The PTI Seminars 2004
Group A Seminars
(Preference given to teachers of
specific grades or courses)
THE GREAT PROBLEMS OF MATHEMATICS
Seminar led by Richard Holman,
Carnegie Mellon University
What is Fermat’s last theorem? What does the Riemann hypothesis have to do with shopping on the internet? We’ll look at these as well as other classic problems in mathematics. We’ll examine both the history of these problems as well as the mathematics they generated.
Teachers of mathematics will have priority.
A Mobile People: American Immigration and Migration,
1750 - 1900
Seminar led by Timothy Kelly, Chatham College
This seminar, the third in a series on American history, will explore the critical theme of mobility in American history between 1750 and 1900. It will focus on successive waves of immigration to American shores in the century and a half stretching from the late colonial to the early industrial period of American history. We will focus especially on immigration from Africa, Europe, and Asia. We will also explore migration patterns within and at the edges of the American borders. Native Americans, new immigrants, and long-time residents moved regularly throughout the period, and we will examine the reasons, methods, and consequences of these migrations. The seminar will highlight critical patterns of migration and immigration that shaped the broad contours of American history. The course will examine primary sources, social histories, and narrative accounts to explore these themes.
Teachers of eighth grade American history will have priority.
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO
KNOW ABOUT THE UNIVERSE. . .
BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!
(COSMOLOGY)
Seminar led by Richard Holman,
Carnegie Mellon University
In this seminar we will examine the Big Bang theory of the expanding universe and in particular we will learn of the recent discoveries concerning Dark Matter, Dark Energy and the Cosmic Microwave Background. The seminar will explain what is expanding, what it is (or is not!) expanding into and will also delve into some of the more speculative issues concerning the inflationary universe and string theory. Needles to say, this will all be a the layman’s level!
Teachers of middle and high school science will have priority.