Denison University is hosting the first-ever UnKnot Conference, a national conference on undergraduate knot theory, with 110 students and 50 speakers coming to campus from around the world during the week of July 13.

Knot theory is the study of “mathematical knots.” Think of your shoelaces, except the ends are joined to form a single twisted loop. The real-world applications of knot theory range from molecular sciences, like DNA, to statistical mechanics, like thermodynamics.

It sounds complicated, and it is. But Lewis Ludwig, associate professor of mathematics and computer science at Denison, says the field of inquiry isn’t limited only to those who hold advanced degrees in math and physics. As backyard astronomers can contribute to the field of astronomy, so the study of knot theory can certainly be advanced by talented undergraduate students.

The weeklong conference, sponsored by Denison University and by a $28,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, features Ludwig and Colin Adams, a Williams College professor who is both a mathematician and a humorist, among many other renowned speakers. Program events will be led by the faculty, as well as by the students.

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About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

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(740) 587-8575