PRISM: Attracting Students to Mathematics, Physics and Biology Through Interdisciplinary Research and Discovery

Supported by the National Science Foundation


Welcome to PRISM, a new initiative at Northeastern University designed to promote Mathematics, Physics and Biology among college and high-school students! Careers in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are the wave of the future, and we want to help you kickstart your entry into these exciting research areas. Northeastern University is home to many researchers working on some of the most exciting developments at the forefront of these fields. The PRISM program is designed to connect participants to these cutting edge developments, and to open up career opportunities in some of the most promising areas of current STEM research. The activities commenced in August 2009 and will continue throughout the 2009--2010 school year, and for several years thereafter. Participants will have access to an interesting selection of seminars and exploratory teamwork activities throughout the year. This will culminate in the Summer Discovery Experience, which will be an intensive 4-week program exploring topics in Mathematics, Physics and Biology. Second-year PRISM students can apply for special Research Co-ops at labs on and off campus. If you would like to learn more about the program please contact any of the Professors listed below: Alain Karma (Physics), Chris King (Math), Dagmar Sternad (Biology, ECE and Physics), Rick Porter (Math), Jonathan Weitsman (Math), Christos Zahopoulos (Center for STEM Education).

Schedule for Fall 2009

Date Time and Place Activity
August 31 -- September 4 9:00am-4:00pm, 509 Lake Hall Summer Preview: Exploring Mathematics -- a week-long intensive exploration and discovery for incoming mathematics majors, run by Prof Tom Sherman
Friday September 11 12:00 noon, 509 Lake Hall
 Kickoff PRISM meeting for the year: there will be a presentation about the PRISM program as well as a question and answer session. Pizza is provided, so be on time! Slides.
Friday October 2 12:00 - 1:00 pm, 105 Shillman Hall
PRISM Lunchtime Movie Series. Special presentation of the movie How Kevin Bacon Cured Cancer. This will describe some of the extraordinary consequences of the emerging science of complex networks. Popcorn provided. Slides.
Friday October 9 12:00 noon, 105 Shillman Hall
Interdisciplinary Research Seminar. Networks -- from Hollywood to the human cell. Our speaker is Prof. A.-L. Barabasi (Physics), his topic will be network theory and its wide applicability in science and society. Pizza provided. Here are slides from the talk.
Friday October 16 12:00 noon, 509 Lake Hall
Follow-up seminar: we will explore the mathematics behind the research of Prof Barabasi, and learn how it connects to your coursework. Pizza provided. Here are the links used in the seminar.
Friday October 23 12:00 noon, 509 Lake Hall
Follow-up seminar: continuation of last week's seminar, further exploration of networks and their representations. Pizza provided starting at 11:45am. Here are the slides.
Friday October 30 12:00 noon, 135 Shillman Hall
Interdisciplinary Research Seminar. "Building Brains for Biomimetic Robots". Our speaker is Prof. Joe Ayers (Biology), who will talk about his work on biomimicry and demonstrate some of his lifelike machines! Pizza provided.
Friday November 6 12:00 noon, 509 Lake Hall
Follow-up seminar: Profs Tom Sherman (Math) and Dagmar Sternad (Biology/Physics/Engineering) will lead an exploration of the mathematics behind the research of Prof Ayers. Pizza provided starting at 11:45am.
Friday November 20 12:00 noon, 135 Shillman Hall
Interdisciplinary Research Seminar. "Taming the Chaotic Heart". Our speaker is Prof. Alain Karma (Physics), who will talk about his work on applying dynamical systems to study how the heart functions. Pizza provided.


This website is under development; check again soon for additional information and activities as the website evolves.

Northeastern University Web page: Chris King, based on a page design by Alex Suciu
Mathematics Department Started : September 2009. Last modified : November 4, 2009.