Bitcoin Pricing, Pika Populations, and Ebola Research Presented at First Central Convergence Symposium

A group of mathematics students have participated in national and local Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) as part of a $29,671 National Research Experience for Undergraduates Program grant from the Mathematical Association of America at Central Washington University.

The grant supported six students—four from CWU and two from Heritage University—from groups underrepresented in mathematics, to work for seven weeks on epidemiology and biological population modeling research projects.

The students will be sharing their research findings at the first Central Convergence Symposium, hosted by the Department of Mathematics and the College of the Sciences. The symposium will be held August 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in Science II, Room 301.

It features four, half-hour student talks on mathematical topics such as bitcoin price formation, pika population modeling, and ebola epidemiology modeling. The grant-funded students will be presenting with others including a CWU College of the Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) grant and a National Science Foundation REU participant. A reception at noon will follow. The university community is invited to attend.

“This grant lets students know that they have a place in math and in research,” said Brandy Wiegers, CWU mathematics professor and co-organizer of the 2018 REU. Wiegers, along with fellow mathematics professor and co-organizer Sooie-Hoe Loke, also mentored students in their research activities.

“It was rewarding to work with such talented individuals, who were extremely focused and dedicated to their research projects.”

Photo: Back row (l to r): Dr. Brandy Wiegers, Aliyah Pana (grey shirt), Irene Jimenez (red shirt), Jesus C. Lopez (grey shirt), Jiovanna Lamas (grey shirt), Dr. Sooie-Hoe Loke
Front row (l to r): Amber Jefferson (black shirt), Macarena M. Santillan (grey shirt)

Media Contact: Valerie Chapman-Stockwell, Public Affairs, 509-963-1518, valeriec@cwu.edu