Happy Pi Day (3/14)! Celebrate this captivating constant by reading some books on pi from our collection. There’s a book for every kind of pi fan.  

For the curious newcomer 

Π: a biography of the world’s most mysterious number by Alfred S. Posamentier & Ingmar Lehmann  

Written for non-mathematicians, the book aims to entertain while enhancing mathematical literacy. It invites readers to appreciate the beauty and intrigue of pi, transcending its simple numerical representation. Prepare to be amused by quirky examples of people’s fascination with pi. Did you know that there was even an attempt to legislate its exact value? The book uncovers such delightful anecdotes. 

The Pleasures of Pi,e and other interesting numbers by Yeo Adrian 

This book offers a delightful blend of mathematical exploration, historical context, and enjoyable storytelling. Whether you’re a math lover or someone who once dreaded math class, this book promises an engaging experience!  

For the mathematics enthusiast 

Visions of Infinity: The Great Mathematical Problems by Ian Stewart 

In this illuminating exploration, you’ll encounter historical enigmas like Fermat’s last theorem, which took centuries to crack, and the Poincaré conjecture, pivotal in understanding three-dimensional shapes. While some problems yield to modern techniques, others remain tantalizingly unsolved. 

An Equation for Every Occasion: fifty-two formulas and why they matter by John M. Henshaw 

From the famous E = mc² to lesser-known equations like those determining sunscreen SPF, this book reveals the power and utility of math, making it an entertaining read for anyone curious about the far-reaching impact of mathematics. 

For the mathematical historian 

Mathematician William Jones made geometry class easier with the use of the symbol “π” to represent the number then known as Archimedes Constant or even as “quantitas in quam cum multiflicetur diameter, proveniet circumferencia (the quantity which, when the diameter is multiplied by it, yields the circumference)”. The use of the symbol was popularized by influential mathematician Leonhard Euler. Learn more about Euler with these books: 

 

Leonhard Euler by Emil A. Fellmann 

Read about the life and times of this prodigiously productive mathematician. Follow his work from Basel to Petersburg to Berlin and learn about the people and places who shaped this man, who in turn shaped our modern world. 

Dr. Euler’s Fabulous Formula Cures Many Mathematical Ills by Paul J. Nahin 

This book shares the fascinating story of a groundbreaking formula that has long been regarded as the gold standard for mathematical beauty. This formula continues to inspire research, discussion, and even the occasional limerick. The book delves into the heart of complex number theory, exploring the many applications of complex numbers alongside intriguing stories from the history of mathematics. 

You can find these books and more in a special Pi Day display on the main floor of the Engineering Library. Drop by and check one out!  

And don’t worry, we’ve planned something special for after the break, too. Join us on March 18 for our Pi Day celebration. We will have individually wrapped apple pie bites (available while supplies last) and you can join us between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Seamans Center Student Commons to make your own zoetrope! 

Every four years, the Gregorian calendar gives us an interesting phenomenon called a “leap year.” The result? Countries that follow the Gregorian calendar end up with an extra day on the calendar: Feb. 29.

So why does this chronological quirk hit every four years? It actually takes Earth 365.242190 days to orbit the sun, leaving an “overflow” of five hours and 49 minutes. As Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, told NPR, “…that .242190 days to go around the sun is the entire reason why we have a leap year.”

The Gregorian calendar we use today began by papal decree in 1582, and the first Leap Day took place in 1584. In London in 1751, Aaron Hawkins wrote a pamphlet explaining the mathematical basis for the leap year and the need to make up for the five hours and 49 minutes that go uncounted in an ordinary year. 

Both the 16th-century pope and his 18th-century champion were unknowingly preventing a headache for future computer scientists, who now benefit from their precision when programming systems.

Now to shake things up a bit: leap years don’t always occur every four years. The rules are actually slightly more complicated:

• If the year is evenly divisible by four, it is a leap year, unless
• …the year is also evenly divisible by 100, in which case it is not a leap year, unless
• …the same year is also divisible by 400, in which case it is a leap year.

This means that programmers have to create a leap year function that takes a single integral argument (the year) and determines whether the year is a leap year. If programmers did not take this into account when setting up systems, it would throw off entire programs every four years, with a cumulative effect over time. 

In theory, the need for leap years is not limited to Earth; if humanity ever settles on Mars, for example, we’ll have to hash things out all over again. But our calendar says that’s a problem for another day.

We had a fantastic time trying out all the new fairways at the teams created for the Engineering Open on Friday, Feb 23. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who joined us! Whether or not you took home one of our 3D-printed trophies, you’re all champions to us, and this tradition is definitely here to stay.

 

The 2024 winners were:

1^st place: Lichtenberger Engineering Library

2^nd place: Continental Crossings

3^rd place: Mechanical Engineering

People’s Choice: Continental Crossings & Civil Engineering

 

Special thanks to our sponsors, College of Engineering NEXUS, Engineering Technology Center (Machine Shop & Electronic Shop), and the Lichtenberger Engineering Library.

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Read-and-Publish Agreement for Open Access Continuity

The University of Iowa Libraries is pleased to announce the extension of the Read-and-Publish agreement with the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) for three more years (now effective through Dec. 31, 2026). Through the agreement, all corresponding authors affiliated with the University of Iowa will have their research articles published open access in perpetuity in ACM journals, conference proceedings, and magazines, at no cost to the authors. In addition, the university community will continue to receive unlimited and unrestricted access to all content in the ACM Digital Library.

What should UI corresponding authors consider when assigning publication rights to ACM?

Since ACM already terminated transfer of copyright, authors will retain all rights to their work. UI corresponding authors should choose the “Institutional Paid Open Access/Permissions Release” option. This “Permissions Release” option means that a corresponding author agrees to grant ACM non-exclusive permission to publish their work in the ACM Digital Library and make it open access.

If you embrace the idea of sharing and distributing knowledge, we recommend using a Creative Commons license on the published version of your work. A Creative Commons license enables others to share and use your work provided that attribution is given to you, the author. For more information about a Creative Commons license, check out ACM’s Creative Commons Licensing Options.

How many research articles were made open access by UI corresponding authors from 2021–2023?

A total of 30 articles, including 24 conference proceedings and 6 journal articles, were open access during the period of 2021–2023. Two thirds of these corresponding authors were from computer science, but it’s exciting to see that faculty, students, staff and researchers in education, engineering, business, and geography are more frequently publishing with ACM. All these articles are now showcased within the featured collection of “UI Libraries Support Open Access” in the Iowa Research Online (UI’s institutional repository).

To learn about another open access agreement, this time from the Royal Society of Chemistry, check out this blog post.

Welcome back! We’re happy to see you again. Here are a few events you can get involved in this semester with the Engineering Library: 

Join a team today for the Engineering Open: Mini Golf Design Challenge!  

The Mini Golf Design Challenge is back! Get creative and join a design team to build a mini golf hole themed around your team’s interest. The event will take place on the afternoon of Friday, Feb.23.  Sign-ups to be on a team are now open.  Individuals who are looking to be on a team can fill out the form here to sign up and be organized by department to work on a fairway. We will have up to 12 fairways in total, six fairways for each of the six departments, plus six additional groups and teams. The additional fairways are for university-recognized clubs and groups that are affiliated with the College of Engineering. If you are affiliated with a club or team and would like to build a fairway, please email lib-engineering@uiowa.edu with your organization’s name and team members. Team space is limited and first come, first served.   

Begin a new venture in the new year! 

Unlock the power of collaboration by joining our two-hour speed-networking event tailored for aspiring innovators and budding entrepreneurs. Whether you’re studying business, computer science, or engineering, this is your chance to connect with like-minded undergraduate students. Bring your entrepreneurial spirit and ideas, or simply showcase your expertise – everyone is welcome! Just bring a passion for innovation and a desire to find potential business partners. Let’s create synergies that could shape the future of entrepreneurship together! This event is sponsored by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) and the Lichtenberger Engineering Library. Sign up to reserve your spot today. 

Pop-Up Workshops 

Give your brain a break and get creative for a few minutes with monthly themed crafts. These activities should only take you about 10-20 minutes to complete. Stop by at any time during the two hours, to take a break and let your creative juices flow.   

Due to inclement weather the Engineering Library will be closed today (1/9/2024). If you need to get in touch with us please email lib-engineering@uiowa.edu.

Stay safe!