The Frank & Lisa Richards Mathematics Lecture Series is scheduled to host Dr. Beth Malmskog on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. The lecture, titled To Err is Unavoidable, to Correct is Mathematical: Fixing Communications Failure with Math, will take place at 7:00 p.m. in Elizabeth Hall, Room 229.
Dr. Malmskog is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science at Colorado College. Her research has received support from the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency. She focuses on expanding mathematical opportunity through research collaboration, teaching, and outreach.
The presentation will explore error-correcting codes, which are mathematical objects used to build redundancy into stored or transmitted information. These codes allow for the detection and correction of errors in digital life, including satellites, cloud storage, and UPC symbols. The talk will cover active research areas such as code-based cryptography and locally recoverable codes. No advanced mathematical background is required to attend, as the discussion relies on elementary arithmetic and basic algebra.
The lecture series is open to the public, including faculty, staff, and students. The series is named after Dr. Franklin and Lisa Richards; Frank Richards is a professor emeritus of Weber State University Mathematics.
