Other AMS Sessions
AMS Committee on the Profession Panel Discussion: Diversity and Inclusion in the Mathematical Sciences, organizers are Pamela Gorkin, Bucknell University; Monica Jackson, American University and John McCleary, Vassar College; Wednesday, 4:30–6:00 pm. Representation, recruitment and retention of a diverse set of students continue to be critical in higher education and in the workplace. To involve the best talent possible in the enterprise of mathematics, departments will need to bring the widest possible base of students to the field, nurturing students from marginalized communities and providing support for underrepresented students who choose to pursue a career in mathematics. From the panel we hope to hear how the speakers’ experiences and expertise can help us shape new approaches to the challenge of increasing diversity in the mathematical community. Moderator for this panel will be Helen G. Grundman, AMS. Panelists will include Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University; Duane Cooper, Morehouse College; Kristin Lauter, Microsoft Corporation; and Talithia Williams, Harvey Mudd College .
AMS Conversation on Nonacademic Employment, Thursday, 10:30 am–noon. This session will concentrate on how to find non-academic positions, types of jobs, the interview
process, work environments, and advancement opportunities. The discussion will be led by a panel of mathematical scientists working in government and industry. Moderator for this panel will be David Moulton, Google Inc. Panelists will be Nico Aiello, Bloomberg; Kim Laine, Microsoft Research; Amber Smith, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and Kelly Yancey, Institute for Defense Analyses.
MAA-AMS Joint Panel Session on Design (or improve) Preparation of Your Graduate Students to Teach: Using MAA’s CoMInDS Resource Suite, organized by Jessica Deshler, West Virginia University; Thursday, 10:35– 11:55 am. CoMInDS is a MAA project, funded by the NSF, to support teaching-related professional development (PD) for beginning college mathematics instructors (CMIs), e.g., graduate student teaching assistants. CoMInDS aims to provide resources and support networks for those: (1) who deliver the PD in their departments (2) who create PD materials for CMIs and (3) who conduct research on CMI PD. One component of the project is an online collection of instructional materials and research-related resources for use in CMI PD. In this session, we will illustrate how to use the resource suite to design PD programs for CMIs. We will provide an overview of the contents of the suite and then we will illustrate how to identify specific resources. In particular, we will provide a guided tour of how items from the resources suite can be used to create a pre-semester orientation session for new CMIs. We will also illustrate how to locate and use research-based resources from the suite, such as research articles, to use as readings and research reports that can be used to support the need for such programs. At the close of the session we will present opportunities for participants to get involved in the project and to contribute their own materials to the resources suite.
This panel is being organized and offered in conjunction with a complementary AMS Special Session on Saturday morning and afternoon, Teaching Assistant Development Programs: Why and How? (see AMS Special Sessions).
Panelists are Jack Bookman, Duke University; Natasha Speer, University of Maine; Jessica Deshler, West Virginia University; and Sarah Schott, Duke University. This panel is sponsored by the MAA Committee on Professional Development and AMS-MAA Joint Committee on TAs and Part-Time Instructors.
AMS and SIAM Committees on Education Joint Panel Discussion: Broadening Research Experiences for Doctoral Students in the Mathematical Sciences, organized by Loek Helminck, NC State University; Rachel Levy, Harvey Mudd College; Douglas Mupasiri, University of Northern Iowa and Suzanne L. Weekes, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Thursday, 1:00–2:30 pm. AMS survey data demonstrate that a substantial portion of doctoral recipients are taking positions outside of academia. In this panel, we will hear about efforts to improve the training of mathematical sciences doctoral students by involving them in research activities outside of their main dissertation research in order to better them for a broader range of careers.
Programs have been designed to encourage connections between mathematical sciences and other academic departments, and between academia and business, industry, government and non-profits. The goal is to produce students who are able to recognize opportunities for the development of mathematics and statistics in problems originating in a variety of settings, and who can apply advance mathematics and statistics to help solve such problems. Panelists are Richard Laugesen, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Susan Minkoff, University of Texas-Dallas; Stephen Pankavich, Colorado School of Mines; and Dan Spirn, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
AMS-MAA Special Film Presentation and Panel: The Man Who Knew Infinity, presented by the US National Committee for Mathematics, Thursday, 7:00- 9:30 pm. The film, The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015), recounts the modest upbringing and pioneering academic career of the Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), and his friendship with his mentor, Professor G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) at Cambridge University. Produced in part by Ken Ono, Emory University, and Manjul Bhargava, Princeton University, the screening is hosted by The US National Committee for Mathematics to promote US involvement in the IMU's programs that are located in developing countries.
The screening at 7:30 pm, will be preceded at 7:00 pm by a panel entitled, International Mathematics Efforts and the IMU, moderated by Eric M. Friedlander, University of Southern California. This panel discussion will mention some of the international activities in mathematics undertaken by U.S.-based mathematicians and, in particular, the efforts of the International Mathematics Union. The discussion will provide guidance for mathematicians interested in contributing to mathematics education and research outside of the U.S. Panelists will be Ingrid Daubeschies, Duke University; Wilfrid Gangbo, University of California Los Angeles; and Ken Ono, Emory University. Sponsored by the U.S. National Committee for Mathematics
Grad School Fair, Friday, 8:30–10:30 am. Here is the opportunity for undergrads to meet representatives from mathematical sciences graduate programs from universities all over the country. January is a great time for juniors to learn more, and college seniors may still be able to refine their search. This is your chance for one-stop shopping in the graduate school market. At last year's meeting about 300 students met with representatives from 60 graduate programs. If your school has a graduate program and you are interested in participating, for US\$80 a table will be provided for your posters and printed materials and you are welcome to personally speak to interested students. Registration for this event must be made by a person already registered for the JMM. Complimentary coffee will be served. Co-sponsored by the AMS and MAA.
Who Wants to Be a Mathematician /National Contest, organized by Michael A. Breen, AMS, and William T. Butterworth, DePaul University; Saturday, 1:00 pm–2:45 pm. Show your support for ten of the nation's best high school students as they compete for a US\$5000 first prize for themselves and US\$5000 for their school’s math department. Semifinals are at 1:00 pm and finals are at 2:00 pm. Come and match wits with the contestants.
AMS Current Events Bulletin, organized by David Eisenbud, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute; Friday, 1:00 pm–5:00 pm. Speakers in this session follow the model of the Bourbaki Seminars in that mathematicians with strong expository skills speak on work not their own. Written versions of the talks will be distributed at the meeting and will also be available online at www.ams.org/ams/current-events-bulletin.html after the conclusion of the meeting.
AMS Committee on Science Policy Panel Discussion: Grassroots Advocacy for Mathematics and Science Policy, organized by Jeffrey Hakim, American University; moderated by Karen Saxe, Director, AMS Washington Office. Panelists include Douglas Mupasiri, University of Northern Iowa; Catherine Paolucci, Office of Senator Al Franken (MN); and Scott Wolpert, University of Maryland; Friday, 2:30-4:00 pm. The AMS Committee on Science Policy has organized this panel to discuss ways to engage with elected officials in addressing policy issues of concern to the mathematics community, including research funding and education. Panelists will discuss the importance of grassroots advocacy and building relationships with legislators to further goals.
Congressional Fellowship Session, Friday, 4:30-6:30 pm. The speaker for this session is Catherine Paolucci, AMS Congressional Fellow 2016–17. This fellowship provides a public policy learning experience, demonstrates the value of science-government interaction and brings a technical background and external perspective to the decision-making process in Congress. Learn more about this program and speak with current and former AMS Fellows. Application deadline for the 2017–18 AMS Congressional Fellowship is February 15, 2017.
Special Panel Presentation: The Mathematics and Mathematicians Behind Hidden Figures, Wednesday, 6:30- 8:00 pm. In an exploration of the intersection of mathematics, race, gender and civil rights, this panel will discuss the lives and works of women mathematicians featured in the book Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and the 20th Century Fox film that brings it into living color. The film highlights three African American women who were instrumental to the success of NASA’s space endeavors, yet much more can be said about the relevance of the period, the place, and the circumstances that led to the defining roles these women of color played at NASA. They were mathematicians who supported America’s conquest of space and began employment as “computers,” before computers were machines. Panelists will provide insight into the mathematical achievements of the women, the impact of corresponding advances in civil rights, and the relevance of social and/or political factors in limiting or advancing the mathematical achievements of women today. Clips from the feature-length Fox production will be shown to stimulate discussion. We will hear from the author of Hidden Figures, Margot Lee Shetterly, and we will celebrate the work of these innovative women mathematicians .Panelists include Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures author; and Christine Darden, retired NASA human computer & aeronautical engineer.
This panel is organized and sponsored by the American Mathematical Society Education and Diversity Department, Association of Women in Mathematics, Building Diversity in Science, Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education, and the National Association of Mathematicians.