Archives - School of Mathematics and Statistics

School Colloquium Cancelled – To Be Rescheduled

TracieGrisim — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:07:21 +0000

This colloquium has been cancelled and will be scheduled at a later date.

Title: The use of AI in math: an optimistic perspective
Speaker: Anton Shakov, Principia Math
Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: �Ӱ�ԭ�� University, HP 4351 Macphail Room, Herzberg Building, 4th floor, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON

Abstract:
AI systems are now routinely solving open problems in math, and some mathematicians worry about what this means for our field. Principia Math is a startup that has spent the past 3 months working on AI systems for math. I will share what this experience has taught us and discuss a few possibilities for the future of math. While the risks of this technology are real, I will present a case that there may be more room for human curiosity in math than before, showcasing one recent example where an AI-generated proof became the starting point for a young mathematician’s own work.

Congratulations to our Teaching Assistant Award Winners

TracieGrisim — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:53 +0000

Aya Tessier has been a TA with Math and Stats for three years, with assignments in Mathematical Methods and Elementary Calculus I. On the strength of nominations from one of her instructors and a number of her students, she has been awarded the Math and Stats Award for TA Excellence. The students spoke highly of her instruction and engagement during tutorials and office hours, providing clear and concise explanations for difficult problems, and her willingness to take a step back and review the fundamentals in support of more advanced material in MATH 3705. She consistently provided marks ahead of her deadline with valuable feedback and made herself available for students outside of class to discuss any issues with course material. Additionally her supervisor received much praise students, including requests to switch into her tutorials, and commented on an exceptional level of consistency and quality in her marking.

Congratulations Aya, good luck with all your future endeavors.

Sofia Balaceanu just completed her first year as a TA with Math and Stats, with assignments in Business Statistics I and Linear Algebra for Engineering and Physics. Her students praised the learning environment she created in tutorials, commenting on the student centeredness of her presentations and ensuring the material was presented in an accessibly at a pace where students learning needs and understanding of material was always given space to be addressed. Her marking consistently contained valuable feedback to help students learn from any mistakes, and was always completed ahead of schedule. Her supervisor was so impressed with her performance that he was compelled to nominate her for the award, the first time in he had done so in his 26 years at �Ӱ�ԭ��.

Congratulations Sofia, we’ll be happy to see you again next year.

ACE EDI Presents: Between Two Worlds: Academia and Public Service

TracieGrisim — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:44:58 +0000

In-person event

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: 4351 Herzberg Laboratories, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University

For more information and to register, please visit the

Successfully Defended. Congratulations Hugo Teixeira and your thesis Supervisor D. Panario

nickigaertner — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:13:53 +0000

Title: The Functional Graph of a Twisted Quadratic Binomial Map And Some Applications
When: 04-09-2026
Time: 10:00
Location: MacPhail Room 4351 Herzberg Building, 4th floor

CANDIDATE: Hugo Teixeira

/math/wp-content/uploads/PhD-Teixeira-April-9-2026.pdf

Successfully Defended. Congratulations Sara Haroon and your thesis Supervisors Y. Wei

nickigaertner — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:34:42 +0000

Title: Evaluating DeepAR for Sentiment-Informed Risk Forecasting and Portfolio Optimization
When: 2026-Jan-09
Time: 12:00
Location: Zoom

CANDIDATE: Sara Haroon

/math/wp-content/uploads/Haroon-Committee.pdf

Math Week in Pangnirtung: �Ӱ�ԭ�� Professor Brings Hands-On Mathematics to Nunavut

TracieGrisim — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:57:22 +0000

From November 24–28, 2025, Professor Yuly Billig, Director of the �Ӱ�ԭ�� Math Enrichment Centre, spent a week at Attagoyuk High School in Pangnirtung, an Inuit community in Nunavut located just 45 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. With a population of about 1,500, Pangnirtung is a vibrant and close-knit hamlet where the school plays a central role in community life. Professor Billig visited as part of a Northern Outreach initiative generously funded by the Tutte Institute for Mathematics and Computing (CSE).

Throughout the week, he led “Math Week” at Attagoyuk High School, offering three to four classes per day for students in Grades 6–12.

These sessions combined accessible explanations with hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and confidence in mathematics. Topics ranged from the mathematics of cryptography—explored both in English and in Inuktitut — and binary numbers to the geometry of regular polyhedra, the algebra behind the Rubik’s cube, and the topology-inspired puzzle known as Conway’s Rational Tangle.

Students enthusiastically participated in all activities: writing and decoding secret messages in two languages, learning to compute in binary, discovering winning strategies for the game of Nim, and building paper models of Platonic solids. Older students learned how algebraic ideas can guide the solution of the Rubik’s cube, and the week concluded with the lively Rational Tangle “rope dance”, where students practiced untangling knots using the mathematical ideas behind the puzzle.

Professor Billig noted that many students demonstrated strong aptitude in mathematics and science. Equally impressive was the dedication of the teaching staff at Attagoyuk High School. The school boasts an exceptional group of caring and dedicated teachers, as well as an array of after-school programs that keep the building open well into the evenings and on weekends so students can participate in sports and community activities.

The visit was a resounding success, and plans are already underway for continued collaboration between Attagoyuk High School and the School of Mathematics and Statistics. The experience highlighted the tremendous enthusiasm and talent of northern students and strengthened connections that will support future learning opportunities in Nunavut.

Successfully Defended. Congratulations Cristina Agatep and your thesis Supervisors Dr. D. Campbell

nickigaertner — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 17:13:43 +0000

MSc Thesis Defence: Cristina Agatep

Title: Climate Change Is Burning A Hole In Canadians’ Wallets: The Causal Effect Of A Canadian Wildfire On The Distribution Of Financial Deb
When: 16-DEC-2024
Time: 1300
Location: 4369 Hertzberg Laboratories
CANDIDATE: Cristina Agatep

/math/wp-content/uploads/Agatep-MSc-Dec-16-2024.pdf

Successfully Defended. Congratulations Mackenzie Powers and your thesis Supervisors Dr. D. Panario

nickigaertner — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 20:16:22 +0000

Title: Topics in the Generation of Ideals of Posets
When: 06-JAN -2025
Time: 1400
Location: 4325 McPhail, Hertzberg Laboratories
CANDIDATE: Mackenzie Powers

/math/wp-content/uploads/Powers-Committee.pdf

Successfully Defended. Congratulations Erica O’Neill and your thesis Supervisors Dr. P. Farrell

nickigaertner — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:05:00 +0000

Title: The Value of Tiered Chemical Toxicity Testing
When: 07-JAN -2025
Time: 09:00
Location: 4351 McPhail, Hertzberg Laboratories
CANDIDATE: Erica O’Neill

/math/wp-content/uploads/ONeill-MSc-Jan-7-2025.pdf

Successfully defended. Congratulations Toma Diaconescu-Grabari and your thesis Supervisor Dr. Panario

nickigaertner — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:28:29 +0000

Title: BUFF Transform for Isogeny-Based Sqisign Digital Signature

When: 19-JUL-2024
Time: 10:00 am
Location: 4351 McPhail, Hertzberg Laboratories

CANDIDATE: Toma Diaconescu-Grabari, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University 2022

/math/diaconescu-grabari-msc-2024-19-07/