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- John Adam
- Professor
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics
- 2113 Engr and Comp Sci Bldg
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Norfolk,
VA
23529
- 757-683-3694
- jadam@odu.edu
- Web Page
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Education
- University College,
1975
- Major: Theoretical Astrophysics/Applied Mathematics
- Degree: Ph. D.
- Queen Elizabeth College, University of London,
1971
- Major: Theoretical Physics
- Degree: B.S.
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Research Interests
- Mathematical Theory of Waves; Magnetohydrodynamic Waves and Stability in Astrophysics; Spectral Theory of Singular Ordinary
Differential Equations Arising in Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Modeling, especially in the context
of cancer biology, and wound healing in bone, Meteorological Optics
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Books
- Adam, J. A. Rays, Waves and Scattering: Topics in Classical Mathematical Physics. Princeton University Press.
- Adam, J. A. (2009). A Mathematical Nature Walk. Princeton University Press.
- Adam, J. A., and Weinstein, L. B. (2008). Guesstimation - Solving the World's Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin. Princeton University Press.
- Adam, J. A., and Weinstein, L. B. (2008). Guesstimation - Solving the World's Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin. Princeton University Press.
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Book Chapters
- Adam, J. A. A Mathematical City Walk.. Princeton University Press.
- Adam, J. A. (2008). Mathematics in Nature, Readings in Mathematics.. Springer.
- Adam, J. A., and Weinstein, L. B. (2008). Guesstimation - Solving the World's Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin.. Princeton University Press.
- Vermolen, F. J., van Rossum, W. G., Javierre, E., and Adam, J. A. (2007). Modeling of self-healing of skin tissue. In:Self-healing materials: An alternative approach to 20 centuries of materials science.. Springer.
- Adam, J. A. (2006). Mathematics in Nature: Modeling Patterns in the Natural World.. Princeton University Press.
- Adam, J. A. (2005). Instructor's Manual for Mathematics in Nature: Modeling Patterns in the Natural World.. Princeton University Press.
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Articles
- Adam, J. A., Sokolowski, J. A., and Banks, C. M. (2009). A two-population insurgency in Colombia: Quasi-predator-prey models - A trend towards simplicity. Mathematical & Computer Modeling, 49, (pp. 1115-1126).
- Adam, J. A. (2008). Rainbow, geometrical optics, and a generalization of a result of Huygens. Applied Optics, 47, (pp. H11-H13).
- Adam, J. A., and Laven, P. (2007). On rainbows from inhomogeneous transparent spheres: A ray-theoretic approach. Applied Optics, 46, (pp. 922-929).
- Adam, J. A., Vermolen, F., and van Baaren, E. (2006). A simplified model for growth factor induced healing of circular wounds. Mathematical & Computer Modeling, 44, (pp. 887-898).
- Adam, J. A. (2005). Flowers of ice - beauty, symmetry, and complexity: A review of The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty. Notices of the American Mathematical Society, 52 (4), (pp. 402-416).
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Presentations
- "Guestimation, Fermi Problems and the Goldilocks Principle, and Mathematical Patterns in Nature
- Sponsoring Organization: Math/Science Innovation Center
- Location: Richmond, Virginia
- Date: June, 2010
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- "On the existence of single and twin primary zero-order rainbows in radially inhomogeneous spheres
- Conference Name: St. Mary's College
- Sponsoring Organization: St. Mary's College
- Location: St. Mary's City, MD
- Date: June, 2010
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- "A Mathematical Nature Walk
- Conference Name: Philips Exeter Academy
- Sponsoring Organization: Philips Exeter Academy
- Location: Exeter, NH
- Date: June, 2010
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Fermi problems and estimation: The power of arithmetic: the Goldilocks Principle and the geometric mean
- Sponsoring Organization: Noblis Inc
- Location: Falls Church
- Date: June, 2010
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- "A Mathematical Nature Walk"
- Sponsoring Organization: Utah Valley University
- Location: Oren, Utah
- Date: March, 2010
- Authors/Presenters:
- Mathematical Paterns in Nature
- Sponsoring Organization: Pi-Mu-Epsilon Math Honor Society
- Location: Newport News
- Date: March, 2010
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical patterns in nature
- Conference Name: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
- Sponsoring Organization: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Date: February, 2010
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Noticing mathematical patterns in nature
- Conference Name: NILD (National Institute for Learning Development
- Sponsoring Organization: NILD (National Institute for Learning Development
- Location: Lancaster, PA
- Date: December, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Fermi problems, guesstimation and the Goldilocks principle
- Conference Name:
- Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Date: 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Noticing nature's wonderful patterns
- Conference Name:
- Location: Nofolk, VA
- Date: November, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- "Waves" of healing, the critical size defect and keloid scars: Some speculation
- Conference Name: Technical University of Delft
- Sponsoring Organization: Technical University of Delft
- Location: Netherlands
- Date: October, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- A mathematical nature walk
- Conference Name:
- Location: Midlothian, VA
- Date: October, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical patterns in nature
- Conference Name: Hooks Book Events (Bethesda, MD)
- Sponsoring Organization: Hooks Book Events (Bethesda, MD)
- Location: Falls Church, VA
- Date: September, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Guesstimation, fermi problems and the Goldilocks principle
- Conference Name:
- Location: Newport News, VA
- Date: August, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Guesstimation
- Conference Name: Broward College
- Sponsoring Organization: Broward College
- Location: Davie, Florida
- Date: April, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Guesstimation
- Conference Name: CNU
- Sponsoring Organization: CNU
- Date: March, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical models of bird eggs: a case study for Calculus III students
- Conference Name:
- Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Date: March, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Using mathematical models of bird eggs as a 'case study' across the Calculus syllabus (I,II,III)
- Conference Name: Florida Gulf Coast University
- Sponsoring Organization: Florida Gulf Coast University
- Location: Ft. Myers, FL
- Date: February, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Guesstimation, fermi problems and the Goldilocks principle
- Conference Name:
- Date: January, 2009
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical patterns in nature
- Conference Name:
- Location: Washington, DC
- Date: November, 2008
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- A "toy" ODE model for the onset of cancer, and guesstimation: Orders of magnitude and the Goldilock's principle
- Conference Name: UVA
- Sponsoring Organization: UVA
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Date: May, 2008
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Patterns in nature
- Conference Name: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
- Sponsoring Organization: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
- Location: Greenbelt, MD
- Date: May, 2008
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical patterns in nature
- Sponsoring Organization: Mathematics Department, VCU
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Date: April, 2008
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical patterns in nature
- Sponsoring Organization: Department of Mathematics, William and Mary
- Location: Williamsburg, VA
- Date: April, 2008
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical models for wound healing on a hemi-spherical calvarium: The critical size defect
- Conference Name:
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
- Date: March, 2008
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Noah's arc: Asin in the sky
- Conference Name: Montana State University
- Sponsoring Organization: Montana State University
- Location: Bozeman, Montana
- Date: June, 2007
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematics in nature
- Conference Name:
- Location: Hampton, VA
- Date: April, 2007
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- The rainbow: Portraits in art, culture and science
- Sponsoring Organization: Philips Exeter Academy
- Location: New Hampshire
- Date: April, 2007
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Patterns in nature
- Sponsoring Organization: Zion Council Arts and Humanities Council
- Location: Springdale, Utah
- Date: March, 2007
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Patterns in nature
- Conference Name: University of Nevada
- Sponsoring Organization: University of Nevada
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Date: March, 2007
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematics in nature
- Conference Name: Virginia Beach Higher Education Center
- Sponsoring Organization: Virginia Beach Higher Education Center
- Date: November, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematics in nature
- Conference Name: Virginia Beach Higher Education Center
- Sponsoring Organization: Virginia Beach Higher Education Center
- Date: November, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematics - its beauty, power and applicability: Elementary examples from nature and life
- Sponsoring Organization: Aerospace Engineering Department, Old Dominion University
- Location: Norfolk, VA
- Date: November, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematics - its beauty, power and applicability: Elementary examples from nature and life
- Conference Name: Phillips Exeter Academy
- Sponsoring Organization: Phillips Exeter Academy
- Location: Exeter, NH
- Date: June, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- A simplified mathematical model for growth factor induced wound healing
- Conference Name:
- Location: Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, VA
- Date: April, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- On rainbows from inhomogeneous transparent spheres: A ray-theoretic approach
- Conference Name:
- Location: Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, VA
- Date: April, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Nature's beauty: Some reflections and refractions
- Conference Name: St. Mary's College of Maryland
- Sponsoring Organization: St. Mary's College of Maryland
- Date: March, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Patterns in nature
- Conference Name:
- Location: Portsmouth, VA
- Date: February, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Patterns in nature
- Sponsoring Organization: Lakewood Gardening Club
- Location: Norfolk, VA
- Date: February, 2006
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Rainbows, halos and glories
- Sponsoring Organization: Jones Magnet Middle School Planetarium
- Location: Hampton, Virginia
- Date: June, 2005
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Patterns around us - life at the base of the atmosphere
- Conference Name: ODU
- Sponsoring Organization: ODU
- Date: May, 2005
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical models in cancer biology: Philosophy, methodology, utility and limitations
- Conference Name: National Cancer Institute
- Sponsoring Organization: National Cancer Institute
- Location: Berkeley, CA
- Date: May, 2005
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Modeling nature's patterns
- Conference Name: CNU
- Sponsoring Organization: CNU
- Location: Newport News, Virginia
- Date: May, 2005
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical patterns in nature: Some general notions
- Conference Name: Elizabeth City State University
- Sponsoring Organization: Elizabeth City State University
- Date: April, 2005
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- Mathematical patterns in nature: Some theoretical concepts
- Conference Name: Elizabeth City State University
- Sponsoring Organization: Elizabeth City State University
- Date: April, 2005
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- "Patterns in Nature"
- Sponsoring Organization: Institute for Learning in Retirement at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center
- Location: Virginia Beach Higher Ed Center
- Date: February, 2005
- Authors/Presenters:
Adam, J. A.
- 1999: Designated University Professor, Old Dominion University
- 1990: Gene W. Hirschfeld Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service, Old Dominion University
- Mathematics and Statistics Professional/Scholarly Award, Association of American Publishers
- 2004: Outstanding Academic Title (Mathematics in Nature: Modeling Patterns in the Natural World), Choice
- 2007: Outstanding Faculty Award for the State of Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia
- 2009: Outstanding Faculty Members, Old Dominion University
- Listed in "American Men and Women of Science"
- Fullbright Scholar