Posters

Students will work in small groups to produce a poster for presentation toward the end of semester.  Here are examples of student math posters.  You will research a topic related to the course.

What’s on a poster (TL;DR version):

  • It must be done with LaTeX  using Overleaf
  • A title and authors
  • An abstract (summary)
  • Original written content explaining the material (not just copied from a textbook)
  • Figures and tables
  • Mathematical equations (using LaTeX)
  • A bibliography
  • Acknowledgements if you seek advice from a professor 

Schedule:

  • (Deadline: Wed Oct 16th) Submission of a plan:  title, abstract (summary), list of group expectations. 
  • (Deadline: Fri Nov 8th) First draft of the poster, on which we will give feedback (this should be a complete draft in LaTeX).
  • (Deadline: Fri Nov 15th) Final version. And report of work.
  • Presentation.  Spread out through last weeks of class. 5 min presentation per group

What is a Poster Plan?

You will submit to a canvas dropbox the following:

  1. The title of your poster (which is also the topic)
  2. Abstract (summary of what will be on your poster, 3-5 sentences)
  3. One or two references that you will use.
  4. Group Expectations:  you will go through the following list of groupwork issues as a group, then submit a very brief summary, indicating who has what responsibilities, and how you plan to proceed, making note of anything you think is important (a few sentences).
      1. Agree on what task each person will take responsibility on (…setting up a shared document, submitting things to canvas, editing, write/research different parts, images, latex, coding…).  This can change later, but try to plan now.  It can help to have a designated person “in charge” of larger shared tasks, who can be “taskmaster” for that aspect.
      2. Set up a way to communicate (e.g. discord, email, text).
      3. Set up a meeting plan (dates, times, places).
      4. Set up expectation about times to reply to messages.
      5. Agree on professional and respectful conduct.

Resources for a Poster:

Examples of Posters:

Grading:

The poster must be done in groups of three people. Each student must submit an assignment (individually).

Rubric (15 points)

  • 5 points for completion of the poster and make it to each deadline with your original writing (no copying or AI; see ‘honor code’ below).
  • 5 points for the content on the poster
    • Was it well researched?
    • Written exposition
  • 5 points for the presentation 
    • State clear motivation and ideas
    • Communication skills
    • Stick to time limit please!

Finding a Topic:

  • Quanta Magazine cryptography articles — news in the math side of cryptography.  Look into new or old developments on the math side.  These are very accessible articles that will lead you on to a topic that you’ll have to go into in more depth.
  • An Introduction to Mathematical Cryptography — an accessible undergrad text with lots of further info on many topics we will touch on or related topics.  (Available via SpringerLink from the link above while on campus.)  Look up something you find interesting in the course and browse the chapter it’s in, to find a way to take it further.
  • An Illustrated Theory of Numbers — a lovely book about introductory number theory; anything that takes our number theory beyond what we did in class is fair game!  On Reserve at Earth Sciences.
  • Hacker News — effects of cryptography in the real world.  Look into what caused a recent hack or news item and what math is behind it.  You’ll have to hunt down the math behind these items.
  • Trappe and Washington — A very accessible intro textbook.  On Reserve at Earth Sciences.
  • The Code Book — A popular account of the fun history of cryptography.  Any/all of this can be the jumping off point for something cool.  On reserve at Earth Sciences.
  • Some general topics to get your brain flowing (I can provide more ideas and resources):
    • efficient matrix multiplication and linear algebra on computers
    • double-and-add chains
    • pseudo random number generators
    • distribution of prime numbers
    • other factoring algorithms
    • other quantum key distribution algorithms
    • cryptanalysis of Vigenere cipher
    • old ciphers and how they were broken
    • continued fractions
    • efficient gcd algorithms
    • fast fourier transform
    • hash functions based on random graphs
    • rainbow tables
    • SSH handshake
    • distribution of cryptography usage on the web
    • coding theory for NASA spacecraft
    • cryptography based on coding theory
    • sieving (e.g. quadratic sieve)
    • …

Honor Code:

The goal of the writing assignment is to dig deeper into a topic of interest to you, and write up a survey of the topic. It is exceedingly important that you write from your understanding, not from your sources. So you may read and take notes to understand your topic, but all your materials, including your notes, must be closed during your writing periods.  Not following this rule is a violation of the Honor Code.