ISSN 0002-9920 (print) ISSN 1088-9477 (online) of the American Mathematical Society May 2017 Volume 64, Number 5 AMS Spring Eastern Sectional Sampler page 437 Mathematical Congress of the Americas 2017: Invited Speakers Lecture Sampler page 443 CeMEAI: The Brazilian Center and Its Mathematics Research for Industry page 450 AMS Prize Announcements page 472 Dividing the sphere into n equal areas about n given points (see page 446). AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEW ULF GRENANDER PRIZE IN STOCHASTIC THEORY AND MODELING is prize was established in 2016 by colleagues of Ulf Grenander (1923–2016). Professor Grenander was an inuential scholar in stochastic processes, abstract inference, and pattern theory. He published landmark works throughout his career, notably his 1950 dissertation, “Stochastic Processes and Statistical Interference” at Stockholm University, Abstract Inference, and seminal works in pattern theory, General Pattern eory and Pattern eory: From Representation to Inference. A long- time faculty member of Brown University’s Division of Applied Mathematics, Grenander received many honors. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences and was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. e Grenander Prize recognizes exceptional theoretical and applied contributions in stochastic theory and modeling. It is awarded for seminal work, theoretical or applied, in the areas of probabilistic modeling, statistical inference, or related computational algorithms, especially for the analysis of complex or high-dimensional systems. e prize amount is $5,000 and the prize is awarded every three years. e rst award will be made in 2018. Further information about AMS prizes can be found at the Prizes and Awards website: www.ams.org/profession/prizes-awards/prizes CALL NOMINATIONS FOR Further information and instructions for submitting a nomination can be found at the prize nominations website: www.ams.org/profession/prizes-awards/nominations For questions contact the AMS Secretary at [email protected] Nomination Period: March 1–June 30, 2017 Notices of the American Mathematical Society May 2017 FEATURED 437 443 45626 Spring Eastern Sectional MCA Invited Speakers Graduate Student Section Sampler Lecture Sampler WHAT IS...a Virtual Knot? by Daniel S. Silver and Susan G. Williams Weyl's Law for Minimal Hypersurfaces Two Surprising Appearances of by Fernando Codá Marques Potential Theory: A Fair Partition of Interview with Reinhard Laubenbacher by Melinda Lanius Large Gaps beween Primes by James the Sphere and Overhanging Blocks by Maynard Yuval Peres Random Projections of High- The Benefits of an Alternative Dimensional Measures by Kavita Approach to Analytic Number Theory Ramanan by Andrew Granville We celebrate the May Eastern Sectional—with Marques on minimal surfaces, Maynard on primes, and Ramanan on random projections—and the upcoming July Mathematical Congress of the Americas—with Granville's alternative approach to analytic number theory and Peres's cover story on a fair partition of the sphere and overhanging blocks. Allyn Jackson recalls two highlights of the January Joint Mathematics Meetings: inspiring talks by Alice Silverberg and Francis Su. We have reports on CeMEAI, the Brazilian center for industrial mathematics, and the Mathematics Genealogy Project. Further inside you'll find announcements of three AMS awards for 2017—Impact Award, Exemplary Program Award, and Mathematics Programs that Make a Difference—as well as the 2017 JPBM Communications Award. And of course we have the usual book reviews and Graduate Student Section, including "WHAT IS...a Virtual Knot?" —Frank Morgan, Editor-in-Chief FROM THE SECRETARY ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Inside Cover NEW Opportunity: Ulf Grenander Prize 448 Opinion: Can Mathematics Light the Way? Allyn Jackson 486 2018 Call for Nominations 450 CeMEAI: e Brazilian Center and Its Mathematics 488 Contributor's List for 2016 Research for Industry E.G. Birgin, J.A. Cuminato, J.M. Martínez, and 495 NEW Opportunity: Bertrand Russell Prize T. Pereira Announcements of winners for the: 466 e Mathematics Genealogy Project Comes of 472 2017 Award for an Exemplary Program or Achieve- Age at 21 ment in a Mathematics Department Colm Mulcahy 474 2017 Award for Impact on the Teaching and Learn- 481 Big is Beautiful: Illinois Wins Exemplary ing of Mathematics Program Award Allyn Jackson 476 2017 Award for Mathematics Programs that Make a Difference 504 Math Graphics: A Review of Two Books Judith Roitman 479 2017 Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communication Awards Notices AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY of the American Mathematical Society Problems in Abstract Algebra ALSO IN THIS ISSUE, CT'D. A. R. Wadsworth, University of California, San Diego 496 2017 Wolf Prize in Mathematics Intended for strong undergraduate and begin- ning graduate students that want to enrich their 498 2017 Breakthrough Prizes in Mathematics learning of mathematics, this book of problems and Fundamental Physics in abstract algebra (groups, rings, linear algebra, fields, etc.) provides more variety and more chal- 508 BookShelf lenging problems than most algebra textbooks. It can be used as a course supplement or for self-study. Student Mathematical Library, Volume 82; 2017; 269 pages; Softcover; ISBN: 978-1-4704-3583-7; List US$52.00; IN EVERY ISSUE AMS members US$41.60; Order code STML/82 502 Mathematics Opportunities 510 Mathematics People 514 Inside the AMS 516 Classified Advertising 517 New Publications Offered by the AMS 522 Mathematics Calendar 525 Meetings and Conferences of the AMS 536 e Back Page Also available as an ADDENDUM TO: "A Golden Age in eBook! Minimal Surfaces" (April 2017 Notices Feature) by Joaquín Perez Minimal surfaces is a vast and extremely active subject Learn more about this title at that has seen recently many important developments in different lines of research. My article does not cover entire bookstore.ams.org/stml-82 lines of research where major progress has been made, including the proof of important conjectures. To avoid misleading interpretations, I chose not to discuss some major recent developments in the field and to focus Now available for pre-order! instead on advances in the classical theory of minimal surfaces in Euclidean three-space. —Joaquín Perez Comments about our articles are always welcome on the Notices webpage at www.ams.org/notices. —Frank Morgan, Editor-in-Chief (800)321-4267 (US & Canada) (401)455-4000 (Worldwide) A MERICAN M ATHEMATICAL S OCIETY Call for Applications & Nominations Chief Editor of the Notices ISSN 0002-9920 (print) ISSN 1088-9477 (online) Applications and nominations are invited for the position of Chief Editor of the Notices of the Volume 64, Number 1 January 2017 American Mathematical Society, to commence JMM 2017 Lecture Sampler page 8 Donald St. P. Richards with the January 2019 issue. The Society seeks Hodge Theory of Matroids page 26 Charleston Meeting Gigliola Stalani page 80 an individual with strong mathematical research 2017 Mathematical Congress Barry Simon of the Americas (MCA 2017) page 88 Tobias Holck Colding experience, broad mathematical interests, and a Lisa Jerey commitment to communicating mathematics to Ingrid Daubechies Alice Silverberg a diverse audience at a wide range of levels. The Wilfrid Gangbo Anna Wienhard applicant must demonstrate excellent written ISSN 0002-9920 (print) ISSN 1088-9477 (online) communication skills. of the American Mathematical Society February 2017 Volume 64, Number 2 The Chief Editor has editorial responsibility for A Conceptual Breakthrough in Sphere Packing page 102 a major portion of the Notices within broad The Partitionability Conjecture page 117 guidelines. The goal of the Notices is to serve Bloomington Meeting page 176 Pullman Meeting all mathematicians by providing a lively and page 181 informative magazine containing exposition about mathematics and mathematicians, and information about the profession and the Society. ISSN 0002-9920 (print) ISSN 1088-9477 (online) The Chief Editor is assisted by a board of of the American Mathematical Society Maryna Viazovska proves sphere packing in 8-D. Volume 63, Number 11 Associate Editors, nominated by the Chief Editor, December 2016 An Introduction to the AMS–NZMS who help to fashion the contents of the Notices Maclaurin Lecture “Siegel’s Problem on Small Volume Lattices” page 1244 Interview with Gigliola Staffilani and solicit material for publication. Some writing, page 1250 WHAT IS…Symplectic Geometry page 1252 and all publication support, will be provided by A Conversation with Helen Grundman, AMS Director of Education and Diversity page 1258 AMS staff . The Chief Editor will operate from her or his home base. Compensation will be negoti- ated for this half-time position and local part-time secretarial support will be provided. In order to ISSN 0002-9920 (print) ISSN 1088-9477 (online) begin working on the January 2019 issue, some About the Cover: Searching for Small Hyperbolic Quotients (see page 1248) of the American Mathematical Society editorial work would begin in early 2018. April 2017 Volume 64, Number 4 AMS Prize Announcements page 311 Spring Sectional Sampler page 333 Nominations and applications (including AWM Research Symposium 2017 Lecture Sampler page 341 curriculum vitae) should be sent to the Chair Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month page 362 of the Search Committee, Executive Director Catherine A. Roberts, at [email protected]. Confi dential inquiries may also be sent directly to Catherine A. Roberts