Groundhog  Day
2023

OxFilm Oxford, MS

with

Don Cole, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Mathematics

Groundhog Day— A finite talk about infinity

In this talk, Dr. Cole discusses the Mathematical concept of infinity, including the history, symbols and applications in higher Mathematics.

OxFilm Oxford, MS

Film Synopsis

A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.

Director Harold Ramis’s offbeat modern comedy classic tells the story of Phil Connors (Bill Murray), an arrogant, self-centered TV weatherman, assigned to cover the groundhog's annual appearance in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It's his fourth year waiting on word from the rodent to determine the length of the remaining winter, and Phil couldn't be more open about his disdain for the town, his job, and his co-workers. When he awakens on what should be the following day, he inexplicably finds himself stuck in a time loop, dooming him to repeat his most hated day of the year, over and over again, until he finally gets things right.

About the Speaker

Dr. Cole earned master’s degrees in mathematics from both the State University of New York and the University of Michigan, and returned to complete a Ph.D. in mathematics from UM in 1985. After graduation, he worked in the aerospace industry in Fort Worth, Texas, then as a mathematics professor at Florida A&M. He was asked to return again to the University of Mississippi, this time as assistant dean in the Graduate School and associate professor of mathematics. He returned in 1993 and worked at UM until his retirement in 2019.