Math Major Paris Lewis was selected as one of the featured speaker in the 2026 Spring Research Slam. This event took place on D.H. Hill Jr. Library on Tuesday, March 10.

In the study of mathematics, even a minute variation in initial conditions can lead to vastly different outcomes—a phenomenon known as chaos. Paris’s current research focuses on developing a framework to distinguish between inherent environmental randomness and deterministic chaos. This work provides a more accurate lens for predicting complex systems in our often messy, real-world data.

How do we differentiate between “noise” and true chaos? – Paris is addressing this challenge by creating a new methodology to understand forecast errors in complex populations. By accounting for real-world randomness that traditional models often ignore,  this research enhances our ability to predict outcomes in everything from biology to economics.

Paris research was done during the Summer REU. We applaud Paris for representing the Department of Mathematics so well!

What is the Research Slam? A selection of talented undergraduate researchers are challenged to share their projects and creative works to a lay audience in five minutes, using only five slides.