Other AMS Sessions

Wednesday

Access and Opportunities in STEM Education: The Challenges of Building an Equitable Diverse Society, organized by Carlos Castillo-Chavez, Arizona State University, Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. The sense of urgency that the NAS’s report “Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads” places on the diversification of the work force in STEM demands increased access to colleges and universities, not only because it is the right thing to do but because it is in the best national interest. This has been carried out under the leadership of President Freeman Hrabowski of the University of Maryland at Baltimore County. President Hrabowski will share the national responses that this report has generated over the past two years. His presentation will be followed by the responses of two recipients of the Presidential Medal of Science: James S. Gates, University of Maryland, College Park, and Richard Tapia, Rice University. Cosponsored by the AMS, MAA, and SIAM

INGenIOuS: Workforce Preparation for Students in the Mathematical Sciences, organized by John Bailer, Miami University; Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University, William Jaco, Oklahoma State University, Peter Turner, Clarkson University; and Paul Zorn, St. Olaf College; Wednesday, 2:15 p.m.–3:45 p.m. Representatives of AMS, ASA, MAA, and SIAM met in July 2013, at the INGenIOuS workshop, to discuss positioning mathematics and statistics departments to create a workforce that is ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The goal is to ensure that the next generation of undergraduate and graduate students view the study of mathematical sciences as a vibrant path leading to many career options. Cosponsored by the AMS, ASA, MAA, and SIAM.

Online Courses: Benefits and Pitfalls, organized by Dan Abramovich, Brown University, and Patricia Hersh, North Carolina State University; Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are currently developing at a rapid pace. Their educational potential and possible effect on the structure of colleges and universities are hot topics in higher education. Panelists Tina Garrett, St. Olaf College; Robert Ghrist, University of Pennsylvania; William (Brit) E. Kirwan, University System of Maryland; and Randy McCarthy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will discuss the potential impact on students, faculty, and mathematics  departments. How is student learning in a MOOC different from in a conventional classroom environment? What kinds of support do students need at their home institutions? How will allowing students to take MOOCs for credit, in lieu of traditional courses, affect departments at the home institutions? How should the mathematics community respond to this trend? The panel will aim to discuss these and other questions concerning MOOCs and be moderated by Abigail Thompson, University of California, Davis. Sponsored by the Committee on the Profession.

Thursday

Who Wants to Be a Mathematician—National Contest, organized by Michael A. Breen, AMS, and William T. Butterworth, DePaul University; Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. See ten of the nation’s best high school students compete for a US$5,000 first prize for themselves and US$5,000 for their school’s math department. Semifinals are at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 10:30 a.m. You are invited to come and take part in this educational and fun presentation.

Conversation on Nonacademic Employment, Thursday, 10:30–noon. This session will concentrate on how to find nonacademic positions, types of jobs, the interview process, work environments, and advancement opportunities. The discussion will be moderated by C. Allen Butler, Daniel H. Wagner Associates, Inc., and include a panel of mathematical scientists working in government and industry. Panelists include: Eli Donkar, Social Security Administration; Victoria Horan, Air Force Research Laboratory; Linda Ness, Applied Communication Sciences; and David Saltman, Center for Communications Research.

The Genius of Srinivasa Ramanujan, Thursday, 6:00 p.m.–7:10 p.m. The Prime Minister of India declared 2012 the “National Year of Mathematics” to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the birth of Srinivasa Ramanujan.To honor the occasion, Nandan Kudhyadi produced this docudrama. The film features well-known number theorists from around the world associated with Ramanujan’s oeuvre. Shot at various locations in India and Cambridge, it serves as a pilgrimage for those interested in the legend and legacy of the great Indian mathematician. The film also highlights the trajectory of Ramanujan’s seminal work and its relevance today. Cosponsored by the AMS and MAA.

Friday

Grad School Fair, Friday, 8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. 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 50 graduate programs. If your school has a graduate program and you are interested in participating, a table will be provided for your posters and printed materials for US$75 (registration for this event must be made by a person already registered for the JMM), and you are welcome to personally speak to interested students. Complimentary coffee will be served. Cosponsored by the AMS and MAA.

Current Events Bulletin, organized by David Eisenbud, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute; Friday, 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. 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.

The Public Face of Mathematics, Friday, 2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Moderated by Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College. Panelists Keith Devlin, Stanford University; Jerry McNerney, U. S. Congress; Cathy O'Neil, Johnson Research Labs; Tom Siegfried, Freelance Journalist; and Steve Strogatz, Cornell University, will share ideas and lead discussion about how the mathematics community can mobilize more members to become proactive in representing mathematics to the general public and to key audiences of leaders in discussions of public policy. Sponsored by the Committee on Science Policy and the Committee on Education.

Transforming Post-Secondary Mathematics Education, organized by Eric M. Friedlander, University of Southern California, Mark L. Green, University of California, Los Angeles, and Phillip A. Griffiths, Institute for Advanced Study; Friday, 4:15 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Panelists Michele Cahill, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Jo Handelsman, Yale University, William (Brit) E. Kirwan, University System of Maryland, and Joan Leitzel, University of New Hampshire, will participate in a discussion of the challenges and prospects for systemic change in post-secondary mathematics education. This discussion should promote substantial, constructive responses to achieve goals which include 1) creating and disseminating course content to meet the needs of today’s students, especially by emphasizing the roles that mathematics plays in the modern world; 2) strengthening the pipeline for prospective STEM graduates; and 3) developing, adapting, and evaluating new teaching methodologies. Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Sloan Foundation. Cosponsored by the AMS Committee on Education, MAA, and SIAM.

Congressional Fellowship Session, organized by Samuel M. Rankin III, AMS; Friday, 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. 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 fellow, Karen Saxe. Application deadline for the 2014-15 AMS Congressional Fellowship is February 15, 2014.

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