Session 3: McKinnon - F
Mathematics & Statistics/ Physics/Computing Sciences
Nathan Pool - The Connection Between Sound & Dimension of Fractal Music
Nathan M. Pool presented on the differences between the Sierpinski Triangle and the Sierpinski Carpet, and showed the effectiveness of artificially intelligent machines when playing musical instruments. He posed several questions to the audience, like what the importance of automatic musical composition is and what can humans do that computers have no capability of doing. He mapped the computer’s ability to translate patterns in a composition into meaningful, rhythmic verses that flowed without human error.
Kelly Reagan – Mathematical Model of Dengue Fever Incorporating Human Travel
Kelly Reagan detailed the risks of contracting Dengue fever and presented mathematical proof of its probability of spreading based on several variables dependent on the physical attributes of a situation. This disease is easily spread from urbanized areas through the blood transmission from mosquitos, and has been internationally propagated through the use of airplanes.
Reagan used differential equations to break down the likelihood of contracting the disease depending on the region. She plans to use these predictors as a way to analyze data already made about the disease in order to pinpoint a more accurate solution to preventing the disease’s spread.
Daniel Schneider – Should I Shout or Say Thanks? A Computational Analysis of The Discourse Patterns of Leaders of the Linux Community
Daniel Schneider created a computer program that compared the emails of two people, Linus Torvalds and Greg Kroah-Hartman. two prominent figures in the Linux community. His program’s purpose was to underscore the importance of implementing a Code of Conduct into the system of emails they send out. It compared the word usage, namely the number of expletives, used when talking to people. When the identities of the emails were removed, the program was able to accurately estimate if the email belonged to Hartman 85% of the time and Linus 95% of the time. The implications of this research were not discussed.
Helen Meskhidze – What Will Hubble 2.0 See? Predicting Emission line Observations for the James Webb Space Telescope
Helen Meskhidze analyzed starburst galaxies using two software programs, Starburst 99 and Cloudy, to properly predict sub-mm emission line deep fields. These are used to trace atomic and molecular gas properties present in galaxies. She used her mathematical findings to speculate on how the newest space telescope will perform compared to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Maria Temming - The Order of the Dolphin: Origins of SETI
Maria Temming presented on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or SETI. She first discussed her impressions of the book, “Is Anyone Out There?” by Frank Drake, and also went into the work of SETI. She talked about a number of prestigious scientists in the field who met at the Green Bank facility to talk about the detection of first gamma then radio signals. She also talked about the importance of translating the language of dolphins to some of these scientists and briefly went over the Drake equation, which guesses the chances we might be able to contact other life forms.