FOCUS NOVEMBER 2000 FOCUS is published by the Mathematical Association of America in January, February, ~ FOCUS March, April, May/June, August/September, October, November, and December. Editor: Fernando Gouvea, Colby College; November 2000 [email protected] Volume 20, Number 8 Managing Editor: Carol Baxter, MAA [email protected] Inside Senior Writer: Harry Waldman, MAA [email protected] 4 Fermat's Last Theorem: The Musical Please address advertising inquiries to: Carol Baxter, MAA; [email protected] 5 The Icosahedron Society President: Thomas F. Banchoff, Brown University 6 The Curriculum Foundations Project First Vice-President: Barbara L. Osofsky, Second Vice-President: Frank Morgan, By William Barker Secretary: Martha J. Siegel, Associate Secretary: James J. Tattersall, Treasurer: 8 Going Beyond the Big Theorem of Gollnitz: A Breakthrough in Gerald J. Porter the Theory of Partitions and q-Series Executive Director: Tina H. Straley By Krishnaswami Alladi Associate Executive Director and Director of Publications and Electronic Services: 10 The Academic Job Search: An Applicant's Perspective Donald J. Albers By Darren A. Narayan FOCUS Editorial Board: Gerald Alexanderson; Donna Beers; J. Kevin Colligan; Ed Dubinsky; Bill Hawkins; Dan 11 Student Paper Sessions at Mathfest Kalman; Maeve McCarthy; Peter Renz; Annie Selden; Jon Scott; Ravi Vakil. 12 Letters to the Editor Letters to the editor should be addressed to Fernando Gouvea, Colby College, Dept. of 13 Mathfest 2000 Mathematics, Waterville, ME 04901. By Tom Banchoff Subscription and membership questions should be directed to the MAA Customer 14 ICME-9 in Japan: An Overview Service Center, 800-331-1622; e-mail: By Annie Selden [email protected]; (301) 617-7800 (outside U.S. and Canada); fax: (301) 206-9789. 17 MAA Announces Mathematical Sciences Digital Library Copyright © 2000 by the Mathematical Association of America (Incorporated). Educational institutions may reproduce 18 Knots in Science: MAA Short Course at the New Orleans Joint articles for their own use, but not for sale, Mathematics Meetings provided that the following citation is used: "Reprinted with permission of FOCUS, the newsletter of the Mathematical Association 19 Statistics Education Now Has a SIGMAA of America (Incorporated)." By Mary Sullivan and Dex Whittinghill Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: On the cover: the hand-cut lead crystal icosahedron that was presented to each member Send address changes to FOCUS, of the Icosahedron Society. Cover photo by Bob Sullivan. Mathematical Association of America, P.O. Box 90973, Washington, DC 20090-0973. ISSN: 0731-2040; Printed in the United States FOCUS Deadlines of America. January February March Editorial Copy November 15 December 15 January 19 Display Ads December 4 January 4 February 4 Employment Ads November 17 December 19 January 26 2 NOVEMBER 2000 FOCUS Three Mathematicians Win National Teaching Awards for 2000 Edward Burger, Leonard F. Klosinski, interest of diverse audiences, the presi­ the Director of the Northern California and Evelyn Silvia will be awarded the dent of Williams College has dubbed Ed Mathematics Project whose mission is to Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Burger the "ambassador of mathematics." improve the quality of mathematics Awards for Distinguished College or Uni­ teaching in the schools through profes­ versity Teaching of Mathematics at the Leonard Klosinski sional development programs. She also Joint Prize Session and Reception to be of Santa Clara has played a major role in her department held on Thursday January 11, 2001, dur­ University is per­ helping graduate students and new fac­ ing the Joint Mathematics Meetings in haps best known ulty with their teaching. She is a role New Orleans. Each of the winners will for his work on the model for high school teachers, for those speak at a special session to be held on William Lowell aspiring to be teachers, and for graduate Friday January 12,2001 from 3:30 to 5:00, Putnam Math­ students. giving everyone at the Joint Meetings a ematical Competi­ chance to get to know the winners and tion. For the last 25 At the University of California-Davis Pro­ their teaching styles. years he has served Leonard Klosinski fessor Silvia has taught a wide variety of first as Associate subjects successfully. The extra materials Edward Burger of Director and then as Director of the that she provides to assist the students Williams College is Putnam Competition. Under his leader­ are notable. Besides self help handouts passionate about ship the number of contestants has re­ and packets of supplementary notes, she teaching. He in­ mained constant or increased slightly has also written a series of popular com­ spires his students despite the declining number of math­ panion notes for courses where students with his enthusi­ ematics majors nationally. In recent years, find the textbook difficult. They are called asm for mathemat­ more contestants than ever have been rec­ "Working Excursions;' and cover abstract ics and with his ognized for outstanding achievement on algebra, advanced calculus, and complex ability to make it the Putnam. His dedication and organi­ variables. fun and interesting. zational skills have ensured that the con­ Edward Burger As one of his col- test runs smoothly each year. Professor Silvia has served as a mentor in leagues puts it, an NSF-sponsored program "Minority Burger "enthralls, entices, goads, cajoles, In addition to being a leader on compe­ Undergraduate Research Participation in fans sparks of curiosity, and converts titions, Professor Klosinski is a popular the Physical and Mathematical Sciences." math phobes into math fans by the hun­ teacher, known for giving challenging Finally, in addition to her teaching and dreds." Burger's energy and dedication are courses to students who recognize their outreach activities, she continues to be a apparent to everyone. He often drops by value. In front of a class he is "lively, out­ well-respected researcher in functions of in the evenings on groups of students going, theatrical, and seemingly sponta­ one complex variable. • working on his assignments to see what neous." He has a loyal following of stu­ they have done and to offer suggestions. dents who credit to him much of their development as professionals in com­ Special Session at the Joint Burger is also noted for innovative puter science, mathematics, and various Mathematics Meetings courses. At Williams, he has offered an branches of science and engineering. in New Orleans innovative seminar on algebraic number theory, and he has also developed a suc­ Evelyn Silvia is ac­ Friday January 12,2001 cessful course, The Spirit ofMath, for stu­ tive in teaching at from 3:30 to 5:00 dents who usually avoid mathematics. all levels, from grade school to Creating a Meaningful Piece of Burger is also a lively speaker who has graduate school. the Human Mosaic given numerous talks on a wide variety She has taught sev­ Edward B. Burger of subjects outside Williams College. eral courses (in­ These include conference addresses, talks, cluding supple­ Teaching Through Problems and the lectures at other institutions, and appear­ mental mathemat- Putnam Competition ances on radio and television. His talks Evelyn Silvia ics for deaf chil- Leonard F. Klosinski are successful because of his ability to dren, fifth grade engage and entertain his listeners while special math, pre-algebra 1, and geom­ Reflections on Teaching and Learning still dealing seriously with the mathemat­ etry) in the public schools, without com­ Evelyn Silvia ics. Because of his ability to capture the pensation. From 1994 to 1999 she was 3 FOCUS NOVEMBER 2000 Teacher Preparation: the Discussion Continues How to improve the quality of Ameri­ sponsibility for educating teachers be nally, the report emphasizes the need for can mathematics and science teaching broadened beyond schools of education cooperation between schools and the continues to be an issue of national con­ to include academics, school districts, and higher education community in order to cern. In September, the National Research society as a whole. achieve the goal of delivering the best Council issued a report called Educating mathematics and science teaching in our Teachers of Science, Mathematics, and The National Academy of Sciences estab­ schools. Technology: New Practices for the New lished a Committee on Science and Math­ Millennium. ematics Teacher Preparation in 1998 to As FOCUS went to press, a second report make recommendations about teacher on the subject was expected for early Oc­ The report, which can be obtained from preparation based on the available re­ tober, this time from the National Com­ the National Academy Press at http:// search data. The report is the result of two mission on Mathematics and Science www.nap.edu, emphasizes that teacher years of work by the committee. In addi­ Teaching for the 21st Century, usually education is a better category than teacher tion to its focus on professional develop­ referred to as the "Glenn Commission" preparation, since the education of teach­ ment of teachers, it notes that for teach­ because it is chaired by former senator ers must in fact continue throughout ing to improve it is essential that teach­ John Glenn. Preliminary reports in the their professional life. "Teacher education ers be accorded the same level of respect September 1 issue of Science indicated should ... be a seamless continuum that as other professionals. It describes the that there would be large areas of agree­ begins well before prospective teachers education of teachers as a "top national ment between the two reports. The Glenn enter college and that supports them priority;' and calls for changes in the re­ Commission report should be available throughout their professional careers." wards, incentives, and expectations for on the web at http://www.ed.gov/ Therefore, the report asks that the re- teachers that will reflect this priority. Fi- americacounts/glenn/toc.html. • Fermat's Last Theorem: The Musical Mathematics will show up on stage majors at Yale.