math – Houghton STAR

By Skye Chaapel

Attending the Science and Math Colloquium that occurs every Tuesday from 11:30 am to 12:20 pm in the dining hall is a great way to learn about the research and internships students and alumni are doing within the various scientific fields.

According to Associate Professor of Mathematics, Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and colloquia organizer, Dr. Jill Jordan, speakers from a variety of disciplines and careers are invited to give presentations that are “purely research talks, some are more career-focused, some are about integrating faith in the workplace, etc.”

The goal of the colloquium is to communicate ideas within the scientific community. As Professor of Biology and Director of Pre-Health Professions, Dr. Jamie Potter, worded it, “advancements in scientific research are made in collaboration with one another. We build off of one another’s work… Students who attend have the opportunity to engage with the research and learn how science can be shared through oral communication.” The colloquium is open for everyone to attend, science and non-science majors alike. One non-science major who had the opportunity to experience a colloquium is Senior Jax Johnson. Commenting on their experience at the event, they said that “I found the colloquium I attended a great way to get a taste of scientific thought and ideas in a way that was both challenging and thought-provoking yet accessible.”

Even if you are in a science-related field, the colloquium is a great way for you to learn about the other fields. Senior Adora Colicci expressed her enjoyment of the colloquia. Specifically, she noted that her favorite thing about them is that they are “an opportunity for students to hear what alumni or science professionals outside of the Houghton bubble are doing in their fields… They introduce me to areas of science and mathematics that I don’t get to hear about very often.”

Senior Mary Vandenbosch, a future presenter at the colloquium, is a biology student who participated in an internship over the summer and hopes to share her experience with others. The internship she did was for the Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District. She collected and tested water samples, worked with farms to ensure the crops were growing correctly, investigated lands that were being converted back into wetlands, and did outreach and provided information for the communities to learn more about stream health and to learn more about the corporation for whom she worked. When talking about her experience, she stated, “I am hoping to shine a light on something that I am so passionate about. I would love for people to walk away with a new appreciation for the nature around them and how complex it is.”

Everyone has something to contribute to the scientific conversations. As Dr. Potter stated, “We all have gifts that could enhance the learning and discussion of the presentation. If we live in community and dialogue with one another, shouldn’t our research be shared and not only available to those in science?”★

The first time Doctor Jason Bintz, Houghton College’s new assistant professor of applied mathematics, attempted to visit the Houghton campus, he found himself snowbound. Fresh from a mild Tennessee winter, he arrived in Buffalo to learn that his ride from the college could not drive into the city. Bintz was ultimately forced to find a hotel room, and conducted the first part of his job interview over Skype. Happily, he made it to campus the next day, and was officially offered the position a few weeks later.

Despite the snowy introduction to Houghton, Bintz was thrilled accepted the offer.

“I was just leaving my house when I got the call,” said Bintz. “I went back inside, and celebrated with my family.”

Bintz began his career in higher education as an undergraduate student at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Like Houghton, Covenant is both a liberal arts college and a member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. Bintz graduated from the institution with a degree in mathematics in 2003, and immediately found work teaching high school math in nearby Chattanooga, Tennessee. Three years later, he decided to continue his education, but in a different field.

“In my time working with high school students, I felt called to seminary,” said Bintz. “I wanted to receive the same training a pastor receives.”

This new vocation led Bintz to the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, where he and his wife resided until his graduation in 2008. From there, Bintz returned to teaching math at the secondary level for one last year before he made the choice to pursue graduate work in applied mathematics at the University of Tennessee. He graduated with his Ph.D. this year.

“At the end of the day, I wanted to be in a college setting,” said Bintz.

During his time at the University of Tennessee, Bintz worked on two main projects in the area of mathematical biology. One attempted to find the best way to allocate resources in order to benefit a specific species, while the other involved building a mathematical model to evaluate the policies implemented by hospitals to reduce Clostridium difficile infections. Bintz remains interested in the broad range of mathematical applications for biology research, and hopes to eventually interest his students in this area.

According to Linda Mills Woolsey, Dean of the College and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Bintz’s work using math to support biology research, along with his abilities as an interdisciplinary thinker, helped tip the balance in his favor during the hiring process. Kristin Camenga, former chair of Houghton’s department of mathematics and computer science, as well as a member of the search committee that hired Bintz, echoes this sentiment.

“One of the things that impressed me about Jason is his care for people and his deep interest in subjects that cut across disciplinary lines,” she said. “The fact that he has a seminary degree and a Ph.D. in applied math gives him a broad base of knowledge to connect with others, but Jason did research to find out about other faculty at Houghton and their interests to discover commonalities. I really think he will be a great addition to the math faculty and the college at large!”

Bintz first met with the search committee from Houghton for a short interview in early January at the 2015 Joint Mathematics Meetings in San Antonio, Texas. They met once more during his February campus visit before Bintz was offered the job. While he had applied other places, Houghton was always his preference.

“I had a pretty strict profile in mind of where I wanted to be,” said Bintz. “Houghton was the only school that fit the profile, and the job was exactly what I wanted to do.” He adds that he is also excited for his wife and three children to experience the kind of community Houghton has to offer them as a family. “We’re really happy to be here.”

This semester, Bintz teaches Calculus I, Multi-Variable Calculus, and Probability and Statistics. His experience in his field, his commitment to his faith and family, and his enthusiasm about the college community all point to his being an excellent fit for Houghton.