CANTON — Over 300 Local high school students met to learn about careers in the mathematical science at St. Lawrence University Friday, October 9.

This was the third year SLU hosted “Mathematics Day,” The first two years were funded by the Tensor Foundation to encourage pre-college girls and minority students to study and pursue mathematics.
This was the first year boys were included, thanks to a new donor. George Vollmuth, retired Vice-President of Time, Inc. made the donation in honor of his wife, Janet K. Langlois, a Massena native and SLU math graduate.

St. Lawrence University President Kate Morris welcomed over 300 high school students from 13 local schools to the Janet K. Langlois Mathematics Day’s “Math & Everything.”

“I hope that, like me, you love math, love numbers, and that today not only gives you the chance to enjoy math but also see the possibilities that are ahead when you keep that love of math strong,” said President Morris.

The keynote presenter showed how math and science often collaborate in studies. Matt Higham, SLU Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science, worked together with Dr. Erika Barthelmess, SLU Biology Professor, to find out if animals behaved differently during a total solar eclipse.
Using data analysis and statistics of audio recorders in the county, they found spring peepers responded to a change in light by almost tripling their sounds outside their normal circadian rhythm during the solar eclipse.

Students selected three morning sessions to explore, from a large variety of careers that use mathematics, statistics, data science and computer science.
Topics included how math is useful in neuroscience, astronomy, and determining vaccination herd immunity. One session even shows how math is useful for sports predictions.

The afternoon concluded with a presentation of "Careers in the Mathematical Sciences” by SLU Professor of Statistics Jessica Chapman, Chair , Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics.