Department Once Again “Hunting” for Math Whiz
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2000
Lacey Williams
530-898-4143
Department Once Again “Hunting” for Math Whiz
In preparation for the seventh annual Chico Topology Conference, June 1-3, California State University, Chico’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics is once again holding a contest challenging anyone to solve a mind-bending topology problem.
Two years ago, the department started a contest reminiscent of the movie “Good Will Hunting.” In the movie, actor Matt Damon (Will Hunting) solves a baffling math problem left on a blackboard that stumps students at MIT. The CSU, Chico problem is written on a blackboard near the Holt Hall math department office.
The first person to turn in a correct answer to the math department will receive $100, a movie voucher and an invitation to attend the topology conference.
The first time around, CSU, Chico student Si Han, a math and computer science major, solved the topology problem. Math professor Eldon Vought, who initiated the contest and organizes the topology conference, said there is no assurance that a student will solve this year’s math problem, though many will try.
The conference starts around 9:30 and will be held in Holt Hall, room 185. The conference features papers delivered by mathematicians and one-hour talks by Harold Bell, Krystyna Kuperberg, Sergio Macias and Sam Nadler. Vought first organized the conference in 1981.
For more information about the topology conference, contact Vought at 898-5350 or e-mail at evought@csuchico.edu.
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