Aah! Arizona Math Awareness Week 1997

Last changed:
September 8, 1998

Math wareness Week 1997
Math and the Internet

Activities at The University of Arizona

Tuesday April 1
Publication of these 150 web pages by the Mathematics Department, University of Arizona, celebrating Math Awareness Week. Browse the items on the left-hand side to see what we have.

Monday April 21
Reception at 4 pm in the Lobby of the Mathematics Building. Over 100 people attended.
- Congressman Jim Kolbe opened the UA MAW activities.
- A live beehive was on display drawing attention to the unveiling of WebBEEPOP, a bee population model accessed via the internet. WebBEEPOP is a team effort of the Southwest Regional Institute for the Mathematical Sciences and the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center. See the UA bookmark made for this event.
- Mathematical exhibits of student work for the National Science Fair, the Geometry Center, and M 430, A Second Course in Geometry. Organized by the Math Center. See the UA bookmark made for this event.
- A computer hooked to the Internet was online and available to all in the Lobby. See the UA bookmark made for this event.
Monday April 21 to Friday May 9
Exhibits in the Science Library organized by Claire Macha. The display cases at the entrance to the Science Library contain wonderful artifacts showcasing MAW 97, including a collection of original mechanical computing devices - precursors to the electronic calculator.

Tuesday April 22
The Code Breakers. A lecture at 6 pm in Mathematics 501 by William Velez and David Lovelock. This dog-and-pony show was aimed at the general public and required no knowledge of mathematics. The Enigma Machine was discussed. Over 50 people attended. See the UA bookmark made for this event. An outline of this talk is available.

Wednesday April 23
Breaking the Code. A Math Movie at 4 pm in Bio West 301. This program is based on the play by Hugh Whitemore and the book, "Alan Turing: the Enigma" by Andrew Hodges. It tells the story of Turing, the mathematical genius who was responsible for designing the computer that enabled the allies to crack the German Enigma Code and, some would argue, win the war. On Churchill's specific instructions, Turing was given all the resources he required and his personal behavior was tolerated - Turing was an active homosexual at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Over 40 people attended. See the UA bookmark made for this event.

Tuesday April 29
Why is "Who Are You?" a Mathematical Question? An Introduction to Signature Verification. A lecture at 4 pm in Mathematics 501 by Dan Madden. This lecture is aimed at the general public and requires no knowledge of mathematics. See the UA bookmark made for this event.

Wednesday April 30
The KGB, the Computer, and Me. A Math Movie at 4 pm in Bio West 301. An unusual comedy-thriller recounted by computer whiz Cliff Stoll, who has a Ph.D. from The University of Arizona. Stoll uses the internet to crack an international spy ring involved in passing sensitive information to the KGB. Based on his book "The Cuckoo's Egg". See the UA bookmark made for this event.

Other Activities