The Department of Mathematics at UCA hosted the 78th Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma-Arkansas Section of Mathematical Association of America from March 31 to April 2, 2016. Dr. Ramesh Garimella, Chair of Math Department, was responsible for local arrangements for the meeting. Approximately 225 participants , which included 142 faculty members and students from Arkansas, and 72 from Oklahoma attended the meetings. There were 23 undergraduate talks, and 34 faculty presentations, a faculty workshop on Math Pathways Project in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and a student workshop on Rational Tangles – A Math Circle Approach. In addition, Dr. Allison Henrich of Seattle University presented the N. A. Court Invited Lecture on Knotty Games, and Professor Thomas Milligan of the University of Central Oklahoma gave the R. B. Deal Lecture on Playing in Mathematics. The meetings concluded On April 2 with a an hour-long MAA Section Visitor Lecture given by Dr. Jima Daniel on actuarial careers. Pre-meeting activities included Team Math Jeopardy Competition on the evening of March 31 with 17 student teams from both Arkansas and Oklahoma. A student competition known as Integration Bee was on held on the morning of April 2.
On April 1st evening, a banquet was held, which was attended by about 130 students, faculty and guests. Dean Stephen Addison of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics gave official welcome to the participants. Awards were presented to top three student paper presentations, and top three Math Jeopardy Teams. Also, outstanding teaching awards for elementary, middle and high school teachers from both Arkansas and Oklahoma were given.
Overall, it was a great meeting with excellent math talks and exciting events. The next year’s meeting will be held on the campus of University of Oklahoma during the first week of April 2017.
Student Integration Bee
Student Workshop
Drs. Donna Foss and George Bratton at the Registration Desk
Math Jeopardy Competition