1999 MAA North Central Section Summer Seminar

Counting and Calculus  Principal Lecturer: Richard Askey
University of Wisconsin - Madison

To be held at
University of Minnesota - Duluth
August 9 - 13, 1999 

The Program: Counting aspects of binomial coefficients date back over 2000 years, and Pascal's triangle more than 1000. Despite this great age, new aspects of binomial coefficients have been discovered in each of the past four centuries. Newton discovered the infinite series version of the binomial theorem over 300 years ago. Euler discovered the gamma function and how it could be used to evaluate the beta integral. There is a strong connection between the binomial theorem and the beta integral. There are extensions to Gaussian binomial coefficients and both commutative and non-commutative forms of the q-binomial theorem. There are also multivariate extensions of both the sums and integrals. 

Many of these extensions will be explored in this seminar, which will present the historical development of binomial coefficients from their origins to the present day. Sessions for a small number of contributed presentations will be available, as well.

The Principal Lecturer: Richard Askey is professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He received his PhD in 1961 from Princeton University. He has had visiting positions at the University of Paris, the University of Minnesota, the University of Strasbourg, the Mathematical Institute in Budapest and the Mathematical Center in Amsterdam. His research interests are in special functions, especially orthogonal polynomials and q-series. He is the author of over 150 research papers, books and expository articles and has delivered more than 50 invited lectures. 

Conference Information: Scheduled during the traditional "dog-days" of summer, this conference provides the perfect opportunity to visit one the most picturesque cities in the country. Duluth attracts thousands of tourists each year with its cool summer temperatures, beautiful sights and nearby wilderness areas. For entertainment and recreation, Duluth offers many fine restaurants; numerous parks and golf courses; marine, railroad, and art museums; boat cruises and railroad excursions; sailboat rental and charter fishing; and ready access to canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking. The conference coincides with a Duluth Yacht Club race, and concludes just as Duluth's Bayfront Blues Festival begins. 

Conference activities include a welcoming reception, the traditional conference banquet, ample time to enjoy the sights, and some very stimulating mathematics. 

Conference Information

 

Registration

Get the Registration Form: PDF file (4 KB) or PS file (104 KB)

Counting and Calculus Registration Form
August 9-13, 1999
Duluth, Minnesota


First Name Last Name
Institution
Address
City State Zip
Phone Fax E-mail

TYPE OF PAYMENT
Money order Check(payable to UMD) Visa Master card Novus(Discover)
Credit Card# Expiration Signature

REGISTRATION TLW 0510 OFFICE USE
Early Registration(before July 1): $150 $ (001)
Registration(before August 1):  $175 $ (002)
Late Registration( After August 1): $225 $ (003)
Student Registration :  $75 $ (004)

Reservation for UMD Residence Hall Housing: $26 per night Sunday 8/8 $ (005)
Monday 8/9 $ (006)
Tuesday 8/10 $ (007)
Wednesday 8 /11 $ (008)
Thursday 8/12 $ (009)

TOTAL $

Male Female Single Double
 

If you wish to extend your stay in Duluth and enjoy the Northland and the Blues Festival, Additional lodging is available in the Residence Hall at a non conference rate. Arrangements for extending your stay can be made after July 1, 1999 directly with the housing office at (218) 726-7390. Duluth is a busy place in the summer and lodging arrangements can be difficult.

The UMD Resident Hall Dining Center is open Monday-Friday for meals. Food may be purchased a la carte or by purchasing a meal ticket for 5 meals, $22.50 or 10 meals, $45.00.

Mail Registration to:
Counting & Calculus
251 Darland Administration Building
10 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812

Conference Schedule

This is subject to change. Tuesday and Thursday sessions for contributed talks will continue after the refreshment breaks, if need be. Wednesday afternoon is left free so that conference participants can enjoy the sights of the area.

Preliminary Schedule

. Monday 
8/9		 Tuesday 
8/10		 Wednesday 
8/11		 Thursday 
8/12		 Friday 
8/13
8:30 AM Registration . . . .
9:00 AM Registration Lecture 3 Lecture 5 Lecture 7 Lecture 9
10:00 AM Refreshments Refreshments Refreshments Refreshments Refreshments
10:15 AM Welcome 
10:30 AM Lecture 1 Lecture 4 Lecture 6 Lecture 8 Lecture 10
.  Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Conference 
Adjourns
2:00 PM Lecture 2 Contributed 
Talks		 . Contributed 
Talks		 .
3:00 PM Wine and 
Cheese 
Reception		 Refreshments . Refreshments .
6:00 PM . . . Conference 
Banquet		 .

 

Room Locations

Registration: Campus Center Wedge
Principal and contributed lectures: Campus Center 120
Opening Reception and Refreshment Breaks: Campus Center Wedge
 

Getting Here

Duluth, Minnesota , an All-America city of almost 90,000 inhabitants, is an international seaport situated at the western tip of Lake Superior. It is easily accessible via interstate 35W, about 2.5 hours north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Both Northwest Airlines and American Airlines/American Eagle serve the Duluth International Airport. Rental cars and taxi service are available at the airport, which is about a 10 minute drive from downtown Duluth and the UMD campus.

The conference will be held in the Campus Center on the Duluth campus of the University of Minnesota. Look at the UMD Home Page for campus information, including a campus map.

Pay Lots (A and G) are available for free summer parking. The other campus lots are also available. Only vehicles with the proper permit will be allowed to park in Red and Blue areas, and Designated Reserve spots. Meters are enforced weekdays (Mon. - Fri.) from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM. They are not enforced after 8:00 PM or on the weekends. Other parking regulations such as the Fire Lanes, Handicapped Parking, No Parking areas are enforced throughout the summer.

Lodging and Meals

The UMD campus offers excellent single and double occupancy dorm rooms at very reasonable rates. The Best Western Edgewater Hotel (located on the shore of Lake Superior, and a mile from the UMD campus) has set aside a block of rooms with special conference rates. A campus meal plan is also available to conference participants. Conference participants should reserve rooms as far in advance as possible. Summer is a popular time for Duluth.

UMD Housing Information
For on-campus housing, UMD offers single and double occupancy dorm rooms at $26 per night. Reservations can be made by contacting the same address as for conference registration (above).

A meal plan and a la carte service is also available via the campus dining hall.

Hotel Information
Look at the Duluth lodging guide for a full list of available hotels and motels. A conference rate is available from:

Best Western Edgewater (approx. 1 mile from campus)
2400 London Road
(Take 21st Ave East exit off northbound 35W. Turn right on London Road. )

Phone: (218) 728-3727
Reservations: (800) 777-7925

Prices include a Deluxe Complimentary Breakfast Bar. The Best Western information posted above is valid through July 8, 1999. Please ask for the UMD/MAA Summer Session conference rate when booking reservations. These rates apply for Sunday, August 8 through the night of Thursday, August 12.

Contributed Talks:

Contributed Talks: Talks are solicited from participants on topics dealing with any aspect of mathematics, statistics or their application. The presentations should be no longer than 20 minutes (including time for questions) A title and a brief abstract should be submitted no later than August 1, 1999
 

Miscellanious Items

For more information, contact:

Dr. John Greene jgreene@d.umn.edu.edu
or
Dr. Joe Gallian jgallian@d.umn.edu.edu

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Copyright 1999, University of Minnesota, Duluth.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
This web page is maintained by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics,
and was last updated April 14, 1999. Send comments to math@d.umn.edu.