Posters

Students will work in small groups to produce a poster for presentation toward the end of semester.  Here are examples of student math posters.  You will research a topic related to the course.

What’s on a poster (TL;DR version):

  • It must be done with LaTeX  using Overleaf
  • A title and authors
  • An abstract (summary)
  • Original human-generated written content explaining the material (no AI-generated or copied text)
  • Figures and tables (AI assistance is optional)
  • Mathematical equations (using LaTeX)
  • A bibliography
  • Acknowledgements if you seek advice from a professor or any other help 
  • AI Usage Statement 

Schedule:

  • (Deadline: Wed Oct 14th) Submission of a plan:  title, abstract (summary), list of group expectations.  
  • (Deadline: Fri Nov 6th) First draft of the poster, on which we will give feedback (this should be a complete draft in LaTeX).
  • (Deadline: Fri Nov 13th) Final version. And report of work.
  • Presentation.  Spread out through last weeks of class. 5 min presentation per group

What is a Poster Plan?

You will submit to a canvas dropbox the following:

  1. The title of your poster (which is also the topic)
  2. Abstract (summary of what will be on your poster, 3-5 sentences)
  3. One or two references that you will use.
  4. Group Expectations:  you will go through the following list of groupwork issues as a group, then submit a very brief summary, indicating who has what responsibilities, and how you plan to proceed, making note of anything you think is important (a few sentences).
    1. Agree on what task each person will take responsibility on (…setting up a shared document, submitting things to canvas, editing, write/research different parts, images, latex, coding…).  This can change later, but try to plan now.  It can help to have a designated person “in charge” of larger shared tasks, who can be “taskmaster” for that aspect.
    2. Set up a way to communicate (e.g. discord, email, text).
    3. Set up a meeting plan (dates, times, places).
    4. Set up expectation about times to reply to messages.
    5. Agree on professional and respectful conduct.

Honor Code:

The goal of the writing assignment is to dig deeper into a topic of interest to you, and write up a survey of the topic. It is exceedingly important that you write from your understanding, not from your sources. So you may read and take notes to understand your topic, but all your materials, including your notes, must be closed during your writing periods.  Not following this rule is a violation of the Honor Code. See also the AI usage policy below.

AI usage policy:

No one is required to use AI. However, every poster requires an AI Usage Statement (see below). Many AI uses are allowed (listing below). AI-generated content is not allowed, however. The writing must be your own, and AI outlining at the paragraph or sentence level is not allowed. This is the most important learning aspect of the poster, and you should not hand off the cognitive load to AI. See the Honor Code statement above, concerning writing.

AI Usage Statement:

Here is a template adapted from Princeton:

This document (was/was not) created with assistance from AI tools. Specifically, I used [insert which AI tool] for [insert purpose: see listing below]. I have reviewed and edited this work and have retained records of our generative AI use. For more information on the extent and nature of AI usage, please contact us.

Listing of allowed purposes:

  1. Brainstorming (chatting with AI to get ideas of cool topics and things to learn and investigate)
  2. Researching the topic (this means finding sources; like a search engine)
  3. Learning material (this means using it as a personal tutor to explain ideas and answer questions)
  4. LaTeXing (this means either learning LaTeX or asking AI to LaTeX equations for you)
  5. Creating diagrams and tables (describing what you want in a prompt, and using the output)
  6. Formatting and graphic design (for creating or adjusting a poster template, placing elements on the poster, formatting text and citations etc.)
  7. High-level outlining (outlining material to cover, at the SECTION or TOPIC level.)
  8. Proof-reading (asking AI to report to you any errors, including math errors and typos and false statements; do not request or accept replacement text suggestions)
  9. Other purposes you obtain permission from me for (just ask me).

You are not allowed to use AI for writing or outlining at a low-level (paragraph or sentence level) or revising (getting AI rephrasings of your sentences for example).

You must retain your AI prompts and responses, whether chats or images etc., and turn these in with your poster.

Resources for a Poster:

Examples of Posters:

Grading:

The poster project must be done in groups of three people. Each student must submit an assignment (individually).

Rubric (15 points)

  • 5 points for completion of the poster and make it to each deadline with your original writing (no copying or AI; see AI Usage above).
  • 5 points for the content on the poster
    • Was it well researched and cited?
    • Written exposition
  • 5 points for the presentation 
    • State clear motivation and ideas
    • Communication skills
    • Stick to time limit please!

Finding a Topic:

  • Quanta Magazine cryptography articles — news in the math side of cryptography.  Look into new or old developments on the math side.  These are very accessible articles that will lead you on to a topic that you’ll have to go into in more depth.
  • An Introduction to Mathematical Cryptography — an accessible undergrad text with lots of further info on many topics we will touch on or related topics.  (Available via SpringerLink from the link above while on campus.)  Look up something you find interesting in the course and browse the chapter it’s in, to find a way to take it further.
  • An Illustrated Theory of Numbers — a lovely book about introductory number theory; anything that takes our number theory beyond what we did in class is fair game!
  • Hacker News — effects of cryptography in the real world.  Look into what caused a recent hack or news item and what math is behind it.  You’ll have to hunt down the math behind these items.
  • Trappe and Washington — A very accessible intro textbook.
  • The Code Book — A popular account of the fun history of cryptography.  Any/all of this can be the jumping off point for something cool.
  • Some general topics to get your brain flowing (I can provide more ideas and resources):
    • efficient matrix multiplication and linear algebra on computers
    • double-and-add chains
    • pseudo random number generators
    • distribution of prime numbers
    • other factoring algorithms
    • other quantum key distribution algorithms
    • cryptanalysis of Vigenere cipher
    • old ciphers and how they were broken
    • continued fractions
    • efficient gcd algorithms
    • fast fourier transform
    • hash functions based on random graphs
    • rainbow tables
    • SSH handshake
    • distribution of cryptography usage on the web
    • coding theory for NASA spacecraft
    • cryptography based on coding theory
    • sieving (e.g. quadratic sieve)
    • …