If you like making stuff with computers, you will especially enjoy the next two math club presentations, one about creating 3D images and another about creating electronic music. I know that for many of you, just reading the descriptions below will start your heart thumping in anticipation. Please note that there will be no math club meeting on 12/27 and 1/3.


12/20/09 Realistic image synthesis: using math to make pictures of things that aren't there. Jim Ferwerda will talk about the math and science of 3D realistic image synthesis: using computers to make images of non-existent objects that are indistinguishable from photographs of real things. We'll explore the roles that math, physics, and psychology play in making realistic pictures and do some imaging projects that illustrate the differences between perception and reality.

 1/10/10 Electronic Music Synthesis. Kevin Ernste, Director of the Cornell Electroacoustic Music Center, knows how to capture and create sounds, then twist and turn them with digital tools, and finally piece them together into extraordinary works of art. Kevin will describe how he performs these feats, and we'll look at some of the math involved (in a way that's accessible). We'll all try our hand at electronic music synthesis, and Kevin will leave us with a new software tool or two to play with and plenty to explore on our own.

-Larry

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The Family Math Club meets Sundays from 2pm to 3:30pm on the third floor of Williams Hall on the Ithaca College Campus. Meetings are free and open to everyone. Kids aged 8 to 13 have reported enjoying the club. To get to the club travel to South Hill on 96B. Turn into the Ithaca College main entrance. Go three fourths around the circle and then along a straight stretch. Take the first right (a sign here says "admissions"). Williams Hall is the second building on your left. Enter either the front or the back and take either the stairs or the elevator to the third floor. Consult http://ithaca.edu for parking ideas.