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Congressional Strategy for the Mathematical Community

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MATHEMATICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA VOLUME 6 NUMBER 3 MAY-JUNE 1986 Congressional Strategy for the Mathematical Community Jennifer Wysong Vance he Congress has shown a growing interest over the productivity, and a secure national defense. The impact of past few years in science and mathematics. Indeed, mathematical research on society, the significance of math­ TCongress has been interested in many of the specific ematics education at all levels of training, and the general priority areas that emerged in the current MAA Long Range education of the citizenry bear directly on these Congres­ Planning process-recruitment of students, supply of col­ sional goals. lege teachers, public understanding of science and mathe­ To support these goals, the mathematical community needs matics, and the collegiate curriculum. to document for Congress the consequences of the present Congressional interest in these issues is important not only crisis in training new mathematicians, the importance of because it suggests future possible roles for the MAA in recent developments in mathematics-especially those that congressional relations, but also because it may signal the bear on scientific computation-and the risks associated beginning of a shift in the way science and mathematics with continued under-funding of mathematics research and policy is developed in this country. mathematics education. Goals of the Mathematical Community Goals of the Congress It is easy to identify specific goals of the mathematical Whereas in the past the Executive Branch (e.g., primarily community that directly support major policy priorities of the National Science Foundation) has been responsible for Congress-scientific advancement, increased economic establishing priorities within the general science budget, recent changes in the Congressional process may alter the tradition whereby Congress has deferred in budget alloca­ tions to the scientific community. Serious budget deficits, which resulted in the passage of the Gramm-Rudman-HolI­ ings amendment, may have a dramatic impact both on total funding for science and mathematics and on the way the budget decisions are made. (continued on page 2) MAA Annual Report Featured in Center Section The special "focus" in the Center Section of this issue is the Annual Report of MAA activities and accomplishments for 1985. In addition to this report, two activities to be held in conjunction with the International Congress are described on page xvi, and an intriguing calculus problem appears on page xv. At the beginning of Mathematics Awareness Week, Senator Employment Advertisements Pete Domenici (R-NM), Alfred Willcox, MAA Executive Direc­ If you are looking for ajob be sureto check the employment tor, and Joseph Caravella, NCTM Director of Membership ads which start on page xiii of the Center Section. Advertisers Services discuss the Mathematics Exhibit at the Smithson­ will also find the rates and the deadline for the September ian Museum. issue on that page. Preregistration Deadline for ICM-86 is May 15. 2 FOCUS May-June 1986 Strategy (continued from page 1) The Legislative Process Members of Congress are growing more interested in the If one seeks to exert influence within the legislative pro­ technical aspects of science policy as they seek new ways cess, it is important to understand some of the general pat­ to lower unemployment, restore the balance of international terns of activity on Capitol Hill. At the risk of being over­ trade, improve the education of students, and revitalize the simplistic, the following observations provide a framework industrial work force. At the same time there has been a for understanding specific strategies. breakdown in the peer review system, with repeated direct First, Washington is a town driven by information and mis­ appeals to Congress by individual universities for support of information. Those able to carefully articulate their case in specific scientific projects. precise and easily understandable terms are most likely to The mathematics community may be surprised to learn of be understood-an important contribution to success in the very strong interest within the Congress in mathematics reaching their objectives. and science education. Close to $150 million has been appro­ Second, the Federal budget deficit is the single most priated to the Department of Education for a mathematics important issue affecting the way Congress views policy. and science education program directed across the spec­ Congress is no longer thinking about the New Deal or the trum from the elementary to the postsecondary level. Needs Great Society. Now it is primarily concerned with the ordering in mathematics are specially cited in the fiscal year 1986 of priorities against a background of fiscal restraint. Department of Defense appropriations report where it con­ Third, although political "deals" continue to be part of the cerns the University Research Initiative-a new $100 million Congressional process, legislative decisions will increas­ program to create science and technology centers. And, ingly come under sharper fiscal and intellectual scrutiny. more generally, there is increasing interest in collegiate Last, and most important, the legislative agenda is often mathematics and science education both within Congress crisis driven. What may be subject to careful deliberation and at the National Science Foundation. (continued on page 7) Dealing with Congress Strong relationships with key Congressional staff-both in committees and in Members' personal offices-are very important for building a base of informed understanding necessary for effective action. Unfortunately, the tenure of Congressional staff is often short, so constant renewal of FOCUS (ISSN 0731-2040) is published by the Mathematical contact is required to maintain continuity. Association of America, 1529 Eighteenth Street, NW., Wash­ The Congressional process itself is also very important. ington, D.C. 20036, six times a year: January-February, March­ One must know the rules that govern the operation of the April, May-June, September, October, November-December. House and the Senate, the authorization, appropriation and Editor: Peter Renz, MAA Associate Director. budget processes, and the ad hoc political nuances that Associate Editors: Donald J. Albers, Menlo College; David affect legislative issues. Misunderstanding the Congres­ Ballew, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; Wil­ liam G. Chinn, City College of San Francisco; Stephen B. sional process can create significant obstacles to achieving Maurer, Swarthmore College. one's goals. Chairman of the MAA Newsletter Editorial Committee: Another very important factor is the role and cohesiveness Ronald M. Davis, Northern Virginia Community College. of the mathematics community. Recent examples, particu­ Readers are invited to submit articles, announcements, or larly in the area of astronomy, have shown that the Congress Letters to the Editor for possible publication in FOCUS. All responds well to field-initiated consensus and ordering of materials should be sent to the Editor at the MAA Headquar­ priorities. A few years ago the astronomers provided the ters in Washington, D.C. Congress with a report in which they documented policy and The annual subscription price for FOCUS to individual mem­ project priorities, thus enabling the Congress to better bers of the Association is $1, included as a part of the annual dues. Annual dues for regular members (exclusive of annual understand the importance of various projects and the rela­ subscription prices for MAA journals) are $22. Student, unem­ tionship among them. ployed, emeritus, and family members receive a 50% discount; Congress is able to devote only a small amount of time to new members receive a 30% discount for the first two years understanding any particular issue. The clearer the mathe­ of membership. matical community can paint the global picture, the better Copyright © by the Mathematical Association of America Congress will understand the consensus of mathematicians. (Incorporated), 1986. Educational institutions are welcome to reproduce articles from this publication in quantities suffi­ These understandings will help enable Congress to resist cient for their own use, but not for sale, provided that the pork-barrel requests that distort the balance of funding and following citation is retained: "Reprinted with permission from undermine sound national policy. FOCUS, the Newsletter of the Mathematical Association of The David Report, Renewing U.S. Mathematics; Critical America. Copyright © by the Mathematical Association of Resources for the Future, is an excellent document that America (Incorporated), 1986." continues to be effectively used with Congress to expand Second-class postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. their understanding of the history of mathematics research funding. Other shorter and more specific reports need to be Postmaster: Send address changes to Membership/Subscrip­ tions Department, Mathematical Association of America, 1529 written to clarify funding needs and priorities within and Eighteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. among various branches of mathematics and mathematics Printed in the United States of America. education. May-June 1986 FOCUS 3 Communication is a two-way process. Although mathe­ maticians must reserve the right to decide what is good mathematics, the public will contiue to ask what mathemat­ ics is good for. If we listen
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