Articles by author: nmarshall

  • Katia Benseba Masters Project Presentation Tues Feb 7th at 4:00 PM

    Katia Benseba will present her Math 5P99 Masters Research Project entitled Permutation Polynomials over Finite Fields and their application to Cryptography on Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 at 4:00 PM in MCG 310.

    Abstract:

    The aim of the paper is the study of Permutation Polynomials over finite fields and their application to
    cryptography. In my talk, I will begin by a brief review of finite fields, define permutation polynomials over finite fields and their properties. I will present old results such as Hermite-Dickson’s Theorem as well as some most recent ones. After introducing cryptography, I will give a historical overview, by  explaining some cryptosystems such as RSA and ElGamal. Finally, I will present some cryptographical protocols based on Permutation Polynomials over Finite Fields.

  • Colloquium Talk on Mathematics for Public Health by Dr. Pouria Ramazi

    Dr. Pouria Ramazi of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics will be giving a talk as part of a Colloquium on Mathematics for Public Health offered by the Field’s Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. The talk will take place online on Tuesday, June 21st, 2022 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM and is entitled Mathematical modeling of diseases spread: the dexterous use of simple machine-learning tools. 

    Abstract:

    Two main approaches exist in modeling diseases spread. First, the interactive dynamics of all variables that are assumed to be influential in the disease spread are specified explicitly, resulting in mechanistic models, such as the well-known susceptible-infected-removed (SIR). These models have proven to be successful in predicting the short-term future and providing insight into the disease dynamics. However, they are based on our prior understanding of the world, and hence, are only as “good” as that prior understanding, and do not extend to situations where the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Second, simple to advanced machine-learning models are developed fully from data and without incorporating prior human expert knowledge. Some of these models have shown an exceptional forecasting power; however, they often provide no intuition about the dynamics — the reason why they are often questioned and even avoided by mathematicians. A natural bridging between the two approaches would be to take a mechanistic modelling approach for those compartments of the disease spread whose governing dynamics are well-understood and a machine-learning approach for those other yet not-well understood compartments, and this is what I will be discussing in this talk.

    For information on how to register for the talk as well as information on other talks offered as part of this Colloquium, please see the following link: http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/21-22/public-health-colloquium

  • Brock Math Education Seminar Series 2021-22: Dr. Steven Floyd

    As part of this year’s Brock Math Education Seminar Series, Dr. Steven Floyd will give an online talk on Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM. The talk will be entitled The Past, Present, and Future Direction of Computer Science Curriculum in K-12 Education. 

    Abstract:

    Once implemented only in optional courses at the secondary level, CS concepts and skills are now being integrated into other subject areas such as mathematics, science, and technology and other grades including K-8. This new state of K-12 CS education is explored through an analysis of 1) related theory reflected in the literature, 2) historical secondary school CS curriculum, 3) enrolment data and important issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and 4) K-8 CS-related curriculum approaches currently being implemented in educational jurisdictions across Canada. Thematic Analysis is used to examine the goals and rationale of historical curriculum documents from Ontario and Document Analysis is used to compare various K-8 curriculum documents from across Canada. Together, the analysis provides a comprehensive look at K-12 CS education that supports educators, policy makers, and researchers in the field during a transformative time.

    Biography of Dr. Floyd:

    Steven Floyd recently completed his PhD at Western University with a focus on Curriculum Studies. Since 2003, Steven has been a high school computer science teacher, resource developer, e-learning course writer, and educational consultant. He has worked with school boards in Canada and the US in supporting computer science education in the K-12 grades, and was awarded the 2017 Computer Science Teachers Association Award for Teaching Excellence in Computer Science and the 2019 Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education Research Award. Steven is currently an Education Officer with Ontario’s Ministry of Education.

    For information, including how to access the Lifesize meeting where the talk will take place, please contact: Chantal Buteau: cbuteau@brocku.ca or Steven Khan: skhan6@brocku.ca

  • Information Session on Academic Exchange

    Prof. Dr. Markus Neuhäuser from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Koblenz University of Applied Sciences (Remagen, Germany) will give a session on Academic Exchanges between Brock University and the RheinAhrCampus Remagen (Koblenz University of Applied Sciences) in Germany. This session will take place on Tuesday, May 24th from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in PLZ 410.  Any students or faculty who are interested in academic exchange are encouraged to attend.

    Abstract:

    Brock University and the RheinAhrCampus Remagen (Koblenz University of Applied Sciences) in Germany are partner universities. In this talk the campus in Remagen as well as details on possible exchange programs are described. Subjects in Remagen are business and social sciences, mathematics and technology. Scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) are available for Canadian students. Moreover, an academic internship is also possible in Remagen.

  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics Colloquium Talk Dr. Markus Neuhäuser May 26th

    Faculty, staff and students are welcome to join Dr. Markus Neuhäuser (Department of Mathematics and Technology Koblenz University of Applied Sciences in Remagen, Germany) for a colloquium talk on Thursday, May 26th, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in GSB 305.  The talk is entitled Critical Issues in Recent Guidelines.

    Students in Mathematics and Statistics are encouraged to attend.

    Abstract:

    Several medical journals published guidelines for authors regarding design and statistical analysis. Of course, this is positive development in order to increase rigor and reproducibility. However, from a statistical point of view some recommendations reduce the power or are indefensible for other (statistical) reasons. Theses issues are demonstrated this with regard to recent guidelines from Circulation Research and the British Journal of Pharmacology.

  • Congratulations to Dr. Chantal Buteau

    At the Faculty of Mathematics and Science Celebration of Excellence on Wednesday, May 18th, 2022, Dr. Chantal Buteau from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics was awarded the Distinguished Research Award. Among her many contributions, Dr. Buteau has led a 5-year SSHRC-funded research project examining how post-secondary students (mathematics undergraduates) learn to use computer programming for mathematical investigation, simulation, and real-world modeling. For further information, please see this article in the Brock News. Congratulations Chantal!

  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics Colloquium Talk Dr. Markus Neuhäuser May 19th

    Faculty, staff and students are welcome to join Dr. Markus Neuhäuser (Department of Mathematics and Technology Koblenz University of Applied Sciences in Remagen, Germany) for a colloquium talk on Thursday, May 19th, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in GSB 305.

    Students in Mathematics and Statistics are encouraged to attend.

    Abstract:

    Both, non-normal data and heteroscedasticity, are very common in various applications. In this case, nonparametric location-scale tests and/or tests for the nonparametric Behrens-Fisher problem can be appropriate. Because the hypotheses for these two approaches differ, it is discussed which hypothesis is justified in which situation. Moreover, an overview of available tests for the two-sample problem is given. Classical nonparametric tests as well as novel and little-known methods are included. Simulation results are presented in order to compare the different tests. A special focus is given to non-continuous distributions as ties frequently occur in practices. Examples and computational issues are also mentioned.

  • Congratulations to Dr. Tianyu Guan and Dean Ejaz Ahmed

    A collaborative research team, whose members include our own Dr. Tianyu Guan and Dr. Ejaz Ahmed (Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science) has been awarded $200,000 for a three-year sport analytics project. For further details, please see the article in The Brock News. Congratulations to Dean Ahmed and Dr. Guan!

  • Congratulations to Dr. Laura Broley now a post-doc fellow at Brock

    One of former MICA students, Dr. Laura Broley (BSc ”13) is now a visiting post-doc fellow here in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Please see her story in the Brock News. Congratulations to Dr. Broley on her continuing success!

  • Online Seminar Series on Programming in Mathematics Education

    Prof. Chantal Buteau is co-hosting, with Prof George Gadanidis (Western University), an international online seminar series on Programming in Mathematics Education starting June 19 until August 28, 2020. See the attached poster program.

    Registration is free: http://mkn-rcm.ca/online-seminar-series-on-programming-in-mathematics-education/.

    At the first seminar held on June 19, 166 registrations from 24 countries had been received  (registrations continue to arrive as the series continues). This seminar aims at the following demographics: half academics, a quarter graduate and undergraduate students, and a quarter elementary and secondary school teachers and leaders.

    The series is funded in part by the Mathematics Knowledge Network (MKN), hosted a the Fields Institute and financed by the Ontario Ministry of Education, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (S.S.H.R.C).

    All seminars are recorded and available on the MKN website (URL from above).

    For inquiry, please contact Prof Buteau at cbuteau [AT] brocku.ca