View source for Madison Math Circle 2016-2017

[[Image:logo.png|right|440px]]

Go back to this year's Math Circle page

For the site in Spanish, visit [[Math Circle de Madison]]
=What is a Math Circle?=
The Madison Math Circle is a weekly series of mathematically based activities aimed at interested middle school and high school students. It is an outreach program organized by the UW Math Department.  Our goal is to provide a taste of exciting ideas in math and science. In the past we've had talks about plasma and weather in outer space, video game graphics, and encryption.  In the sessions, students (and parents) are often asked to explore problems on their own, with the presenter facilitating a discussion.  The talks are independent of one another, so new students are welcome at any point.

The level of the audience varies quite widely, including a mix of middle school and high school students, and the speakers generally address this by considering subjects that will be interesting for a wide range of students.
 

[[Image: MathCircle_2.jpg|500px]] [[Image: MathCircle_4.jpg|500px]] 


After each talk we'll have pizza provided by the Mathematics Department, and students will have an opportunity to mingle and chat with the speaker and with other participants, to ask questions about some of the topics that have been discussed, and also about college, careers in science, etc.

'''The Madison Math circle was featured in Wisconsin State Journal:''' [http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/school-spotlight-madison-math-circle-gives-young-students-a-taste/article_77f5c042-0b3d-11e1-ba5f-001cc4c03286.html check it out]!

=All right, I want to come!=

We have a weekly meeting, <b>Monday at 6pm in 3255 Helen C White Library</b>, during the school year.  <b>New students are welcome at any point! </b> There is no fee and the talks are independent of one another, so you can just show up any week, but we ask all participants to take a moment to register by following the link below:

 [https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2hmb6vtDUfRonNb '''Math Circle Registration Form''']

All of your information is kept private, and is only used by the Madison Math Circle organizer to help run the Circle. 

If you are a student, we hope you will tell other interested students about these talks, and speak with your parents or with your teacher about organizing a car pool to the UW campus. If you are a parent or a teacher, we hope you'll tell your students about these talks and organize a car pool to the UW (all talks take place in 3255 Helen C White Library, on the UW-Madison campus, right next to the Memorial Union).


==Directions and parking==
Our meetings are held on the 3rd floor of Helen C. White Hall in room 3255.

<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">
[[File: Helencwhitemap.png|400px]]</div>

'''Parking.''' Parking on campus is rather limited.  Here is as list of some options:

*There is a parking garage in the basement of Helen C. White, with an hourly rate.  Enter from Park Street.
*A 0.5 mile walk to Helen C. White Hall via [http://goo.gl/cxTzJY these directions], many spots ('''free starting 4:30pm''') [http://goo.gl/maps/Gkx1C in Lot 26 along Observatory Drive].
*A 0.3 mile walk to Helen C. White Hall via [http://goo.gl/yMJIRd these directions], many spots ('''free starting 4:30pm''') [http://goo.gl/maps/vs17X in Lot 34].  
*A 0.3 mile walk to Helen C. White Hall via [http://goo.gl/yMJIRd these directions], 2 metered spots (25 minute max) [http://goo.gl/maps/ukTcu in front of Lathrop Hall].
*A 0.2 mile walk to Helen C. White Hall via [http://goo.gl/b8pdk2 these directions] 6 metered spots (25 minute max) around [http://goo.gl/maps/6EAnc the loop in front of Chadbourne Hall] .
*For more information, see the [http://transportation.wisc.edu/parking/parking.aspx UW-Madison Parking Info website].

==Email list==
The best way to keep up to date with the what is going is by signing up for our email list.  Send an empty email to join-mathcircle@lists.wisc.edu

==Contact the organizers==
The Madison Math Circle is organized by a group of three professors and three graduate students from the [http://www.math.wisc.edu Department of Mathematics] at the UW-Madison. If you have any questions, suggestions for topics, or so on, just email the '''organizers''' [mailto:mathcircleorganizers@lists.wisc.edu here]. We are always interested in feedback!
<center>
<gallery widths=480px heights=240px mode="packed">
File:de.jpg|[https://www.math.wisc.edu/~derman/ Prof. Daniel Erman]
File:pmwood.jpg|[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~pmwood/ Prof. Phillip Matchett Wood]
File:Craciun.jpg|[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~craciun/ Prof. Gheorghe Craciun]
</gallery>

<gallery widths=500px heights=250px mode="packed">
File:djbruce.jpg|[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~djbruce/ DJ Bruce]
File:Ee.jpg|[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~evaelduque/ Eva Elduque]
File:mrjulian.jpg|[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~mrjulian/ Ryan Julian]
File:soumyasankar.jpg|[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~soumyasankar Soumya Sankar]
</gallery>
</center>

==Donations==
Please consider donating to the Madison Math Circle. As noted in our [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/images/Math_Circle_Newsletter.pdf annual report], our main costs consist of pizza and occasional supplies for the speakers.  So far our costs have been covered by donations from the UW Mathematics Department as well as a generous gifts from a private donor. But our costs are rising, primarily because this year we expect to hold more meetings than in any previous year. In fact, this year, we expect to spend at least $2500 on pizza and supplies alone.

So please consider donating to support your math circle!  The easiest way to donate is to go to the link:

[http://www.math.wisc.edu/donate Online Donation Link]

There are instructions on that page for donating to the Math Department.  <b> Be sure and add a Gift Note saying that the donation is intended for the "Madison Math Circle"!</b>  The money goes into the Mathematics Department Annual Fund and is routed through the University of Wisconsin Foundation, which is convenient for record-keeping, etc.

Alternately, you can bring a check to one of the Math Circle Meetings.  If you write a check, be sure to make it payable to the "WFAA" and add the note "Math Circle Donation" on the check.  

Or you can just pay in cash, and we'll give you a receipt.

==Help us grow!==
If you like Math Circle, please help us continue to grow!  Students, parents, and teachers can help by:
*Posting our [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/images/MMC_Flyer_2016.pdf '''flyer'''] at schools or anywhere that might have interested students
*Discussing the Math Circle with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and others
*Making an announcement about Math Circle at PTO meetings
*Donating to Math Circle
Contact the organizers if you have questions or your own ideas about how to help out.

=Meetings for Fall 2016 and Spring 2017=

<center>

Unless specified talks start at '''6pm in room 3255 of Helen C. White Library''', unless otherwise noted.

{| style="color:black; font-size:120%" border="1" cellpadding="14" cellspacing="0"
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: #e8b2b2;" align="center" | Fall 2016 
|-
! Date !! Speaker !! Topic
|-
| <span style="color:red">August 6, 2016 <br> (Click Title for Time & Location.)</span> || [https://discovery.wisc.edu/programs/saturday-science Science Saturday] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#August_6_2016 Game Busters]
|-
| September 12, 2016 || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jeanluc/ Jean-Luc Thiffeault] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#September_12_2016 Why do my earbuds keep getting entangled?]
|-
| September 19, 2016 || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~djbruce/ DJ Bruce] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#September_19_2016  Is Any Knot Not the Unkont? ] 
|-
| September 26, 2016 || [http://mmaguire.weebly.com/ Megan Maguire] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#September_26_2016  Coloring Maps] 
|-
| October 3, 2016 || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~zcharles/ Zach Charles] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_3_2016 1 + 1 = 10, or How does my smartphone do anything?] 
|-
| October 10, 2016 || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jkrush/ Keith Rush] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_10_2016 Randomness, determinism and approximation: a historical question] 
|-
| October 17, 2016 || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~pmwood/ Phillip Matchett-Wood] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_17_2016 The game of Criss-Cross]
|-
| October 24, 2016 || Ethan Biehl || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_24_2016 A Chocolate Bar for Every Real Number] 
|-
| October 31, 2016 || No Meeting || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_31_2016 Enjoy Halloween!] 
|-
| November 7, 2016 || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~pollyyu/ Polly Yu] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#November_7_2016 Are we there yet?] 
|-
| November 14, 2016 || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~micky/ Micky Soule Steinberg] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#November_14_2016 Circles and Triangles] 
|-
| November 21, 2016 || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~valko/ Benedek Valko] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#November_21_2016  Fun with hats] 
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: #e8b2b2;" align="center" | Spring 2017
|-
! Date !! Speaker !! Topic
|-
|January 30, 2017 || Daniel Erman || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#January_30_2017 The Josephus Problem] 
|-
| February 6, 2017  || Cullen McDonald || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#February_6_2017  Building a 4-dimensional house] 
|-
| February 13, 2017 || Dima Arinkin || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#February_13_2017  Solve it with colors] 
|-
| February 20, 2017 || Reese Johnston || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#February_20_2017 Knights and Knaves] 
|-
| February 27, 2017 || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~jessica/ Jessica Lin] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#February_27_2017 The Mathematics Behind Sound] 
|-
| March 6, 2017 || Becky Eastham || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#March_6_2017 How to Win a Brand New Car and Escape Execution with Probability] 
|-
| March 13, 2017 ||  Jim Brunner || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#March_13_2017 You and your clones predict the future] 
|-
| March 20, 2017 ||  No Meeting - (UW Spring Break) || 
|-
| March 27, 2017 || John Wiltshire-Gordon || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#March_27_2017 What if seven is zero?] 
|-
| April 3, 2017 || Will Mitchell || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#April_3_2017 Math and Fluids] 
|-
|}

</center>

=High School Meetings=

We are experimenting with holding some Math Circle meetings directly at local high schools.  Our schedule for the fall is below.  If you are interesting in having us come to your high school, please contact us!

<center>

{| style="color:black; font-size:120%" border="1" cellpadding="14" cellspacing="0"
|-
! colspan="5" style="background: #e8b2b2;" align="center" | Fall 2016
|-
|-
! Date !! Location !! Speaker !! Topic !! Link for more info
|-
| October 17, 2016 || 2:45pm JMM || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~derman Daniel Erman] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_17_2016_.28JMM.29 What does math research look like?] ||
|-
| October 24, 2016 || 2:45pm West High || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~djbruce DJ Bruce] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_24_2016_.28West.29 Shhh, This Message Is Secret] ||
|-
| October 31, 2016 || 2:45pm East High || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~djbruce DJ Bruce] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#October_31_2016.28East.29 Shhh, This Message Is Secret] ||
|-
| December 5, 2016 || 2:45pm East High || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~andrews/ Uri Andrews] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#December_5_2016_.28East.29 How to split an apartment]  ||
|-
| December 5, 2016 || 2:45pm JMM || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~pmwood Phillip Matchett Wood] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#December_5_2016_.28JMM.29 The game of Criss-Cross] ||
|-
! colspan="5" style="background: #e8b2b2;" align="center" | Spring 2017
|-
|-
! Date !! Location !! Speaker !! Topic !! Link for more info
|-
| February 13, 2017 || 2:45pm East High || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~evaelduque Eva Elduque] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#February_13_2017_.28East.29 Pick's Theorem]  ||
|-
| February 20, 2017 || 2:45pm JMM || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~mmaguire2 Megan Maguire] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#February_20_2017_.28JMM.29 Coloring Maps]  ||
|-
| March 20, 2017 || 2:45pm East High || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/~djbruce DJ Bruce] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#March_20_2017_.28East.29 Doodling Daydreams]  ||
|-
| April 3rd, 2017 || 2:45pm JMM || [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~pollyyu/ Polly Yu] || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts#April_3_2017_.28JMM.29 Are we there yet?]  ||
|-
| TBD || TBD || TBD || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts TBD]  ||
|-
| TBD || TBD || TBD || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts TBD]  ||
|-
| TBD || TBD || TBD || [https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts TBD]  ||
|-
|}
</center>

=Useful Resources=
==Annual Reports==
[https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/images/Math_Circle_Newsletter.pdf  2013-2014 Annual Report]

== Archived Abstracts ==


[https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Math_Circle_de_Madison_2016-2017 2016 - 2017 Math Circle Page (Spanish)]

[https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts_2016-2017 2016 - 2017 Abstracts]

[https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_2015-2016 2015 - 2016 Math Circle Page]

[https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Math_Circle_de_Madison_2015-2016 2015 - 2016 Math Circle Page (Spanish)]

[https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Madison_Math_Circle_Abstracts_2015-2016 2015 - 2015 Abstracts]

[[Archived Math Circle Material]]

==Link for presenters (in progress)==
[https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Math_Circle_Presentations  Advice For Math Circle Presenters]

[http://www.mathcircles.org/content/lesson-plans Sample Lesson Plans]

[http://www.mathcircles.org/content/circle-box "Circle in a Box"]