Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Westminster College senior mathematics majors Bryan Bischof and Anna Sparacino were selected to be part of the 2007 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), a program supported by the National Science Foundation.
Bischof worked with Dr. David Yetter at Kansas State University. His research, "Brainstorming and Barnstorming - Mathematics Related to Flight," was in the area of knot theory and produced a paper that will be submitted for publication. Students also had the opportunity to learn to fly.
Sparacino spent the summer at Akron University working with Dr. Deena Schmidt from Cornell. For their project, "The Evolution of the ABO Blood Group System: A Mathematical Model," they used differential equations and computer simulations to study the evolution of blood types in various populations.
Bischof, a son of Steve Salvatora of Gibsonia and Diana Salvatora of New Kensington, is a graduate of Valley High School.
Sparacino, a daughter of Christopher and Sharon Sparacino of Verona, is a graduate of Saint Joseph High School.
Contact Dr. Barbara Faires, professor of mathematics, at (724) 946-7293 or e-mail faires@westminster.edu for additional information.
