A Look into the Math and Computer Science IS Projects in 1999
Rachel Dawson

     This year the math department faced a new challenge. The department had to schedule 23 orals. Department Chair Professor Hartman said scheduling so many orals became a headache, but he was pleased to see the most math and computer science majors as there have been in all of the years he has been at the college. Congratulations Seniors for completing Wooster's Independent Study!

     Christopher Becker completed an IS for the double major of mathematics and sociology with James Hartman and Robert Blair called "The Misuses of Statistics in the Social Sciences".

     Anand Mehta was also a double major combining mathematics and business economics to complete an IS on "Predicting the Unpredictable: The Impact of Trend, Seasonality, and Horizon on the Accuracy of Forecasting Methods" with John Ramsay and John Sell advising him.

     Mathematics major Anant R. Padmanabhan used R. Stanton Hales as his advisor to complete "A Temporary Destruction of Order in Search of God’s Solution to Rubik’s Cube".

     For the double major with mathematics and economics Sohil N. Parekh discussed "Optimal Control Theory Application to Natural Resource Economics" with James Hartman and Allison Wellington advising.

     Chris Gardner, who is a mathematics major, investigated "The Traveling Salesman Problem with High School Applications" using John Ramsay for advising.

     Justin Mark Schlabach, a mathematics major, researched "An Analysis of Voting Methods in the Ranking of Basketball Players" with Charles Hampton filling the role of advisor.

     James Hartman advised Jennifer Anne Hogue in her mathematics IS that discussed "An Introductory Study of Numerical Weather Forecasting".

     Travis B. Snyder, also a mathematics major, was also advised by James Hartman in researching "Blackjack Strategy: Simulation of Games as a Method of Estimating Probability".

     Elliott Strimbu completed a double major IS for mathematics and chemistry called "An Ab Initio Investigation into the Puckering of Cyclobutanes" and was advised by Charles Hampton and David Powell.

     An investigation of "Topological Graph Theory: The Interaction Between Algebraic Topology, Group Theory, and Graph Theory" was completed for a mathematics IS by Stephen J. Boughton who was advised by John Ramsay.

     An international relations and mathematics double major, Divya Thadani completed an IS with Matthew Krain and John Ramsay as advisors on "Economic Growth and Economic Development in the Third World: A Quantitative Approach to the Analysis of the Chasm".

     Charles Hampton also advised Sarah E. Ives in her mathematics IS, which explored "An In Depth Look at Fractals: With a Focus on the Julia Sets".

     Bohdan I. Chrobak Jr. investigated "The Markov Chain and How It Can Model the Sport of Baseball" to fulfill the IS requirement for a mathematics major with John Ramsay acting as the advisor.

     A computer science IS was completed by Ryan Johnston who was advised by Dale Brown on "An Investigation of Common Windows NT Networking Capabilities" which essentially looks at different protocols used in Windows NT, specifically TCP/IP. As a case study in WinNT network software design, an FTP client was developed for the project.

      Under the advisors of Dale Brown and Larry Stewart Francis Browne finished an IS for his double major in English and computer science on "Creation at the Interaction of Media".

     Manon Grugel completed an IS for the double major of physics and mathematics entitled "L", which is the closest American letter for the Greek letter lambda, where John Lindner and Charles Hampton were the advisors.

     Anne Lloyd Bishop was also advised by Dale Brown to complete "An Investigative Study of Two Different Methods Within Genetic Algorithms on Course Scheduling Problems" for her computer science IS.

     A chemistry and computer science double major, Farhan Hashim completed an IS about "An Exploration of the Capabilities of Spartan and MacSpartan and an Interpretation of the High Pressure Spectrum of trans 1,3 Bromochlorocyclobutane and the Low Temperature Spectrum of trans 1,3 Dibromocyclobutane using Ab Initio Calculations". David Powell and James Hartman advised Farhan.

     Justin Ludwig, a computer science major, explored "An Investigation of XML with Emphasis on Extensible Linking Language (XLL)" with his advisor, Dale Brown.

     "Java Networking Tool" was completed by a computer science major, Craig Liston, who was advised by Dale Brown.

     Computer science major Rich Hochstetler, also with Dale Brown as an advisor, investigated "Integrating Native Methods into a Java AWT Built Graphical User Interface".

     Ian Keith finished a senior IS on computer science and chemistry entitled "The Development of the Sol-Gel Based pH Sensing Films and Accompanying Programs to Optimize pH Indicator Selection" with Reuben Settergren and Paul Edmiston as advisors.

     For a computer science and physics double major, Josh Bozeday completed an IS exploring "Noise Enhanced Propagation in an Electronic Array". John Lindner and Reuben Settergren advised Josh on his project.