David M. Munyinyi, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Richmond University London, has a diverse academic and professional background in applied mathematics, mathematical biology, and education. He has conducted research in population dynamics, disease transmission, and interdisciplinary mathematical modeling. Dr Munyinyi is not only a professor at Richmond, but also the facilitator for the Quant Society. He organized and shared insights during the Fibonacci Seminar with Ivan Cohen which took place on 28 November, 2024 in Classroom 13 during a Managerial Accounting class.
Emeritus Professor Ivan K. Cohen, our second guest speaker, is an experienced educator and public speaker with a passion for learning. He specialized in finance, economics, health management, and the economics of football. He has taught in three continents and contributed to media and curriculum development.
David began his part of his presentation by explaining the history of the Fibonacci sequence. He explained its importance back then and its importance now. He explained its origin and the Fibonacci sequences’ relation to the golden ratio. Mr. Munyinyi shared insights on the importance of the golden ratio and its application in other areas. He introduced the Fibonacci spiral and explained it.
Following Dr. Munyinyi, Emeritus Professor Ivan Cohen began his presentation by using his retirement pension to explain the power of compound interest. He emphasized how “Mathematics is in everything” tying his presentation to the Fibonacci sequence. Following Dr. Munyinyi’s lecture, he further explained the Fibonacci sequence. Furthermore, he tied the sequence to trends in finance. He offered valuable examples of ways we can use the Fibonacci sequence in our everyday lives.
The Fibonacci seminar reflected the importance of attending seminars. Seminars encourage students to participate actively instead of listening passively. The students present at the seminar were attentive and interactive. We had the opportunity to gain knowledge and insights from two professionals who shared their knowledge and thoughts.
Dr. David Munyinyi and Professor Ivan Cohen brought mathematics to life in ways I had not anticipated. As someone interested in art, the Fibonacci spiral, in particular struck a chord with me as I saw how something so abstract can be applied tangibly in mathematics. It made me think about how we often overlook how mathematics works in the world around us, outside our classrooms. Professor Cohen’s approach worked perfectly with Dr. Munyinyi’s. He used practical examples that were easy to understand and relate to. Not only did I learn new concepts, I was able to interact and appreciate applications in mathematics. The speakers’ expertise for their subjects made the seminar even more interesting and engaging. Seminars like this remind us of the importance of curiosity and participation in learning.
