THE FELLOWS - Jefferson Scholars Foundation

the fellowsJameson Graber, the Trey Beck Fellow (Mathematics), discusses control theory in acoustic systems.tion. In privileging this interstitialdiscourse — the language ofcultural abjection — Loy adoptsboth the formal and ideologicalunderpinnings of Fountain’srelationship to excreta in orderto create a new model for poeticproductivity and the figure ofthe enduring artist.p. jamesongrabermathematical Analysisof Structural AcousticSystemsThe purpose of this talk is toexplain how mathematics cancontribute to the study of areal-world engineering problem,namely that of stabilizing anacoustic chamber (e.g., airplanefuselage). I will begin by explainingthe physical scenario — anacoustic chamber with “noise”affecting acoustic pressure —which engineers wish to control(i.e., protect system from damageor other unwanted effectsof noise). The core of my presentationis to explain how theparticular area of mathematicscalled control theory is used toanalyze this system. I will summarizethe basic philosophy ofcontrol theory in a three-stepprocess: modeling the physicalphenomena using a system ofpartial differential equations,studying the properties of thenew mathematical problem, and,finally, altering the model inorder to obtain desired behavior(e.g., to obtain or enhance stability).Having explained the basicphilosophy of control theory, Iwill show how we apply it inthe case of structural acousticsystems. I will present the differentialequations model that Iam studying, explain what propertiesof the model need to bedemonstrated mathematically,and then describe the controlmethods hoped for in this model.Finally, I will give a qualitative(non-technical) description ofthe mathematical techniques Iuse to contribute to our understandingof structural acousticsystems.jenifer m.guimond“greening”OperationsStrategy: ALife CycleApproachIn today’s businessenvironment,“green” initiativesare beginning topermeate operationsstrategyacross industries.Companiesthat have embraceda lifecycle approach tooperations are recognizingthat economic successis reliant on more than justtraditional profitability andthat a firm’s stakeholder baseconsists of more than shareholders.Employees, communities,and the environment representadditional stakeholders thatcontribute to long-term sustainablefirm success. A life cycleapproach to operations allowsan organization to evaluatethe benefits, risks, and costs ofa product or technology frominception to end of life use, andultimately to the reuse of productcomponents. It ensures thatbusinesses are thinking aboutoperations in the larger contextof long-term sustainability. Inaddition, life cycle–based operationsand sustainable businesspractices can lead to processimprovement, product innovation,and increased profitability.In evaluating the value added bygreen operations and strategicsustainability initiatives, the lifecycle view can offer a method ofunderstanding how cost tradeoffsinteract with one another11