ANTCoG seminar: Talia Fernós
2026-01-16 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Talia Fernós, Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University and Professor in the Department of Mathematics at University of North Carolina, Greensboro (on leave)

Title: The semi-simple theory of acylindricity in higher-rank

Abstract:

Acylindricity may be viewed as a generalization of being a uniform lattice in a locally compact second countable group. The recent surge of results concerning acylindrical actions on hyperbolic spaces demonstrates the utility of the property. Trees are of course examples of hyperbolic spaces, and by considering products, we start to see new and interesting behaviors that are not present in rank-1, such as the simple Burger-Mozes-Wise lattices, or Bestvina-Brady kernels.

In a joint worth with S. Balasubramanya we introduce a new class of nonpositively curved groups. Viewing the theory of S-arithmetic semi-simple lattices as inspiration, we extend the theory of acylindricity to higher rank and consider finite products of delta-hyperbolic spaces. The category is closed under products, subgroups, and finite index over-groups. Weakening acylindricity to AU-acylindricity (i.e. acylindricity of Ambiguous Uniformity) the theory captures all S-arithmetic semi-simple lattices with rank-1 factors, acylindrically hyperbolic groups, colorable HHGs, and many others.

In this talk, we will discuss the Tits’ alternative and deduce that a group G that admits an (unbounded) AU-acylindrical action on such a product is “semi-simple” from the point of Out(G), thereby giving a partial resolution to a recent conjecture by Sela.

21st Annual UNCG RMSC
2025-11-07 09:00 - 2025-11-08 17:00 | Sullivan Science Building, 301 McIver Street, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
UNCG Regional Mathematics and Statistics Conference

UNCG RMSC 2025

PDE Conference
2025-10-10 00:00 - 2025-10-12 23:59

ANTCoG seminar talk
2025-09-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Petty Science Building Room 150, 317 College Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
Our speaker will be Andrew Stout from CUNY.

Title: Computations of generalized jet schemes in SINGULAR using the arc.lib library

Abstract:

Jet spaces associated to an algebraic variety are important in the area of singularity theory. In this talk, we will give an introduction to this particular area of algebraic geometry with the goal of offering an accessible introduction to research in this area. We will discuss how to write down the equations of a jet space and why having the ability to compute these equations directly in a computer algebra system is important in the first place. Then, we will use the speaker’s new SINGULAR library arc.lib to perform some exploratory calculations. If time permits, we will also discuss some of the more theoretical results of the speaker related to jet schemes and some open questions amenable to experimental exploration via the arc.lib library.

*Support for this project was also provided in-part by a BMCC-CUNY Faculty Development Grant entitled

“Singularity Theory, the Rogers-Ramanujan Identities, and the Cohen-Macaulayness of Jet Schemes.”

Mix & Math Pizza Party
2025-09-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Petty Science Building, 317 College Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412, United States
Math & Stats majors (undergrad & grad & alumni) are invited to the annual Mix & Math Pizza Party under the bridge!

Meet Math & Stats Faculty and fellow students with a chance to win some UNCG swag!

Math Club
2025-09-11 17:00 - 18:00 | Petty Science Building, 317 College Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412, United States
The Math Club will be having its first meeting for the semester this Thursday, the 11th of September in Petty 217. Pizza will be provided but please RSVP to rkpatel@uncg.edu as soon as possible so we know how much pizza to order.

Newcomers are welcome.

11th September (this Thursday) at 5-6 pm in Petty 217

Hope to see you there!

Rishav Patel, Co-President of Math Club

ANTCoG seminar talk
2025-09-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Petty Science Building Room 150, 317 College Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
There will be an ANTCoG seminar talk on Friday September 5th in Petty 150 at 4pm. Our speaker will be Thomas Weighill from UNCG.

Title: How to map data to the circle (or anything else)

Abstract:

A common challenge in data analysis is to reduce a high-dimensional dataset to a low-dimensional approximation that can be visualized. In some recent work with Ranthony Clark and Tom Needham that started life as a redistricting project, we came up with our own method for mapping data onto a circle that suited our needs. The method ended up performing well in more general contexts as well. I’ll talk about the application we had in mind, introduce the method, and show some results.

ANTCog - Phousawanh Peaungvongpakdy (Washington State University)
2025-08-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Petty Science Building Room 150, 317 College Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
Title: Case Studies of Short Burst Optimization for Multiple Redistricting Criteria

Abstract:

In complex and non-convex energy landscapes like those that occur in the discrete context of partition sampling for redistricting, optimal states can be difficult to discover. In 2023 Cannon et al. demonstrated that “short bursts’’, biased random walks performed in a small number of steps and repeated, led to significantly better performance than simple biased walks in finding global optima in this redistricting context. In this talk, we will present case studies applying short bursts to a variety of traditional redistricting criteria. Applying this method on real-world redistricting data allows us to explore tradeoffs between metrics and the corresponding Pareto frontiers. We also present some results about short bursts on simple random walks on labeled graphs.

AISC Symposium 2025
2025-06-14 08:00 - 2025-06-15 17:00

Computational Statistics REU 2025
2025-05-26 08:00 - 17:00

INTEGRAL TALES: SOME UNEXPECTED CONNECTIONS
2025-04-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Petty Science Building Room 219, 317 College Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
Victor H. Moll is a professor of mathematics at Tulane University.

Victor-Moll-Helen-Barton-Lecture

Applied Math Seminar
2025-04-07 16:00 - 17:00
Applied Math Seminar

Monday, April 7th, 4pm – 5pm

Petr Girg, University of West Bohemia (Czech Republic)

Mix & Math Pizza Event
2025-03-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Petty Building, 317 college Avenue, greensboro, North Carolina, 27402
Attention Current and Prospective Students: You are cordially invited to attend the Mix & Math Pizza Event! Mingle with peers & faculty!

If weather permits, located outside under the Petty Building bridge, otherwise in the first-floor lobby of the Petty Building. RSVP by Monday, March 17 to Denise Greenwell at dlgreenw@uncg.edu

event flyer

Colloquium
2025-03-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Petty Building, Room 219, 317 College Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27402
Reception at 3:30 p.m. in Petty 116

Nicolò ZavaInstitute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Petty 219

“An introduction to the role of the Gromov-Hausdorffdistance in computational topology”

Computational topology is a well-established field at the crossover of topology and computational geometry. It aims to transfer the power of topology for quantitative analysis to the setting of discrete approximations, typically finite data sets sampled from underlying objects. This analysis is usually performed by computing invariants of the spaces that extract patterns and features. The most important tool developed in this theory is persistent homology, summarized by persistence diagrams. Successful applications of these invariants to real-world datasets started a whole new field known as topological data analysis (TDA). Given the ubiquity of data in our modern world and their importance in data-driven science, a more interpretable, geometry-based approach to treating large amounts of data is crucial.

The Gromov-Hausdorff distance is a notion of dissimilarity between metric spaces introduced by Gromov to study the convergence of metric structures. Earlier notions can be found in Edward’s and Kadets’ works. In the past decade, it found applications in computational topology, where it provides a theoretical framework to shape recognition and dataset comparison. Studying the metric properties of this distance helps us understand the advantages and limits of specific invariants. Using notions from dimension theory, we can quantify the unavoidable loss of information.

Colloquium Event Flier with Nicolò Zava

The first part of this presentation introduces computational topology and TDA, presenting some basic concepts and ideas. Then, we discuss the Gromov-Hausdorff distance and its role in computational topology. Finally, we present some results exploiting metric geometry and dimension theory to show theoretical limits to the precision of invariants, bridging pure and applied mathematics.

Ant-cog Seminar
2025-02-28 16:00 - 17:00 | Petty Science Building Room 150, 317 College Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
The ANT-CoG (Algebra, Number theory, Topology, Combinatorics, & Geometry) seminar will meet Friday, 2/28, from 4:00-5:00pm in Petty 150. We are pleased to welcome our own Dr. Thomas Weighill for Friday’s talk.

Title: {vectorize, data?, unordered, (continued), Can, you}

Abstract: In this talk we will continue to examine the question of whether vectorizations which introduce a bounded amount of distortion (i.e. coarse embeddings) exist for certain data types. It turns out that this question is also important in other fields such as geometric group theory and the topology of manifolds. I will touch on some known results about the space of probability distributions and the space of persistence diagrams. I will then present a recent result of my own on spaces of finite samples, and quotients of spaces by finite group actions. This talk will be a thematic continuation of the previous one, though it should be understandable even if you missed the first talk.

ANT-CoG Seminar Talk
2025-02-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Petty Science Building Room 150, 317 College Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
The ANT-CoG (Algebra, Number theory, Topology, Combinatorics, & Geometry) seminar will meet Friday, 2/21, from 4:00-5:00pm in Petty 150. We are pleased to welcome our own Dr. Thomas Weighill for Friday’s talk.

Title: {vectorize, data?, unordered, Can, you}

Abstract: We will look at some very theoretical results motivated by the practical problem of visualizing and vectorizing complex datasets like shapes, samples, densities, and even Congressional district maps. We will talk about some general strategies that sometimes work, and prove at least one impossibility result showing that in some cases no good vectorizations exist. This talk will be designed to be accessible to undergraduate and graduate students.

Helen Barton Lecture Series: Aliasing in linear regression: powerful new insights into a fundamental tool
2025-02-12 16:00 - 17:00
Professor Tyler Jarvis
Professor Jarvis is co-founder and director of the Applied and Computational Math (ACME) program at Brigham Young University (BYU), which was recognized as the American Mathematical Society’s 2024 Exemplary Program in Mathematics.
https://science.byu.edu/directory/tyler-jarvis

Colloquium: "Restoring Confidence in the Value of Mathematics"
2025-02-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Petty Science Building Room 150, 317 College Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
with guest speaker Travis Jarvis from Brigham Young University

Join the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for this free colloquium presentation, open to the public. Located in the Petty Science Building, Room 150.

Abstract: Fifteen years ago, math majors at BYU told us, “We love math, but we know it won’t get us a job unless we want to teach.” This feedback motivated us to create the ACME program—a curriculum designed to teach mathematics that is not only deep and beautiful but also practical and in high demand by employers.

Since its inception 11 years ago, the ACME program has doubled the number of math majors at BYU. Our graduates command higher starting salaries and gain admission to top graduate programs, flourishing in both academia and industry. In this lecture, I will share the challenges we faced in launching ACME, the factors behind its success, and the lessons learned along the way.

Helen Barton Lecture Series: The Mathematics of Doodling
2025-01-22 16:00 - 17:00
Doodling is a creative and fundamentally human activity, resulting in doodles iwth intricate and often hidden implicit structure. We will treat doodles as an example for how mathematics is done – by starting with some doodles, we will ask ourselves some natural questions and see where they take us. They will lead us to some unexpected places, and to some sophisticated mathematics.

Speaker: Professor Ravi VakilRobert Grimmett Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University President of the American Mathematical Society (February 1, 2025)https://math.stanford.edu/~vakil/
