The Edge of the Infinite: Mathematics in God’s Creation

By Julie Kjeer, Professor of Mathematics/Dean of Faculty

The intricate geometry of a snowflake, the self-similarity of fern branches, and the vast expanse of a coastline bordering an immense ocean all captivate us with their beauty and mystery. Beneath their surface lies a profound truth: these wonders are united by mathematical patterns that reflect the order, creativity, and design of their Maker.

Siri Did Not Grow Thumbs

By Angie Johnson, Associate Professor of English
I thought ChatGPT marked the death of the written word, too. After listening to the podcast, I found myself trapped in a digital echo chamber of despair, and I stayed there for five long months.

The Incarnation of an Artwork

By Jason Jaspersen, Associate Professor of Studio Art

The beginning of an artwork is in the mind of the artist. The artist may have an inspiring experience such as realizing the beautiful light in a place or watching quiet generosity unfold. The artist is lovingly impressed by such moments. A lived moment can catch the attention of an artist igniting a desire to share the experience with others.

A Brief Post-Mortem on Zoom Classrooms

By Brian Klebig, Professor of Communication

Do you remember the misery of constant Zoom meetings? 2020 seems like a long time ago and yet that particular part of the wound still feels pretty fresh. Why is it that in a meeting where you were sitting in your comfy chair just looking at a screen it was so exhausting and demoralizing? Why did your students, who pretty much only had to exist in the area of a computer with a camera and speaker, find this to be such a difficult thing to do?

Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1

By Ann Fredrickson, Adjunct Faculty in Music

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was, by all accounts, a golden boy. Equally adept at composition, piano, and violin, he also excelled at chess, poetry, painting, sports, languages, and philosophy. It didn’t hurt that he was also rich and handsome. Born into a Jewish banking family, Mendelssohn’s father had converted to Christianity (Lutheran!) by the time Felix was born.

Glossophobia

By Jon Loging, Associate Professor of Communication

In comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s classic 1998 routine, “I’m Telling You For the Last Time,” he talks about how a study showed the number one fear Americans had was speaking in public. Death was number two! His punchline for the bit was, “If you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

Luther, Gerhardt, and Kingo
By Benjamin Faugstad, Associate Professor of Music

Have you ever heard of “The Three B’s of Classical Music” – Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms? These three composers represent a span of 250 years, encompassing the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music periods, respectively. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) created incredible works, such as his Brandenburg Concertos, St. Matthew Passion, The Well-Tempered Clavier, and Cello Suites, to name a few.

Chemistry and High Fashion
By Eric Woller, Professor of Chemistry

It’s late 1857 in London. You’ve settled down in the reading room of your Piccadilly mansion to enjoy a cup of tea and read the latest edition of the Illustrated London News. When you get to the fashion section, you cannot believe what you read. Described is an account of Empress Eugénie (wife of Napoleon III) arriving at a Parisian ball wearing a purple dress! Purple! Knowing her current preference for crinolines, the amount of purple dye needed to color this amount of fabric must have cost a small fortune, probably a large fortune!