Are you looking for the Fall 2023 Conference instead?

The 52^nd Annual Fall Conference will be held at Solano Community College on Nov 1-2, 2024 at Solano Community College. Please join us at the fall conference.

This year, we will break tradition and hold the fall conference at Solano Community College. Moving the fall conference to different colleges has many upsides: it will give our members the opportunity to show off their colleges, it will give attendees the opportunity to see other colleges, we can continue to keep costs low for conference attendees, we can change the date of the conference to be earlier in the semester, and we can really focus on the community aspect of the community colleges.

Regardless of where the conference is held, excellent speakers and great company are a constant.

Call for Presiders

Would you like to preside at one of the talks at the Conference? If so, offer to do so.

Call for Vendors

Would your business like to exhibit at the fall conference? If so, fill out the conference exhibitor form.

Conference Registration

Pre-registration is now open for the conference. You can use that link or the QR code show below to register for the conference. The deadline for pre-registration (and the Early Bird discount) is Sunday, October 20 at 11:59 p.m.

Hotel Reservations

Staybridge Suites by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton are about a mile from Solano Community College, and each has set aside blocks of rooms at $189 (plus taxes) for conference attendees (continental breakfast included). To obtain this conference rate you may use the links provided below or call the phone numbers listed below no later than October 1, ask for reservations, and request the group rate for the California Mathematics Council.

• Hotels

• Staybridge Suites (707) 863 – 0900
• Homewood Suites (707) 863 – 0300

Photo-realistic images generated by computers are now an integral part of our everyday lives, appearing in everything from movies and advertisements to art and education. While it's widely recognized that creating these images involves programming, it's less commonly known that much of this programming is grounded in mathematics—specifically, concepts typically covered in an undergraduate curriculum. In this talk, we'll explore the theory of path tracing, a method for generating images by simulating the behavior of millions of light rays as they interact with a scene. By leveraging tools from algebra, vector calculus, linear algebra, and probability theory, we'll gradually develop a realistic simulation, observing how the quality of our images improves at each step.

Steve Trettel is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of San Francisco, specializing in geometry and mathematical illustration. He divides his time between geometric topology and mathematical illustration, exploring how precise visualizations can inspire new mathematical conjectures and discoveries. Originally from Minnesota, Steve completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota before earning his PhD at UC Santa Barbara and conducting postdoctoral research at Stanford. Beyond his academic pursuits, Steve enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and especially a good bike ride.

What is math? Well, it's about setting up rules and playing out their logical consequences. And what are games? They're much the same. So why are games a universally beloved pastime, while math is... not? Our modest aim is to change all that. I'll share some classroom-ready favorites from my book Math Games with Bad Drawings, and reflect on how these games can welcome students into the mathematical community.

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Ben Orlin, a.k.a. "the Math with Bad Drawings guy" is the author of four books, including Math with Bad Drawings (2018) and Math for English Majors (2024). His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Popular Science, and the Los Angeles Times. He has taught middle and high school, and currently teaches at Saint Paul College.

Future CMC³ Conferences

Information about future conferences is available. For additional conference information, contact the Conference Chair. For registration information contact the Membership Chair