Conference Presentations
From Isaac Newton to Florence Nightingale: Monte Carlo Simulations in the Modern Math Classroom
This session explores how mathematics has evolved from a search for certainty to a study of uncertainty. Through side-by-side comparisons of traditional methods and Monte Carlo simulation, participants experience how randomness can be used to reveal structure and deepen understanding. Drawing on examples from geometry, calculus, and statistics—as well as real-world applications like disease modeling and sports analytics—the session demonstrates how simulation helps students connect mathematical theory to an uncertain, data-driven world.
Presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), October 2026, Denver, CO.
Math, Data, and Cognitive Bias: Educating Teens to Make Informed Decisions About Gambling
Legalized sports betting has introduced gambling into the daily lives of teenagers through social media, advertising, and mobile apps that place sportsbooks just a few taps away. This session examines how cognitive bias and misunderstanding probability lead young people to overestimate their chances of winning. Using real betting data and simple statistical models, the presentation demonstrates how sportsbooks structure bets to ensure long-term profits. The session explores how educators can use data science and probability to help students recognize these biases and make more informed decisions.
Presented at the International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking, May 2026, Las Vegas, NV.
Sports Gambling, Cognitive Bias, and Student-Athlete Mental Health
As sports betting becomes increasingly visible across athletics, student-athletes face growing exposure through social media, peer networks, and mobile betting apps. This session explores how cognitive bias and misunderstanding probability can lead athletes to overestimate their chances of winning and underestimate risk. Using real betting data and simple statistical models, the presentation demonstrates how sportsbooks structure bets to ensure long-term profitability and discusses how data literacy can help student-athletes make more informed decisions.
Presented at the Coalition of Athletic Communities for Mental Health (COACMH) Conference, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Sponsored by the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center.
Storytelling Meets Data: A Fresh Approach to Youth Gambling Prevention
This session explores how storytelling can be combined with data to create powerful youth gambling prevention messages. Drawing on classroom experience and real-world gambling data, the presentation demonstrates how narrative, supported by statistical insight, can help students better understand risk, probability, and cognitive bias. By blending storytelling with data visualization, educators can create prevention experiences that resonate with young audiences and encourage more informed decision-making.
Presented at the National Council on Problem Gambling Conference, July 2026, Nashville, TN.
Gambling Awareness & Cognitive Bias: Protecting College Students
As legalized sports betting spreads across college campuses, many students encounter gambling through social media, peer networks, and mobile betting apps. This presentation explores how cognitive bias and misunderstanding probability can lead students to overestimate their chances of winning. Using real betting data and simple statistical models, the session demonstrates how sportsbooks structure bets to ensure long-term profitability. Participants explore strategies educators and student-life leaders can use to help students recognize these biases and make more informed decisions.
Presented at the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Leadership & Values Central Conference, February 2026, Indianapolis, IN.
March Madness: A Data-Driven Exploration
This workshop will explore the iconic NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournaments (male and female). Our quest to fill out better brackets will drive us to use modeling, simulation, and AI to estimate win probabilities. By comparing our model’s output to the picks of the general public, we will identify bias and inefficiencies in the market. Tableau will be used to create dynamic data visualizations allowing users to discover the most valuable picks. Teachers will leave the session with a customizable lesson plan that can be adjusted to meet the demands of their students. Presented at the National Teachers of Mathematics Conference (NCTM), September 2024, Chicago, IL, Denver's Fox 31 News Story 3/19/25
The Rise of the Robo-Umpire in Major League Baseball
In this session, we will take raw pitch data from the 2024 World Series and develop a robo-umpire capable of calling balls and strikes with precision. The accuracy of the human umpires will be analyzed, and the cost of their mistakes will be quantified. We’ll explore the potential consequences of replacing a human with a robot, and search for a solution in which AI will improve human performance rather than replace it. Presented at the Academic Data Science Alliance (ADSA) at the University of Michigan's Institute for Data and A.I. in Society, October 2024, Ann Arbor, MI
The NBA's Search for Efficiency
In 1979 the NBA added the 3 point line, changing the game of basketball forever. In this session, we will utilize 20 years worth of raw shot data to depict the NBA's evolution as team's search for the most efficient way to allocate their possessions. Presented at DataCated 2021. link