Author: Cheryl Miller

Sarah Hart is a mathematician, author and professor of geometry at Gresham College, London. She is the third featured speaker in the Watkins Visiting Professor series and will present two public lectures examining the intersections of mathematics, literature and art: 

• “A Mathematical Journey Through Literature,” at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in 211 Hubbard Hall 
• “The Mathematics of Perspective in Art,” 3:30 p.m. Nov. 9 in 211 Hubbard Hall.

The Watkins Visiting Professorship was created in 1974 by the Watkins Foundation. The grant is now provided through the Watkins fund, a part of the Wichita State Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s endowment. For more information about the lecture series, contact Dr. David Eichhorn at 316-978-6659.

Vamsi Mootha, M.D., professor of systems biology and medicine at Harvard Medical School, is the second featured speaker in the Watkins Visiting Professor series. Join Fairmount College for his public seminar, “Mitochondria and oxygen: from evolutionary origins to human disease,” at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 in 208 Hubbard Hall.

His separate scientific seminar, “Mitochondrial parts, pathways, and pathogenesis” will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 in 224 McKinley Hall.

The Watkins Visiting Professorship was created in 1974 by the Watkins Foundation. The grant is now provided through the Watkins fund, a part of the Wichita State Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s endowment. For more information about the lecture series, contact Dr. David Eichhorn at 316-978-6659.

Fairmount College faculty and staff are invited to join Dr. Andrew Hippisley, dean, Fairmount College, for the College at the Game during Shocker volleyball’s match against Tulsa at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20.

Fairmount College will be featured and promoted during the match, and the dean invites Fairmount College faculty and staff to sit with him in section 121 (general admission seating). Visit the dean’s office to pick up one ticket at no additional charge, and get a yellow Fairmount College Clash of the Colleges T-shirt and a Become More temporary tattoo.

Gregory D. Fuchs, professor of applied and engineering physics at Cornell University, kicks off the Watkins Visiting Professors schedule with scheduled talks on quantum technologies. Join Fairmount College for his public seminar, “Can we control the quantum state of a magnet?” at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 in 231 Hubbard Hall. His technical seminar, “Imaging the switching of antiferromagnetic and multiferroic devices using a single spin microscope,” will be presented at 2 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 4 in 209 Hubbard Hall.

The Watkins Visiting Professorship was created in 1974 by the Watkins Foundation. The grant is now provided through the Watkins fund, a part of the Wichita State Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s endowment. For more information about the lecture series, contact Dr. David Eichhorn at 316-978-6659.

Quantum technology makes everyday life safer and more productive.

It’s used in fields such as health care, communications, national defense and computing. Quantum materials make it possible to develop precise and accurate lasers for use in LASIK surgery. GPS systems can be made more secure and impossible to jam.

These applications and advances rely on scientists to find better, more efficient ways to produce quantum technology.

Five distinguished scientists will be visiting Wichita State this academic year as part of Fairmount College’s Watkins Visiting Professor lecture series. The scientists’ visits and their subject disciplines are:

• Greg Fuchs, Cornell University, physics, Oct. 3-4
• Vamsi Mootha, Harvard University, chemistry, Oct. 26-27
• Sarah Hart, University of London, interdisciplinary (mathematics, literature and art), Nov. 8-9
• Doug Emlen, University of Montana, biology, Feb. 12-13
• Bill DeGrado, UC, San Francisco, chemistry, April 15-16

Visiting scientists give lectures, demonstrations or other presentations about their research, which furthers the science education of our students and scientific research of our faculty. The professorship series was created in 1974 by the Watkins Foundation. This grant is now provided through the Watkins fund, a part of the Wichita State University Foundation’s endowment. All lectures are open to the public.

More information about each visiting professor may be found online. Look for updates in the newsletter and on Fairmount College’s social media:

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Abby Arbeiter wanted to sing pop songs in a pub. So, she approached a musician in Fitzgerald’s Bar, in Dublin.

Her request led to some cultural confusion.

Jan Dirk Roggenkamp, professor of public law at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, will present “The German Model of Police Education” at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, June 22, in 265 Rhatigan Student Center. A reception will follow.

Roggenkamp researches IT law, in particular the legal implications of police work and information technology (e.g., data retention, monitoring and surveillance of IT, use of social networks, data protection and privacy). He has published numerous articles in German law journals. He is also the author/editor of legal commentaries on data protection law, internet law, police law and association law.

Mathew Muether, associate professor of physics, is one of several thousand scientists worldwide studying neutrino behavior. His grant support from the U.S. Department of Energy totals nearly $500,000 and finances his work on two projects anchored underground at FermiLab, the particle physics and accelerator laboratory in Batavia, Illinois.

Wichita State’s Master of Science in mathematical data science produces professionals who can communicate the principles of data science statistics and analytics, and assist with the design and implementation of data systems.

Formerly the master’s in mathematical foundations of data analysis, graduates of the program will possess an in-depth mathematic and statistical understanding of data analysis methods as well as a broad skill set that can be applied to tech-related careers such as data analysis, data engineering and data architecture. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of data scientists to grow 36% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.