USA Foundation Professorship
Mathematics and Statistics - 2000/2001

STUDENT ACTIVITIES - $5,000

Project 00-A

Administrator: Student Affairs Committee

The Student Affairs Committee is charged with the administration of the following projects.

00-A1 Mobile Math Circle: $2,400 - Flath and Prokhorov

The Circle, which will meet at USA, will be a problem solving group of high school students. In addition to the teaching that will go on in regular meetings, the Space Consortium will be asked to cover the cost of bringing a visiting expert to speak to the USA Math/Stat Department and to the circle, and to pay for two students to be accompanied to an Olympiad in spring of 2001. The USA Foundation money will be used to bring to USA two nationally recognized mathematicians with experience in problem solving and or operation of Mathematics Olympiads. Each visitor will be asked to give a Math/Stat Department Colloquium and to conduct one meeting of the Math Circle.
Suggestion: The activity should give high priority to publicity and some of the funds should be used for that purpose.

00-A2 Math/Stat Problem Contest: $400 - Brick

Every three weeks or so a problem would be posted on a bulletin board as was done this year. Students would have a few days to submit solutions to the department office. The first correct answer received will win a T-shirt featuring a mathematical graphic and catchy saying. T-shirts would also be available for purchase by faculty and students.
Suggestion: The problems could be posed and winners announced in eye-catching ads in the Vanguard. Alternatives to T-shirts should be considered. If the winners get the same prize that others can buy, the prize is not that much of a prize.

00-A3 Student Travel: $2,200

This money would be available to support travel for undergraduate and graduate students to present research at conferences and to participate in competitions in mathematics, statistics and modeling or other appropriate activities. Faculty would be funded from other sources.

2000/2001 USA FOUNDATION LECTURE SERIES in MATHEMATICS and STATISTICS - $15,000

Project 00-B

Administrator: Colloquium Committee

The Departmental Colloquium Committee will be charged with all management of the Lecture Series. In general, the committee should actively seek scholars that can attract a wide University audience of both students and faculty, and speakers that can address innovative, controversial or timely, approaches to mathematics and statistics and their dissemination.

Speakers appropriate to the purpose of this Series will be funded and, in particular, the following specific projects will be accomplished.

00-B1 History of Mathematics - Cruthirds

A nationally known scholar in the area of the history of mathematics or statistics should give a presentation suitable for an audience of undergraduate mathematics students. Such a presentation could provide historical facts about some of the individuals of importance in our disciplines, as well as, information about the historical development of some of the important ideas and topics.

00-B2 Mathematical Art - Flath

This project could occur during Mathematics Awareness Month to bring mathematics-inspired art to the community. A mathematical artist would give a talk to a general audience.
Suggestion: The event should involve colleagues in the Art Department, particularly those in Art History. A special effort should be made to reach out to local colleges and public schools at all levels.

00-B3 Mathematical and Statistical Modeling - Mulekar and Pickett

The speakers will be established scholars who are recognized in their field and who also represent a variety of areas in applied mathematics and statistics. Specific areas that have been identified are

• physics (quantum mechanics)
• geophysics (earthquake modeling)
• computational fluid dynamics
• biomathematics and biostatistics
• biometrics
• actuarial sciences.

Several scholars have been identified, including

• Jerry Goldstein, Memphis
• Jim Cushing, Arizona
• Suzanne Lenhart, Tennessee
• Lisa Fauci, Tulane
• Glenn Webb, Vanderbilt
• Gisele Goldstein, Memphis
• Linda Young, Nebraska
• Brian Marx, Louisiana State
• Ralph O'Brien, Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Suggestion: Special effort should be made to reach out to other departments and colleges. The proposal was for one speaker per month. This number could be too ambitious and also expensive to do properly. Two per semester is suggested.

G³ - GEOMETRIC GROUPS on the GULF COAST - $1,000

Project 00-C

Administrator: Brick and Mineyev

For the year 2001, the plan is to hold G³ as a special session at the January joint meeting of the AMS-MAA in New Orleans. The funds requested are a contingency in case the special session is not approved.

CONTINGENCY FUND

Project 00-D

Administrator: Department Chairman

Any funds remaining will be held as a contingency to take advantage of opportunities that might arise during the year. These may be specifically requested from the Chair at anytime.