Super 8, St Cloud: 320-253-5530 or 800-800-8000
Budgetel, St Cloud: 320-253-4444 or 800-428-3438
Comfort Inn, St Cloud: 320-251-1500 or 800-424-6423
Holiday Inn, St Cloud: 320-253-9000
Motel 6, Waite Park: 320-253-7070
AmericInn, Avon: 320-356-2211

Former Conference Speakers

2009 Joe Gallian
2007 Carlos Castillo-Chavez
2006 Edward Burger
2005 Jennifer Quinn
2004 Frank Farris
2003 Colin Adams
2002 David Bressoud
2001 Underwood Dudley
2000 Sam Patterson
1999 Robert L. Devaney
1998 Richard Guy
1997 Ron Graham
1996 Frank Morgan
1995 Carl Pomerance
1994 Philip Straffin
1993 Thomas Banchoff
1992 Judith Grabiner
1991 Raymond Smullyan
1990 Joan Hutchinson
1989 Richard Askey
1988 Sherman Stein
1987 Reuben Hersh
1986 Peter Hilton
1985 I.N. Herstein
1984 Ruth Struik
1983 Joan Fisher Box, George Box
1982 Alfred Willcox (in conjunction with the North Central Section Meeting)
1981 Doris Schattschneider, Leonard Gillman, Don Koehler
1980 Mary Ellen Rudin
1979 Paul Halmos

Lectures will be geared toward a general audience