Seminar Calendar
for events the day of Thursday, May 3, 2012.

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More information on this calendar program is available.
Questions regarding events or the calendar should be directed to Tori Corkery.
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1  2  3  4  5  6  7          1  2  3  4  5                   1  2
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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Special Graduate Geometry and Topology Seminar
12:00 pm   in 241 Altgeld Hall,  Thursday, May 3, 2012
 Del Edit Copy
Submitted by lukyane2.
 Amir Nayyeri (UIUC Computer Science)How to Walk Your Dog in the MountainsAbstract: We describe a O(log n)-approximation algorithm for computing the homotopic Frechet distance between two polygonal curves that lie on the boundary of a surface. Prior to this work, algorithms where known only for curves on the Euclidean plane with polygonal obstacles. A key technical ingredient in our analysis is a $O(\log n)$-approximation algorithm for computing the minimum height of a homotopy between two curves. No algorithms were previously known for approximating this parameter. Surprisingly, it is not even known if computing either the homotopic Frechet distance, or the minimum height of a homotopy, is in NP. Joint work with Sariel Har-Peled, Mohammad Salavatipour and Anastasios Sidiropoulos

NetMath Lunch Seminar
12:05 pm   in 102 Altgeld Hall,  Thursday, May 3, 2012
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Submitted by gfrancis.
 Deanna Raineri   [email] (Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)LAS-Online: A Comprehensive Program for Promoting Online Education in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.Abstract: Two years ago, LAS launched LAS OnLine, an initiative to offer many of its high enrolling and high demand courses in a fully online format. Why do we believe that online education is an important part of LAS' mission and, two years in, what have we learned?

Illinois Geometry Lab
1:30 pm   in 239 Altgeld Hall,  Thursday, May 3, 2012
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Submitted by jathreya.
 Illinois Geometry Lab Participants (UIUC)IGL Open HouseAbstract: Please join us for the first Illinois Geometry Lab (IGL) end-of-semester open house. We will be in AH 239 (the Calculus and Mathematica Lab) showcasing undergraduate research in geometry under the direction of UIUC math faculty, staff, and graduate students. Projects range from the mathematical theory of music, to visualizing Minkowski and DeSitter space, to the history of the Altgeld Mathematical Models. Come and meet the students involved and interact with their projects.

Geometry Seminar
3:00 pm   in 347 Altgeld Hall,  Thursday, May 3, 2012
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Submitted by sba.
 Joseph Rosenblatt (UIUC)Partitions for Optimal ApproximationsAbstract: The Riemann integral can be approximated using partitions and a rule for assigning weighted sums of the function at points determined by the partition. Approxi- mation methods commonly used include endpoint rules, the midpoint rule, the trapezoid rule, Simpson’s rule, and other quadrature methods. The rate of approximation depends mostly on the rule being used and the smoothness of the function, but fine structure in this rate of approximation depends on choosing an optimal partition. We discuss how one chooses an optimal partition of points, what is the resulting rate of approximation as the number of points tends to infinity, and how to determine the characteristic distribution of the points in these optimal partitions.

Retirement reception
4:00 pm   in 321 Altgeld Hall,  Thursday, May 3, 2012
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Submitted by seminar.
 Abstract: Please join us at a reception in honor of the retirement of A.J. Hildebrand. Cookies and coffee will be served from 4-5 p.m. in the Common Room.