Recent News
Pi Mu Epsilon Colloquium
November 13, 2009
The Pi Mu Epsilon society is hosting a talk at 5:00 PM, Friday, November 13, 2009 in OGC 113. The speaker is Dr. Kendra Killpatrick, Pepperdine University. Her title is "Fun and Games with the Second Most Famous Mathematical Sequence". All are invited to attend this interesting talk! Please see the flyers around the math department suite for the talk description.
Professor Bibelnieks featured on NPR
October 14, 2009
Professor Tracy Bibelnieks was featured in an Minnesota Public Radio news story describing the mathematics achievement gap for elementary students. A link to the news story with audio can be found here.
Students and Faculty at NDSU
October 8, 2009
On October 8, Professors Ben
Stottrup (physics) Pavel Belik (mathematics) accompanied
four students (Tom Lopez, John Singleton, Ben Hoffmann, and Andrew
Nguyen) to the 3rd Annual Undergraduate Research Poster Session at
NDSU, Fargo, ND. The students presented posters on their summer
research.
Professor Belik presented an invited talk on polymeric thin films. A
picture of the day is below.
Opportunities Page
September 24, 2009
Students, are you looking for a summer research opportunity? Making post-graduate plans? Be sure to check out our opportunities page created especially for you! When the math department receives announcements for jobs, REUs, or other opportunities, they will be posted here.
Welcome back!
September 9, 2009
To all new and returning Augsburg students - welcome back to school!
Faculty in the media
June 13, 2009
Mathematics professor Jody Sorensen was mentioned on the June 13, 2009 broadcast of "Car Talk". While Professor Sorensen's car runs great, she was mentioned in regards to the current week's puzzler. A description of the show can be found here. We will try to post a link to the actual spot when available!
Undergraduate Researchers
Summer 2009
Several mathematics majors are participating in summer research, both on and off campus. These students are participating in a variety of projects - follow the links to their various programs. Be sure to ask them about their experiences when you return to Augsburg in the fall!
Paul Bjorkstrand, mathematics
and computer science double major:
URGO
in Mathematics with Pavel Belik
Phil Brown, computer science
major and mathematics minor:
REU
in Wireless, Pervasive, and Mobile Computing at Auburn University,
Alabama
Casey Ernst, mathematics and
chemistry double major:
Faculty
Student Team Fellowships at the Materials Research Science and
Engineering Center, University of Minnesota
Al Garver, mathematics major:
REU
in Mathematics at University of Georgia
Gaby Hamerlinck, mathematics
and biology double major:
Enhancing
Linkages between Mathematics and Ecology (ELME) program at
the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State
University
Benjamin Hoffman, mathematics
and physics double major:
URGO
in Mathematics with Pavel Belik
Eric Howe, mathematics and computer science double major:
URGO
in Mathematics with Pavel Belik
Michael Janas, mathematics and physics double major:
Center
for Astrophysics, Space Physics & Engineering Research
(CASPER) Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Physics at Baylor
University, Texas
Melissa Robertson, mathematics and biology double major:
URGO
in Biology with David Crowe
Ruth Senum, mathematics secondary education major
URGO
in Education with Linda Stevens
John Singleton, mathematics and physics double major:
URGO
in Mathematics with Pavel Belik
Alumna news
May 25, 2009
Augsburg Alumna Chandra Erdman (B.A., Mathematics, Minor, Economics, '02) has successfully completed all requirements to earn her Ph.D. in Statistics at Yale University. Graduation took place on May 25, 2009. Congratulations Dr. Erdmann!
Math & Physics Alum in the News
May 22, 2009
Dr. Mauris
DeSilva, a 2000 Augsburg College Math and Physics alum,
received recoginition for a study on controlled delivery of antibiotics
to wounds.
His team of researchers received first place for their work at a poster
competition. A news article in the Great Lakes Bulletin describing the
award can be found here
(search for article "Description of NIDBR study takes first place").
Congratulations Dr. DeSilva!
Students win programming contest
April 23, 2009
Congratulations
to math and computer science majors, Eric Howe and Erik Johnson Midwest
for winning
the top prize at the Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium at the
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
This was a very competitive contest that came down to the wire for Eric and Erik! Out of the 9 problems given in this 3 hour contest, the team correctly answered 6 of them to receive the top prize.
Congratulations to both for their achievements! Additional information about the contest can be found by following this link to Augsburg College news.Al Garver receives Goldwater Scholarship
April 6, 2009
Congratulations
to math major,
religion, and economics minor Al Garver ('10)
for being awarded a Goldwater Scholarship. The Goldwater
Scholarship is
a national academic prize for undergraduate work in science,
technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Among the many activities Al is involved with, he is co-president of the student mathematics club Unbounded and conducts research with Professor Sorensen on dynamical systems. The math department would like to congratulate Al for his achievements! Additional information about Al and his achievements can be found by following this link to Augsburg College news.
Professor Tracy Bibelnieks honored
March 30, 2009
Congratulations to Professor Tracy Bibelnieks for receiving the 2009 Distinguished Contribution to Teaching nad Learning Award for teaching. This award honors Professor Bibelnieks' contributions to the teaching and learning of students. The Center for Teaching and Learning and the Office of the Dean annually makes these awards. Professor Bibelnieks will be honored at the Faculty Appreciation Luncheon later this spring and will deliver the 2009-2010 Opening Day Convocation Address in September.
(Approximately) Pi Day Celebration
March 23, 2009
Because π=3.14..., mathematics enthusiasts around the world celebrate Pi Day on March 14. Since Pi day fell during our Spring Break this year, the student mathematics club, Unbounded, celebrated late, on Monday, March 23.
Fresh pie was served between 3:14 to 5:30 PM to celebrate. Thanks to Maggie Pint for arranging all donated pies. Pictures from the event are below.


Konhauser Problemfest
February 28, 2009
Augsburg College participated in the seventeenth annual Konhauser Problemfest held this year at Carleton College. Students that participated were Jason Chrudimsky, Michael Janas, and Matt Solberg. Team Augsburg scored fourth out of fifteen teams overall on a very difficult exam. Congratulations students on a job well done! Special thanks are extended to Professor Matt Haines who accompanied the students to the contest, and to Professor Pavel Belík for organizing the team.
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Ι (iota) Chapter Installation
February 27, 2009
The math department celebrated the Iota chapter installation of the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society. Special guests included family and friends of the student charter members; Dr. Barbara Farley, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College; and Pi Mu Epsilon Counselor Dr. Paul Fishback (Grand Valley State University).
| Student Charter Members: | |||
| Andrew Bergeson | Jesse Docken | Benjamin Hoffman | Melissa Robertson |
| Paul Bjorkstrand | Alexander Garver | Michael Janas | Wilmina Siegfried |
| Brian Bocklund | Ashley Gruhlke | Erik Johnson | John Singleton |
| Kristi Castelic | William Helm | Brian Jungwirth | Matthew Solberg |
Congratulations to all the student inductees!
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