At Williams | Lectures & Presentations

Nov 23: How to Put Down Your Money and Win - Optimal Gambling Strategies

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:25:59 -0500

1:00 p.m., Bronfman 106.
Math/Stats Department Colloquium by Adam Capulong '10.� The gambler's basic problem is, given an initial bankroll, the probabilities of winning and losing, the quoted odds of the different outcomes, what betting strategy maximizes the growth rate of the gambler's capital. We will look at the objects involved in these calculations, the gambler's fallacy, and the "Kelly Criterion."

Dec 2: Convergent Series: Tauberian Theorems

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:26:04 -0500

1:00 p.m., Bronfman 106.

Math/Stats Department Colloquium by Makisha Maier '10. A demonstration of the proof of Tauber's Theorem from 1897 and the refined theorem by Littlewood and Hardy regarding Abel summability, using Wielandt's Variation on Karamata's Method for Power series.

Dec 2: The Artist and the Poet: Leonard Baskin and Ted Hughes in Conversation

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:32:40 -0500

5:30 p.m., The Clark, 225 South Street.
Explore the long friendship between American artist Leonard Baskin and British poet Ted Hughes. A complement to the exhibition "Crow and Raven: Baskin, Hughes, Manet, Poe," this event will feature a first-time American screening of the documentary The Artist and the Poet: Leonard Baskin and Ted Hughes in Conversation. Following the video, there will be a conversation with Lisa Baskin and Jay A. Clarke, Manton Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Clark. Admission is free.
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Dec 3: Salience and Taxation: Evidence and Policy Implications

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:44:06 -0500

4:00 p.m., Griffin 6.
Economics Department, Class of 1960's Scholars Seminar by Raj Chetty, Professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
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Dec 3: “Haydn and the Music of Illumination”

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:39:04 -0500

4:15 p.m., Bernhard Music Center 30.

Professor Elaine Sisman of Columbia University lectures on Haydn, drawing connections between sun-related musical motifs and how his solar music points the way to a true music of illumination.

Dec 4: Living Deliberately: Building a House for the 21st Century

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:59:50 -0500

12:00 p.m., the log.
Environmental Studies Log Lunch presentation by Bill Moomaw '55, Professor of International Environmental Policy and Director of the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy, The Fletcher School, Tufts Unversity. Vegetarian meal: $4. Reservations: 413-597-2346 or szepka@williams.edu. All welcome.

Dec 4: Robust Unit Root and Cointegration Rank Tests for Panels and Large Systems

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:43:10 -0500

1:00 p.m., Bronfman 106.
Math/Stats Department Faculty Seminar by Professor Peter Pedroni. This study introduces several new tests for the presence of unit roots in time series panels based on nonparametric principles. The tests are unusual in that they can account for general unknown forms of cross sectional dependence, do not require choices with respect to the nuisance parameter treatments associated with temporal and cross sectional dependencies, and continue to retain high nite sample power in the presence of incidental trends.

Dec 4: The Zeiss Planetarium Sky

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0500

7:30 p.m., Old Hopkins Observatory, 829 Main Street.
Experience the wonders of our universe from the high-precision Zeiss Skymaster ZKP3/B opto-mechanical planetarium projector. Shows last about 50 minutes. For reservations (recommended) contact Barbara Swanson at (413) 597-2188. Others admitted as space permits. Large groups please call for special appointments.
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Dec 5: U.S. Latin American Relations: The Challenges of Guantanamo, Cuba, Chavez, Immigration, ...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:34:18 -0500

11:00 a.m., Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield.
The lecture will focus on the many challenges faced by the Obama Administration as it seeks to turn the page on U.S. Cuban Relations and Guantanamo while it continues to deal with the Chavez phenomenon. At the same time perennial and intractable issues such as immigration, border security, trade, and the promotion of human rights require much more attention than is usually given by the top players in any administration. Admission $15; OLLI members $10. Note: This event takes place at the Hancock Shaker Village.
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