Jan Figa
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College
University Library
Research Specialty
My research is broad and deep within STEAM and the Digital Humanities: 1) Catastrophe Theory and Gaming: Understanding recovery & reconstruction (e.g., US civil war); 2) E-Science Clearinghouses: Analyzing and curating Big Data sets (e.g., doctoral prelim tests in math); 3) Educational Reform: At the intersection of Early Math Educators and Math Wars; 4) Mapping College President's Speeches, Strategic Plans and Accreditation Reports: discovery of common and distinctive features through linguistical and temporal analysis; 5) Visualization Across the Disciplines (VAC): A--Visual Mapping Mathematical Theory of Storytelling—Storytelling forms the human bond that shapes learning, behavior and culture. Modern mathematical treatment is lacking in this fundamental area. A desirable outcome is a representational theory using time, distance, events, morphology and chaos to categorize, analyze and generate stories. B: Mapping Equations—Textual mapping across disciplines significantly enhances our ability to solve problems in one or both spheres. This project seeks to categorize, associate, and map equations across disciplines. C: Visualization of Iterative Maps—Linear analysis of systems in fluid mechanics yields a constraint equation called a dispersion relation. The solution to this equation yields complex roots that if color-coded by accuracy highlight basins of attraction, and for particularly "sensitive" equations suggest a "fractal nature" of the dispersion relation. D: Visual Navigation of Engineering Disciplines—Visual non-hierarchical search based on textual input as applied to equations within the engineering disciplines; 6) Art Projects Project 1: Catalog and preserve first run book covers and original unique prints by Frederick W. Gookin. An illustrated booklet giving new insight into Gookin’s life and journey into Japanese color prints. Project 2: Document, catalog and conserve an extensive Japanese design archive dating from the late Edo to early Showa periods (roughly 1800 to 1939). The collection consists of original source materials, including woodblock pattern books, artisans' sketchbooks, dye samples, fabric stencils and preparatory drawings for kimono and other textiles. The project juxtaposes Japanese design during the Taisho period (1912 to 1926) with actual garments; 7) ...and now for the real fun...Writing Projects: My short stories, hint stories, novellas and plays are allegory-driven within the general genres of historical fiction, science fiction, crime, and children stories in the spirit of Alfred Döblin, Daniil Charms, and H. C. Andersen...and a little bit of Gonzo.
Methodology Specialty
GSD
Role
Dean of the University Library