Category: Events

Amherst College Science Center

Can Math be Magical? A Mathemagician Shows How

A flow diagram: The letter N has an arrow pointing up toward N+X and down toward N-X. The resultant for the top is funneled into subtracting X2 from N2-X2, resulting in an isolated N2. The top text says, "WHY? Algebra: (N+X)(N-X) = N2-X2.

By Bibi Hanselman and Bryan Shi On October 16, the Science Center lobby buzzed with a lively atmosphere, packed with students enjoying snacks as they huddled around several of their peers and watched them pull off a variety of card tricks. But among these performers was the true star of the show: Dr. Arthur Benjamin,…

Unveiling the Intriguing World of Curvature and Polyhedra 

By Albina Jambulatova Muratovna  Mathematics often leads us on a voyage into the unknown, where seemingly abstract ideas turn out to be glimpses into the underlying principles of our world. For example, the pine cone is a natural wonder that exhibits a mesmerizing spiral pattern. This spiral arrangement is a striking example of the Fibonacci…

Below the SURFace: Amherst Students Present Their Research

A woman with long, curly hair wears light-washed jeans and a white button-up shirt. She smiles in front of a scientific-style poster. A staircase is behind her, and people mill about in the background.

By Nora Lowe On September 8, the Science Center was cleared of furniture and filled instead with student researchers. This year’s cohort of Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) participants presented more than 80 posters as the culmination of their multiweek experience of rigorous scientific inquiry across nine departments, as well as in collaboration with parties…

“Let’s Talk S’more About STEM”

On Tuesday, April 18, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Keefe’s Outdoor Patio, the final installation in a series of five STEM-themed s’more nights this year was held by the Loeb Center in partnership with STEMSibs. “Let’s Talk S’more About STEM” attendees enjoyed refreshments, met other students in STEM disciplines, and exchanged academic and career…

AI, Art, and Amherst College

On November 17, the Artificial Intelligence in the Liberal Arts Initiative, in collaboration with the Mead Art Museum, hosted an exhibition and panel called “Discussing Dall-E: The Impact of AI on Art.” The panel was moderated by Professor Lee Spector, and it featured Professor Yael Rice from the Art Department and Professor Scott Alfeld, Professor…

“Bringing Science to Light” to Light

Science and art, commonly considered distant disciplines, actually go hand in hand. In fact, they complement each other and propel one another forward. Science illustrators, therefore, play a very valuable role in bridging the gap between these subject areas. A recent New York Times article explains an environmental science-related example of this phenomenon: “Pairing illustrations…

Spilling the Peas on STEMsibs

This piece was co-authored by Amy Zheng. STEMsibs, derived from “STEM siblings,” is a student group with a mission to guide new and undeclared students throughout their STEM journey at Amherst College. The STEMsibs offer monthly informational panels hosted by upperclassmen to form a tight-knit STEM community.  Tavus Atajanova, one of the group’s organizers, describes…

The Science of Stereotypes

They say that first impressions are everything – but did you know that assumptions are made about you as soon as the first seven seconds? It only takes one-tenth of a second for someone to decide if you’re trustworthy (Willis & Todorov, 2006). It similarly takes just fractions of a second for them to draw…

We Are the Cosmic Weirdos: Exploring the Role and Function of Dark Matter in the Universe

Profile picture of Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

On March 29, Presidential Scholar Chanda Prescod-Weinstein gave a talk in the Science Center called “Cosmic Probes of the Dark Sector.” Prescod-Weinstein is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Core Faculty Member in Women’s Studies at the University of New Hampshire. She began her talk by telling the audience that “there are no stupid questions,…

Public Health as a Passion, as a Priority

Decorative liner

Christina Nieves. Photo courtesy of Loeb Center, Amherst College On Thursday, March 10, Christina Nieves ‘10 gave a talk in Pruyne Lecture Hall called “Health Equity in Practice, in a Pandemic: A Career in Public Health.” Nieves was a biology major at Amherst, and she currently works at the New York City Department of Health…