Math Colloquium: Prof. Mindy Capaldi

Prof. Mindy Capaldi, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, will give a talk in the department colloquium on Friday, January 26.  Her title and abstract are below.

Colloquium meets at 3:30 p.m. in GEM 120.  All are welcome, whether you’re registered for colloquium or not.

Title: The Politics and Mathematics of Redistricting

Abstract: Gerrymandering, the art of manipulating district boundaries for political advantage, has long played an important role in American elections. Even the Supreme Court struggles to identify and rule on redistricting issues (see Gill V. Whitford and Benisek v. Lamone for current cases). This talk gives a brief history of American redistricting and gerrymandering followed by a description of current related mathematical and statistical research. That research focuses on finding ways to measure gerrymandering, which is one of the criteria the Supreme Court has sought.