THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MATHEM ATICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
February 1996 University of Rochester Eliminates Ph.D. Program Volume 16, Number 1 Keith Devlin In what some believe may be the first of a were expected. The university's new president, number of similaractions at universities across Thomas Jackson, had pointed out that the insti• In this Issue the nation, the University of Rochester will tution has substantially more Ph.D. programs stop admitting students to its Ph.D. program in than any other comparable research university. mathematics this fall, along with the Ph.D. pro• Such numbers were thought to be unsustain• 3 Professional grams in chemicalengineering, linguistics, and able. comparative literature. At the same time, the Development Over the summer, the president, provost, and graduate programs in mechanical engineering, for Everyone deans met individually with about seventy-five history, philosophy, and earth and environmen• faculty members, at least two from each de• tal science will be cut back significantly. The partment, taking their conclusions to the Board 4 People to People university currently has twenty-five Ph.D. pro• of Trustees. After the decision was announced, grams in arts, sciences, and engineering. one of the long-time trustees gave the univer• 7 Math Ed No faculty layoffs are to take place; reductions sity several million dollars to set up a reward Goesto will be by attrition, possibly with some retire• Oberwolfach ment incentives. Cutbacks in some programs See Rochester on page 5 10 Highlights Demise of UME Trends Leads to Expansion of Math• from the 1996 Joint ematics Education Articles in MAA Periodicals Mathematics Meetings Jim Daniel and Alan Tucker The leadership in the MAA publication and of publicationcosts. NeitherJPBMcollectively 17 1996 Mathematics education areas are working jointly to expand nor the MAA individually was willing to sub• the Association's dissemination of material on sidize this shortfall. The last issue of UME Awareness Week collegiate mathematics teaching and learning. Trends appeared in January 1996. The Association is responding to the decision The Association, however, has a major interest 27 FOCUS of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics in seeing the work of UME Trends continue (JPBM) to discontinue publication of UME on Sections and grow. Many features of UME Trends, such Trends, by soliciting and encouraging the sub• as the EducationCouncil column, seemed natu• mission of such material to all MAA publica• rally suited to publication in the MAA newslet• 33 Employment tions: the six book series, the three journals, ter FOCUS where they would be accessible to Opportunities the FOCUS newsletter, the student magazine all MAA members. Other UME Trends fea• Math Horizons, and the electronic publication tures such as the summaries of research in MAA Online. mathematics education would have seemed of UME Trends was started in 1989 with funding questionable merit for an MAA periodical in from the NSF Calculus Initiative to stimulate 1989, but today seem appropriate, just as a ple• interestin calculus reform and collegiate math• nary talk at a national meeting on research in The Mathematical ematics education generally. The MAA has mathematicseducationwas unthinkable in 1989 Association ofAmerica supported UME Trends in a variety of ways and is now a regular, well attended component 1529 Eighteenth Street, NW including putting a UME Trends subscription of national meetings. check-off option on the MAA dues bill and Washington, DC 20036 With the demise of UME Trends becoming a having MAAjournal editors direct educational likely reality, an ad hoc committee chaired by submissions to UME Trends. However, with past MAA presidentLida Barrett was convened the recent loss of NSF subsidies, subscription income for UME Trends was falling far short See Mathematics Education on page 9 FOCUS February 1996 FOCUS Editorial FOCUS is published by The Mathematical Association of America six times a year: February, April, June, August, October, and Farewell, UME Trends December. Editor and Chair of the MAA Newsletter Last month the mathematics education newsletter UME Trends Editorial Committee: Keith J. Devlin, Saint ceased publication. (See the article by Jim Daniel and Alan Tucker Mary's College of California, devlin@ on page 1.) Born seven years ago with the calculus reform move- stmarys-ca.edu ment, and devoted to the coverage of collegiate mathematics education, its editor for its entire life was Ed Dubinsky. Associate Editor: Donald J. Albers, MAA Associate Executive Director and Director The MAA has committed itself to ensuring that the disappearance of UME Trends will of Publications and Electronic Services not result in a vacuum in terms of dissemination of information concerning develop• Managing Editor: Harry Waldman, MAA ments in collegiate mathematics education. One result is that, in the future, you can expect to see more articles in FOCUS that would previously have appeared in Trends. Production Specialist: Amy Fabbri, MAA, [email protected] (Corollary: send in those articles.) Copy Editor: Nancy Wilson, Saint Mary's This is more a quantitative than a qualitative change. After all, almost everything that College of California, nwilson@stmarys• appears in FOCUS concerns mathematics education in one way or another. However, as ca.edu editor of FOCUS, I have in the past avoided publishing articles that were particularly Letters to the editor should be addressed to: suited to UME Trends. The reason was simple. FOCUS and Trends were not in compe• Keith Devlin, Saint Mary's College of tition and it was in no one's interest to enter an AT&T versus MCI type of battle. UME California, P.O. Box 3517, Moraga, CA Trends was set up to cover a particular beat. FOCUS let it do so. 94575; e-mail: [email protected]. Of course whereas each issue of Trends was devoted entirely to articles of a particular The FOCUS subscription price to individual kind, FOCUS serves a far larger audience, with a wide span of interests. So there is no members oftheAssociation is$6.00, included doubt that the disappearance of Trends will leave a hole-I would say "a part of a hole" in the annual dues. (Annual dues for regular if there could be such a thing. To some extent that hole will be made up by the recent members, exclusive of annual subscription prices for MAAjournals, are $68.00. Student arrival of the new MAA Online electronic information service. There is also the excellent and unemployed members receive a 66 quarterly journal Primus, published by the United States Military Academy at West percent discount; emeritus members receive Point, which regularly carries a fascinating array of articles on mathematics education. a 50 percent discount; new members receive Still, there will be a hole. But that should not be a cause of mourning. In saying a fond a 40 percent discount for the first two farewell to UME Trends, let me end not with my own words, but those of the editor of membership years.) Trends, Ed Dubinsky, taken from his final editorial. Copyright © 1996 by The Mathematical "The people of the Mohawk Nation do not make a big fuss about saying goodbye. In fact, Association of America (Incorporated). Educational institutions may reproduce the Mohawk language has only one word, oneh, which means both hello and goodbye. articles for their own use, but not for sale, It is perhaps a linguisitic expression of the Indian notion that endings are a necessary part provided that the following citation is used: of beginnings. The winter that follows autumn must see to the death of unused vegetation "Reprinted with permission of FOCUS, the so that it can fertilize the next round of food. The aged Inuit in the end sits alone with newsletter of The Mathematical Association honor in the frozen wastes as the community moves on with the vitality of a new gen• of America (Incorporated)." eration. The Iroquois hunter stalks his prey for days and communicates with the animal Second-class postage paid atWashington,DC who comes to understand the life-giving relation between hunter and hunted. These and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: customs can be harsh, but they are a natural part of life, and death is always necessary Send address changes to the The in order that life may go on. There are eternals, but they are more subtle than specific Mathematical Association of America, P.O. individuals, or programs. Box 90973, Washington, DC 20090-0973. E-mail: [email protected],orcalll-800-331• "[Editing UME Trends] has been fun. And I have learned a tremendous amount. I would 1622 (US and Canada only) (301) 617-7800 not want to have lived my life without it including almost a decade of involvement with (outside US and Canada). For advertising UME Trends. I hope that I and the other UME Trends people will find ways of contrib• information, contact, Amy Fabbri, FOCUS Advertising Coordinator, The Mathematical uting at the next level on which we are going to be developing and disseminating UME Association of America, 1529 Eighteenth Trends-type material. Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036, "So with that, it is only left for me to say...oneh," e-mail [email protected], or (202) 387-5200. ISSN: 0731-2040 -Keith Devlin Printed in the United States of America. The above opinions are those ofthe FOCUS editor and do not necessarily represent the official view ofthe MAA.
2 February 1996 FOCUS PRESIDENT'S COLUMN Professional Development for Everyone
Isuspect that Benjamin F.Finkel, theorigi• ing cooperative learning; and incorporat• graduate Instruc• nal editor of the Monthly, and many of his ing history in instruction. tion;" and "Teach- successiveeditors ofMAAjournals, would ing Developmental Mathematics." Recently the MAA has taken two major be surprised to learn that they were doing steps to organize and support our profes• The course "UsingCooperative Learning" professional development. They believed sional development activities. The first of will be run by Ed Dubinsky (Purdue Uni• that they were providing quality exposi• these is part of the staff reorganization at versity), David Mathews (Central Michi• tory articles about mathematics and math• our Washington office, namely the cre• gan University), and Sr.Barbara Reynolds ematics education at the collegiate level. ation of a new position, Associate Execu• (Cardinal Stritch College, now visiting And so they were, but for what reason? tiveDirector,Director ofMember Services Brown University), whohavebeen instruc• The answer was clear to them: to allow and Programs. TheAED for Member Ser• tors in the CLUME (Cooperative Learn• collegiate mathematics faculty to stay vices and Programs will have responsibil• ing in Undergraduate Mathematics abreast of developments and advances in ity for support and oversight of the Education) summer workshops on coop• mathematics and mathematics education. Association's professional development erative education. The initial course on That is what professional development is activities. The creation of this position is cooperative learning is scheduled to be all about. Learning never ends and it has recognition that member services and pro• taught in the spring of 1997 and additional always been the goal ofthe MAA to assist grams are parallel to, and are as important sessions will follow during the summer. our members in keeping up-to-date. For as, our publishing activities. most of the history of the MAA, this has The task force planning the course "Learn• been done through our journals, books, The second step is a refocusing of the ing about Learning and Teaching" is and meetings. In 1979, minicourses were Committee on Faculty Development. This headed by Nancy Hagelgans (Ursinus introduced at our annual meetings and began with the change of the committee's College); the task force on "Integrating today minicourses are given at many sec• name to the Committee on Professional Applications into Undergraduate Instruc• tion meetings as well. Development. The committee has respon• tion" by Martha Siegel (Towson State sibility for soliciting and evaluating pro• University); and "Teaching Developmen• Minicourses provide an excellent oppor• posals for professional development talMathematics" by BonnieGold (Wabash tunity to sample a subject and get a feel for activities and working with headquarters College). Jon Scott (Montgomery College) it; however, to learn on a deeper level, staff on the implementation of selected is spending this academic year as a visit• activities extending over longer periods projects. As an initial activity, the com• ing mathematician at the MAAheadquar• of time are required. In response to this mittee is planning to introduce a series of ters in Washington, with the special need, the Association has sponsored vari• courses that will be taught over theInternet responsibility of supporting these activi• ous projects that include summer work• using the World Wide Web. The advan• ties. If you have an idea for a course or shops and other activities that may extend tages of this mode of delivery are (l) costs would like to be involved in planning a over several years. One of the most suc• related to travel and subsistence can be course, please contact any of the people cessful of these projects has been Project substantially reduced; (2) individuals who listed above or write to Jerry Porter (Uni• NExT, whose goal is to provide support are unable to leave home because of fam• versity of Pennsylvania), the chair of the for recent Ph.D.s who have just begun ily or other responsibilities can now par• Committee on Professional Development. teaching. The Project NExT fellows meet ticipate; and (3) learning and doing can be His e-mail address is gjporter@math. at two summer and winter meetings, at• combined. upenn.edu. It's a pleasure to acknowledge, tend a workshop at each of the two sum• with sincere thanks, that Jerry wrote the mer meetings, and are in e-mail contact The Association may seek grants to sup• first and nearly final draft of this column. during the academic year. port preparation of these courses and other start-up activities; however, it is our goal This is an exciting time to be president of The SUMMA project (Strengthening that this program eventually be financially the MAA. I discussed above the need for Underrepresented Minority Mathematics self-sustaining and supported by course individuals to change during their profes• Achievement) is a professional develop• registration fees. sional careers and keep abreast of recent ment activity aimed at increasing minor• activities in their field. The same is true of ity presence in mathematics. The goals of Planning is underway for four such professional organizations such as the some recent projects are: increasing courses: "Using Cooperative Learning;" MAA. As Will Rogers once said, "When knowledge about the use of calculators in "Learning about Learning and Teaching" you'rethrough changing, you'rethrough." instruction; teaching about statistics; (a course intended for graduate students); authoring and using interactive texts; us- "Integrating Applications into Under- -Ken Ross
3 FOCUS February 1996
of men mathematicians who believe in People to People fairness, and some with the help of the organizations which have been formed Constance Reid to aid in these endeavors." She was fol• Some sixty representatives of the Ameri• lowed by Pao-sheng Hsu (University of can mathematicalcommunity were among Maine), the assistant chair, who ad• the more than five hundred women and a dressed the diverse audience on "Build• few men who flew to Beijing in August of ing a Community of Mathematicians, last year for the U.S.-China Joint Confer• Mathematics Educators, and K-12 ence on Women's Issues, sponsored by the Teachers." Citizen Ambassador Program of People Mathematics Empowers Women was Pao-sheng Hsu, assistant co-chair, and Alice T. Schafer, to People International in conjunction with the theme of the section. A banner bear• co-chair, with the mathematics banner at the NGO Fo• the China Women's Association for Sci• ing those words was displayed at the rum on Women in Huairou ence and Technology (CWAST). This was front of the meeting room. Another theme, classes are now women, Hwang Hai Yang, the first of three conferences that would in pointed out by one of the speakers, might also of the Normal University, had to add the space of two weeks bring more than have been expressed by the Chinese char• that as a result of "economic reform" men thirty thousand women to China. acter for "Crisis," which implies "Oppor• are leaving mathematics for better paying Established originally as a government tunity." jobs. Other pedagogical concerns treated entity by President Eisenhower but now a Presentations by Americans alternated by the Chinese were "The Method to Guide private organization, the Citizen Ambas• with those by Chinese. Since the Ameri• School Girls to Master Mathematics," sador Program remains dedicated to cans included representatives from busi• "Teachers' Influence on Learning Math• Eisenhower's belief that there will never ness and industry as well as from ematics in Secondary Schools," "Superi• be peace until the peoples of the world get secondary school, community college, ority of Women Teachers," "Paving Stones to know one another. and college and university faculties, their on the Road to Science," and "BetterWays to Teach College Mathematics." What Alice T. Schafer (Marymount University subjects were varied. Their Chinese coun• emerged most strongly from these talks was and Wellesley College), who had earlier terparts, who came largely from Beijing a rueful recognition by the Americans of led a similar group to China ("Women in Normal University, tended to concentrate the commonality of problems in bringing Mathematical Research"), headed the on pedagogical problems. Americans women successfully into mathematics. Science andMathematics Section, the larg• more frequently treated technological est of the eleven formal sections at the developments in mathematics and math• The concluding Chinese speaker was Wang conference. Chinese participants in the ematical research in other sciences, but Chang Pei, dean of the Department of section were led by Xiao Ling, a research the Chinese treated each of these subjects Mathematics at the Beijing Institute of fellow in the Institute of Mathematics of at least once. Wong Zu We from the Education. Crediting the reading of Free• the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an People's Bank of China spoke on the use man Dyson's Disturbing the Universe for associate professor at Beijing Normal of the computer for researching numeri• some of his ideas, he proposed a "para• University. A specialist in partial differen• cal methods, while Ye Shuhua, director digm revolution" in mathematics educa• tial equations, she has been a visitor at of the Center for Astro-Geodynamic Re• tion for the twenty-first century that would Brown, Rutgers, Washington, Indiana, and search, presented recent results in seis• change the "color" of the subject from gray the Courant Institute. mic research and urged greater (military camp) to green (garden, "useful international cooperation. and enjoyable"), with increased concern The dynamic Madame Wu Ganmei, sec• retary general of CWAST and executive Americans also took up such currently director of the Nongovernmental Organi• popular educational concerns as self• zations (NGO) Forum on Women, which mentoring, cooperative learning, dealing was to begin in only a few days, presided with nontraditional students, and inno• at the opening plenary session at Friend• vative programming at community col• ship House. Delegates were welcomed by leges. The Chinese, however, were well the president of CWAST, Dr. Xie Xide, a aware of the problems of women trying physicist and a former president of Fudan to pursue a careerin science. Liu Xiufang University who took herdoctorate atM.I.T. of Beijing Normal University ("Women Can Get Ahead by Their Own Efforts") Dr.Xie (Chinese surnames come first) was described winning "a garment award"• also in attendance at the first working ses• working on one occasion for forty-three sion on Women in Science and Mathemat• hours straight-while writing her book ics. Schafer, a founding member of the on the foundations of probability. Association for Women in Mathematics, opened the session by describing successes As with the Americans, success for the Chinese was often ambiguous. Pointing ofAmerican women mathematicians in the Constance Reid on the Great Wall ofChina last twenty-five years: "Some with the help out that 30% of the students in graduate 4 February 1996 FOCUS
to which the Chinese government had institutes, and twelve interdisciplinary consigned that less favored group. (First research centers as well as a school for Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton also trav• adult education. elled to Huairou to speak there as well as In spite of the heavy schedule, the del• in Beijing, where she addressed the United egates still had time to visit the Great Wall Nations Fourth World Conference on and the most famous tourist sights of Women.) Beijing, as well as to shop in the Friend• Patricia Kenschaft (Montclair State Uni• ship Store and theAntique Lane, cope with versity) and Frances Rosamond (National Chinese taxis, attend Peking Opera, and University) had campaigned to have the enjoy a free evening on the town (which MAA send representatives to the NGO many of the younger delegates spent at conference, but they were able to send to the Hard Rock Cafe). China two banners with the words "Math• There had been excitement and delay at ematics Empowers Women." The second the beginning of the trip when Harry Wu of these was taken by Schafer, Hsu, and was unexpectedly returned to the U.S. on Mary Steen to Huairou, where it was dis• Alice T. Schafer; American co-chair ofthe Section the chartered plane on which most of the on Science and Mathematics, with Diana Vincent played in the Once and Future Pavilion as delegates were scheduled to leave, but the (Medical University of South Carolina) and her a reminder that women are empowered by poster presentation Math, Medicine, Mind and return flight of eleven hours and fifteen mathematics. Motherhood minutes brought them back to San Fran• cisco on time on September 2-before, for the individual while maintaining a bal• People to People closed with an opportu• according to the calendar, they had left ance between the needs of the individual nity for delegates to visit their choice of such Chinese institutions as the Beijing China. and of society. Institute of Technology, the West District This article also appeared, in slightly dif• Although the Americans had looked for• Residential Community, the Xiyuan Tra• ferent form, in the January 1996 issue of ward to roundtable discussions with their ditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the the Association for Women in Mathemat• Chinese counterparts, the size of the sec• Teaching Hospital of Beijing Medical ics Newsletter. tion precluded these. Also disappointing University, the Beijing Arts and Crafts was the fact that while four talks given in School, and Beijing University. The latter ConstanceReidis a well known mathemat• Chinese were translated, no Chinese trans• institution, founded in 1898 as the Impe• ics writer. Her most recent book is The lator was provided for talks in English, the rial University, now has twenty-eight de• Search for E. T. Bell,publishedby the MAA size of the section being again responsible. partments offering undergraduate and in 1993. Because of People to People's long rap• graduate programs, twenty-seven research port with CWAST, its delegates did not Rochester from page 1 generally experience the frustrations and surveillance reported by other groups. An system for good undergraduate teaching ulty size by 10%, this did not seem to us a exception occurred in connection with at the university. wise investment.... In short, we did not their attendance at the opening ceremo• The university will also cut undergradu• view an investment in our math depart• nies of the NGO Forum on Women,a spec• ate enrollment by several hundred students ment at a time of retrenchment to be worth the risk." tacular and moving celebration for which starting in fall 1996. This will be done by the women's symphony and chorus and raising the entrance requirements. Aslin emphasized that the University of hundreds of Chinese young people had Rochester has not abandoned the provi• been preparing for two years. On that oc• In a statement circulated on the Internet Vice Provost and Dean of the Colleg~ sion of quality mathematics instruction to casion some identification badges were our undergraduates. "However," he says, Richard N.Aslin stressed that "the overall arbitrarily held up or not issued; and those "a Ph.D. program is by no means a neces• context of the decision is a budget situa• who did attend (sometimes simply bor• sity for producing highly skilled under• tion, common to many universities, that rowing the badges of others) were exam• graduate majors, as attested to by compelled us to act now rather than defer ined with metal detectors on entering the distinguished mathematics majors pro• a decision into the future." Aslin contin• Olympic Stadium, their bags opened duced by prestigious liberal arts colleges. and-with the temperature in the 90s• ued, "We fully recognize that there are several world-class mathematicians in our Inour judgment, we can significantly de• their water bottles confiscated. Once in• crease the faculty size in mathematics who side, however, they found themselves department at Rochester. But, in our judg• ment, particularly given the recent NRC are primarily devoted to delivering qual• seated on the fifty-yard line, in the shade, ity undergraduate instruction to math and in much more comfortable seats than rankings that placed Rochester in the bot• tom of the second quartile, we would have majors and other sophisticated science those on the other side of the stadium. majors, while seeking other avenues (tech• to make a large investment to move our nology and non-research faculty) to de• A contingent from People to People went department into the top quartile. At a time the following day by bus to participate in when we must decrease our overall fac- liverinstructioninbasic calculus (typically NGO sessions in Huairou, the smaller city for non-majors)."
5 FOCUS February 1996
Scientific WorkPlace isaword documents will look more pro• ment using Scientific WorkPlace~ processing system designed with fessional because Scientific Work• unique interface to the Maple" or your needs in mind. Text and Place actually typesets your docu• Mathematica" computer algebra mathematics are completely inte• ments using TEX, the standard in systems. Enter mathematical ex• grated. You don't need to use a high-quality scientific publishing. pressions in a natural, free-form separate equation editor or spe• Now you can perform a wide environment, choose the operation cial codes. You can create com• variety ofcomputations and plot you want from a menu, and Scien• plex documents quickly, and your expressions directly inyour docu- tific WorkPlace does the work! Scientific WorkPlace Y2.5 for Windows ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! 1·800·874·2313 http://www.tcisoft.com/tcisoft.html ICDP DISTRISUTOIIS WORLDWIDE ScientificWorkPlace isa trademark of TelSoftware Research. Alltrade 1190 Foster Road· Las Cruces, NewMexico 88001 USA names. products and servicesare registeredtrademarks Of trademarks Phone: (505) 522-4600 . FAX: (505) 522-0116 of theirrespective componies Internet: [email protected] SOFTWARE RESEARCH
6 February 1996 FOCUS
withinmathematicseducation.Itwasrather terns of the United States and those in Math Ed Goes to amazing how broadly and differently we Europe. To help us understand the differ• interpreted the title of the conference when ences between the school systems, we had Oberwolfach creating our talks. The main categories of a "Swiss morning" where welearned more talks were (1) research into how students about the Swiss gymnasium. In addition, Anita Solow learn mathematics; (2) curricular innova• Dan Kennedy gave a beautifully written tions designed tomotivate students; (3)the Long known as a center for major interna• talk in which he analyzed the prospects use of technology in teaching mathemat• tional conferences on mathematic re• for reform in American high schools by search, theMathematisches Forschungsin• ics; and (4) general issues, such as proof, studying the similarities between math• titut at Oberwolfach in Germany opened assessment, and reform in American high ematics reform and the unreasonable suc• its doors to the mathematics education schools. Some talks spanned several of cess of McDonald's. The American idea community for the first time last Novem• these categories. of curricular development isdifferent from the European one where curriculum iscen• ber. The conference New Trends in the In the first category, we heard about pre• tralized. Bernd Wollring's view of cur• Teaching and Learning of Mathematics dictive and functional modes of cognition riculum development was "Making ran from November 27 through Decem• from Inge Schwank, the APOS model and curriculum proposals is putting your head ber 1, 1995.Twenty-five participants from its use in using research on how students below the guillotine and waiting."At times the United States, Germany, Switzerland, learn to design the curriculum from Ed the differences seemed to overshadow the Austria, England, France, and Australia Dubinsky, and the idea of procepts from concerns that we all shared on how to help met for a week of lectures and lively dis• David Tall. Bernd Wollring gave a fasci- cussion on key issues in collegiate math• our students learn. ematics education. The conference The talks that focused on technology dealt organizers were Urs Kirchgraber, David with the use of Mathematica in mathemat• Bressoud, and Ed Packel. ics courses at the level of calculus and The Oberwolfach Institute began towards above (Ed Packel) and the use of dynamic the end of World War II when the Ger• geometry software, in particular Cabri, in mans removed some of their mathemati• the teaching of geometry (Collete and cians from the front lines and put them at Jean-Marie Laborde, Reinhard Hoelzl, and a site which was isolated and relatively Heinz Klemenz). The conference began safe from the bombings. It was officially with David Bressoud talking about proof established in 1944, with the first formal in mathematics and the connections be• talk given on October 28, 1944.The Math• tween counting alternating sign matrices ematics Institute, under the direction of and descending plane partitions, and to• Professor Dr. Matthias Kreck, hosts fifty wards the end, I talked about issues of as• conferences each year, and is supported sessment and the impact that reform and by the state government. technology has on them. nating talk on the work he does to under• On Thursday evening, the participants The setting at Oberwolfach has been care• stand how children learn the ideas of prob• gathered in a session to develop a list of fully designed to encourage the mixing of ability. Lisa Hefendehl-Hebeker talked questions that arose from our talks. Al• people and ideas.Itis secluded in theBlack about aspects of explaining mathematics. though not a research agenda, there is a Forest of Germany, surrounded by beauti• Although the theories differed greatly, all hope that others will also find the ques• ful hills. The participants are treated roy• shared a constuctivist viewpoint of math• tions important and interesting, and that ally. The meals are excellent, with seats ematics education. assigned to encourage the participants to the questions will stimulate workers in the mix. This made each meal the occasion Motivating students clearly became a field to obtain new results and to improve for stimulating conversation. The library theme of the conference. The approaches the learning of mathematics by students at Oberwolfach is first class. There are were varied-the use of history (Hans throughout the world. The questions from many traditions at Oberwolfach. For ex• Niels Jahnke and Fred Rickey), using ap• Oberwolfach can be found on the MAA ample, the participants sign a guest book plications (Wolfgang Henn, Urs Web site. The creation of the questions and hand write abstracts of their talks in Kirchgraber, Werner Hartmann, Hans• helped to bring a sense of closure to a another book. These records give a his• Christian Reichel, and Werner Schmidt), stimulating week. It is hoped that this will tory of Oberwolfach and the important exploring ties between the mathematics be the first of many conferences on math• mathematics that has been done there. and the world of the student (Deborah ematics education to be held at Hughes Hallet, David Smith, and Bill Oberwolfach. Three talks were given during each ses• Barker), and using mathematics itself sion, with some time for questions and (John Stillwell and Jurg Kramer)-butthe Anita Solow teaches mathematics at answers after each. The participants not goals were similar.Many of thedifferences Grinnell College. Her e-mail address is only came from different countries, but of the approach were reflections of the [email protected]. also represented different specialities major differences between the school sys-
7 FOCUS February 1996 Meyer Jerison, Mathematics Maven (1922-1995) Leonard Gillman and Melvin Henriksen Meyer Jerison, our close friend for over writing mathematics. Mack also describes There is no more forty years and our long-time collaborator, Jerry's genuine interest in his doctoral stu- appropriate way to died on March 13, 1995, after battling can- dents as people: "At mathematics meet- close this account cer for several years. ings and conferences, he always took time than with the fol• lowing eloquent let• "Jerry," as he was known to almost every- to chat and to catch up on the personal ter from David one, was born in Bialystok, Poland on No- details of my life, often over dinner." Joe Jerison. vember 28, 1922, but came to the U.S. in Kist, another of Jerry's students, now at 1929and was naturalized in 1933.His early New Mexico State, expected to be handed "My father loved mathematics; he was a education was in Jewish parochial schools a thesis problem and was taken aback when mathematics maven. He liked a good math in New York City, where he mastered He- Jerry insisted he find his own. Later he lecture the way one might enjoy a good brew and the Torah along with the standard realized that Jerry had introduced him to concert or sports event. He took pleasure academic subjects. He earned a bachelor's mathematical independence, for which he in those performances largely because he degree and Phi Beta Kappa key at City Col- remained forever grateful. liked mathematical people, and he liked to lege in 1943; a master's in Applied Math- Meyer Jerison is survived by his wife, two watch them succeed. Healso complimented ematics from Brown in 1947; and, in 1950, sons, Michael (professor of economics at mathematicians behind their backs, a wel• his Ph.D. in Mathematics at Michigan, SUNY Albany) and David (professor of come inversion of the usual gossip. underthedirection of SumnerMyers.Along mathematics atMIT), abrother, Harry (pro- "Mathematical parents might be interested the way, he worked as a physicist at NACA fessor of psychology at UCLA), a sister, to know that I don't remember him as ever (now NASA) in Cleveland (1944--46) and Jean Blum, and three grandchildren. Long intervening in my mathematical training. as a research engineer at Lockheed Air- well established in his own right for his He did not encourage me to become a craft (1952), and taught at Case Institute work in functional analysis as well as in mathematician. In particular, I got the (1945-46) and later as a research associate rings of continuous functions, he became message that doing well in school, at least at Illinois (1949-51). While in Cleveland even better known as David Jerison's fa- through college, gave no guarantee that one he met Miriam Schwartz, whom he mar- ther.(JohnMackrecallsaconversationwith could be creative in mathematics. Never• ried in 1945. He died just before their fif- a young colleague who told him thatJerison theless his enthusiasm for mathematics was tieth wedding anniversary. In 1951 he could not have been his advisor because hard to disguise. He reminded me much joined the faculty of Purdue University, Mack was too old. Mack recounted the later that he did intervene once when he where he remained until his retirement in exchange to Jerry who "fairly burst with discovered that after one year of algebra in 1991. He was chairman of the Division of pride.") 8th grade, I only knew how to solve qua• Mathematical Sciences from 1969 to 1975. The two of us joined the Purdue faculty in dratic equations using the quadratic for• Over the years he was an active member of fall 1952, where we met Jerry as well as mula, rather than by factorization or the AMS and MAA, notably as book re• one another. During that academic year, completing the square. He gave me an old views editor of Bulletin oftheAMS (1980• our new trio participated in seminars to• "college algebra" text that summer and I 85); governor of the Indiana Section of the gether and embarked onjoint research. Our worked a few hundred problems. That sum• MAA (1981-84); and more recently as a different mathematical backgrounds mer I also found some MAA contest prob• member of the MAA Committee on Publi• meshed nicely and led during the next few lem books on his bookshelf. cations. In addition he served the MAA as years to several papers, including joint "My brother remarked at the funeral that a member of CUPM and its panels, and as papers by each of the three pairs and one my father taught us almost exclusively by an MAA lecturer. At Purdue he coached triple paper, as well as to the book. These example. His example was one of ener• the Putnam team both before and after his collaborations laid the foundations for the getic devotion to work and professional retirement. He was respected by every per• rest of our careers and formed the basis for service, and to our family. The command son he interacted with, and loved by many. lifelong friendships. "Be careful" was banished by my father as Jerry was an author or coauthor of more Meyer Jerison was an exemplary citizen of redundant or absurd. In retrospect, as a than twenty research papers, and at least the mathematical world-asuperb lecturer parent, I am amazed at my parents' for• four times as manyreviews, but his memory and a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, bearance concerning this and many other will live on longest for his collaboration revered by his students. His commitment injunctions." with Leonard Gillman on the book Rings to excellence was inspiring. He was a calm, This memorial also appeared in the Janu• ofContinuous Functions. (I was initially a steadying influence, and a bundle of good ary 1996 issue ofNotices of the AMS. coauthor, but foolishly dropped out.-MH) judgment. He stood up for important mat• Jerry had nine Ph.D. students. One ofthem, ters of principle without letting annoyances Leonard Gillman is professor emeritus at John Mack, now at Kentucky, singles out distract him. His passing leaves a void in the University ofTexas at Austin and is a Jerry's demands for excellence in exposi• the mathematical community and espe• former president of the MAA. Melvin tion as initially frustrating, though later cially in the lives of the authors of this ar• Henriksen is a professor in the Depart• Mack came to appreciate Jerry's concern ticle. ment of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd that his students be properly trained in College in Claremont, California.
8 February 1996 FOCUS
Mathematics Education from page 1 quality manuscripts without assistance. independently been discussing the possi• This committee will be implementing the bility of having more material that con• this past October to outline a strategy for ad hoc committee's recommendation to sists of brief summaries in FOCUS with incorporating more UME Trends-type continue the activist stance of the UME pointers to full articles in MAA Online. materials in MAA periodicals. The com• Trends editorial committee which aggres• mittee included the chair Alan Tucker and Much remains to be done. Guidance must sively solicited articles and opinion pieces another member, TomTucker, of the Edu• be developed for authors as to which pub• for publication. The new committee will cation Council, and the chair Jim Daniel lications are appropriate for educational include an educationally oriented mem• and another member, Carolyn Mahoney, materials of various types, levels, and ori• ber from the editorial board of each of the of the Committee on Publications, along entations. Procedures are needed for co• threeMAAjournals andothers.As always, with UME Trends Editor Ed Dubinsky, the ordinating condensed summaries in final authority for editorial review and ac• MAA Executive Director Marcia Sward, FOCUS with expanded versions in MAA ceptance of manuscripts which the sub• and MAA Director of Publications Don Online. committee solicits resides with thejournal Albers. editors. In closing, it is essential to acknowledge The committee's strategy had two major the great debt of the collegiate mathemat• The first component of the ad hoc components: (i) incorporating certain ics community to UMETrends, its authors, committee's strategy recommended that UME Trends regular features in FOCUS, its editorial board, and most of all to its FOCUS be the outlet for the MAA Educa• some in condensed form; and (ii) devel• editor Ed Dubinsky. Calculus reform and tion Council column and the Minorities oping a mechanism to actively solicit ap• other efforts at rethinking collegiate math• and Mathematics column, as well as many propriate mathematical education articles ematics instruction have earned the math• of the news and reports previously appear• for MAA journals. The Executive and ematics community accolades from many ing in UME Trends, such as reports of Finance Committees encouraged the edu• quarters, from the National Science Foun• meetings andconferences about collegiate cation and publication areas to continue dation leadership, and hundreds of cam• mathematics education. In addition it rec• working together to flesh out and imple• pus deans. UME Trends was an effective ommended that UME Trendsfeatures NSF ment the ad hoc committee's strategy. At disseminator and booster for these activi• Beat, Research Sampler, and Innovative the 1996 national meeting in Orlando, the ties. The Association seeks to honor this Teaching Exchange have condensed sum• Education Council endorsed the two com• debt by continuing much of what UME maries in FOCUS, with pointers to fuller ponents of this strategy and directed the Trends did in its own periodicals. texts in MAA Online. To help facilitate the council chair to work with the Committee dissemination of collegiate mathematics In recognition of Ed Dubinsky's contribu• on Publications chair to implement it. education material in FOCUS, future tion, he was awarded a Certificate of Rec• At its Orlando meeting, the Committee on FOCUS advisory committees will have ognition by the Association at its Orlando Publications established the policy that all liaison representatives from the MAA business meeting. MAA publications should be open to ma• education area. terial on collegiate mathematics teaching Jim Daniel, ofthe University ofTexas at The FOCUS editor is already over• and learning. Editor-elect Roger Hom of Austin, is chair ofthe MAA Committee on whelmed with more good material than the American Mathematical Monthly an• Publications. His e-mail address is FOCUS can publish. Thus, implementa• nounced that Alan Tucker and Guershon daniel@math. utexas.edu. Alan Tucker, of tion of the ad hoc committee's recommen• Harel agreed to appointments as associate the State University ofNew York at Stony dations affecting FOCUS will require editors. More than a year ago, editor Bart Brook, is chair of the MAA Education extensive discussions and flexibility on Braden of the College Mathematics Jour• Council. His e-mail address is atucker@ the part of many parties. Interestingly, the nal invited Annie and John Selden to join ccmail.sunysb.edu. FOCUS editor and his advisory board have the editorial board of the CMJ, and Editor Paul Zorn of Mathematics Magazine indi• cated interest in a similar appointment. While the primary goal of MAA publica• Martha Siegel Elected MAA Secretary tions remain excellence in mathematical The Board of Governors has just elected BoardofGovemorsfrom 1991-1995. She exposition, material on collegiate math• Martha J. Siegel MAA Secretary, to sue- was the Editor of Mathematics Magazine ematics teaching and learning is intended ceed Gerald L. Alexanderson who be- from 1991-1995, having served previ- to be a regular part of their mix of subject came president-elect at the January ously for five years as Associate Editor. matter. meetings in Orlando. Professor Siegel is She has served on a number of MAA currently Professor of Mathematics at committees, most recently chairing the The chairs of the Committee on Publica• Towson State University in Maryland, AMS-MAA-SIAM Morgan Prize Com- tions and the Education Council have rec• and previously taught at Goucher Col- mittee. As a member of the Executive ommended the appointment of a joint lege. She holds a Ph.D. from the Univer- Committee she served on its Subcommit- committee to solicit and develop manu• sity of Rochester and works in the fields tee on Strategic Initiatives. scripts appropriate for the various MAA of applied probability and modeling. periodicals until such time as these jour• Professor Siegel will serve as Secretary• nals are seen widely enough as the natural In the MAA she has served as a member Elect until July I, 1996,and become Sec• homes for such articles as to attract high of the Executive Committee and the retary at that time. 9 FOCUS February 1996 1996 JOINT MATHEMATICS MEETINGS ORLANDO, FLORIDA Memories of Orlando
For many people who attended the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Orlando in Janu• ary, the most significant event, and the one that will live longest in their memories, was simply getting there. When the Great Blizzard of '96 hit the Eastern Seaboard on the morning of Sunday, January 7, it left anyone living in the right hand quarter of the country either trapped intheir homes, Andrew Wiles, Princeton University, gave a stranded en route to the airport, or stuck in series ofColloquium Lectures on his recent the departure lounge, wondering if an air• proof of Fermat's Last Theorem plane would ever take off from there that week. With all three Washington, DC area air• ports closed, the MAA Board of Gover• Above and below: The MAA Book Sale was a nors meeting on the Tuesday went ahead success, thanks to the help ofmany volunteers in the absence of the most of the head• who set the booth up while the MAA staffwas stranded by the blizzard quarters staff, attended only by governors from the midwest, west, and southern states, and one or two people who, with a keen eye on the long range weather fore• cast, had left home on the previous Satur• day. It was Wednesday before attendants from any of the major east coast urban areas started to arrive, usually with travel hor• ror stories to tell. Director of Publications Don Albers had already figured out the wording for signs he would erect apolo• gizing for the absence of the planned, massive MAA book display that is always a feature of January meetings, only to be Donald Kreider, MAA Retiring amazed when he arrived to find the entire President and Dartmouth Univer• display waiting for its first customers. sity. gave his Retiring Address Providing an excellentillustration of what makes the MAA a great organization to be enjoy Andrew Wiles giving three excel• descending on the east and forecasts of part of, President-Elect Jerry Alex• lent expository talks on his recenrproofof still more to come, thoughts began to tum anderson (who hails from virtually snow• Fermat's Last Theorem, see the three once again to questions of travel. Having free California) had led a small team of teaching award winners give dazzling dis• finally managed to get to Orlando (where dedicated volunteers in unpacking all 160 plays of their teaching skills, listen to Past• the temperature was a balmy 70° under a cartons of books and putting them out on President Don Kreider give his retiring sunny sky), attendants from the eastern the shelves, finishing the task justminutes address, visit the MAA book display (I), cities were faced with the problem of re• before the exhibit was due to open. and engage in countless other activities turning home in time to get to work the that are part and parcel of today's joint following Monday. By late Wednesday, most people had ar• meetings. rived, and the meeting began to seem more For many mathematicians, it was clearly like normal, as attendants settled down to But then, by late Friday, with more snow a Joint Meetings to remember.
10 February 1996 FOCUS The First Time Election Results New P6lya Lecturer Attendee's Social At its meeting in Orlando, the MAA Board Chosen of Governors made the following elec• was Well Attended tions: For Governor-at-Large to represent Meeting in Orlando, the MAA Board of High School Teachers, Katherine P.Layton Governors elected Laszlo Babai to be the of Beverly Hills High School. For Gover• Association's next P61yaLecturer. Profes• Despite the Weather nor-at-Large to represent Minority Mem• sor Babai currently holds two positions, bers, Manuel BerriozabaloftheUniversity one at the University of Chicago, the other of Texas at San Antonio. For Elected atEotvos University in Budapest. His work Memberof the Finance Committee, David spans combinatorics, group theory, and A. Sanchez of Texas A&M University. computation theory. He won the 1993 Godel Prize of the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science. He is a member of the Hungarian Academy of Science and won their Erdos Prize in 1983.
JPBM 1996 Communications Awardee
New York Times writer Gina Kolata is the recipient of the 1996 Communications Award of the Joint Policy Board for Math• ematics. The award was made at a cer• emony held on January 10 at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Orlando. Kolata has distinguished herself as an ex• traordinary communicator of mathemat• ics, first as a senior writer for Science magazine, then since 1987 on the staff of Left to right: Ken Ross, MAA President, Gina the New York Times. AMS past president Kalata. and Ron Graham, AMS ex-President Ronald Graham said that Kolata "has a special gift for conveying the essence of a complicated concept in an engaging and understandable way, and for portraying the human side of mathematics as well." In her eight years at the Times, Kolata has been nominated three times for a Pulitzer Prize. She has a master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Maryland.
Board of Governors Votes to Gather Information on Participation of Women and Minorities
After some discussion on the wording, the MAA Board of Governors passed the fol• lowing motion at its meeting in Orlando on January 9: 'The MAA shall annually assemble and publish on a regular basis information on the relative numbers of women and minorities in at least the following categories: MAA membership, elected officials, committee members and chairs, members of editorial boards, invited hour speakers, speakers at special sessions and organizers of panels, and nominees and winners of awards/prizes."
11 FOCUS February 1996 NCTM Request for Refunds for Orlando Meeting Information Individuals who registered in advance for the January 1996 Joint Mathematics Meetings in Orlando, Florida, but who were prevented from attending the meetings because of The National Council of Teachers of severe weather along the eastern seaboard which closed airports over several days, may Mathematics (NCTM) has established a request a refund of fifty percent of the meeting advance registration fee by writing to the commission to provide direction for the Mathematics Meetings Housing Bureau, P.O. Box 6887, Providence, RI 02940, or by future of the Standards. Just as the three sending e-mail to [email protected]. The Joint Meetings Committee is granting this excep• volumes (Curriculum and Evaluation tion to the usual refund policy because of the unusual weather circumstances, but this Standardsfor School Mathematics, Pro• will in no way prejudice the application of the usual policy for future meetings. (The fessional Standards for Teaching Math• usual policy is that a fifty percent refund can be made if notice of cancellation is received ematics, and Assessment Standards for before the start of the meeting. After the start of the meeting, no refunds can be made.) School Mathematics) were strengthened MAA Minicourse Refunds by the reactions and comments of many people, the commission would benefit If you preregistered for an MAA minicourse at the Orlando meetings and were unable from your thinking on updating these to attend due to the storm, you are eligible to receive a fifty percent refund. Please send documents. Weare particularly interested a written request to: Minicourse Coordinator, 1529 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC in input from mathematicians. 20036, or e-mail [email protected]. While the impact of the Standards has exceededour initial expectations in many ways, it is time to begin a serious conver• sation about next steps. The NCTM Board, through the commission, wants to hear from you before making decisions about updating the Standards. Our chal• lenge now is to consider the ways in which our message will continue to be relevant and useful. Frank A. Morgan, Williams College, presented the Student Workshop on We request your thoughts, either as an Soap Bubbles and Salt Crystals. individual or from group discussion, on the following questions: I. Do you think the Standards might ben• efit from specific (a) clarifications, (b) expansions or additions, or (c) dele• tions? Please elaborate and be as spe• cific as possible. 2. What strategies might you suggest for bringing about these changes in the Standards'? 3. What steps should NCTM take to make the ideas in the Standards more widely discussed? Undergraduate Research Prize Awarded You may mail your responses to Futures, NCTM, 1906 Association Dr., Reston, Karman Soundararajan, a 1995 graduate of the University of Michigan, is the first VA 22091-1593; e-mail: future@nctm. recipient of the newly establishedAMS-MAA-SIAM Morgan Prize for undergraduate org. We will need to hear from you by mathematics research. The award, made at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Orlando, March 15, 1996 at the latest. was in recognition of what was cited as "a body of truly exceptional research" in analytic number theory. Thank you for your help with this impor• tant task. Kiran Kedlaya of Harvard University received Honorable Mention for the portfolio of four research papers which he submitted. Mary M. Lindquist The Morgan Prize, an annual award of$1000, was endowed by a gift from Mrs. Brennie Chair, Commission on the Morgan of Allentown, Pennsylvania. To apply, students submit one or more published Future of the Standards or unpublished papers that represent their work. Details are given on the SIAM Under• graduate Home Page (http://www.siam.org).
12 February 1996 FOCUS Prizes Awarded in Orlando
As always, a large audience attended the MAA-AMS Joint Prize Session in Or• lando. The prizes awarded by the MAA are listed below, with edited extracts from the accompanying citations. Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Awards for Distinguished Edward M. Landesman, University of California at Santa Cruz. giving his presentation "Days ofYore" College orUniversity Teaching of
Mathematics Thomas F. Banchoff, Brown University These awards are given to honor college or university teachers who have been widely recognized as extraordinarily suc• cessful and whose teaching effectiveness has been shown to have had influence beyond their own institutions. This year the awardees are Thomas F. Banchoff of Brown University, EdwardM. Landesman of the University of California at Santa Cruz, and Herbert S. Wilf of the Univer• sity of Pennsylvania. Herbert S. Wilf, University Professor Banchoff is best known for his of Pennsylvania work in computergraphics, beginning with the award-winning film The Hypercube: cellence inTeachingAwardfrom the North• and is currently editor-in-chiefofthe Elec• Projections and Slicing and extending to em California Phi Beta Kappa honor soci• tronic Journal ofCombinatorics, of which his current projects in interactivecomputer ety.Professor Landesman joinedthefaculty he was also a co-founder. laboratories for multi-variable calculus of the University ofCalifornia, Santa Cruz and differential geometry. He has been in 1966 and became professor of Math• Educom Medal teaching at Brown since 1967, serving as ematics in 1977. He has served as provost chairman from 1981-85. His books in• The Educom Medal was established in of Crown College and as associate aca• clude LinearAlgebra Through Geometry, 1994 to assist in improving "the quality of demic vice-chancellor for undergraduate with John Wermer, and Beyond the Third the undergraduate learning experience and education. Dimension in the Scientific American Li• to promote the effective use of informa• brary series. He received the LesterR.Ford Professor Wilf has written extensively for tion technology in higher education." Award in 1978. students of mathematics and for teachers Educom works with professional societ• of mathematics. As one of his former ies, this year with the MAA, in identifying Professor Landesman has been co-direc• graduate students put it, "Professor Wi1f people who have "addressed a significant tor of the Monterey bay Area Mathemat• writes as well as he speaks." In over 120 pedagogical problem fundamental to the ics Project since its inception. Through publications ranging from books to essays discipline; provided an innovative solu• this project he has helped over two hun• to research articles, he has inspired sev• tion offering clear advantages over other dred pre-college teachers upgrade their eral generations ofmathematical scholars techniques; and demonstrated substantial mathematics and instructional skills. He and students in other disciplines as well. impact on improved student learning." The has written a linear algebra textbook and He has been a Guggenheim fellow and is recipient this year is David A. Smith of is a pioneer in the use of media in technol• a fellow of the Institute of Combinatorics Duke University. ogy for teaching mathematics. He has pro• and Its Applications. For the MAA, he has duced many high quality videotapes for Professor Smith was an early pioneer in served on the Board of Governors from precalculus and interactive videodisk the field of academic computing. He was 1981-84and again from 1987-91,and was modules for learning mathematics. He has mathematics editor for CONDUIT during a member of the Editorial Board of the won numerous awards, including the 1984 the 1980s. He has served as associate edi• American Mathematical Monthly from UCSC Alumni Association's Distin• tor for Mathematics Magazine and The 1981-86 before becoming editor, 1987• guished Teacher of the Year Award, and College Mathematics Journal, and as soft• 91. He was co-founder and later co-edi• was one of three awardees of a 1987 Ex- ware reviews editor for UME Trends. He tor-in-chief of the Journal ofAlgorithms, provided strong leadership as chair of the 13 FOCUS February 1996
MAA's Committeeon Computers in Math• ematics Education and has served on the advisory committee of the Interactive Mathematics Text Project, which was strongly influenced by his work. He is perhaps best known for Project CALC, a program which he developed with L. C. Moore at Duke University. Beckenbach Book Prize The Beckenbach Book Prize, established in 1986, is the successor to the MAA Book Prize. It is named for the late Edwin Beckenbach, a long-time leader in the Robert Bumcrot, Certificate of publications program of the Association. Meritorious Service awardee for the The prize is awarded for distinguished, Metropolitan New York Section innovative books published by the Asso• ciation. The prize this year goes to Constance Reid for her book The Search for E. T. Bell, Also Known as John Taine. Eric Temple Bell was a number theorist and president of the MAA, as well as the author of a number of popular expositions of mathematics and its history. Inher book, Reid describes the man behind these ac• complishments. Constance Reid. recipient of the After a career as a teacher of English and Beckenbach Book Prize for The Journalism in the San Diego City Schools, Search for E.T. Bell Reid wrote a bestselling book about a sum• mer vacation spent working on the B-24 production line during World War II.With the success of that first book, she was encouraged by her husband to devote her• Sylvan Burgstahler, Certificate of self to writing. She became a mathemati• Meritorious Service awardee for cal writer when an article on the first the North Central Section computer testing of Mersenne numbers was accepted by Scientific American and article on a mathematical topic by a mem• she was subsequently asked by a publisher Yueh-Gin Gung andDr. Charles Y. ber of the Association. The prize is named to write "a little book on numbers." The for William Chauvenet, a professor of Hu Award for Distinguished Ser• result was From Zero to Infinity, recently mathematics at the United States Naval vice to Mathematics republished by the MAA. She went on to Academy. write numerous books and articles on This is the most prestigious award made mathematics and mathematicians, includ• The prize for 1996 goes to Joan S. Birman by the Association. First given in 1990, it ing biographies of David Hilbert, Richard of Barnard College, Columbia University is the successor to the Award for Distin• Courant, Jerzy Neyman, and Eric Temple for her article New Points ofView in Knot guished Service to Mathematics and is Bell. With D. J. Albers and G. L. Theory, which appeared in the Bulletin of made possible by the late Dr. Hu and his Alexanderson, she edited More Math• the American Mathematical Society 28 wife, Yueh-Gin Gung. The awardee for ematical People and An Illustrated His• (1993), p. 253-287. 1996 is Andrew M. Gleason, who, before tory of International Mathematical his 1992 retirement, was the Hollis Pro• Professor Birman is well known for her Congresses. She is the recipient of the fessor of Mathematics and Natural Phi• work in knottheory. She obtained her Ph.D. MAA's P61ya Prize for her article about losophy at Harvard University. at the Courant Institute, New York Uni• her sister, The Autobiography of Julia versity, twenty years after receiving her Professor Gleason was an undergraduate Robinson. B.A. at Barnard and after raising three at Yale, where he was in the top five in the Chauvenet Prize children. She chaired the department at Putnam Competition for three years in a Barnard from 1973-87 and again from row. After four years in the navy, he be• The Chauvenet Prize for expository writ• 1989-91. She has been a Sloan Founda• came a junior fellow at Harvard in 1946. ing is given for an outstanding expository tion fellow and a Guggenheim fellow. His influence on mathematics education
14 February 1996 FOCUS mathematics from Lehigh University. He joined the faculty of Moravian College, where he served as chair, and since 1983 has been professor of Mathematics at Messiah College. He has served the East• ern Pennsylvania and Delaware Section as vice president and president, and has justcompleted a term as section governor. Robert Bumcrot served as chair of the Metropolitan New York Section from 1977-79 and was on the Board of Gover• nors from 1987-90. He has served on many national committees, was a member of the editorial board for The College Mathemat• Marvin L. Brubaker, Certificate of ics Journal from 1987-90, and was on the Donald W. Bushaw, Certificate of Meritorious Service awardee for Meritorious Service awardee for the Eastern Pennsylvania and editorial board for The Two-Year College the Pacific Northwest Section Delaware Section Mathematics Reader, published in 1984. Sylvan Burgstahler has served on the North Central Section as president and as gover• nor, as well as member-at-large. At the national level, he has also served as chair• person of the Committee to Review MAA Periodicals, as a member of the MAA Committee on Sections, and as MAA rep• resentative on the Mathematical Sciences Education Board. Professor Bushaw joined the faculty at Washington State University in 1952, be• coming full professor in 1962. From 1986 until his retirement in 1993, he served as vice provost for instruction at Washington State. From 1970 to 1973, he was a mem• Andrew M. Gleason, Yueh-Gin ber of the MAA's Board of Governors. He Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Distin• David A. Smith, Duke University, Educom Medal recipient has served on the Board of Editors for The guished Service award recipient College Mathematics Journal. Professor Meyer joined the faculty at has covered over forty years. He was chair• Development Committee. Central College in 1963 and has served as man of the Advisory Board to the School department chair there for eighteen years. Mathematics Study Group, he organized Certificates ofMeritorious He was section chair from 1978-79, gov• the Cambridge Conference on School Service ernor from 1983-86, and section newslet• Mathematics, and he was on the advisory ter editor from 1984-86 and again from board to USMES, the Unified Science and The Certificates of Meritorious Service 1991-95. Mathematics program in the Elementary are presented for service to the MAA at Schools. He was the chief mathematical the national level or for service to a sec• At the same awards ceremony, the Asso• advisor to Houghton Mifflin and the tion of the Association. This year's ciation for Women in Mathematics pre• Dolciani Series for many years. In recent awardees are: sented its Louise Hay Awards for years, his guiding hand can be seen Marvin L. Brubaker, Eastern Pennsylva• contributions to Mathematics Education throughout the Harvard Project Calculus. nia and Delaware Section to Glenda T. Chappan of Michigan State University and Judith Roitman of the In 1962 Gleason was the MAA's Earle Robert Bumcrot, Metropolitan New York University of Kansas. Raymond Hedrick Lecturer at the sum• Section mer meetings in Vancouver, British Co• The American Mathematical Society lumbia. In addition, he has served the Sylvan Burgstahler, North Central Section awarded the Oswald Veblen Prize in Ge• Association as a member of a number of Donald W. Bushaw, Pacific Northwest ometry to Richard Hamilton of the Uni• committees, including the Committee on Section versity of California, San Diego, and Gang the Putnam Prize Competition, the Com• Tian of the Massachussetts Institute of mittee on the Hedrick Lectures, the Sci• Donald V. Meyer, Iowa Section Technology. ence Policy Committee, and the Marvin Brubaker received his Ph.D. in 15 FOCUS February 1996 Public Lecture Attracts Large Audience
An estimated 500 people filled a large high school students and their teachers, Finally, Princeton's John Conway took to lecture hall at the University of California university undergraduates and graduate the stage with apresentation-somewould at Berkeley last December to hear three students, university faculty, and a substan• call it a performance, complete with audi• public lectures on mathematics. Sponsored tial number who declared themselves to ence participation-on Numbers and by the Mary P. Dolciani Halloran Founda• be 'others.' Knots. tion and the MAA, the event, titled Num• UC Berkeley professor Hendrik Lenstra MAA Associate Executive Director Don bers in Action, was organized by the spoke first, on Fermat's Little Theorem: Albers, who introduced the event, said Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Counting, Coding, and Computing. afterwards that the intention was to orga• (MSRI), which is located on the Berkeley nize similar evenings of public lectures at campus. The target audience waslocal high Next came Ellen Gethner, a postdoctoral venues around the country, possibly in school students and their teachers. fellow at MSRI, whose talk Prime Time conjunction with the national joint MAA• was about the distribution of the Gaussian A show of hands at the start of the event AMS meetings. primes among Gaussian integers. indicated that among those present were
Preliminary Call for NEW BOOKS FROM THE MAA Papers Five Hundred Mathematical Challenges MAA Undergraduate Student Edward J. Barbeau, William O. Moser, andMurray S. Klamkin Paper Sessions This book contains 500 problems that range over a wide spectrum of areas of high school mathematics and levels of difficulty. Some are simple mathematical puzzlers at while others are serious problems at the Olympiad level. Students of all levels ofinterest and ability will be entertained and learn from the book. For many problems, more than Seattle MathFest one solution is supplied so that students can see how different approaches can be taken to a problem and compare the elegance and efficiency of different tools that might be August 10-12,1996 applied. The ninth annual MAA Under• Teachers at both the college and secondary levels will find the book useful, both for encouraging their students and for their own pleasure. Some of the problems can be used graduate Student Paper Sessions to provide a little spice in the regular curriculum by demonstrating the power of very will take place at the joint MAA/ basic techniques. AMS summermeetings in Seattle, 300 pp., Paperbound, 1995; ISBN-0-88385-519-4 Washington, August 10-12, 1996. List: $29.50 MAA Member: $23.50 For further information and/or to Catalog Code: CHMPIFOC submit nominations for fifteen minute papers along with briefab• stracts, contactRon Barnes, Com• Learn from the Masters puter/Math Sciences, University Frank Swetz, John Fauve~ Otto Bekken, Bengt Johansson, Yictor Katz, Editors of Houston-Downtown, I Main This book is for high school and college teachers who want to know how they can use St., Houston, TX 77002; e-mail: the history of mathematics as a pedagogical tool to help their students construct their [email protected]. Partial travel own knowledge of mathematics. Often, a historical development of a particular topic supportfor student speakers at Se• is the best way to present a mathematical topic, but teachers may not have the time to attle is available through a grant do the research needed to present the material. from Exxon Education Founda• The book is divided into two sections: the first on the use of history in high school tion. mathematics; and the second on its use in university mathematics. The articles are diverse, covering fields such as trigonometry, mathematical modeling, Deadline for submission of calculus, linear algebra, vector analysis, and celestial mechanics. abstracts is July 5th. 312 pp., Paperbound, 1995; ISBN-0-88385-703-0 List: $23.00 MAA Member: $18.00 Catalog Code: LRM/FOC
16 February 1996 FOCUS Announcing Mathematics Awareness Week 1996 April 21-27, "Mathematics and Decision Making"
The MAA and the Joint Policy Board for Here is an opportunity to expose a wider the following: Mathematics invite you to join in the cel• audience to mathematics-from the cre• • A sample news release which you can ebration of the breadth and depth of math• ation and discovery of new mathematics adapt and mail to local media outlets ematics during Mathematics Awareness to its myriad uses in decision making. We Week, April 21-27, 1996. The theme for urge you to meet with your colleagues and • Articles on the theme Mathematics and Mathematics Awareness Week 1996 is begin planning for Mathematics Aware• Decision Making. Mathematics and Decision Making, a ness Week 1996 immediately. You can Last year, based on calls received, there wide-ranging topic to use as a focus for observe Mathematics Awareness Week were hundreds of radio and television communicating to a wider audience the 1996 with a special program on your cam• spots, and articles and editorials in local power and diversity of mathematics. pus, in your company, or at a local school. and institutional newspapers covering For ideas, look at the accompanying se• We all make many decisions daily, from MAW activities. Weencourage you to use lected summaries of activities held in 1995 the clothes we put on according to weather this opportunity to write an editorial on to celebrate Mathematics Awareness predictions to the routes we take to run mathematics or to generate a news release Week. errands. Many more are made for us by about your special MAW event. Be sure to the suppliers of goods and services we use The following items are among those that talk with your institution's public infor• and by the makers of public policies, for will be available under the Mathematics mation office about your ideas and activi• instance. Mathematics plays an important Awareness Week heading at http:// ties. The staff there might offer additional part in making many decisions. Better forum.swarthmore.edu/maw/: suggestions for using Mathematics Aware• understanding of the mathematics in• ness Week to increase public understand• •A sample proclamation to use in working volved will help us make better decisions ing about mathematics. with local officials in preparing a proc• and further understand those that affect lamation for your state or locality Once again there will be an electronic us. mailing list to discuss items related to •A list of available information on careers Mathematics and decision making in• MAW. To subscribe, send a message to in the mathematical sciences cludes such ideas as probability, risk, un• [email protected] with the following certainty, and prediction. Financial • A summary of mathematical resources, command in the body of your e-mail mes• decision making incorporates such tech• including reports on the improvement sage: niques as portfolio optimization, option of mathematics education and other subscribe maw-list
Need some ideas for activities for MAW Events included a lecture by Dr. Kenneth dred events were held throughout the 1996? Consider these, justa small sample Ross, titled "Random Walks and Shuf• month, engaging parents and children in ofwhat was done in 1995. fling," and an informal presentation and hands-on interactive activities for K-12 workshop by Dr. Ronald Graham on "The age groups. The governor issued a procla• The American University (Washington, Mathematics of Juggling." Dr. Graham mation designating April as Mathematics, DC) celebrated MAW with its seventh also gave the eleventh Annual Distin• Science, and Technology month in New annual problem solving contest. John guished Volwiler Science lecture on Jersey. Montroll, master designer of origami, gave "Searchingfor the Shortest Network."The atalk on that art form, andProfessor Danny Rochester Institute of Technology college also held activities involving high Gulick gave a lecture geared toward a (Rochester, NY) presented a lecture by school students-amathematics and com• general audience on his research in cha• Nobel Laureate Dr. Herbert Hauptman, puter science career night and a quiz show otic dynamical systems and fractal geom• president of the Hauptman-Woodward highlighting some of the clever ideas, fa• etry. Medical Research Institute, titled "A Mini• mous flaws, and fun of mathematics. mal Principle in the Phase Problem of X• Boston University (Boston, MA) held a Lycoming College (Williamsport, PA) Ray Crystallography." A mathematics poster exhibit on symmetry using M.C. cosponsored a Mathematics Awareness challenge competition was held for local Escher's designs and Mathematica com• Activity Day with the Pennsylvania Col• high school students. puter graphics to explain tessellations. lege of Technology. Over one hundred Professor Persi Diaconis was interviewed The University of Vermont (Burlington, students from area middle schools partici• for the MAA's Student Chapter Newslet• VT) sponsored several events including a pated in several activities including hands• ter, in which symmetry was a topic dis• talk on calculus reform given by Profes• on sessions exploring polyhedra, cussed. sor Tim Pennings from Hope College in probability, graphing calculators, math• Michigan. A pizza hour and discussion CentralCollege (Houston,TX) sponsored ematics games, and fractal geometry in followed the lecture.The Mathematics and a week of colloquia on the mathematical nature. A planetarium show was also held. Statistics Department held a poster con• sciences. Each lecture was followed by a Metro State College of Denver and the test on the theme of symmetry for K-8 reception at which students and faculty University of Coloradoat Denver(Den• students from area schools. UVM students participated in informal discussions. A ver, CO) cosponsored several events in• did the judging. A $50 savings bond was portfolio of students' projects, a videotape cluding a puzzle contest and scavenger awarded to the winning poster in each of library, and articles about MAW were on hunt. Students constructed a tetrahedral the nine grades. During MAW,mathemat• display in the mathematics department. Sierpinski sponge out of 1024 one-inch ics questions were broadcast daily on The forums, displays, and colloquia were tetrahedrons, which was displayed in the WRUV, with a T-shirt awarded for each promoted in local newspapers and on ra• campus bookstore. Several members of day's correct answer.Mathematics Aware• dio stations. faculty gave talks throughout the week. ness T-shirts were sold for $10. Eastern Kentucky University (Rich• External speakers gave a number of pre• WGBH Radio (Boston, MA) dedicated a mond, KY) sponsored the talk given by sentations on mathematics and the real program to mathematics in music in cel• award-winning educator Dr. Helen Reed, world. ebration of Mathematics AwarenessWeek. titled "Balance in a Negative World." A TheNew Jersey Mathematics Coalition RobertJ. Lurtsema, who hosts a five-hour contest to solve two mathematical prob• sponsored Math, Science, and Technol• classical music show on weekend morn• lems was advertised in local newspapers. ogy month during April. Some two hun- ings, discussed music and symmetry with Prizes included a TI-85 calculator and a his guest Professor David Epstein. copy of Derive. The governor issued a proclamation designating May 26, 1995 as Mathematics Awareness Day in Ken• tucky. Indiana University of Pennsylvania(In• diana, PA) held its third annual poster Research in Collegiate Mathematics contest in which four mathematics classes participated. The faculty judged the post• Education Call for Proposals ers, which were displayed along the halls of the mathematics classroom area. Research papers solicited for Conference in Collegiate Mathematics Education at Central Michigan University September 5-8, 1996. E-mail David Mathews at Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, IL) [email protected] or call (517) 774-4469. sponsored a week of activities in April.
18 February 1996 FOCUS Calculus Reform Workshop Program DIMACS Workshops, Egith five-day workshops will beoffered in the summer of 1996 at sites geographically Rutgers University distributed throughout the country. Each workshopwill have twenty-four participants. All expenses, except for participant travel, will be paid by an NSF grant. For more March 1996 information, contact Don Small, USMA, West point, NY 10996; (914) 938-2227; e• 4-6: Second Sandia National Laborato• mail: [email protected]. For information on a specific workshop, contact the ries Workshop on Computational Molecu• local coordinator. lar Biology, organized in collaboration June 2-7 Calculus Reform: Activities & Projects Instructor: Don Small (USMA). Local with DIMACS (to be held in Albuquer• Coordinator: Lawrence Woodward, Grambling University, Grambling LA 71245; (318) que, NM) 274-2402 11-13: DIMACS Special Year in Logic June 9-14IntegratediCore Approach to Calculus Instructors: Chris Arney, Don Small and Algorithms: Workshop on the (USMA). Local Coordinator: John Wolfe, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK Satisfiability Problem: Theory and Appli• 74078; (405) 744-5781 cations, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. Contact the workshop coordinator at June 16--21 Project Calc Instructors: David Smith, Lang Moore (Duke University). (908) 445-5939; e-mail: toci@dimacs. Local Coordinator: Clayton Dodge, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469; (207) 581• rutgers.edu. 3908 25-29: DIMACS Special Year in Logic June21-26 Calculus Using Mathematica Instructor: Keith Stroyan (University ofIowa). and Algorithms: Workshop on Computa• Local Coordinator: G. S. Gill, BrighamYoung University, Provo, UT 84602; (801) 378• tional and Complexity Issues inAutomated 2115 Verification, Rutgers University, June23-28AnActiveApproachwith Projects Instructors: Eric Robinson, Diane Schwartz, Piscataway, NJ. Contact the workshop Stan Seltzer. Local Coordinator: Mary Scherer, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA coordinator at (908) 445-5930; e-mail: 92373; (909) 793-2121 [email protected]. July 21-26 Teaching Calculus for the Engineering, Physical, and Mathematical Sci• April 1996 ences Instructors: Elgin Johnston, Jerry Mathews, Brian Keller (Iowa State University). 10-12: DIMACS Special Year in Logic Local Coordinators: Brian Keller, Jerry Mathews, Iowa State University, Ames, IA and Algorithms: Workshop on Logic and 50011; (515) 294-7294. Optimization, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. Contact the workshop July 21-26 St. OlafProject Instructors: Arnie Osteebee, Paul Zorn (St. Olaf College). coordinator at (908) 445-5930; e-mail: Local Coordinator: K. Gunawardena, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, WI 54901; [email protected]. (414) 424-1056 21-24: DIMACS Special Year on Logic July 28-August 2 Calculus in a Real and Complex WorldInstructors: FrankWattenberg, and Algorithms: Workshop on Feasible Margo Mankus (Weber State University), Larry Peterson (Bonneville High School). Arithmetics and Length of Proofs, Rutgers Local Coordinator: Gene Wayne, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA University, Piscataway, NJ. Contact the 16803; (814) 865-3661 workshop coordinator at (908) 445-5930; e-mail: [email protected]. NSF Science &Technology Center for May 1996 6--7: DIMACS Special Year in Logic and Discrete Mathematics & Theoretical Algorithms: Workshop on Controllers for Manufacturing and Automation: Specifi• cation, Synthesis, and Verification Issues, Computer Science Rutgers University. Contact the workshop coordinator at (908) 445-5930; e-mail: 1996-97 DIMACS REV Program, Rutgers University toci@dimacs. rutgers.edu. Eight weeks during May and August (arranged individually), hosting five to seven The workshops will be held at DIMACS, students, pending funding availability from the NSF. Possible project areas: computa• Rutgers University. For more information, tional biology or chemistry, combinatorics, computational group theory, algorithm contact DIMACS Center, (908) 445-5928, complexity. Stipend: $3000 (includes room/board expense) plus travel. (U.S. citizens e-mail: [email protected]; and permanent residents only.) Electronic information/application: reuappl@ WWW: http://dimacs.rutgers.edul; telnet: dimacs.rutgers.edu; WWW URL: http://dimacs.rutgers.edu. Contact: Deborah telnet info.rutgers.edu 90. Franzblau (REU coordinator), DIMACS, Core Bldg., Busch Campus, Rutgers Univer• sity, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1179; (908) 445-4573 or (908) 445-5928; e-mail [email protected]; application deadline: March 1, 1996.
19 FOCUS February 1996
Reformed Calculus in Performance: What papers describing significant changes in MAA Contributed Works, What to Fix content and/or pedagogy (e.g., computer Saturday and Sunday afternoons use, cooperative and/or constructive learn• Papers in Seattle ing) in these courses. While papers about WalterKelley*, Departmentof Mathemat• curricular changes in all advanced math• The MathematicalAssociation ofAmerica ics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK ematics courses will be considered, pref• and the American Mathematical Society 73019; (405) 325-3782; fax: (405) 325• erence may be given tocourses notfeatured will hold their last joint MathFest this 7484; email: wkelley@ uoknor.edu in paper sessions at recent national meet• century from Saturday, August 10, 1996 Curtis McKnight, University of Oklahoma ings. through Monday, August 12, 1996 in Se• attle, Washington. The complete meetings The continuing efforts at calculus reform Teaching and Learning Mathematics as a program will appear in the April 1996 is• have by now provided considerable infor• Laboratory Science sue of FOCUS and the May 1996 issue of mation on what has worked well in reform Sunday and Monday afternoons efforts, what has not, and in what direc• the AMS Notices. This preliminary an• Marcelle Bessman *,Departmentof Math• tions reform of various reform efforts nouncement is designed to alert partici• ematics, Jacksonville University, Jackson• should go. This session invites papers on pants about the MAA's contributed papers ville,FL32211 ;(904) 745-7300; fax: (904) the investigation of calculus reform sessions and their deadlines. 745-7573; e-mail: mbessrnats'junix.ju.edu projects, especially formal assessment Please note that the days scheduled for studies, and on possible directions of fu• David Smith, Duke University these sessions remain tentative. The orga• ture innovation. nizers solicit contributed papers pertinent Computers and graphing calculators can to their sessions; proposals should be di• Mathematicians in the K-8 Classroom be used as tools for exploration of math• rected to the organizer whose name is fol• Saturday and Monday afternoons ematical concepts and constructs as well as for "discovery of mathematical truths." lowed by an asterisk (*). Una Bray*, Department of Mathematics Through integrated use of this technology, and ComputerScience, Skidmore College, Sessions generally limit presentations to the classroom becomes a laboratory for Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-1632; (518) ten minutes, but selected participants may instruction and learning. For this session, 584-5000 ext. 2246; e-mail: ubray@ extend their contributions up to twenty the organizers invite papers which focus skidmore.edu minutes. Each session room contains an on uses of technology in the mathematics overhead projector and screen; black• R. Daniel Hurwitz, Skidmore College classroom. boards will not be available. Persons need• ing additional equipment should contact, The elementary and middle school class• Submission Procedures for as soon as possible, but prior to May 3, rooms may be the most difficult and yet Contributed PaperProposals 1996:Donovan H.VanOsdol, Department the most important arenas for mathemati• After you haveselected a session to which of Mathematics, University of New Hamp• cians to make contributions to educational you wish to contribute a paper, forward shire, Durham, NH 03824; e-mail: reform. But members of college and uni• the following directly to the organizer(in• [email protected]. versity faculties can make a difference in how young students (and teachers) per• dicated above with an asterisk (*): Innovative Teaching in First-year ceive mathematics. Many are already do• • the name(s) and addressees) of the College Mathematics Courses ing so, but their efforts may not be well author(s); and Saturday and Sunday afternoons known. This session invites papers on • a one-page summary of your paper experiences and programs, successful or Howard L. Penn*, Department of Math• The summary should enable the ematics 572 Holloway Rd, U.S. Naval otherwise, which mathematicians have dared to try. organizer(s) to evaluate the appropriate• Academy, Annapolis, MD 21402-5002; ness of your paper for the selected ses• (410) 293-6768; fax: (410) 293-4883; e• Innovations in Mathematics Courses sion. Consequently, you should include mail: [email protected] Beyond Linear Algebra as much detailed information as possible Aaron I. Stucker Washburn University Saturday and Sunday afternoons within the one-page limitation. This session will present talks describing Janet L. Beery*, University of Redlands, Your summary must reach the desig• innovative techniques in the teaching of Department of Mathematics, 1200 E. nated organizer by Monday, April 22, mathematics courses typically taught in Colton Ave, Redlands, CA 92373; (909) 1996. The organizer will acknowledge the first year of college. Innovative tech• 793-2121; fax: (909) 793-2029; e-mail: receipt of all paper summaries. You will niques include (but are not limited to) the [email protected] receive notification from the organizerby May 10, 1996, whether your paper has use of technology, writing projects, and Steven Morics, University of Redlands cooperative learning. Submission of pro• been accepted. Please note that, unlike posals via electronic mail is preferred by Spurred by reforms in the lower division previous MathFests, there will be no pub• the organizers. curriculum, mathematics educators now lished abstracts for this meeting. are making substantial revisions in upper Do not forward completed summaries division mathematics courses. We invite to the MAA or the AMS. They are to be sent to the session organizer.
20 February 1996 FOCUS Call for Proposals NSF K-12 Teacher Enhancement Projects The Division of Elementary, Secondary, of middle school mathematics. Allprojects Apreliminary proposal tothe NSFTeacher and Informal Education at the NSF has are expected to focus on teacher enhance• Enhancement Program is required before announced the next phase of its initiative ment with attention to the implementation a full proposal can be accepted. Prelimi• to implement education reform at the of exemplary instructional materials, as nary proposals must be submitted no later school district level, extending the math• well as participate in a standardized evalu• than April I, with full proposals post• ematics and science focus for grades K-8 ation to ensure accountability and moni• marked no later than September 2. Pro• to secondary school mathematics. "Local tor progress. posals for planning grants do not require Systemic Change Through Teacher En• apreliminary proposal and willbe received School systems or coalitions of school hancement in Mathematics, Grades 7-12" at NSF anytime. districts, in partnership with organizations (LSCM) projects will continue a shift in with a scientific or educational mission, Further information is contained in the focus from the professional development are eligible to submit proposals. Projects Program Solicitation and Guidelines for ofthe individual teacher totheprofessional must provide teacher enhancement for a Local Systemic Change Through Teacher development of the teacher within the minimum of one hundred teachers; each Enhancement in Mathematics, Grades 7• whole school organization. Supported participating teacher must receive a mini• 12 (NSF 95-145), which is available viae• projects could be designed to impact all mum of 130 hours of professional devel• mail ([email protected]) or as a printed teachers of grades 7-12 mathematics or a opment over the life of the project. The publication via phone (703) 306-1130, fax subset thereof, such as all teachers of maximum request (which includes indi• (703) 644-4278, or written request to NSF grades 9-12 mathematics. Projects may rect costs) for an award is determined by Forms & Publications Unit, 4201 Wilson also include middle school teachers of multiplying the total number of partici• Blvd., Room P-15, Arlington, VA 22230. grades 5-6 if their school environment is pating teachers by $4500. No more than Individuals wishing to discuss potential designed around clusters having a disci• $1 million may be requested per project LSCM projects should contact Dr. Diane plinary focus and they are part of a com• per year. Spresser at the NSF, (703) 306-1613; e• prehensive project that impacts teachers mail: [email protected].
1996 STATS Workshops Supported by the National Science Foun• resources for teaching statistics June 9-16, 1996,University of the Pacific, dation, the Mathematical Association of Stockton, California • engender lasting collegial relationships America will conduct two week-long resi• among mathematicians who teach sta• June 16-23, 1996 Dickinson College, dential faculty development workshops in tistics. Carlisle, Pennsylvania the summer of 1996. These STATSwork• shops are designed for mathematicians Each workshop will feature sessions led The application deadline is March 15, (and other college faculty) who teach by two leading statistics educators who 1996.For more information and to receive courses in introductory statistics but have are also applied statisticians. These ses• application forms, please contact Jane little formal training in the subject. Goals sions will involve workshop participants Heckler, STATSProject Registrar, MAA, of the workshops are to help the faculty actively in their own learning by present• 1529 Eighteenth Street NW, Washington participants to: ing topics and activities that lend them• DC 20036-1385; (202) 387-5200; fax selves to direct use with students. (202) 265-2384; e-mail: jheckler@maa. • teach statistical thinking with more data Workshop participants will also work in org. You may also direct questions to and concepts, less theory, and fewer reci• teams to conduct a statistical project that project directors Allan Rossman pes involves designing the study and collect• ([email protected]; (717) 245• • explore active learning alternatives to ing data as well as analyzing the data and 1668) and Tom Short (short@monet. the lecture method in their teaching of reporting the results. vill.edu; (610) 519-6961). statistics Support from NSF covers room and board • use technology as an active learning tool expenses for the week-long workshop and in their statistics courses will also provide workshop materials re• lated to teaching statistics. Participants or • make effective use of authentic assess• their institutions areexpected tocover their ment practices in evaluating the work of own travel expenses and to have e-mail their statistics students accounts. The schedule for the 1996 work• • discover a myriad of print and electronic shops is:
21 FOCUS February 1996 NSF-CBMS Regional Research Confer• NSF Undergraduate ences in the Mathematical Sciences Faculty Enhancement Contingent upon National Science Foun• EulerProducts andEisenstein Series Workshop dation funding, it is anticipated that three Goro Shimura, lecturer NSF-CBMS Regional Research Confer• Teaching Undergraduate Geometry ences will be held in the summer of 1996. May 19-24, Texas Christian University June 10-15, 1996 Thesethree will bring to 257 the total num• Robert Doran, Ze-Li Dou, and George T. Cornell University Gilbert, organizers ber ofsuch conferences held in the twenty• This workshop is intended for college (817) 921-7335; [email protected];z.dou@ eight year history of this NSF-CBMS and university faculty who teach (or soon tcu.edu; [email protected] Regional Research Conference Series. will teach) an undergraduate geometry These conferences are intended to stimu• Advances in Inverse course including courses typically at• late interest and activity in mathematical Spectral Geometry tended by future or inservice teachers. research. Each five-day conference fea• Carolyn S. Gordon, lecturer In the mornings, the participants will ex• tures a distinguished lecturer who deliv• June 24-28, Texas Tech University perience a learning and teaching envi• ers ten lectures on a topic of important Lance D. Drager, Ruth E. Gornet, and ronment that is innovative both in terms current research in one sharply focused Jeffrey M. Lee, organizers ofcontentand in terms ofteaching meth• area of the mathematical sciences. The (806) 742-1429; (806) 742-2578; (806) ods. The content will be the integration lecturer subsequently prepares an exposi• 742-2574;[email protected];gornet@ of geometrieson plane, sphere, and other tory monograph basedupon these lectures, math.ttu.edu; [email protected] surfaces, presented through problems which is normally published as a part ofa Normal Surfaces andDecision which emphasizeexperiencingthe mean• regional conference series. Depending ings in the geometry. Student explora• upon the conference topic, the monograph Problems in 3-Manifolds tions, small group learning, and writing is published by the American Mathemati• J. Hyam Rubinstein, lecturer assignments will be examined. cal Society, the Society for Industrial and August 1996 (exact dates to be an• Applied Mathematics, or jointly by the nounced), University ofCalifornia, Davis In the afternoons, there will be seminars American Statistical Association and the Joel Hass, organizer and presentations on topics related to the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. (916) 752-1082; [email protected] workshoptheme, including How toWrite GoodExploratory Problems, Using Writ• Support for about thirty participants is Information about an individual confer• ing in Mathematics, Curriculum Devel• provided and the conference organizer ence may be obtained by contacting the opments in School Geometry, Using invites both established researchers and conference organizer. Information about ComputerTechnology in Geometry, For• interested newcomers, including the series and guidelines for submitting mal versus Intuitive Knowing in Geom• postdoctoral fellows and graduate stu• proposals for future conferences may be etry. In addition, there will be ample free dents, to attend. obtainedby writing or callingCBMS, 1529 time for informal discussions and enjoy• 18thSt NW,Washington, DC 20036; (202) Pending NSF funding, the three confer• ment of the geometry of nature in and 293-1170; fax: (202) 265-2384. The clos• around Ithaca. ences anticipated to be held in 1996 are: ing date for submission of proposals for the 1997 series is April 1, 1996. Most of the housing and food expenses will be covered by the NSF for all par• ticipants. There are also expected to be NSF funds available to support travel costs for participating faculty from in• stitutions with limited resources. The Summer Seminar on Workshop Calculus NSF will also support follow-up activi• ties by the participants after the work• for College &University Instructors shop, including local workshops, exchange of related classroom materi• Using Interactive Pedagogics & Technology toTeach als, and communication of experiences Fundamental Mathematical Concepts and ideas. June 23-29, 1996 For more information and application Exposure to interactive teaching methods; experience using Mac and IBM software procedures, contact: WWW http://math. tools, including a CAS, ISETL, and MBL/CBL tools; customization ofcurricular and cornell.edu/-dwh; or e-mail: dwh@ assessment materials. math.comell.edu; or write to Geometry Workshop, Dept. of Math, Cornell Uni• For more information, contact Joanne Weissman, Dept. of Math, Dickinson College, versity, Ithaca, NY 14853-790I. Carlisle, PA 17013; (717) 245-1857; e-mail: [email protected].
22 February 1996 FOCUS Ohio Section 1996 Summer Short Course ATLAST Actuarial Mathematics 1996 Linear The MAA Ohio Section will hold a summer short course in Actuarial Mathematics, June 3-5, 1996, on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Algebra Workshops The course will be conducted by Professor Matthew Carlton, a Ph.D. in math and a principal in American Benefit Corporation, an insurance consulting firm, where he has ATLAST is an NSF Project to Augment practiced for over two decades. the Teaching of Linear Algebra through the use of Software Tools.The project will Topics will include an overview of the actuarial profession and the actuarial exams, offer two faculty workshops on the use of employment prospects fornew graduates, advancement opportunities, suggestedcourses software in teaching linear algebra during for student advising, actuarial problems to apply in traditional mathematics courses, the summer of 1996: actuarial topics for seminars, the theory of interest, numerical analysis topics and mortality tables. Demonstrations will be in the area of pension mathematics, which is Salve Regina University, Newport, RI Carlton's specialty and which he feels is also the most interesting mathematically. June 12-15 Lodging is available through local hotels and motels at competitive rates. Course University ofCalifornia San Diego, La registration fee is $100, and the deadline for the $50 deposit is May 3. Checks should Jolla,CAJuly 24-27 bemade payable to the Marshall University Research Corporation, and they should be marked "Actuarial Mathematics." Registrations may be sent to Actuarial Mathematics, Workshop participants will learn about Department of Mathematics, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755-2560. For existing software for linear algebra and more information, contact David Cusick at the above address; (304) 696-3038; e-mail: will be trained in the use of the MATLAB [email protected]. This announcement and any updates will be posted software package. Attendees will design on the MAA Ohio Section home page. classroom lessons that incorporate com• puter software making use of ATLAST materials that were developed in previous Program in Mathematics for Young workshops. These materials will be in• cluded in the forthcoming ATlASTBook Scientists (PROMYS) ofComputer Exercises (Prentice-Hall, fall 1996). Participants will also leam to de• Boston University; June 30-August10,1996 sign computer exercises and lab projects for inclusion in the ATLASTdatabase and PROMYS offers a lively mathematical broad view of mathematics and its role in possible inclusion in future editions of the environment in which ambitious high the sciences. ATLAST book. school students explore the creative world PROMYS is a residential program de• of mathematics. Through their intensive The ATLAST Project provides room and signed for sixty ambitious high school efforts to solve a large assortment of un• board for participants attending the work• students entering grades 10 through 12. usually challenging problems in number shops. All teachers of undergraduate lin• Admission decisions will be based on the theory, the participants practice the art of ear algebra courses at colleges or following criteria: applicants' solutions to mathematical discovery-numerical ex• universities in the USA are invited to ap• a set of challenging problems included ploration, formulation and critique of con• ply.The deadline for applications isMarch with the application packet; teacher rec• jectures, and techniques of proof and 21, 1996. Late applications will be ac• ommendations; high school transcripts; generalization. More experienced partici• cepted on a space available basis. and the student essays explaining their pants may also study other advanced top• interest in the program. Contact Steven J. Leon, Department of ics. Problem sets are accompanied by daily Mathematics, University ofMassachusetts lectures given by research mathematicians The estimated cost to participants is about Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA 02747• with extensive experience in Professor $1300 for room and board. Books may 2300; (508) 999-8320; fax: (508) 999• Arnold Ross's longstanding Summer cost an additional $100. Financial aid is 8901;e-mail:[email protected] Mathematics Program at Ohio State Uni• available. PROMYS is dedicated to the versity.In addition ahighlycompetent staff principle that no student will be unable to of eighteen college-aged counselors lives attend because of financial need. in the dormitories and is always available PROMYS is directed by Professor Glenn todiscuss mathematics with students.Each Stevens. For application materials, con• participant belongs to a problem-solving tactPROMYS, Dept.of Math, Boston Uni• group which meets with a professional versity, III Cummington St., Boston, MA mathematician three times per week. Spe• 02215; (617) 353-2563. Applications will cial lectures by outside speakers offer a be accepted from March I until June I.
23 FOCUS February 1996 Reform Calculus Shortcourse History of Calculus Enhanced with Computer-Algebra Mathematics and Graphing Using the TI-92 Institute Would you like to teach a course in the University of MassachusettsAmherst history of mathematics? Does your col• lege or university plan to offer such a June 24-28, 1996 course soon for prospective teachers to College and university faculty and high school calculus instructors are invited to at• implement the recommendations of the tend. Each participant will have loan of a TI-92 for the week. Computer-based labora• MAA, NCTM, and NCATE? Do you tory instruments will also be available for data collection. Real-world applications and want to learn how the history of math• other calculus reform pedagogy will be featured. ematics will help you in teaching other mathematics courses? Continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, and instructional materials will be provided. Texas Instruments will have reduced prices on the TI-82 ($55), TI-85 ($60), CBL Ifyou answered yes to any of these ques• ($110), and TI-92 ($120). (Prices subject to change.) tions, you are invited to apply to partici• pate in the second MAA Institute in the The presenter is Joe Fiedler (Ohio State University and the guest lecturer is Frank History of Mathematics and its Use in Demana (Ohio State University). Applicants will be accepted on a first come-first Teaching. It will take place at American served basis upon receipt of the $150 registration fee. Conference rates are available University,Washington, DC, June 3-21, at the Campus Center Hotel. Checks are payable toUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst 1996, with work continuing through an Mathematics Department and should be mailed to Dr. Mary Ann Connors, Dept. of electronic network during the academic Mathematics and Statistics, Lederle Graduate Research Tower, University of Massa• year 1996-97. Participants will return to chusetts, Amherst, MA 01003; (413) 545-0907; e-mail: [email protected]. Washington for three additional weeks in June 1997. The teaching staff of the institute consists ofwell known histori• ans of mathematics, including V. Frederick Rickey, Victor J. Katz, Steven H. Schot, Ronald Calinger, Ubiritan 0'Ambrosio,Judy Green, UtaMerzbach, Call for Papers David Pengelley, James Donaldson, and Karen Parshall. Activities at the institute Symposium on Teaching Logic and Reasoning in an Illogical World include reading of original sources, sur• vey lectures. small group projects. trips Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey to rare book libraries, and discussions of methods ofconducting ahistory of math• July 25-26, 1996 ematics course and of using history in the teaching of other mathematics Sponsored jointly by the DIMACS Special Year on Logic and Algorithms, Rutgers courses. Participants will also have the University, and the Association for Symbolic Logic in conjunction with the Federated opportunity to interact with mathemati• Logic Conference, the symposium will explore the teaching of introductory logic and cians who will be returning to the insti• logical thinking, with a primary focus on the college level and a secondary focus on the tute for their second year. high school level. The symposium will be interdisciplinary, emphasizing and contrast• ing approaches used in mathematics, computerscience, natural sciences, and engineer• Applications are strongly encouraged ing. Topics of interest include but are not limited to Pedagogical Approaches and from faculty at small institutions, at mi• Cognitive Models of Logical Reasoning, Empirical Studies and Exemplary Course nority-serving institutions, and institu• Material, Innovative Approaches and Courseware for Teaching Logic. tions that prepare secondary teachers. Please submit an extended abstract of at most four pages to David Gries, Computer For more information and application Science, Upson Hall,Cornell University,Ithaca, NY 14853;e-mail: [email protected] forms, contact V. Frederick Rickey at (e-mail inpostscriptformispreferred).Thedead1ineforsubmissionsisAprill.No• (419) 372-7452 or VictorJ. Katz at (202) tification of acceptance will be May I. 274-5374; or preferably bye-mail: [email protected] [email protected]• For further information, contact Peter Henderson, Dept. of Computer Science, SUNY plications are due by March 15, 1996. Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4400; (516) 632-8463; e-mail: Applicants will be notified of their ac• [email protected]. ceptance ordeclination byApril 15. 1996.
24 February 1996 FOCUS Newfrom the MAA From Erdos to From Martin Gardner- Mathematical jokes, mathematical magic, and a dose of fun Kiev Problems ofOlympiad Caliber New Mathematical Diversions Ross Honsberger Martin Gardner A revised version ofa book previously published by University ofChicago Press. Ross Honsbergersums up his reason for writ• ing his latest book this way, Instructive reading for students, teachers, mathematicians at all levels, "A proof can be a wonderful thing, and it is as well as interested laypersons. my hope that the reader will be thrilled by a Offered here are twenty reprints from Martin Gardner's monthly corner in Scientific leisurely presentation of some of the things that have fascinated me. Writing to give American. Gardner tells us that his book is a book of "mathematical jokes," if "joke" is pleasure is far different from writing to in• taken in a sense broad enough to include any kind of mathematics that is mixed with a struct, and I hope this is evident in the style strong element of fun. Readers of this book will be treated to a heavy dose of fun, and of ofpresentation. It does wonders forread• they will learn a lot about mathematics along the way. ers' attitudes if they believe that your only interest is to show them something beauti• Martin Gardner instructs us about mathematics as he entertains us with wit and a sense ful; such a conviction is strong encourage• of the absurd. He stimulates, challenges, and delights his readers. Martin Hollis (in New ment for them to commit to the level of Scientist) says it best when he says of Gardner's work, "Should you ever need to explain concentration necessary for the appreciation subatomic particles to a Stone-age man, send for Martin Gardner...He leaves open ques• of these gems." tions open, conveys the thrill of the chase and deals flawlessly with hard and simple ideas Ross Honsberger's love of mathematics alike." comes through very clearlyin FromErdOs to Kiev. Hepresents intriguing,stimulating prob• Some of the problems you will find here are: lems that can be solved with elementarymath• • Group Theory and Braids ematical techniques. It will give pleasure to motivated students and their teachers, but it • The Games and Puzzles of Lewis Carroll will also appeal to anyone who enjoys a math• ematical challenge. • The Transcendental Number Pi Most of the problems in the collection have • Victor Eigen: Mathemagician appeared on national or international Olym• piads or other contest. Thus, they are quite • Polyominoes and Fault-Free Rectangles challenging (with solutions that are all the • Euler's Spoilers: The Discovery of an Order-IO Graeco-Latin Square more rewarding). The solutions use straight• forward arguments from elementary math• • The 24 Color Squares and the 30 Color Cubes ematics (often not very technical arguments) with only the occasional foray into sophisti• • Bridg-it and Other Games cated or advanced ideas. Anyone with a fa• Answers are provided for these problems, as well as references for further reading and cility with high school mathematicsis capable of appreciating a large part of the book. a bibliography. Martin Gardner's Postscript section provides updates to the problems. The problems included in this collection are Catalog Code: DIVERIFOC taken from geometry, number theory, prob• 272 pp., Paperbound, 1995 ability, and combinatorics. Solutions to the problems are included. ISBN 0-88385-517-8 Catalog Code: OOL-17/FOC List: $19.95 MAA Member: $16.50 250 pp., Paper, 1995 ISBN-0-88385-324-8 List: $31.00 MAA Member: $23.50 Call 1-800-331-1622, or use order form on page 38
25 FOCUS February 1996 Newfrom the MAA
A Practical Guide to Models that Work Cooperative Learning in Case Studies in Effective Mathematics Programs Alan C. Tucker, Editor The report describes general attitudes and Collegiate Mathematics strategies as well as particular activities A wonderful resource for anyone who that are effective. Based on the site visits, wants to improve their undergraduate Nancy L. Hagelgans, Barbara E. it suggests ways that you can create and mathematics programs. Here are samples Reynolds, Keith E. Schwingendorf, sustain an environment that will foster of programs that really do work! Draga Vidakovic, Ed Dubinsky, such attitudes and activities at your own Mazen Shahin, G. Joseph Wimbish, This study focuses on key aspects of the institution. The institutions profiled span Jr. undergraduate mathematics enterprise. the spectrum from two-year colleges to research universities. This book will greatly help readers intro• • effective instruction duce cooperative learning in their own un• The site visits reveal that there is no single • advising dergraduate mathematics classes. key to a successful undergraduate pro• Instructors who have tried some group ac• • tailoring the curriculum to students' gram in mathematics. Almost any ap• tivities as well as those who have not been needs proach can be made to work in almost any involved at all with cooperative learning institutional context if your mathemati• • interactions between students and math- will find here detailed, useful discussions cal faculty care deeply about undergradu• ematics faculty. on every aspect of cooperative learning. ate education, if they create an atmosphere The book reflects the extensive experience If you are a faculty member seeking to where faculty and students view the study of the authors as well as that of over forty improve your undergraduate program, of mathematics as important and reward• colleagues who responded to a survey on you will find useful information in this ing, and if they maintain close interac• cooperative learning. Throughoutthe book volume. It offers summaries of effective tions with their students. cooperative learning is related to educa• practices at a set of mathematics depart• There is much to be learned from these tional research results, which are clearly ments that are: explained in one chapter. "models that work" that we can apply at • attracting and training large numbers of our own institutions. The authors' approach to cooperative mathematics majors; learning involves students working in Catalog Code: NTE-38/FOC • preparing students to pursue advanced heterogeneous groups, usually assigned ISBN-0-88385 for the duration of the course. Students study in mathematics; IJ 2 pp., 1995 become responsiblefor each others' learn• • preparing future school mathematics ing since the cooperative spirit permeates teachers; or List: $24.00 MAA Member: $18.00 every facet of the course; homework, labo• ratory assignments, classes, and even some • attracting and training underrepresented tests. groups in mathematics. The book includes directions for organiz• ing students into groups as well as com• plete descriptions of what these groups do summarizes forms of cooperative learning Catalog Number: NTE-37/FOC once they are formed. Examples of group used by others. An extensive and anno• problems and group test questions for 190 pp., Paperbound, 1995 tated bibliography is also included. This various mathematics courses illustrate the book is a valuable resource for any in• ISBN 0-88385-096-6 work that can be expected of students in structor who uses cooperative learning cooperative learning groups. The authors List: $24.00 MAA Member: $18.00 groups in an undergraduate mathematics present methods for monitoring groups and class. dealing with problems that may arise in a cooperative learning environment. They also address the question of student as• sessment. Call 1-800-331-1622, In addition to descriptions of their own methods, the authors include achapterthat or use order form on page 38 26 February 1996 FOCUS
uted paper sessions included thirteen fac• Hill (Temple University) and Gerald J. ulty and thirteen student papers. The Porter (University of Pennsylvania); and FOCUS on Sections section's Distinguished Teaching Award "MAPLE Projects for Differential Equa• was presented to Donato (Dan) DeFelice tions and Linear Algebra," by Charles E. 1994-95 of Duquesne University, and the section's Ashley (Villanova University). Both meet• Distinguished Service Award was pre• ings included sessions for student-contrib• This is the annual report from the MAA sented to BarbaraFaires atthe annual joint uted papers, which drew twelve student Committee on Sections to the MAA mem• MAA-AMS mathematics meetings in San speakers from eight institutions. Each stu• bership on the activities of the twenty-nine Francisco in January 1995. The section's dent presenter received a framed certifi• MAA sections for the academic year 1994• eleventh annual summer short course, cate commemorating the event. Patricia 95. As the report reveals, the twenty-nine "Modular Forms, Elliptic Curves, and Purdue of Bryn Mawr College won the sections of the MAA continue their rich Fermat's Last Theorem," presented by Student Paper Contest. The section pre• and diverse activities in celebration of Fernando Gouvea (Colby College), was sented its 1995 EPADEL Section Distin• mathematics at the regional level. Coop• held atAllegheny College for the fivedays guished Teaching Awardto Herbert S.Wilf eration among sections continues, includ• June 26- 30. (University of Pennsylvania). The section ing joint meetings. Cooperation between presents each winner of this award with The Allegheny Mountain Section is MAA sections and other regional math• $500 for the purchase of mathematics pleased about the level of student involve• ematical organizations such as the AMS, books for the awardee's department or ment in its meetings. The section has a the states' mathematics coalitions and institutional library. The section offered a Student Program Coordinatoravailable for SSls, statewide affiliates of the NCTM and five-day summer workshop in 1995 at consultation to all MAA Student Chapters of AMATYC, Pi Mu Epsilon and Mu Al• Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsyl• within the section, and it gives grants to pha Theta, is also much in evidence this vania, titled "Interdisciplinary Lively student chapters for special projects, such year. The sections show much continuing Applications Projects." The three present• as the open house/career workshop hosted work to provide services and programs for ers were Frank Giordano (United States this year by the MAA Student Chapter at students, student members, and MAA Stu• Military Academy), David Chris Arney, Shephard College. Through high school dent Chapters. Included are award pro• and Kathy Snook. Messiah College was principals, the section awards MAA books grams, competitions, conferences, lecture also the site of the EPADEL Section's to high-scoring students on the AHSME series, minicourses, student paper sessions Student Careers Conference in October competitions in the section. and poster sessions, and regional or local 1995. At this biannual event, the section subsectional meetings of MAA Student EPADEL Section held two meetings. The offers student chapters ideas for local chap• Chapters. Because of the work of the indi• fall meeting was heldon November 5, 1994 ter activities and notice of programs at the vidual MAA sections, the MAA's national at Montgomery County Community Col• section and national levels. Other activi• program to recognize excellence in math• lege. There were four invited addresses: ties the section conducts for students are ematics teaching continues strong. This "Ruin and Riches from Bachelierto Black• contributed paper sessions for students at process culminated again this year in the Scholes," by J. Michael Steele (Wharton section meetings and an annual Student presentations of the three national Deborah School, University of Pennsylvania); "In• Paper Contest, whose winner is honored and Franklin Tepper Haimo Awards for ference Beyond Logic," by Karvel at the section's spring meeting. The sec• Distinguished College or University Thornber(NEC Research Institute); "Port• tion notes that their two meetings attracted Teaching of Mathematics at the national folio and Student Self-Assessment in an more student participants than have pre• joint meeting ofthe MAA and theAMS in Undergraduate Calculus Course," by Lyn vious meetings. San Francisco in January 1995. Stallings (American University); and "Bi• The FloridaSection'sannual meeting was furcation, Catastrophe, Singularity,andAll The Committee on Sections is pleased to held at Valencia Community College in That," by James P. Fink (Gettysburg Col• offer this report of the activities of the Orlando, March 2-3,1995. At this meet• lege). The theme of the spring meeting, twenty-nine sections of the MAA. ing, the section presented its Award for April 8, 1995 at King's College, was "In• Distinguished College or University Allegheny Mountain Section's spring teractive Text Materials." There were five Teaching of Mathematics to Donovan 1995 meeting, held April 7-8 at Duquesne invited addresses: "Calculus & Lichtenberg (University of South Florida) University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, fea• Mathematical' by William J. Davis (Ohio and its Distinguished Service Award to tured the minicourse "The Perfect Card State University); "Teaching Students to Bruce Edwards (University of Florida). Shuffle," by S. Brent Morris and four in• Play: The Promise of Interactive Work• For the first time, the section ran a career vited addresses: "Soap Bubble Clusters books," by James White (University of fair for students in the central Florida re• and Current Research, Some by Under• North Carolina, Institute for Academic gion who were honor roll students on the graduates," by Frank Morgan (Williams Technology); "Explorationsin Mathemat• 1994American Junior High School Math• College), "The Abstract KeyofMathemat• ics Using MathKit," by Charles E. ematics Exam. Industry representatives ics," by Jerry King (Lehigh University), Hofmann (LaSalle University) and participated in the fair and made presenta• "Mathematical Puzzles," by Barbara Roseanne S. Hofman (Montgomery tions of awards. Held at the University of Faires (Westminster College), and "Was County Community College); "Interactive Central Florida and sponsored by the MAA Cauchy a Revolutionary?" by David LinearAlgebra in MathCad," by David R. Bressoud (Macalester College). Contrib- Committee on Student Chapters and the 27 FOCUS February 1996
Exxon Foundation, the fair was videotaped leges, universities, or businesses to high State University) presented an invited and has been made available to MAA Stu• school classes or mathematics clubs. The address, "The Area Theorem," and dent Chapters in the section. Information section helped to get a proclamation from Leonard Gillman (University of Texas) about the project is available from Lee H. the governor of the state of Illinois in rec• presented two addresses, "Mathematics Armstrong, governor of the Florida Sec• ognition of Mathematics AwarenessWeek and the Public" and "Some Irreverent tion. In further efforts to involve students, in April 1995. Two new activities are a Thoughts about Teaching." The most well the section helped fund two students to go careful study of the role and mission of the attended meeting of the section in recent to thejoint MAA-AMS MathFest in Min• Illinois Section and a joint task force on memory, this meeting attracted 154 par• neapolis, August 1994. The section held the mathematical training of elementary ticipants who enjoyed thirty-nine contrib• five regional conferences in addition to its teachers in conjunction with the Illinois uted papers, sixteen of which were by annual meeting. These regional confer• Council of Teachers of Mathematics students. There were two panel discus• ences are a strength of the Florida Section, (ICTM) and the Illinois Mathematics As• sions, "Mentoring Programs in Mathemat• and collectively attract more participation sociation of Community Colleges ics," chaired by Carolyn Tucker than the single annual meeting. (IMACC). (Westminster College) and "The lAS Park City Mathematics Institute," chaired by Illinois Section's seventy-fourth annual The Indiana Section rearranged its meet• Robert J. Fisher (Idaho State University). meeting was held March 3I-April 1, 1995, ing schedule in 1994-95, now holding a A highlight of the meeting was a pre-din• at Monmouth College in Monmouth. John one-day meeting in the fall and a two-day ner classical music concert of Bach, Haverhals (Bradley University), the meeting in the spring. The fall 1994 meet• Mozart, and Donatelli, presented by section's director for private colleges, ing was held October 8 at Indiana Univer• Gillman on piano and Professor Patricia served as program chair and Lyle Welch sity-Purdue University, Indianapolis, and George, of the ISU Department of Music, (Monmouth College) was local arrange• featured a presentation by Bart Braden, on flute. The section's Award for Distin• ments chair. There were 123 registrants. editor of the College Mathematics Jour• guished College or University Teaching The program included eleven invited lec• nal. The thirtieth annual Indiana College was given to Wayne W. Barrett (Brigham tures, three student papers, and three panel Mathematics Competition was the open• Young University) and the Award for discussions. Deborah Hughes Hallett ing event of the spring 1995 meeting held Meritorious Service was given to Donald (Harvard University) gave the opening at Tri-State University inAngola. Twenty• W. Robinson (BrighamYoungUniversity), address on Friday, "Mathematics Educa• three teams of undergraduate students who was also honored at a presentation at tion Reform: Where is it Taking Us? Do participated; a team from Indiana Univer• the national meetings in San Francisco, We Want to Go There?" Doris sity, Bloomington, took firtst place.The January 1995.The section's travelling tro• Schattschneider (Moravian College) gave section subsidized student expenses at the phyfor thetopAHSMEteam wentto Idaho the opening address on Saturday, "Math• meeting and was pleased at the high level Falls High School. ematical Work of Ingenious Amateurs• of student participation. Featured speak• Escher and Marjorie Rice." Robert Hogg ers at the spring meeting were Fred Rickey This year's annual meeting of the Iowa (University of Iowa) gave the banquet (Bowling Green State University) speak• Section was held jointly with IMATYC at address, "Lessons Learned from Hogg's ing on "The History of Improper Inte• the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar 1991 Quality Journey: Are Faculty Ready grals," and David Bressoud (Macalester Falls, April 21-22, 1995. The seventy-six for Continuous Quality Improvement?" S. College), whose title was "Was Cauchy a registrantsenjoyed threeinvited addresses: Brent Morris (National Security Agency) Revolutionary?" The program included "NSF Surveys of East European Math• gavetheclosing address on "Magic Tricks, three briefings on issues facing college ematical Literature at the University of Card Shuffling, and Dynamic Computer mathematicians, followed by breakout Chicago," by Izaak Wirszup (University Memory."Paneldiscussions concerned the sessions for discussions. These were led of Chicago); "University of Chicage content preparation of elementary teach• by Cathy Murphy (Purdue University, School Mathematics Project (UCSMP): ers; mathematics ingeneral education; and Calumet), Rick Gillman (Valparaiso Uni• Toward World-Class Standards in Math• mathematical resources on the Internet. versity), and Donald Miller (St. Mary's ematics Education," also by Wirszup; and Hughes-Hallett led a minicourse, "The College). The section honored its 1995 "Mathematical Puzzles (With a Glimpse Harvard Calculus Project." At the meet• award recipients: Carl Cowen (Purdue at MAA Projects)," by Barbara Faires ing, student teams participated in a math• University) received the section's Award (WestminsterCollege). There were twenty ematics contest arranged by J.B. Stephen for Distinguished College or University contributed papers by mathematics fac• (Northern Illinois University), the Teaching of Mathematics; Duane Deal ulty and fourteen by students. The section section's student chapter coordinator. The (Ball State University) received the presented some films that were of interest section presented its Distinguished Ser• section's Award for Meritorious Service. especially to students. This year an anony• viceAwardto Barbara Juister (Elgin Com• mous donor established a fund for the The Intermountain Section held its an• munity College) and its Award for support of the Iowa MAA Mathematics nual meeting at Idaho State University, Distinguished College or University Competition, and the section has now April 7-8, 1995. Donald R. Snow Teaching to Linda R. Sons (Northern Illi• conducted its first round of this competi• (Brigham Young University) presented a nois University).The IllinoisSection spon• tion under the leadership of Charles short course on Combinatorics via Func• sors an active high school lecture program Frohman (University of Iowa). A team tional Equations. Dennis C. Stowe (Idaho which brings mathematicians from col- from Iowa State University is the first
28 February 1996 FOCUS winner ofthe the travelling trophy,a blown gave books to two graduate student paper• Moore Isomorphisms:Giacometti Fractals glass Klein Bottle atop a wooden base. presenters, and awarded cash prizes to the and Stone Monoprints," by Nathaniel The section elected Jim Freeman (Cornell top three Putnam Exam teams in the sec• Friedman (SUNY Albany); and "The College) as its chair-elect. Greg Doseth tion. Theory of Moves: A Dynamic Approach (University of Northern Iowa) has become toGame Theory,"by Stephen Brams (New The Maryland-DC-Virginia Section chair ofthe section,replacing EmilyMoore York University); and the panel discus• held two meetings, November 11-12, 1994 (Grinnell College). The section presented sion, "Mathematics in Business and the at Western Maryland College in its Distinguished College and University Physical Sciences," by Robert Bumcrot Westminster, Maryland, and April 7-8, Teaching Award to Elgin Johnston (Iowa (Hofstra University), Florence Gordon 1995 at Thomas Nelson Community Col• State University) and it recognized its (New York Institute of Technology), and lege in Hampton, Virginia, enrolling 110 twenty-five- and twenty-five-plus-year Joseph Malkevitch (York College, and 168 people, respectively. The fall members. CUNY). Alan C. Tucker (SUNY meeting included the short course, "In• Stonybrook), chair-elect of the section, led The Kentucky Section held meetings on troduction to the HP 48G Graphing Cal• a memorial to his father, Albert William March 31andApril 1, 1995atTransylvania culator,"byJack Clark (WesternMaryland Tucker of Princeton University, former University, with a total attendance of 143. College). There were twenty-two contrib• president of the MAA. The section pre• The program included a short course in uted papers and two invited addresses. The sented its 1995 Award for Distinguished mathematical modelling by Douglas D. spring meeting included the workshops College or University Teaching to Gerald Mooney and Randall J. Swift (Western "The Mathematics Archives," by S. Lieblich (Bronx Community College, Kentucky University), which included an Przemyslaw Bogacki (Old Dominion CUNY). Professor Bumcrot announced opportunity to try some software that University); "A Mathematics Educator's the names of students in the section who Mooney and Swift use in the modeling Guide to the Internet," by Jon W. Scott had done well in mathematics competi• course they developed. The invited ad• (Montgomery College) and Elizabeth J. tions, and awarded the section's Salkind dress, "Mathematical Modeling of Sub• Teles (National Science Foundation); and Trophy and Abraham Schwartz Award. surface Flow and Transport," by Mary "Environmental Mathematics," by Ben The section ran its annual Mathematics Fanett Wheeler (Rice University) was Fusaro (Salisbury State University). Fair, enjoying the enthusiasm of its judges followed by the section's traditional so• Christopher Schauffele (Kennesaw State andits student participants. Again this year cial, "Aftermath." A piano and flute con• College) delivered the invited address, the section obtained proclamations from cert by Leonard Gillman (University of "Earth Math: PreCalculus with an Envi• both Governor George E. Pataki and Texas), piano, and Charles W. Smith ronmental Focus." There were thirty-six Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, in recogni• (Western Kentucky University), flute, pre• contribued papers, six by students. Also at tion of Mathematics Awareness Week in ceded theFridayevening banquet. Gillman its spring meeting, the section arranged a the State and City of New York, respec• gave the invited address, "Some Irrever• private tour of the Virginia Air and Space tively. ent Thoughts on the Teaching of Math• Museum and held a social hour and its ematics." Patricia Draper (AT&T Bell banquet there, followed by aprivate show• The annual meeting of the Missouri Sec• Labs) gave the invited address, "Applica• ing of the IMAX film, "Destiny in Space." tion was held jointly with the Missouri tions inActive Vibration Control" for stu• The section held a breakfast meeting for Mathematics Association for theAdvance• dents, supported by an Exxon grant. The its MAA department representatives. The ment ofTeacherTraining (MMAATT)and section presented its Award for Distin• section presented cash prizes to students the Missouri Mathematics Association of guished College or University Teaching who achieved honorable mentions or Two- Year Colleges (MOMATYC) in of Mathematics to W. Wiley Williams higher on the Putnam Exam. I-Lok Chang Warrensburg, Missouri, April 7-8, 1995. (University of Loiusville). (American University) received the One hundred thirty-eight people partici• section's award for distinguished teach• pated, including twelve students. The Louisiana-Mississippi Section held its ing. Howard Lewis Penn (United States MAA program included three annual meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi, NavalAcademy) was giventhe Maryland• shortcourses: "Bayesian Methods to Uti• March 2-4, 1995.The program for the 264 DC-VirginiaSection'sCertificateofMeri• lize Local Subjective Decisions in Deci• attenders included two invited addresses, torious Service at the national joint sion Making with Applications to twenty contributed papers, eleven student• MAA-AMS meetings in San Francisco. Grading," by Shriniwas K. Katti (Univer• contributed papers, five panel discussions, The section conducted a free five-day sity of Missouri, Columbia); "TeX and a recital, a reception, and a meeting of summer workshop, "Mathematics Labo• LaTeX: A Gentle Introduction," by Scotty Department Chairs. PaulWaltman (Emory ratories with Derive," byMarvin Brubaker L. Orr, Hang Chen, and Curtis N. Cooper University) presented a workshop on (Messiah College) and Carl Leinbach (all from Central Missouri State Univer• mathematical modelling. The section gave (Gettysburg College). sity); and "Interacting with the Internet," its Award for Distinguished University by Majid Saadatmanesh and L. Vincent Teaching of Mathematics to Steve Ligh of The fify-fourth annual meeting of the Edmondson (Central Missouri State Uni• Southeastern Louisiana University. The MetropolitanNewYork Sectionwasheld versity). The group heard the three invited section gave awards of savings bonds and on May 6, 1995 at Hunter College addresses, "Unexpected Applications of books to the four best undergraduate stu• (CUNY). The fifty-two people attending Linear Algebra inGraph Theory,"byAllen dent presenters of papers at its meeting, heard two invited addresses, "Henry J. Schwenk (Western Michigan Univer-
29 FOCUS February 1996 sity); "A Plethora of Perplexingly Persis• opening remarks at the morning and after• (SUNY Binghamton), "Code-Breaking tent Simpson's Paradoxes," also by noon sessions, respectively. The section with Alan Turing"; Frank Morgan (Will- Schwenk; and "The Mathematics of Card awarded its 1995Awardfor Distinguished . iams College), "Soap Bubbles, Clusters, Shuffling," by MAA President Ken Ross College or University Teaching of Math• and Undergraduate Research"; Daniel (University of Oregon). There were thirty• ematics to Sigfried Haenisch (Trenton Teague (North Carolina School of Math• one contributed papers, eleven student State College) at its spring meeting. The ematics and Science), "Mathematical papers, and the three panel discussions: section's Award for Meritorious Service Modeling in Elementary Calculus"; an Exxon-supported student careers panel, was presented to Theresa C. Michnowicz Marjorie Senechal (Smith College), "From moderated by Carrie Arndt (Central Mis• (Jersey City State College) at the national Symmetry to Disorder: A Paradigm Shift"; souri State University); the MOMATYC joint meetings in San Francisco, January Thomas F. Banchoff (Brown University), panel discussion, "Alternative Courses to 1995. "Visualizing Across Dimensions: From College Algebra," moderated by Larry Flatland to Interactive Hypergraphics"; The Northeastern Section had a very Martin (MSSC); and "Course Develop• and a panel discussion, "The Bridge successful year, presenting two section ment for Middle School Certification: A Course: The First Course in Proofs for meetings, six regional speaker/dinner Progress Report," by Linda Lembke (Cen• Undergraduate Mathematics Majors," by meetings, a minicourse, a six-day sum• tral Methodist College), David Ewing David Abrahamson (Rhode Island Col• mer short course, and an innovative inter• (Central Missouri State University), and lege), Clement DeMayo (Providence Col• disciplinary mathematical lecture/musical John Hewett (University of Missouri, lege), and Earl Gladue (Roger Williams concert. The fall 1994 meeting of the sec• Columbia). There was an interactive TV University). This very active section's tion was at the University of Hartford, demonstration by Rhonda McKee and annual summer short course was held at Hartford, Connecticut, November 18-19. William Grimes (both from Central Mis• the University of Maine, in Orono, June It attracted 163 participants, thirty-three souri State University). The MMAATT 18-23, 1995, on the topic, "Calculus Re• of whom were students. There were ten held a panel discussion on the middle• form With Emphasis on the St. Olaf invited addresses and four contributed school curriculum, and the MMATYC Project," led by Arnold Ostabee and Paul papers. A workshop, "Generalization and offered a panel discussion on the alterna• Zorn. All expenses for the minicourse were Variation asApplied toCombinatoricsand tives to college algebra. The MAA and a funded by the NSF except participants' Graph Theory," funded with help from private foundation helped sponsor the in• travel and a $20 acceptance fee.This year's Exxon, was presented by Joseph Gallian vited speakers, and an Exxon grant sup• minicourse was "An Introduction to Re• (University of Minnesota at Duluth). As is ported a student career panel discussion. search in the Teaching and Learning of tradititional in this section's fall meetings, All student presenters of papers were given Undergraduate Mathematics," by Joan this workshop was organized for students. certificates at the section's business meet• Ferrini-Mundy (University of New Hamp• At its spring 1995 meeting at Bates Col• ing, where the section also endorsed the shire) and Karen Graham (University of lege in Lewiston, Maine, the Northeast• award of cash prizes to its top AHSME New Hampshire). This minicourse was ern Section offered nine invited addresses performers. attended by a wide variety of high school, and a workshop, "Geometry Workshop: two-year, and four-year college teachers, The New Jersey Section held two meet• Connected Geometry," by Al Cuoco (Edu• and included work with students from ings along with the Mathematical Asso• cational Development Center). The sec• Boston University. The section's innova• ciation of Two-Year Colleges of New tion was pleased to include a lecture by tive interdisciplinary event, "Mathemati• Jersey (MATYCNJ). The fall meeting was MAA P61ya Lecturer Carl Pomerance at cal Aspects of the Music of Bach," held on November 19, 1994, hosted by Sr. the spring meeting. This year the section presented by Victor E. Hill (Williams Stephanie Sloyan. The invited speakers proudly gave its Award for Distinguished College), took place at the Fine Arts Cen• were MAA P61ya Lecturer Carl Pomerance College or University Teaching of Math• ter of Regis College, and was well attended (University of Georgia); V. Frederick ematics to Thomas F. Banchoff (Brown by mathematicians and non-mathemati• Rickey (Bowling Green State University); University), and was proud to see its pre• cians together. This lecture/concert was Ingrid Daubechies (Princeton University); vious awardee, Robert L. Devaney (Bos• funded in part by a grant from the MAA and Paul Zorn (St. Olaf College). The ton University), among the three recipients Fund for the Aid of Sections, through the spring meeting was held onApril 29, 1995, of the national 1995 Deborah and Franklin MAA's national office and the Committee hosted by Sandeep Maheshwari, where Tepper Haimo Distinguished Teaching on Sections. The section advertises its invited addresses were given by Anneli Awards in January at the national joint programs electronically via the Math• Lax (NYU-Courant), editor of the New meetings in San Francisco. It will award ematical Gazette. Mathematical Librarybook series; Michio its Howard Eves Award for Meritorious Kaku (The Graduate Center and City Col• Service at its fall 1995 meeting. This award The North Central Section held its fall lege, CUNY); Leonard Charlap (Center was first presented in 1990 and is given meeting at Minot State University, Octo• for Communications Research, IDA); and every five years. The Northeastern Sec• ber 28-29, 1994. The meeting featured Ivars Peterson, the Mathematics and Phys• tion is distinguished among MAA sections invited addresses by Jerry Bergum (South ics editor of Science News. Selina Thomp• for its program of regional dinner meet• Dakota State University) and Izak son (Middlesex County College), ings with mathematical speakers.This year Kornfeld (North Dakota State University). president of MATYCNJ, and Barbara it offered six dinner meetings, involving Larry Atwood (Minot State University) Osofsky (Rutgers University) offered the following six speakers: Peter Hilton presented a workshop on The Internet:
30 February 1996 FOCUS
Methods and Resources. There were eight sity) speaking on the problems of reform, 'Tiling, Lattice Points, and Pick's Theo• contributed papers and one student paper. content, initiative, and assessment. The rem." James R. Choike of OklahomaState The section's spring meeting was held spring meeting was a joint meeting with University was the winner of the section's April 21-22, 1995 at Carleton College in the Ohio Mathematical Association of third annual Award for Distinguished Northfield, Minnesota, with 120 people Two-Year Colleges, the first such joint College or University Teaching of Math• attending. Mark Krusemeyer (Carleton meeting of the two organizations. Grahame ematics. The winnerof the section'sAward College), 1994 winner of the section's Bennett was the keynote speaker. Phillip for Meritorious Service was Robert Award for Distinguished College or Uni• Cheifetz (Nassau Community College) Eslinger (Hendrix College) who was hon• versity Teaching of Mathematics, and Jerry spoke on the Harvard Calculus Reform ored for this award at the national joint Porter (University ofPennsylvania), trea• Project, and FrankDemanaand Bert Waits meetings in San Francisco, January 1995. surer of the MAA, gave the invited ad• (Ohio State University) spoke on the new The annual meeting of the Pacific North• dresses, "Sabbatical Dearms" and "Linear TI calculator. The meeting included a two• west Section was held June 15-17, 1995 Algebra as a Laboratory Course," respec• hour microcourse for students, titled "The atWhitman College inWallaWalla, Wash• tively. There were twelve contributed pa• Mathematics of Epidemics," by Sonja ington. This meeting celebrated the fifti• pers and one student paper. Professor Sandberg (Framingham State University). eth anniversary of the section. MAA Emeritus Murray Braden (Macalaster The Ohio Section's summer short course President Kenneth A. Ross (University of College) was honored with the section's this year was "Symmetry and Group Oregon), thirty-year member of the sec• Meritorious Service Award. Professor Theory," presented by Doris tion, gave an address, "The History ofthe Clayton Knoshaug (Bemidji State Univer• Schattschneider, at the University of Day• Pacific NorthwestSection," which focused sity) received the section's Distinguished ton, June 15-17, 1995. In a new venture, on some lesser-known and amusing events Teaching Award. In what is thought to be the section instituted a mathematics essay that have occurred in the section. The gen• the first such occurrence in the MAA, the contest for undergraduates. In this initial eral theme of the meeting was mathemati• section's new President-Elect, Gail Nelson year, eight papers were submitted and the cal modeling. The program included two (Carleton College), succeeds her father, top three were awarded cash prizes. short courses, "Mathematical Modeling," Edward O. Nelson (University of North The fifty-seventh annual meeting of the presented by Maurice Weir (U.S. Naval Dakota), who was president of the North Oklahoma-Arkansas Section of the PostgraduateSchool); and "Units from the Central Section in 1969-1970. MAA was held March 3I-April 1, 1995 at Interactive Mathematics Curriculum: El• The Northern CaliforniaSection's usual Southwestern Oklahoma State University ementary Algebra and Intermediate Alge• February meeting was postponed this year in Weatherford, Oklahoma. There were bra," by Marcella Laddon (Monterey in order that the section meet jointly with 184 registrants, including seventy-six stu• Peninsula College). "Recognition and the Southern California Section October dents. There were seventy-four contrib• Rewards in the Mathematical Sciences" 20-22, 1995. That special joint meeting uted talks, including twenty-seven student was the topic of a panel discussion. Two was hosted by The California Polytechnic talks and three others delivered at a spe• invited addresses supported the general State University in San Luis Obispo, and cial session on SUMMA projects, led by theme of the meeting: Martha Siegel will celebrate the seventieth anniversary William Hawkins and Florence Fasanelli (Towson State University), on "Industrial of the founding of the SouthernCaliforrnia of SUMMA, offered with support from Mathematics in the Undergraduate Cur• Section. Invited addreses are scheduled the National Science Foundation. A fac• riculum," and Paul Whitney (Battelle by Donald J. Albers (associate executive ulty workshop, "Uses of the Internet for Northwest) on a case study of mathemati• director, MAA), Tom M. Apostol (Cali• Mathematicians," was led by Gordon cal modelling to estimate the amount of fornia Institute of Technology), Judith V. Beavers (University of the Ozarks), Kelvin gas trapped in nuclear waste in tanks at the Grabiner (Pitzer College), John H. Casebeer (Southwestern Oklahoma State Hanford,Washington nuclear waste stor• Conway (Princeton University), and Wil• University), and William Coberly (Uni• age site. Seventy-eightpeople participated liam P. Thurston (MSRI). Organized by versity of Tulsa). Radwan Al-Jarrah and in the meeting, offering twenty-one con• Barbara J. Beechler (Pitzer College) and Kris Kessinger (Southwestern Oklahoma tributed papers of which five were by stu• Don Goldberg (Occidental College), the State University) led a student workshop, dents. The section awarded its Award for trip included six focused discussiongroups "The Mathematics of Approximations." Distinguished College or University on mathematical topics. Special paper sessions on graphing calcu• Teaching to Richard Koch (University of lators and on secondary mathematics edu• Oregon) and has selected its nominee for The Ohio Section held its fall 1994 meet• cation were led by David Lawrence, Sandy the 1996 Certificate of Meritorious Ser• ing at the University ofFindlay, in Findlay, Johnson, and John Woods, all of the host vice. At its banquet, the section recognized Ohio, October 28-29, 1994 and its spring institution. The section welcomed Andy its members who have belonged to the 1995 meeting at the Ohio State University Magid (University of Oklahoma) as its MAA for twenty-five years or longer. The in Columbus, Ohio, April 21-22, 1995. invited speaker. His title was "The Fi• section's student chapter coordinator pre• The fall meeting featured Keith Devlin, bonacci Decimal and Other Adventures sented a plaque to the state winner of the editorof FOCUS, as both keynote speaker of Linear Difference Equations." David AHSME. May 5-6, 1995, the Pacific and banquet speaker. Also featured were Kay (University of North Carolina at Northwest Section offered a short course Richard Lesh (Educational Testing Ser• Asheville) was warmly received as the on "The Scientific Workplace," presented vice), and Ed Dubinsky (Purdue Univer- Nathan A. Court Lecturer, speaking on by Carol Walker and Darel Hardy, at Se-
31 FOCUS February 1996 attle Central Community College. The ematics education in Colorado. Section seventy-six contributed papers; special Pacific Northwest Section is the home of Governor Celestino G. Mendez spoke at events for students; a poster session; and newly-elected MAA Governor-at-Large the section's business meeting and at two the presentation of two awards. Fredric T. Gloria C. Hewitt (University of Montana). meetings ofthe section's MAA department Howard (Wake Forest University), sec• representatives about plans at the national tion lecturer, presented an invited address, The Rocky Mountain Section held it level to revitalize that program. "Bernoulli Numbers." John D. Neff(Geor• annual meeting jointly with the gia Institute of Technology) spoke on COLOMATYC (Colorado Mathematical The Seaway Section held its fall meeting "Teaching Is an Art," and Martha Siegel Association of TwoYearColleges) and the November 3-4, 1994 at the Rochester (TowsonState University), editor of Math• CCTM (Colorado Council of Teachers of Institute of Technology in Rochester, New ematics Magazine, spoke on "Mathemati• Mathematics) on April 21 - 22, 1995, at York. The meeting attracted the largest cal Challenges in the Marketplace." The the University of Southern Colorado, in attendance ever for a Seaway Section three short courses were: "Introduction to Pueblo, Colorado. There were 212 par• meeting, drawing over three hundred MAPLE in Calculus," by Sherry L. Gale ticipants, 26 of whom were students. The people, including ninety students. The andLeigh L. Atkinson (UniversityofNorth program included a minicourse, i'Ieaching section's spring meeting wasApril 22-23, Carolina, Asheville) ; "Using the TI-85 Environmental Numeracy to 1995, at Hobart and William Smith Col• Graphics Calculator in Collegiate Math• Undergraduatesi, by Martin Walter (Uni• leges in Geneva, New York.Workshops at ematics," by John Druthirds and Fred W. versity of Colorado) and a poster session the two were "Teaching Calculus using Dodd (University of South Alabama); and on Curriculum Reform. Patricia Hauss Mathematica.' by RIT faculty members "Areas and Volumes from the Greeks to (Arapahoe Community College) led a Richard Orr, Rebecca Hill, and Patricia the Modems," by Robert L. Bryant (Duke COLOMATYC session titled "Proposed Clark; and Maurino Bautista's (Rochester University). The program included the Changes and Additions to the Core Cur• Institute of Technology) workshop, section's first poster session, organized by riculum," and Frieda Holley (Metropoli• "Teaching Linear Algebra with Technol• Mike Perry (Appalachian State Univer• tan State College of Denver) moderated ogy." The annual Harry M. Gehman Lec• sity) on instructional uses of computing. the panel discussion, "Mathematics Edu• ture was "A Tangled Tale," presented by Special events for students were a pizza cation in 1995: A Kindergarten through William W. Menasco (University of Buf• lunch, a TARush, and a banana split party. University Interaction." Martha J. Siegel falo). Other invited addresses were "Simi• The section presented its Award for Dis• (TowsonState University), editor of Math• larities between Taylor Series and Fourier tinguished College or University Teach• ematics Magazine, gave the keynote ad• Series," by Deborah Tepper Haimo (Uni• ing to Sylvia Bozeman (Spelman College) dress, "Industrial Mathematics for Fun and versity of Missouri at St. Louis); "The and presented a $100 check to recognize Profit." A. Duane Porter (University of Modelling Thread in the West Point Cur• the achievement of Noam Shazeer (Fresh• Wyoming), the winner of the section's riculum," by Frank Giordano (USMA, man, Duke University) on the Putnam 1994 Distinguished Teaching Award pre• West Point); and "Chaos and Complica• Exam. Shazeer was a member of the his• sented the Distinguished Teaching Award tions for the Forced Pendulum," by John tory-making 1994 U.S. International Lecture, "Slates, Blackboards, Hubbard (Cornell University). A special Mathematical Olympiad team which Whiteboards, Overheads, Computers, event, "Applied Mathematics: Modelling placed first in the world in that competi• Multimedia: Can We Possibly Survive in Reality," was offered for undergraduates, tion, all six members of the team achiev• Such a Changing World?" MAA Polya funded by the EXXON Foundation. In• ing never-before-achieved perfect scores. Lecturer, Carl Pomerance (University of cluded were a session for student papers Georgia) spoke on "Witnesses for Com• and a workshop on mathematical model• The Southern CaliforniaSection held its posite Numbers," and Dr. Siegel spoke ling led by Frank Giordano (USMA) and fall 1994 meeting on October 22 at Cali• again at the banquet, on '''Populating' the Nelson Rich (Nazareth College). There fornia State University, San Bernardino, Mathematics Classroom." The Rocky was also an informational session for un• and its spring 1995 meeting on March 4 at Mountain Sectionhasjust approved agrant dergraduates concerning graduate schools Loyola Marymount University.A highlight program for projects within the section and careers in mathematics. The section of the fall meeting was the surprise visit which address the section's new Mission presented its Award for Distinguished by Marjorie Rice at the invited lecture, Goals. At its business meeting, the section College or University Teaching of Math• "Ingenious Mathematical Amateurs: M.e. approved guidelines for this grant pro• ematics to Thomas Rishel (Cornell Uni• Escher (Artist) and Marjorie Rice (Home• gram. The section is working on a pro• versity). The Seaway Section is the home maker)," by Doris W. Schattschneider gram under Thomas E. Kelley of Patricia K. Rogers, newly elected MAA (Moravian College), at which Ms. Rice (Metropolitan State College) that will Governor-at-Large. was received with a standing ovation. At bring its MAA Student Chapters together the spring meeting, the section was pleased The SoutheasternSection'sannual meet• eachfall to get acquainted and to start these to welcome students at a special student ing was held March 3I-April 1, 1995, at groups working early in each academic poster session. Eighteen students repre• the University of North Carolina at year.The section has granted funds to Jim senting nine colleges and universities pre• Asheville. Three hundred seventy-nine Loats (Metropolitan State College of Den• sented seventeen posters. The section is people, including fifty-eight students par• ver) for CMERL (Colorado Mathematics pleased at the level of student participa• ticipated. The program included three in• Education Resource List), which is a list tion in section meetings; at the spring vited lectures and three short courses; of speakers and other resources in math- meeting it held a special discussion on new
32 February 1996 FOCUS student-centered activities. The section bound section history,A Seventy- FiveYear El\IPLOYl\IENT OPPORTl:NITIES presented its Award for Distinguished History ofthe Texas Section ofthe Math• College or University Teaching of Math• ematical Association ofAmerica, 1920• Rates for FOCUS Employment Advertise• ments are $95.00 per column inch (one inch ematics to Kuen Hung Lee (Los Angeles 1995, by Professor R.G. Dean (Stephen F. minimum), billed to the nearest 112inch. Trade Technical College) and its Award Austin State University); presentations of for Distinguished Service to Barbara J. the section's Distinguished Service Award All advertisements are set with a one-line headline, centered, boldface, consisting of Beechler (Pitzer College). Professor to four members: Professors Dale R. the institution name, unless additional head• Beechler was also honored in recognition Bedgood (East Texas State University), line information is provided. of this award from the section at the 1995 R.G. Dean (Stephen F. Austin State Uni• All invoices include a tear sheet. Advertis• joint meetings of the MAA and AMS in versity), Charles R. Deeter (Texas Chris• ing Copy Deadlines: The first of the month, San Francisco. Also see the report of the tian University), and John F. Lamb, Jr., two months prior to publication. FOCUS is Northern California Section above. (East Texas State University). Professor published in February, April, June, August, Frank Jones (Rice University) was the The Southwestern Section held its an• October, and December. recipient of the Section es 1995 nual meeting at the University of Texas at Advertisers shouldcontact: Amy Fabbri, The Diesinguished College or University El Paso, April 7-8, 1995. Although it was MAA, 1529 18th St., NW, Washington, DC Teaching of Mathematics Award. John H. 20036; (202) 387-5200; fax: (202) 265-2384; a small meeting, with fifty-nine people Ewing (Indiana University) gave the P61ya e-mail: [email protected] present, all enjoyed it. The program in• Lecture, "Listening to Your Computer." cluded a tour of the new computing com• Other invited addresses were given by plex at the Northwest Center of El Paso Kutztown University MAA President Kenneth A. Ross (Uni• Community College. Donald J. Albers Department of Mathematics and versity of Oregon), Virginia M. Warfield Computer Science (associate executive director/director of (University of Washington), and the 1994 Tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Math• publications and programs, MAA) gave winner of the section's teaching award, ematics for Fall 1996. Position involves teaching the invited address, "Bringing up Baby," Montie Monzingo (Southern Methodist elementary and/or secondary mathematics, math• in which he shared pictures of the El Paso University). There were two short courses ematics education courses at the graduate and of the old Wild West, only to discover later undergraduate levels, as well as teaching under• and a student workshop, all free: the short that there had been a real train robbery, graduate mathematics courses. Requirements courses were "Harvard Calculus," by Ray complete with masked bandits, just out• include a Doctorate in Mathematics, or in Math• Cannon and Eugene Tidmore (Baylor side El Paso on the day of his talk. David ematics Education with a Master's degree in University), and "Interactive Teaching of Mathematics and a strong background in Math• Pengelley (New Mexico State University) Mathematics," by Virginia M. Warfield ematics beyond the Master's degree level; at least presented the banquet address, "Here Is (University of Washington). Ronald Mor• three years of full-time teaching experience and What I Have Found: Sophie Germain's gan (Baylor University) conducted the teaching certification at the secondary school Forgotten Number Theory Manuscripts." level in the United States; extensive experience student workshop, "The Putnam Exam: There were nine contributed papers. The in the use of technology in the teaching of math• Tough Math is Fun!" For students, an al• section'sAwardfor Distinguished College ematics; demonstrated excellence in teaching; ternative to the section's banquet at the or University Teaching of Mathematics evidence of ongoing scholarly growth and the meeting was a pizza and puzzle party. At potential to make contributions in teaching, pro• was presented to William D. Kaigh (Uni• the meeting, MAA department represen• gram and curriculum development, research, versity of Texas at El Paso), who also gave tatives enjoyed a breakfast presided over publication and service to the University and the two talks at the meeting: "Least-Squares by the governor of the section. There was community-at-large; experience in supervision Regression Games," and "Major League of secondary-level student teachers in desirable. a forum and a luncheon for chairs of de• Baseball Betting." John Hagood, Janet Send letter of application, a current resume, of• partments. Section member and former McShane (Northern Arizona University), ficial graduate and undergraduate transcripts, MAA President Leonard Gillman (Uni• and Simon Bernau (University of Texas at three current letters of recommendation and cop• versity of Texas) led the section-by vid• ies of available publications by March 15, 1996 El Paso) gave a workshop on calculus re• eotape, from his piano at home-in singing to: Search Committee Chair, Department of form, "The CCH Approach." McShane, "Happy Seventy-fifth Birthday, Texas Mathematics and Computer Science, Kutztown incoming chair of the Southwestern Sec• Section of the MAA." During the year, the University, Kutztown, PA 19530. tion, also gave the lecture, "Resultants• section's Student Chapter Coordinator, Kutztown University is an Affirmative Action/ An Old Classical Algebraic Tool." Ron Barnes (University of Houston• Equal Opportunity Employer and actively solic• its applications from qualified women and The seventy-fifth anniversary meeting of Downtown) usedfunds provided by agrant minority candidates. the very active Texas Section of the Math• from the Exxon Education Foundation to ematical Association of America took hold special programs on the campuses of Denison University place March 30 through April 1, 1995, at two universities in the section to share A one year leave replacement, possibly two (with Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. Con• ideas for programs and activities and to possible renewal), position(s) in the Department currently, Baylor University was celebrat• attract student participation in chapter of Mathematics and Computer Science begin• ing its 150th anniversary.A record-setting events. The section contributed $400 this ningAugust 1996.Ph.D.required in mathematics. Ability to teach some computer science an ad• 406 people attended, 145 of whom were year to the awards program of AHSME. vantage. A commitment to quality instruction of students. Highlights of the meeting in• undergraduates is essential. cluded the first sale of the 406-page, hard- Denison University is a liberal arts college of
33 FOCUS February 1996
Notice to Employment Advertisers multicultural community. The Board of Governors of the MAA is asking departments that are considering hiring Oral Roberts University temporary faculty to one-year positions to convert these to multi-year positions if at all The Department of Mathematics and Computer possible. In addition, those departments that plan to hire temporary faculty for the next Science invites applications for a tenure-track 5-10 years are urged to work with their administrations to convert these temporary position in mathematics education starting Au• gust 1996, at the rank of assistant professor. A positions to tenure-track positions. doctorate is required, but strong candidates with It is our beliefthat the repeated hiring of temporary faculty not only impedes the career teaching experience who are in the dissertation development of the young mathematicians holding these positions, but also increases stage will be considered. Substantial teaching the work load of permanent faculty. An individual in a one-year position must begin experience at the secondary level is desirable. searching for a new job every October. He or she does not have the time and energy, Position requires teaching mathematics courses and, indeed, can hardly be expected, to contribute to the life of the department and of through two semesters of calculus, professional the institution. education, and computer literacy for education majors in addition to supervising pre-service and It is our hope that those departments that have been forced to hire temporary faculty in-service secondary mathematics teachers. Oral on a regular basis will be able to work with their administrators in order to reduce or Roberts University is a liberal arts university that eliminate this practice. operates in an evangelical Christian environment. Graduate degrees are offered in Education, Busi• ness, and Theology. ORU employs individuals w/o regard to race, sex, age, disability, or status 1800 students located in a village of 4,000 seven ematics courses; pursue scholarly endeavors, and as a veteran. Correspondence or resumes should miles from Newark (population 50,000) and 25 be involved on committees in the Department of be sent to: miles east of Columbus, Ohio. The Department Mathematics and'Statistics. Required: Doctorate Debra Olson Oltman, Chair of Mathematics and Computer Science offers inMathematics or Mathematics Education; strong Department of Mathematics and Computer Sci• B.A. and B.S. degrees in mathematics and com• commitment to excellence in teaching and schol• ence puter science. arship; productive research; and strong Oral Roberts University interpersonal and communicative skills. Pre• Send resume and transcripts of graduate work to Tulsa, Oklahoma 74171 ferred: Background in the use of technology in Dr. Joan Krone, Chair, Department of Mathemat• [email protected] the teaching of mathematics. Starting Date: Au• ics and Computer Science, Denison University, gust 1996. Salary is competitive. The University Granville, Ohio 43023. Also ask three persons The University of Arizona provides retirement options and a flexible ben• who know you well to send reference letters in Department of Mathematics and efits program at minimal cost to the employee. support of your application. Program in Applied Mathematics Review of applications will begin February 19, Applications will be processed until the position 1996and continue until the position is filled. Send Department of Mathematics is filled. letter of application, transcripts, vitae, and three The Department of Mathematics at the Univer• letters of recommendation to: Dr. Lutfi Lutfiyya, sityofArizona offers a broad spectrum of graduate Director of Developmental Math• Chair Mathematics Search Committee, Dept. of courses and seminars in algebra, analysis, ap• ematics Mathematics and Statistics, University of Ne• plied mathematics, geometry, mathematical Arts and Sciences braska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849-5360. physics, probability, and mathematics education INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTH- (308) 865-8531. [email protected]/ that lead to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master WEST ADA of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy with ma• jors in mathematics. Some course work outside Position duties include direction of the Develop• the Department of Mathematics is required for mental Mathematics program and teaching an Southern Oregon State College each of these degrees. Both master's degrees average of 9 credit hours per semester, primarily We invite applications for a tenure-track Assis• require a thesis and can serve ad a basis for fur• introductory level mathematics courses. Appli• tantProfessor position beginning Fall 1996(Ph.D. ther study towards a Ph.D. degree. Highly flexible cant must show a strong commitment to teaching, by Sept. I, 1996 required). While preference will programs in pure, and applications-oriented primarily at the developmental level. Minimum be given to applicants having expertise in Geom• mathematics and mathematics education are of• requirement is a Master's degree in Mathematics etry or Cornbinarotics, the most important fered in the Ph.D. program in mathematics. or Mathematics Education. Work experience qualification is a strong commitment to excel• should include teaching at the developmental lence in teaching undergraduate mathematics. Completion of course work in major and minor fields and a dissertation presenting the student's level at a college or university. Send a letter of Equivalent of one year collegiate math teaching application, resume, three letters of reference, required. Duties include a 12 hour teaching load, original research are required. and original transcripts to: Search and Screen advising, maintaining an active professional de• Program in Applied Mathematics Committee, Department of Mathematics and velopment program, and sharing in departmental The Interdisciplinary Program in Applied Math• Actuarial Science, Indiana University Northwest, responsibilities. Starting salary is $31,782. Com• ematics offers courses of study leading to the 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46408. Application pleted applications received by March 29, 1996 degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Phi• deadline: March 15, 1996. Indiana University will receive first priority, but position will re• losophy with majors in applied mathematics. Northwest is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative main open until filled. Please arrange to have Students entering the Program in Applied Math• Action Employer. three letters of recommendation, vita, a statement ematics take a one-year sequence of mathematics of teaching philosophy, a description of other courses tailored to the needs of applied math• University of Nebraska at Kearney professional goals, and a short summary of any ematics. The program offers great flexibility. Both Assistant Professor, Tenure Track teaching evaluations sent to: Dr. Kemble Yates, M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are required to com• Mathematics Search Committee Chair, Dept. of Mathematics, plete a certain number of courses outside the Teach various undergraduate and graduate math- SOSC, Ashland, OR 97520. SOSC is an AAlEO mathematics department. Ph.D. students com- Employer committed to developing an inclusive
34 February 1996 FOCUS plete a dissertation embodying original research rank higher in our selection process. preference will be given to candidates whose under the direction of a member of the Program Georgetown College is a private, liberal arts col• interests are compatible with areas of active in• faculty.The highly interdisciplinary faculty mem• lege located in the Bluegrass region of Central terest among the faculty. bership is a major feature of the Program in Kentucky, 12 miles south of Lexington. It is the The department is comprised of 38 faculty (10 in Applied Mathematics andcomprises a large group oldest Baptist college west of the Allegheny computer science, 17 in mathematics, 7 in math• of distinguished faculty from over fifteen aca• mountains and serves approximately 1,200 un• ematics education, and 4 in statistics). Degrees demic departments across the University. dergraduate students. offered include the B.A., B.S., M.A., and M.S. Workshop for Advanced Under• Send applications, including resume and three degrees. graduates on Current Ideas in the letters ofd reference, in hard copy to Charles N. Sam Houston State University, a member of the Mathematical Sciences Boehms, Senior Vice President and Academic TexasState University System, has approximately Applicants of superior quality will be among the Dean, 400 East College Street, Georgetown, 13,000 students and 500 faculty. It enjoys the students invited to the Tenth Annual Workshop Kentucky 40324. advantages of picturesque and historical Hunts• for Advanced Undergraduates on Current Ideas Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. ville, Texas (rated as one of the best small cities in the Mathematical Sciences, March 2-5, 1996. in America), in close proximity to the Houston Limited support is available to attendees. The Old Dominion University Metroplex (60 miles south of campus). Workshop is designed to communicate current Department of Mathematics and Sta- Review of applications and nominations will activities in selected research topics in mathemat• tistics begin January 15, 1996 and will continue until ics and its applications. Applications are invited for two tenure-track the position is filled. Salary is competitive and Teaching Assistantships positions starting August I, 1996. It is expected commensurate with experience and qualifica• and Fellowships both positions will be filled at the Assistant Pro• tions. To apply, send a letter of application, full Teaching assistantships are available for quali• fessor level however, should a suitable applicant curriculum vitae, and four letters of reference to: fied graduate students. The stipend in 1995-95 is be found, one may be filled at the associate pro• Chairperson Selection Committee, Dept. of Math $12,206 and up with a first year teaching load of fessor level. Requirements include a doctoral & Info Sci., Sam Houston St. Univ., Huntsville, four classes per semester. Out-of-state tuition is degree, demonstrated success or strong potential Texas 77341. Committee e-mail address: waived, bit a registration fee of $942 is required in research, and a commitment to effective un• [email protected]; additional general in• each semester. Fellowships of $10,000 for the dergraduate and graduate teaching. Preference formation may be viewed online at http:// academic year are available on a highly competi• will be given to candidates with research inter• galois.shsu.edu/-webpages/search/html. tive basis. ests in some branch of discrete mathematics or Sam Houston State University is an Equal Op• Applications and Deadlines operations research. Candidates for at least one portunity and Affirmative Action Employer. of the positions should have a strong background Application should be made to either the Math• in computation and an interest in high perfor• ematics Graduate Program or the Graduate Pittsburg State University mance computing. Applicants should submit a Program in Applied Mathematics but not to both Anticipates one year temporary appointment with resume and three letters of reference to: J. Mark programs simultaneously. Forms are available possible reappointment up to three years. May Dorrepaal, Chair, Search Committee, Department from the addresses below.Application review will become tenure earning. Appointment begins of Mathematics and Statistics, Old Dominion begin February I; therefore all applicants should August 19, 1996. Qualifications: Doctorate in University, Norfolk, VA 23529-0077. Screening ensure that their completed applications for ad• Statistics, Probability, or related field preferred. of applications begins February 29, 1996 and will missions and financial aid are received by January A.B.D. considered. Preference for college teach• continue until the position is filled. Old Domin• 15. ing experience and Bachelor's in mathematics ion University is an affirmative action, equal with graduate work in mathematics. Experience Graduate Committee opportunity institution and requires compliance and interest in use of computer technology in Department of Mathematics with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of instruction and statistics desirable. Responsibili• University of Arizona 1986. ties: Primary responsibilities are teaching of Elem. Statistics and some upper level statistics. Tucson, AZ 85721 Chairperson Position Mathematics and graduate statistics courses may Telephone: (602) 621-2068 Department of Mathematical and In• be assigned depending upon qualifications. http://www.math.arizona.edu/ formation Sciences Scholarship and academic service are required. Sam Houston State University Salary is from a base of $30,000. For first consid• Graduate Committee The Department of Mathematical and Informa• eration send letter of application, resume, and Program in Applied Mathematics tion Sciences invites applications or nominations names of five references with addresses and tele• Tucson, AZ 85721 for a Chairperson, effective July I, 1996, at the phone numbers to Elwyn H. Davis, Chairman, Associate Professor or Professor rank. Applicants Department of Mathematics, Pittsburg State Telephone: (602) 621-2016 or 4664 must have a terminal degree in computer science, University, Pittsburg, KS 66762 by March 15, http://www.math.arizona.edu/applmath/ mathematics, mathematics education, or math• 1996. One reference must be a supervisor. Addi• The University of Arizona is an Equal Opportu• ematical statistics (or a combination thereof); the tional information may be requested at a later nity/Affirmative Action!ADA Employer. position normally includes a one course teaching date. Search will continue until position is filled. load per semester. Preference will be given to Georgetown College candidates that can provide evidence of academic Mathematics Northland College, a private, lib• Department of Mathematics, Physics and Com• administrative talents, an established record as a eral arts, environmental college, seeks applicants puter Science scholar, teacher, researcher, and previous suc• for a position in the Department of Mathematics cess in extramural funding. The candidate will for Fall 1996. Teaching responsibilities are seven Applications are invited for a tenure track posi• possess and interest and ability for imaginative courses over a 4-4-1 academic year in the area of tion in mathematics to begin Fall 1996, probably leadership affecting the future direction of a grow• statistics, with emphasis on anintroductory course at the rank of assistant professor. Applicants must ing and diverse department. The applicant must serving majors in environmental studies, sociol• have a Ph.D. and exhibit excellence in teaching have a commitment to support the faculty in all ogy, psychology, biology, business/economics, and continued scholarly activity. Candidates who aspects of teaching, grant work, and research; and education. Ph.D. in mathematics preferred; have demonstrated teaching excellence will be
35 FOCUS February 1996
ematics - Teach developmental math courses in masters degree in statistics considered. This is a Dr. Homer Austin open learning lab.Teachone structured math class one year position with option for renewal. Send Search Committee Chairperson per qtr. Both positions require Master's degree in letter of application, resume, and three letters of Department of Mathematics and Computer Sci• Mathematics, teaching experience in math (com• reference by March 15, 1996 to: Mathematics ence munity college level preferred), computer Search Committee, Office of the Dean, Northland Salisbury State University knowledge. For complete job descriptions an• College, Ashland, WI 54806-3999. Equal em• Salisbury, MD 21801 nouncement, call Jobline 206-964-7341 or fax to ployment, affirmative action employer. 206-964-6599. Screening begins Feb. 15, 1995; Salisbury State University is an Affirmative Ac• open until filled. Pierce College, a two-yr. com• tion/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, The State University of New York munity college, is strongly committed to diversity. minorities, and the disabled are encouraged to College at Potsdam AAIEOE. apply. The State University of New York College at Mathematics Learning Potsdam, the oldest higher education institution Messiah College in the State University of New York, invites ap• Center Coordinator Department of Mathematical Sci- plications for an anticipated full time tenure track MiraCosta Community College District, located position effective September I, 1996, at the rank ences in North San Diego (CA) County, is recruiting of assistant professor. Long recognized as one of Continuing full-time faculty position in math• for a full-time, tenure-track Mathematics Learn• the leading public colleges in the United States, ematics and/or statistics. The department offers ing Center (MLC) Coordinator, beginning August SUNY Potsdam preserves a tradition of excel• majors in Computer Science and Mathematics, 1996. This position's primary responsibility is to lence in the liberal arts, music and teacher as well as a minor in Statistics. Ph.D. in math• teach the self-paces and individualized math education. Responsibilities of the position are to ematics or statistics desired with some experience courses taught at the MLC, which is a computer• teach twelve hours per semester of undergradu• in teaching. Preference will be given to candi• ized mathematics laboratory. A Master's degree ate and first year graduate courses. Required dates who can contribute to multicultural, ethnic or the equivalent is required. To request an appli• qualifications are a Ph.D. in any area of math• diversity and/or gender understanding. Messiah cation form and job announcement; leave your ematics with a strong interest and preparation for College is a Christian college is liberal and ap• name, address, and title of the position on the Job teaching undergraduate major mathematics plied arts and sciences and is committed to and Line Tape (619) 757-2121, ext. 8071; or reply by courses. In addition some preparation in statis• embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the [email protected] tics is desirable though not essential. An Anabaptist, Pietist, and Wesleyan traditions. AN (Website: http://www.miracosta.cc.ca.us). The application which must include a letter of inter• EOE. Submit a letter of inquiry and vita to Dr. closing date is March I, 1996. est, a statement of the applicant's philosophy of Wayne Cassel, Chair, Messiah College, MiraCosta College is an equal employment op• teaching, a vita, three letters of recommendation Grantham, PA 17027. portunity and affirmative action employer and describing teaching experience and abilities, and The Mercersburg Academy seeks to enhance its staff diversity by specifi• a transcript (a copy is acceptable) should be sent cally inviting and encouraging qualified to Cheryl Chute Miller, [email protected], Department of Mathematics minorities and women to apply. MiraCosta Col• Math Department, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY The department anticipates two openings for the lege, ATTN: Human Resources, One Barnard 13676. Application review will begin February fall of 1996. Mercersburg is an independent resi• Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056. 15, 1996, and continue until the position is filled. dential secondary school with a strong program SUNY Potsdam is an equal opportunity affirma• in mathematics. For at least one of the positions, the department is particularly interested in can• The University of Tennessee tive action employer committed to excellence The Mathematics Department of the University through diversity. didates who would bring experience with various programming languages. The school is a of Tennessee seeks to fill a tenure-track assistant Salisbury State University Macintosh environment into which all students professorship with an Outreach Mathematician (OM). Mathematical Sciences Position are connected, and the department hopes to Applications are invited for a tenure-track Assis• strengthen its ability to respond to the range and The duties of the OM will be to foster close rela• tant Professor position starting 15 August 1996. depth on interest is finds in some students for tions between the university and the community A Ph.D. in mathematics is required with special• whom computers have been a part of their young colleges and/or high schools across the state. ization in computer algebra, computational lives for a long time. In general candidates are Details on the duties can be found on the WWW algebra or computational geometry. Undergradu• sought who can teach effectively in a curriculum through the Mathematics Department's home ate research is a priority of the Department and that moves from Introductory Algebra through page (http://www.math.utk.edu/). Other informa• the successful candidate should be committed to the Calculus and Discrete Mathematics in regu• tion on the department and university is also its principles. Preference will be given to candi• lar course work and into other areas through available there. Independent Study. In addition to teaching, fac• dates wh 0 c an originate ways to blend A Ph.D. in Mathematics is required together with ulty are involved in residential list of the school mathematics and computer science. Candidates a clear commitment to outreach activities. Some and participate in extracurricular programs must have a commitment to excellence in teach• postdoctoral experience is preferred, but not re• through coaching and advising. Interested candi• ing, scholarly development and service, and be quired. Dedication to teaching is paramount. dates should write and provide a resume to Ms. able to communicate effectively in spoken and Employment begins August I, 1996. written English. Marilyn Larson, Academic Dean, The Mercersburg Academy, 300 East Seminary Street, We seek a person who will actively pursue grants Salisbury State University has as its mission to Mercersburg, PA 17236 or call (717) 328-6172. to conduct workshops for teachers, carry out be the selective undergraduate institution within systematic school visits, become involved in the University of Maryland System. The Univer• Pierce College state-wide mathematics education reform, work sity islocated ina rural area close to ocean beaches Tacoma, Washington with the appropriate faculty in the College of and the Chesapeake Bay and 2 1/2 hours from the Anticipated tenure-track positions for Fall 1996 Education. metropolitan areas of Washington and Baltimore. in: Mathematics - Teach full range of courses Interested applicants should arrange to have a Applicants should submit a cover letter includ• from basic mathematics through differential equa• vita, three reference letters, a statement of accom• ing a statement of their teaching philosophy, a tions, including calculus, linear algebra, finite plishments, qualifications, and plans for outreach resume and three letters of recommendation to: mathematics & statistics. Developmental Math-
36 February 1996 FOCUS outreach activities, and evidence of quality teach• Patrick Sullivan, Chair. E-mail: Fairfield University ing senttoProfessor John B. Conway, OM Search, [email protected]. Department of Mathematics and Mathematics Department, University of Tennes• Computer Science see, Knoxville, TN 37996-1300. Electronic The University of Oklahoma applications are not acceptable. Use of the recent Department of Mathematics Fairfield University's Department of Mathemat• AMS application form is appreciated (see No• Applications are invited for a tenure-track or ten• ics and Computer Science invites applications tices, October, 1995 or the AMS gopher). Review ured faculty position in Mathematics Education for a tenure-track assistant professorship which of applications will begin January I, 1996 and starting in Fall 1996. Rank and salary will be begins in September 1996. A doctorate in math• will continue until the position is filled. commensurate with qualifications and experi• ematics or statistics is required. Strong evidence of research potential, demonstrated success in UTK is an EEO/AAffitie IX/Section 504/ADA ence. Candidates are required to have a Ph.D. in Mathematics or in Education with a Mathemat• classroom instruction and a solid commitment to employer. teaching are essential. The ability to teach math• ics specialization, and demonstrated commitment to research in Mathematics Education. A strong ematical statistics is preferred, but all applicants Dartmouth College background in Mathematics beyond the Master's will be considered. Experience and interest in the John Wesley Young Research Instruc- level is also required. Preference will be given to use of technology in instruction are desirable. torship in Mathematics those whose primary research involves collegiate Fairfield University, The Jesuit University of The John Wesley Young Research Instructorship Mathematics Education, or secondary school Southern New England, is a comprehensive uni• is a two year post-doctoral appointment for prom• teacher training. versity with about 2,900 undergraduates and a ising new or recent Ph.D.'s whose research The faculty member is expected to carry a teach• strong emphasis on liberal arts education. There interests overlap a department member's. Cur• ing load of two courses per semester. Candidates are 14 full-time faculty members in the depart• rent departmental interests include areas in should be capable of directing doctoral students ment and approximately 35 majors per year. The algebra, analysis, combinatorics, differential and contributing leadership to the department's picturesque campus is located on Long Island geometry, logic and set theory, number theory, active graduate program in Mathematics Educa• Sound in southwestern Connecticut about 50 probability and topology. Teaching duties of four tion. Responsibilities will include involvement miles from New York City. Fairfield is an Affir• ten-week courses spread over two or three quar• with undergraduate Mathematics courses, and mative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. ters typically include at lease one course in the with both undergraduate and graduate courses in Send a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, instructor's specialty and include elementary, and three letters of recommendation, which com• Mathematics Education. advanced and (at instructor's option) graduate ment on the applicant's experience and promise courses. Nine-month salary of $37,000 supple• The Mathematics Department at the University as a teacher and scholar to Joan Weiss, Chair, mented by summer research stipend of $8,222 of Oklahoma offers a Doctoral Degree in Re• Department of Mathematics and Computer Sci• for instructors in residence for two months in search in Undergraduate Curriculum and ence, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT summer. Send letter of application, resume, Pedagogy. Faculty interests include research in 06430-5195, 203-254-4000, ext. 2516, graduate transcripts, thesis abstract, description quantitative literacy, undergraduate curriculum [email protected]. We plan to participate of other research activities and interests if appro• and pedagogy, and international comparative in the Employment Register at the AMSIMAA priate, and 3 or preferably 4 letters of Mathematics Education. The Mathematics De• Meetings in Orlando. Full consideration will be recommendation (at least one should discuss partment faculty cooperate with the University's given to complete applications received by Feb• teaching) to Betty Harrington, Department of College of Education which has an M.Ed. Pro• ruary I, 1996. Mathematics, 6188 Bradley Hall, Hanover, NH gram in Mathematics Education and a Ph.D. 03755-3551. Applications received by Jan. 15 program focusing on research in K-12 Mathemat• receive first consideration, applications will be ics Education. As a University service the accepted until position is filled. Dartmouth Col• Department is also responsible for advising and lege is committed to affirmative action and preparation of some undergraduate secondary strongly encourages applications from minori• Mathematics Education majors, and for provid• ties and women. ing courses for both elementary and secondary preservice teachers (about 250 and 20 per year, Valparaiso University respectively). Department of Mathematics and Applicants should send a vita, a statement of Computer Science professional goals, and three letters of recom• Valparaiso, IN 46383 mendation to: Located one hour from Chicago loop. Pending Math Education Search Committee TRENTON STATE COLLEGE budgetary approval, tenure-track, assistant pro• Department of Mathematics MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS fessor of mathematics, beginning August 1996. University of Oklahoma Doctorate in mathematics desired, required for AssistantProfessor-Twotenure trackpositions toteach 12 601 Elm Avenue, Phsc 423 hours persemester, including freshmen level courses. Req'd: tenure. Teaching experience preferred; back• Norman, OK 73019-0315 Ph.D.inmathematics, demonstrated commitment to quality ground in combinatorics or experience in teaching; strong research potential. Preference wilibe given Initial screening will begin on Janu• to candidates in any area of pure mathematics and with preparing secondary teachers a plus, as is famil• post-doctoral experience inteaching andresearch. Send vita iarity with calculus reform. Duties include teach ary 31, 1996 and continue until the andthreeletters of recommendation, including at least one position is filled. letterregarding candidate's teaching ability to: Chair, Search 3 courses (12 hours per semester), continued Committee, Department of Mathematics and Statistics. scholarly activity, and service to the department The University of Oklahoma is an Trenton StateColiege, CN-4700, Hillwood Lakes, Trenton, NJ and University. Applications from women and 08650-4700. Deadline forapplication: March 1.1996;review Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Ac• process willbegin February 1. 1996. NonU.S. citizens must minorities especially encouraged. Candidates tion Employer. include a statement of current visa status. Trenton State should be willing to work in a scholarly commu• College is a highly selective institution located on 200acres, Women and minorities are encour• approximately 8 miles fromPrinceton and 1 hourfromNew nity committed to Christian higher education and aged to apply. YorkandPhiladelphia. Thedepartment currently enrolls over the Lutheran tradition. Send letter of application, 250majors inMathematics, Math- ematics Education. andStatistics. "f)C statement of teaching philosophy, summary of The University of Oklahoma has a To enrich education through research plans, and vita by January 15, 1996 to: policy of being responsive to the diversity. TSCisanAAlEOE. needs of dual career couples. 37 FOCUS February 1996 Newfrom the MAA
The opening essay, "A Modem Course in Cal• tocrank out answers to larger and more compli• Calculus: The Dynamics culus", will show you the themes that the com• cated exercises. mittee believes should characterize a modem • Students should move comfortably between of Change calculus course, both in terms ofteaching and symbolic, verbal, numerical, and graphical content. Although this statement is not in• representation of mathematical ideas. A. Wayne Roberts, Editor Notes tended to be a prescriptive guide, it will give A must for anyone who teaches calculus! you solid information to help you decide • Students should be able to give clear expla• Presents the current thinking about how whether or not your department is in line with nations of why things work the way they do, calculus should be taught. current thinking, or even if it wants to be. For what they mean, and when they are used. instance: January of 1995 marked the tenth anniversary • When we evaluate students we must take into • The notion that a course should get off to a of the calculus reform effort initiated by the account how they work on extended projects, fast start. Students have been told throughout Sloan Foundation-sponsored Tulane Confer• their contribution to the group, their knowl• the secondary curriculum that "You'll see the ence on Calculus Instruction in 1986.The pro• edge of the proper use of technology, their reason for this when you get to calculus." It's ceedings of that conference were published in ability to write mathematics, and the initiative time to make good. Towarda Lean and Lively Calculus, and clari• they take to do independent reading. fied in a second volume, Calculus for a New • Instructors should focus on applications that The four main sections of the book describe Century. published by the MAA in 1987. By they understand and are enthusiastic about. The the vision of those who have developed mate• 1990 foundation support had produced a num• goal should not be to just to solve the problem rials, offer guidance to departments consider• ber of projects that the MAA's Calculus Re• at hand, but to understand the methods of cal• ing a change, discuss methods of assessment, form andFirstTwoYears(CRAFfY)committee culus that need to be used, and to apply those and describe the effect of calculus reform on summarized in its publication of Priming the methods to new problems. other courses in the mathematics curriculum. Calculus Pump: Innovations and Resources. Taken altogether, this is intended as a hand• •A calculus course cannot be modernized sim• book for change. As the tenth anniversary of the movement ap• ply by finding a way to make use of graphing proached,CRAFfYfeltit wastime tosay some• calculators or computers. Their proper role is Catalog Code: NTE-39/FOC thing conclusive about the state of calculus as a tool for experimenting, discovering, illus• teaching today. This present volume is the re• trating, or substantiating. They should be used ISBN-0-88385-098-2; 172 pp., 1995 sult of that effort. to develop intuition and insight, not as a tool List $34.95 MAA Member: $29.00
Tor------.order, call 1·800·331·1622; or use this form Send this order to: The MAA, P.O. Box 90973 Membership Code _ Washington, DC 20090-9789 (Please cofrY the first line a/your mailing label) 1-800-331-1622 fax (301) 206-9789
Quantity Catalog Number Price Name
Address
City State Zip Code
TOTAL Payment 0 Check o VISA 0 MASTERCARD
Postage & Handling Please add $2.95 for the first book and Card Number $1.00 for each additional book you are ordering to cover the ------postage and handling fees. The order will be sent via UPS. Foreign Orders Please add $3.00 per item ordered to cover _S....!ig,Ln_a_t_u_r_e _ postage and handling fees. The order will be sent via surface mail. If you want your order sent by air, we will be happy to send _E_x2P_i_r_at_i_o_n_D_a_t_e _ Li'~ ':.Erofo~a invoic~~~r~der. .J
38 February 1996 FOCUS Calendar
National MAA Meetings LOUISIANA-MISSISSIPPI March 1• PACIFICNORTHWESTMarch 9, 1996 2 1996, Southern University, Baton Reed College, Portland, OR August 10-12, 1996 Annual Joint Sum• Rouge, LA mer Meetings, University ofWashing• ROCKYMOUNTAINApril 1996, Mesa ton-Seattle, Seattle, WA. Board of February 28 - March 1, 1997, Millsaps State College, Grand Junction, CO Governors Meeting August 9, 1996 College, Jackson, MS (joint meeting with Intermountain Sec• tion) January 9-7, 1997 Eightieth Annual MD-DC-VA April 12-13, 1996, Meeting, San Diego, CA. Board of Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, SEAWAY April 12-13,1996, Elmira Col• Governors Meeting January 8, 1997 VA lege, Elmira, NY January 7-10, 1998 Eighty-first Annual METRO NEW YORK May 5, 1996, November 8-9, 1996, SUNY College Meeting, Baltimore, MD. Board of C.W. Post College, Greenvale, NY at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY Governors Meeting January 6, 1998 May 3, 1997, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, SOUTHEASTERN April 12-13, 1996, NY University of Alabama-Huntsville, Huntsville, AL Sectional MAA Meetings MICHIGAN May 10-11, 1996, Siena ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN April 12• Heights College, Adrian, MI SOUTHWESTERN April 1996, North• ern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 13, 1996, Indiana University of Penn• MISSOURI April 12-13, 1996, South• sylvania, Indiana, PA east Missouri State Univ., Cape SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA March 2, EASTERN PA & DELAWAREApril 13, Girardeau, MO 1996 University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 1996, Millersville University, Spring 1997, Missouri Western State Millersville, PA College, St. Joseph, MO TEXAS March 28-30, 1996, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX Fall 1996, Delaware State University, Spring 1998, SouthwestMissouri State Dover, DE University, Springfield, MO Spring 1997, Texas Lutheran College, Seguin, TX FLORIDA March 1-2 1996, Florida NEBRASKA-SOUTHEAST SOUTH Power Corporation, St. Petersburg, FL DAKOTAApril 19-20, 1996, Univ. of Spring 1998, Southern Methodist Uni• ILLINOIS March 1-2 1996, Illinois Nebraska-Kearney, Kearney, NE versity, Dallas, TX Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL NORTH CENTRAL April 1996, WISCONSINApril 12-13, 1996, Univer• INDIANA March 29-30, 1996, Butler Harnline University, St. Paul, MN sity of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platte• ville, WI University, Indianapolis, IN NORTHEASTERN June 7-8, 1996, October 26, 1996, Rose-Hulman In• Hampshire College, Amherst, MA Spring 1997, University ofWisconsin• River Falls, River Falls, WI stitute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN November 22-23,1996, University of Spring 1997, Franklin College, Massachusetts-Boston, Boston, MA Franklin, IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA March 2, Other Meetings INTERMOUNTAINApril 19-20, 1996, 1996, Sonoma State University, Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Rohnert Park, CA April 19-20, 1996 Joint spring MAA meeting of the Rocky Mountain and In• CO (joint meeting with Rocky Moun• OHIO April 12-13, 1996 University of tain Section) termountain Sections, Mesa State Col• Akron, Akron, OH lege, Grand Junction, CO. Anyone IOWA April 26-27, 1996, Cornell Col• October 26, 1996 Denison University, wishing to present a paper should have lege, Mt. Vernon, IA Granville, OH the request and abstract in by April 1. Preregistration will be accepted until KANSAS April 19-20 1996, McPherson OKLAHOMA-ARKANSASMarch 22• April 10. For information, contact Carl College, McPherson, KS 23,1996, Westark Commuity College, Kerns & Clifford Britton, Program Co• Fort Smith, AR KENTUCKY March 29-30, 1996, chairs; (970) 248-1702 or (970) 248• Murray State University, Murray, KY 1859; fax: (970) 248-1324; e-mail: [email protected].
39 The Mathematical Association of America Second class postage paid at Washington, DC and 1529 Eighteenth Street, NW additional mailing offices Washington, DC 20036-1385