Schedule
Overview
GirlsxMRO's 2023 program ran from 7/2/23 to 7/30/23. During the first week, we give an overview of the program and taught crash courses to introduce basic proof techniques and skills useful in mathematical reading. Weeks 2, 3, and 4 are each dedicated to an area of advanced mathematics, which is introduced during the live Zoom lecture on Sunday and further explored in the reading group later that week. The live Zoom lectures are held on Sundays from 4:00-6:00 PM PT/7:00-9:00 PM ET and the reading groups meet twice each week from 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET. In addition, we hold office hours and run Game Nights/Guest Talks each week of the program. You can view more information about the 2023 schedule below and can find more details about the types of meetings on the live Zoom sessions page and reading groups page.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1: Overview & Crash Course
Welcome to GirlsxMRO: Overview and Q&A Sunday 7/2/23 4:00-6:00 PM PT/7:00-9:00 PM ET
In our first meeting on Sunday, we will be introducing GirlxMRO and providing a detailed overview of the 2023 program, including structure, objectives, eligibility, and difficulty. This is a good chance to see if this program is right for you! We will also have time for Q&A with the mentors. All students are encouraged to attend.
Guest Speaker: TBD Monday 7/3/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Crash Course Day 1: Proof Techniques Tuesday 7/4/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Game Night Wednesday 7/5/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Crash Course Day 2: Mathematical Reading Thursday 7/6/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
There will not be reading groups during the first week of our program. Instead, we have live Zoom "Crash Course" sessions that are open to all students. During these sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, we will cover core skills in math that will be useful for the lectures and reading groups in the rest of the program. We strongly recommend that all students to attend these sessions.
Week 2: Algebraic Combinatorics
Intro to Algebraic Combinatorics Sunday 7/9/23 4:00-6:00 PM PT/7:00-9:00 PM ET
Office Hours/Problem Solving Monday 7/10/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Reading Group Meeting 1 Tuesday 7/11/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Guest Speaker: TBD Wednesday 7/12/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Reading Group Meeting 2 Thursday 7/13/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Those of you who have participated in math competitions have likely already had some experience with counting & probability problems. However, there is so much more to combinatorics than this! If you haven't participated in competitions, that's totally fine! The combinatorics concepts in this session are different than those commonly found in contest problems.
Students are encouraged to have participated in the crash courses from Week 1 before attending the live session. Reading group students are expected to attend the live session and both reading group meetings. All students are welcome to come to office hours.
Week 3: Abstract Algebra
Intro to Abstract Algebra Sunday 7/16/23 4:00-6:00 PM PT/7:00-9:00 PM ET
Office Hours/Problem Solving Monday 7/17/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Reading Group Meeting 1 Tuesday 7/18/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Game Night Wednesday 7/19/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Reading Group Meeting 2 Thursday 7/20/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Abstract Algebra is central to many fields in advanced math. However, abstract algebra concepts like groups can be found in our daily lives everywhere, from symmetries of a square to solving a Rubik's cube. Further, even though it is rarely taught in the classroom, it turns out that we have already worked with many of these abstract concepts as early as in Algebra I.
Students are encouraged to have participated in the crash courses from Week 1 before attending this session. However, participation in the algebraic combinatorics live session and/or reading group from Week 2 is independent from this week's material. Reading group students are expected to attend this week's live session and both reading group meetings. All students are welcome to come to office hours.
Week 4: Set Theory & Topology
Intro to Set Theory & Topology Sunday 7/23/23 4:00-6:00 PM PT/7:00-9:00 PM ET
Office Hours/Problem Solving Monday 7/24/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Reading Group Meeting 1 Tuesday 7/25/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Guest Speaker: TBD Wednesday 7/26/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Reading Group Meeting 2 Thursday 7/27/23 4:00-5:00 PM PT/7:00-8:00 PM ET
Set theory gives mathematicians the language and foundation for all advanced math. Topology the field of mathematics associated with the deformations with a geometric object! To a topologist, a coffee mug is the same shape as a donut but different from a baseball.
Students are encouraged to have participated in the crash courses from Week 1 before attending this session. However, participation in the algebraic combinatorics live session and/or reading group from Week 2 as well as the abstract algebra live session and/or reading group from Week 3 are both independent from this week's material. Further, reading group students are expected to attend the live session and both reading group meetings. All students are welcome to come to office hours.
Week 5: Research Presentations
Research Presentations Sunday 7/30/23 4:00-6:00 PM PT/7:00-9:00 PM ET
In GirlsxMRO's 2023's final meeting, our mentors will briefly present research they have conducted with the year-long MIT PRIMES program. These research presentations are not organized by MIT or the PRIMES program. This is a great opportunity to see what math research is all about! All students are highly encouraged to attend this live session.