STEM Talks
The STEM Talks is a series of short seminars hosted by instructors, students (both current and former), as well as others from outside of the college. The purpose of these talks is to provide students who attend them with an understanding of how STEM can actually be applied in the real world, particularly with examples not often discussed in general STEM courses. The talks also provide an avenue for the host to talk about topics that personally interest them with regard to STEMematics.
The talks were designed to encourage students to return to in-person classes after the COVID pandemic. The STEM Talks were instituted by mathematics Associate Professors Bryan Wilson and Rob Woodward in the Spring of 2023. Since then, attendance for the talks have grown more and more, demonstrating that students want to learn why STEM matters to them and they want to see how it can actually be used.
STEM Talks are hosted every Fall and Spring semester with about 3 or 4 talks planned each semester, typically near the end of each month. Each talk is planned to last about an hour. All talks are given in-person, there is no option for tuning in online.
Upcoming STEM Talks:
October 2026
Reading Speed and the Shape of Human Learning
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
2:30 - 3:30 P.M. | Technology Building, TB 104
Presenter: Vojislav Petrovic
This talk takes a simple question, 'How fast can we read?', and turns it into an unexpected mathematical journey that connects reading speed, geometry, and topology. Using the idea of a 'reading pseudometric,' we explore how mathematics can be used to compare individuals, organize data about human learning, and even define a topology on a set of people. No advanced background is required, just curiosity about how everyday experiences can inspire surprising mathematical ideas and applications!
Questions? Contact: