Math Statistics | Mathematics

COOPER SULLIVAN Multimedia Managing Editor

A lot of kids grow up wanting to be on the silver screen, being recognized wherever they go. Hearing whispers as they walk by of “is that Jessica Chastain? Honey, look it’s the guy from ‘Ted Lasso’” and “oh my god you are local Channel 6 News meteorologist Andy Greene”

That was the dream for this Milford, Pennsylvania native — until he found out how much science was involved.

Andy Greene is now a statistics and computer science double major, but he’s still trying to devote his love of numbers to weather prediction.

Working with Dr. Rob Erhardt, Greene’s senior thesis uses statistical modeling to predict how intense droughts would be in certain areas of the world based on factors such as air temperature and soil moisture.

“What I did was just kind of a pilot study for a larger project that [Erhardt] is going to be tackling for the next few years,” Greene said. “He’s been in communication with some of the government agencies that handle the national drought monitors and they said if we can come up with really good research and really good results, then they would consider applying it.”

Over the summer, Greene will be preparing to move to New Mexico, where he will begin work at the Los Alamos National Labratory on similar environmental research.

“I’ll be working remotely at home over the summer, but they will fly me out and get me acquainted with the area,” Greene said. “But it’s scary. You know, there’s a whole new chapter of my life I’m about to get into but I guess I just kind of have to dive in headfirst.”

But diving headfirst in has been something beneficial for Greene throughout his college career. It was deciding to join the board game club on a whim that led him to some of his good friends. It was registering for a jazz class as his arts divisional that uncovered a new interest of combining music and numbers.

After speaking with professors in both departments, Greene realized that there is a lot more interconnectivty between musicians than some may believe. Perhaps this could be shown with a statistical model?

“I basically just collected a bunch of data on different jazz musicians throughout history,” Greene said. “Who recorded with who? Which people were on different albums? And I tried to create this map of all of the interaction between these different jazz players throughout history. It was just a good way of visualizing how interconnected and collaborative jazz is.”

This wasn’t for an assignment for either class. Greene just was naturally curious and had some time on his hands. He has always favored the problem-solving aspect of statistical analysis and applying these methods and models to areas of personal interest are what he believes makes statistics so valuable.

In terms of advice for those wishing to follow his footsteps and try to analyze the seemingly unnumerical, don’t think about it like numbers. He admits it sounds a little counterintuitive, but there’s a method behind the madness.

“Try not to focus on the theory and all of like the complex math behind it, because that can get kind of overwhelming,” Greene said. “So to not get bogged down in it, but really, try to keep that high level view of what you’re doing and how you want to apply this.”

Thursday, April 28, 2022 | Page 21 MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS ANDY GREENE

Katie Fox/Old Gold & Black

UNA WILSON Asst. Features Editor

Many students are intimidated by math and therefore give up long before they reach higher level courses. Sarah Ruth Nicholls is one of the students who did not give up.

As a double major in math and computer science, Nicholls devoted a great deal of her time at Wake Forest to disciplines in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). She will tell you, however, that there is no such thing as a ‘math person’.

“Just because you don’t get math the first time doesn’t mean you don’t belong here.” Nicholls said. “I learned that in high school, and it’s stuck with me ever since.”

Nicholls said that she was drawn to math in high school, and her passion for the subject only flourished once she got to Wake Forest.

“I like how, in the beginning of a math problem, there is a very clear right and wrong,” Nicholls said. “That kind of logical thinking is something I am drawn to.”

Within the math department, Nicholls also felt herself drawn to one professor in particular: Dr. Jason Parsley. While working with him in his knot theory lab, the two cultivated a close relationship.

“Sarah Ruth Nicholls has enthusiastically dived into undergraduate research in topology, studying petal knots (knots shaped like a flower) with me.” Parsley said. “She is highly charismatic and intelligent, and she has been a leader in mathematical outreach — through groups like our AWM (Association for Women in Mathematics), she strives to make mathematics more inclusive.”

As the founder and president of AWM, Nicholls is passionate about making mathematics both accessible and fun for female students.

“We have weekly meetings, informal research talks, social events and trivia nights.” Nicholls said. “I especially loved our discussion with the chair of the math department Dr. Sarah Raynor because she talked about how she struggles with imposter syndrome in her math career. It was so

MATHEMATICS SARAH RUTH NICHOLLS

comforting to hear a woman as accomplished as her talk about her own doubts about her capabilities — it’s something we all struggle with.”

Nicholls also worked closely with Dr. John Gemmer, who recalled Nicholls fondly. “As an instructor, I strongly believe in the philosophy that a rising tide lifts all boats,” Gemmer said. “No student more embodies this ideal than Sarah Ruth. She is exceptionally intelligent and creative, but at the same time, she is humble and supportive of all students around her. She is very generous with her time and works closely with other students so that all can achieve success. This is a rare trait amongst undergraduate students, who often focus on the pursuit of individual accomplishment.”

Gemmer also praised Nicholls’ love of learning and teaching.

“Sarah Ruth clearly has the maturity to realize that she is a highly successful studen,t but at the same time wants all of her classmates to not only achieve success but enjoy learning.”

After graduating, Nicholls is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics at Rice University. She said that in the future, she hopes to be a professor.

“In the Wake Forest math department, teamwork is really emphasized,” Nicholls said. “I was often put in groups of four or six people that I would work with for an entire semester, and some of those people are now my closest friends. Part of my inspiration for wanting to be a professor comes from my experiences here. I hope I get to talk to people and help them work through problems, like I got to do in my classes at Wake Forest.”

As she looked back on her time at Wake Forest, she recalled advice that helped her persevere in challenging times.

“It’s more important to feel like you worked hard in a class than to do well in that class,” Nicholls said. “Since grading is so objective in math, it’s easy to feel crushed when you don’t earn an A on a test. But, getting a C means that you know 70% of the material. When you think about it, that’s a lot of math!”