USF Hosts Math Conference This Weekend
April 6, 2018
This Saturday, University of Sioux Falls will welcome math researchers from across the region for the 19th annual Mathematics on the Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Conference. The event brings together undergraduate math students from universities throughout the region to present their research and projects, build their networks and share knowledge. The conference begins at 8:45 a.m.
“USF is honored to host this research conference,” said Brad Lowery, assistant professor of applied mathematics at USF, who is organizing this year’s event. “The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for students to present their research and socialize with other math majors.”
The event includes student research presentations, a guest speaker and social activities. Students present their mathematical research in the form of a 20-minute talk or with a poster.
One of the event’s founders, Dr. Daniel Schaal, is this year’s guest speaker.
“Effective oral communication is a vital skill to be successful in any profession, and this skill is just as important for mathematicians as is it for anyone else,” Dr. Schaal said. “In 1999 the first Mathematics on the Northern Plains Mathematics Conference was held to give this opportunity to undergraduate students in the Dakotas and surrounding states. The Northern Plains conference has been held annually ever since and has provided scores of students an opportunity to practice the oral communication of mathematics.”
Mathematics on the Northern Plains is just one example of opportunities available to USF students to engage with their area of study, and USF encourages students to participate in to develop and refine their research skills as well as highly transferrable good communication skills. Later in April USF holds its annual research symposium where undergraduates in all disciplines are encouraged to present current research projects.
Math on the Northern Plains Undergraduate Conference was established in the spring of 1999.
Learn more about the regional conference here.