Union had the privilege of hosting the 2025 Hudson River Undergraduate Math Conference (HRUMC) on Saturday, April 5. This prominent event has been held annually at colleges throughout the Northeast since its founding in 1994 by Union, Siena, Skidmore, and Williams College. The conference featured a variety of talks and research presentations that provided an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain experience in the world of professional mathematics.
Presentations featured student researchers from a wide range of colleges and universities, including Colgate, Vassar, Mount Holyoke, Skidmore, Smith, Siena, Williams, and Boston University. The unique research presented encompassed a broad range of theoretical topics and practical applications, ranging from using mathematical modeling to understand the effects of lithium chloride on the boiling point of water to deriving the stability of a neutron star.
Additional talks offered perspectives on career paths in the field of mathematics, alongside a discussion by keynote speaker Professor Álvaro Lozano-Robledo from the University of Connecticut. In addition to being a mathematician, professor, and author, Lozano-Robdelo is a popular Mathematical influencer on all major social media platforms. In his keynote address, he talked about Mathematics in the Age of Social Media and how he uses it to educate the public, share important mathematical breakthroughs, and bring the global Mathematics community together.
Student attendees found the day-long event engaging. “I really appreciated the mathematical physics panel,” said Prakriti Pradhan ’27. “It was exciting to be at a talk that resonated strongly with my interests as a Mathematics and Physics double major.” Talha Khan ’26, one of the student volunteers who helped organize the conference, added, “I liked it because they were all just gossiping about math and numbers.”
This enthusiasm was also shared by professors and organizing committee members. “As a committee member, the academic year leading up to the conference was filled with meetings to prepare for every little thing. To see it all come together was incredibly rewarding and eye-opening because I understood just how much preparation went into making it possible,” shared Francesca Morone ’26. “The dedication of everyone involved made for a successful, efficient, and fun day for math enthusiasts from far and wide!”
Professor Paul Friedman, a key figure in organizing the conference, expressed his appreciation for everyone who helped make it successful. “While organizing HRUMC was a year-long undertaking, having a committee of five other professors and three incredibly helpful, dedicated, and responsible students—Audrey Benson, Frankie Morone, and Tremaine Richardson—as well as experienced staff from Facilities, ITS, and Dining Services, made it both manageable and fun!” He added, “Seeing the fruits of our labor on conference day, with hundreds of smiling faces talking about interesting mathematics, makes it all worthwhile.”
While HRUMC will go on to be hosted by Vassar College in 2026, the excitement and possibilities within mathematics that were brought to campus will remain long after the conference’s conclusion at Union.
