Agnes Scott Professor to Discuss Fibonacci Sequence in Gladden Lecture

Alan Koch, Department Chair and Professor of Mathematics, will present his research on patterns in the Fibonacci sequence and beyond.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Agnes Scott College is hosting the annual Gladden Public Lecture Series, where this year's recipient, Professor Alan Koch, will deliver a talk on his research into the Fibonacci sequence and related mathematical patterns. The Gladden Award is given to a member of the Agnes Scott faculty whose scholarly activities are especially noteworthy, and recipients are asked to give a public lecture to the campus community.

Why it matters

The Fibonacci sequence is a fundamental mathematical concept with applications in fields ranging from biology to computer science. Professor Koch's research into patterns within the Fibonacci sequence and beyond provides valuable insights that can inspire students and advance the understanding of this important mathematical topic.

The details

As the 2026 recipient of the Joseph R. Gladden Jr. Public Lecture Award, Professor Koch will discuss the research projects he creates for students, focusing on the search for patterns in generalizations of the Fibonacci sequence. The Fibonacci sequence is the series of numbers where each term is the sum of the two preceding ones, starting with 0 and 1.

  • The lecture will take place on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM EST.

The players

Alan Koch

Department Chair and Professor of Mathematics at Agnes Scott College, and the 2026 recipient of the Joseph R. Gladden Jr. Public Lecture Award.

Joseph R. Gladden Jr.

Former chair of the Agnes Scott Board of Trustees from 1992 to 2002, after whom the Gladden Public Lecture Series is named.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Fibonacci sequence is the sequence 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on where every term is the sum of the two previous terms.”

— Alan Koch, Department Chair/Professor of Mathematics (creativeloafing.com)

What’s next

The lecture is free and open to the public, with complimentary parking available in the West Parking Facility. Directions to the event location can be found on the Agnes Scott College website.

The takeaway

Professor Koch's research into the Fibonacci sequence and beyond demonstrates the ongoing fascination and importance of this fundamental mathematical concept, which continues to inspire students and advance scientific understanding.