Please join us Friday at 3 PM in 103A Walker Hall to hear Dr. Weighill speak on...
The Geometry of Gerrymandering
Abstract: It will soon be time for almost every U.S. state to draw a new set of Congressional districts. Mathematicians studying the redistricting process have recently developed ensemble methods to judge the quality of proposed or enacted plans. These methods involve generating an ensemble consisting of thousands or even millions of alternative redistricting plans. In this talk, I will show how to line up all the plans in such an ensemble using a kind of geometric average called a barycenter. This alignment reveals new insights into how human geography and politics affect the way districts look in each state. This is joint work with Tom Needham from Florida State University.
If you are unable to attend in person, a limited number of people will be able to attend via zoom. Contact one of the colloquium coordinators (Kristen Rowland, Nadun Dissanayake).