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BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Sandra Di Rocco (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
DTSTART:20201029T163000Z
DTEND:20201029T173000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/1
DESCRIPTION:Title: Geometry of Data\nby Sandra Di Rocco (KTH Royal Institute of
Technology) as part of VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Colloquium
Series\n\n\nAbstract\nCollecting and more importantly analysing (big) sets
of data is one of the greatest challenges of our society. One possible to
ol is geometrical data analysis\, i.e.\, appropriately embed the data poin
ts on a geometrical object\, for example using polynomials. Many problems
in science can be described by polynomial equations. The solution set of t
he corresponding polynomial system is referred to as an algebraic geometri
cal model for the problem. We will see how geometrical modeling is used in
fields like Kinematics and Biochemistry. Sampling\, i.e.\, appropriately
choosing data points on the model\, is a powerful technique in the study o
f geometrical models. The key challenge is to estimate the right density
of the data points in order to recover the shape of the model. An excitin
g and surprising aspect of the story is that classical geometrical tools (
from early 1900) have shown to be effective and essential for data analysi
s.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/1/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Ken Ono (University of Virginia)
DTSTART:20210408T220000Z
DTEND:20210408T230000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/2
DESCRIPTION:Title: Why Does Ramanujan\, “The Man Who Knew Infinity\,” Matter?\nby Ken Ono (University of Virginia) as part of VCU Mathematics and Appl
ied Mathematics Colloquium Series\n\n\nAbstract\nSrinivasa Ramanujan\, one
of the most inspirational figures in the history of mathematics\, was an
amateur gifted mathematician from lush south India who left behind three n
otebooks that engineers\, mathematicians\, and physicists continue to mine
today. Born in 1887\, Ramanujan was a two-time college dropout. He could
have easily been lost to the world\, a thought that scientists cannot begi
n to absorb. He died in 1920. Prof. Ono will explain why Ramanujan matters
today and will share several clips from the film\, “The Man Who Knew In
finity\,” starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons. Professor Ono served as a
n associate producer and mathematical consultant for the film.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Carolina Araujo (IMPA)
DTSTART:20210924T200000Z
DTEND:20210924T210000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/3
DESCRIPTION:Title: Symmetries in Algebraic Geometry\nby Carolina Araujo (IMPA) a
s part of VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Colloquium Series\n\n\nA
bstract\nIn this talk I will discuss different notions of symmetry of alge
braic varieties. First we examine automorphisms. The structure of the grou
p of automorphisms of a projective variety encodes some relevant geometric
properties. However\, the notion of automorphism is too rigid in the scop
e of birational geometry. We are then led to consider another class of sym
metries of projective varieties\, its birational self-maps. Birational sel
f-maps of the projective space $\\mathbb{P}^n$ are called Cremona transfor
mations. Describing the structure of the group of Cremona transformations
of the plane is a classical problem that goes back to the 19th century. In
higher dimensions\, not so much is known\, and a natural problem is to co
nstruct interesting subgroups of the Cremona group. I will end the talk by
discussing a recent work with Alessio Corti and Alex Massarenti\, where w
e investigate subgroups of the Cremona group consisting of symmetries pres
erving special geometric structures.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/3/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Gregory Smith (Queen's University)
DTSTART:20210416T200000Z
DTEND:20210416T210000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/4
DESCRIPTION:Title: Sums of Squares: a real projective story\nby Gregory Smith (Q
ueen's University) as part of VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Coll
oquium Series\n\n\nAbstract\nA multivariate real polynomial is nonnegative
if its value at any real point is greater than or equal to zero. These s
pecial polynomials play a central role in many branches of mathematics inc
luding algebraic geometry\, optimization theory\, and dynamical systems.
However\, deciding whether a given polynomial is nonnegative is a hard pro
blem. In this talk\, we will review some general methods for certifying t
hat a polynomial is nonnegative. We will then present optimal certificate
s in some important cases. This talk is based on joint work with Grigoriy
Blekherman\, Rainer Sinn\, and Mauricio Velasco.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/4/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Swatee Naik and Christopher Stark (NSF)
DTSTART:20221118T190000Z
DTEND:20221118T203000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/5
DESCRIPTION:Title: An Introduction to Topology & Geometry\, Applications\, and NSF F
unding Opportunities for Students\nby Swatee Naik and Christopher Star
k (NSF) as part of VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Colloquium Seri
es\n\n\nAbstract\nResearch level mathematics comes in many different flavo
rs. Topology is a branch of mathematics concerned with a study of flexible
shapes. Topological methods are not only useful in mathematics\, but they
have fascinated scientists since the 1800s. The 2016 Nobel prize in Physi
cs was awarded to three physicists who used topological notions to study p
hases of matter such as superconductivity and suprafluidity. \n \nIn this
talk\, we will introduce some basic concepts from geometry and topology t
hrough diagrams and informal explanations\, and mention some applications.
The talk should be accessible to undergraduate students who have studied
Calculus. \n \nIn the second half of this talk\, we will present an overvi
ew of NSF opportunities for students.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/5/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Radmila Sazdanovic (North Carolina State University)
DTSTART:20221202T200000Z
DTEND:20221202T210000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/6
DESCRIPTION:Title: The shape of relations: knots and other stories\nby Radmila S
azdanovic (North Carolina State University) as part of VCU Mathematics and
Applied Mathematics Colloquium Series\n\n\nAbstract\nTopological Data Ana
lysis provides tools for discovering relevant features of data by analyzin
g the shape of a point cloud. In this context we develop tools for visuali
zing maps between high dimensional spaces with the goal of discovering rel
ations between data sets with expected correlations. The main focus of thi
s talk is knots and their invariants\, but we will touch on other examples
including applications to cancer genomics\, game theory and materials sci
ence.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/6/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Kristen Hendricks (Rutgers University)
DTSTART:20230421T190000Z
DTEND:20230421T200000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/7
DESCRIPTION:Title: Classical and Modern Invariants of Knots\nby Kristen Hendrick
s (Rutgers University) as part of VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
Colloquium Series\n\n\nAbstract\nWe'll give a brief introduction to what k
not theory is and why you might be interested in it\, and talk about some
classical invariants of knots and what kind of geometric information they
detect. We'll then introduce a modern invariant called Heegaard Floer knot
homology from the early 2000s\, and talk about its properties and its rel
ationship to classical invariants.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/7/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Lara Anderson (Virginia Tech)
DTSTART:20230407T190000Z
DTEND:20230407T200000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/8
DESCRIPTION:by Lara Anderson (Virginia Tech) as part of VCU Mathematics an
d Applied Mathematics Colloquium Series\n\nAbstract: TBA\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/8/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Lara Anderson (Virginia Tech)
DTSTART:20230428T190000Z
DTEND:20230428T200000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/9
DESCRIPTION:Title: The Geometry of String Compactifications\nby Lara Anderson (V
irginia Tech) as part of VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Colloquiu
m Series\n\n\nAbstract\nI will outline the rich interplay between geometry
and physics in string compactifications. In particular\, I will highlight
connections between efforts to classify gauge and gravitational theories
in diverse dimensions with progress in the Minimal Model Program and bound
ing/characterizing manifolds of SU(3) structure and Mumford stable holomor
phic bundles over them. A key tool in this progress is the notion of topol
ogy-changing geometric transitions which arise naturally in string theory.
\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/9/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Sara Del Valle (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
DTSTART:20231110T200000Z
DTEND:20231110T210000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/10
DESCRIPTION:Title: Real-time Data Fusion for Disease Forecasting Models\nby Sar
a Del Valle (Los Alamos National Laboratory) as part of VCU Mathematics an
d Applied Mathematics Colloquium Series\n\nLecture held in Academic Learni
ng Commons 1102.\n\nAbstract\nThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need f
or non-traditional data analysis techniques and data sources to understand
the emergence of a deadly\, novel virus. In this talk\, I will discuss ho
w our team is using mathematical\, statistical\, and computational models
as well as heterogeneous data streams (e.g.\, social media\, weather\, mob
ility information\, and satellite imagery) to model and forecast the sprea
d of infectious diseases including influenza\, COVID-19\, and dengue. In a
ddition\, I will demonstrate the role that mathematics and data science ha
s played in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges that remain
to model current and future pandemics.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/10/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Denise Kirschner (University of Michigan Medical School)
DTSTART:20240126T200000Z
DTEND:20240126T210000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/11
DESCRIPTION:Title: Multi-scale modeling can predict factors driving the immune resp
onse and treatment in Tuberculosis\nby Denise Kirschner (University of
Michigan Medical School) as part of VCU Mathematics and Applied Mathemati
cs Colloquium Series\n\n\nAbstract\nTuberculosis (TB)\, caused by infectio
n with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)\, is one of the world’s deadlies
t infectious diseases and remains a significant global health burden even
in the face of COVID. TB disease and pathology presents clinically across
a spectrum of outcomes\, ranging from total sterilization of infection to
active disease. Much remains unknown about the immunobiology that drives
an individual towards various clinical outcomes as it is challenging to e
xperimentally address specific mechanisms driving outcomes. Furthermore\,
it is unknown whether numbers of immune cells in the blood accurately refl
ect ongoing events during infection within human lungs. We have utilized
a myriad of multi-scale approaches and analyses to study the host immune r
esponse to Mtb across multiple physiologic and time scales. The models we
developed range from molecular scale to whole-host scale and we used a hy
brid approach combining differential equations and agent-based modeling at
multiple scales. We use extensive analyses to predict mechanisms in the s
ystem driving different outcomes via parameters. Additionally\, a key goal
is to improve antibiotic treatment for TB. Currently multiple drugs are u
sed simultaneously over a 6-9 month period which is a burden on the patien
t and medical system. We use our models to predict regimens that can impr
ove clinical treatment of TB.\n\nSee the event webpage at: https://math.vc
u.edu/events/event-items/math-colloquium-multi-scale-modeling-can-predict-
factors-driving-the-immune-response-and-treatment-in-tuberculosis.html\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/11/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Emily Riehl (Johns Hopkins University)
DTSTART:20240315T190000Z
DTEND:20240315T200000Z
DTSTAMP:20260404T092654Z
UID:VCUcolloq/12
DESCRIPTION:Title: Path induction and the indiscernibility of identicals\nby Em
ily Riehl (Johns Hopkins University) as part of VCU Mathematics and Applie
d Mathematics Colloquium Series\n\n\nAbstract\nMathematics students learn
a powerful technique for proving theorems about an arbitrary natural numbe
r: the principle of mathematical induction. This talk introduces a closely
related proof technique called "path induction\," which can be thought of
as an expression of Leibniz's "indiscernibility of identicals": if x and
y are identified\, then they must have the same properties\, and conversel
y. What makes this interesting is that the notion of identification refere
nced here is given by Per Martin-Löf's intensional identity types\, which
encode a more flexible notion of sameness than traditional equality becau
se an identification can carry data\, for instance of an explicit isomorph
ism or equivalence. The nickname "path induction" for the elimination rule
for identity types derives from a new homotopical interpretation of type
theory\, in which the terms of a type define the points of a space and ide
ntifications correspond to paths. In this homotopical context\, indiscerni
bility of identicals is a consequence of the path lifting property of fibr
ations. Path induction is then justified by the fact that based path space
s are contractible.\n
LOCATION:https://stable.researchseminars.org/talk/VCUcolloq/12/
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