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Both lectures are free but tickets are required. Seating is limited for the morning lecture.
The lectures are provided through a partnership between the Johns Hopkins University-Whiting School of Engineering and Clark State, and sponsored by Rosalyn Bullock in honor of her late husband Willis Bullock, and Daniel C. Harkins.
Guest lecturer David Kung of St. Mary’s College of Maryland will talk about harmonic analysis, and perform to show the relationship of math with music, including what auditory illusions are and how they work, and why a clarinet sounds so much lower than its similarly sized cousin, the flute.
“We’re doing this to give tools to students so they can practice and get exposure to math programs in a way that’s acceptable and affordable,” said Kanesha Scott, Clark State STEM programming manager.
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Kung will play several of his favorite songs as examples and might even compose a brand new song on the spot, according to Scott.
“I’m hoping he does. I’m a musician myself and wish I could bring my guitar,” she said.
Scott added the evening lecture will be more performance-based, and include a student speaker and one from Johns Hopkins, as well as honoring Clark County middle and high school students who participated in the American Math Competition.
Lecture organizers work to find unique themes and speakers. The first two included riddles in math and a math magician, and you could call Kung a math musician.
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Scott said organizers would like to build on these first three lectures and make them more interactive in the future.
“We’re in a good place and take pride in the schools being responsive,” she said. “Things we’d like to see happen are a more hands-on piece and have the students create in teams. Maybe local businesses would like to also get involved.”
Tickets are available for the performances at mathlectures2018.eventbrite.com.
Clark State also partners on the Johns Hopkins University’s Engineering Innovation summer program. This fourth such program will continue this summer.
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