Albion College Mathematics and Computer Science Colloquium

 Title: Stripes, Squares, & Oscillons: An Introduction to Mathematical Modeling and Pattern Formation Speaker: Catherine Crawford Associate Professor Mathematics Elmhurst College Elmhurst, IL Abstract: Patterns appear everywhere in the world around us from zebra stripes, to hexagonal honeycombs, to spiral arrangements of sunflower seeds, to the periodic ups and downs of a population size due to seasonal migration. Similar patterns also arise in experiments done in many disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, and biology. One goal in studying pattern formation is to understand why and how these patterns are created. Another goal is to determine whether similar patterns from vastly different systems can be described and understood through similar mathematical model equations. This talk will describe how a pattern can be represented mathematically and how basic knowledge of functions and derivatives can help determine when and where the patterns will exist. Analytical and numerical results will be compared with experimental observations. Finally, the connection between the underlying pattern and the observation of a single, isolated pulse, called an oscillon, will be described. Location: Palenske 227 Date: 4/10/2014 Time: 3:30 PM

@abstract{MCS:Colloquium:CatherineCrawford:2014:4:10,
author  = "{Catherine Crawford}",
title   = "{Stripes, Squares, & Oscillons:  An Introduction to Mathematical Modeling and Pattern Formation}",
address = "{Albion College Mathematics and Computer Science Colloquium}",
month   = "{10 April}",
year    = "{2014}"
}