NEWS FROM THE IMA

The theme of this year at the IMA is “Optimization”, which seeks not to run the world but, rather, to show the best way in which the world might be run. This is a subject which has undergone enormous advances over the last ten years, partly due to improvements in computing machinery, but also due to many new mathematical ideas, new algorithms and new implementations of old algorithms.

The IMA continues to operate by quarters, and, in the fall, we ran workshops on the general theme of “Supply Chain and Logistics Optimization”. The term “supply chain” refers to the network of suppliers, distributors, transportation means, storage facilities, and retailers needed to deliver products to the right locations at the right time in the right quantities. That is to say, we want the trucks to get the goods to the right places, at the right times, at the lowest possible total cost - or variants of that basic problem. A complex supply chain gives rise to many opportunities to apply optimization techniques to achieve greater efficiency, but also to very challenging problems both to formulate and solve mathematically, and also to implement because of the non-mathematical, business aspects.

The winter term is devoted to “New Optimization Paradigms and Approaches”, all about the above-mentioned improvements in algorithms and ideas. In the spring, we present “Information Technology and Optimization” which discusses telecommunication optimization and optimization in data mining.

Integer Programming is a part of Optimization which seeks to minimize a linear functional along the integer points in a convex polytope, often of extremely high dimension. One of my own favorite topics this year has been the interaction between Integer Programming and Computational Algebraic Geometry. I lectured on this in the Junior Colloquium in February. For more information on the Optimization year, please go to http://www.ima.umn.edu/optimization/

Since Doug Arnold has taken the reins of the IMA, there have been many changes, both in programs and in operations. The workshops now involve fewer talks, with a greater emphasis on interaction, both formal and informal. In 2004, we will have a summer program on n-categories. We are currently considering a proposal for an annual program in Computational Algebraic Geometry. Pending approval of NSF funding, we are beginning a “New Directions” initiative, which seeks to smooth the way for established mathematicians who wish to branch into new directions and increase the impact of their research. For more information, go to http://www.ima.umn.edu/new-directions/

Scot Adams, Professor of Mathematics and IMA Associate Director

NEWS FROM THE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (ITCEP)

ITCEP’s director, Professor Harvey Keynes, continues to be the advisor for the five-year-old Masters Degree Program in Mathematics, emphasis in Mathematics Education. John Hall, one of its twelve graduates, continues in the math PhD program. Melissa Everson, Justin Jacobs, Karen Riga, and Nathan Van Dyke graduated in 2002 and now have jobs in Middle and High Schools, mainly in the Twin Cities metro area. During Summer 2002, Melissa, Justin, and Carraig Hegi, also a masters’ program graduate, were members of the instructional team for the 2002-03 Professional Development Program funded by an Eisenhower grant and implemented by ITCEP.

This program, titled “Mathematics Within”, aims to improve the mathematics content knowledge and understanding of the connections within mathematics of fourth through seventh grade teachers. Thirteen elementary school teachers participated in each of the two summer courses (Algebraic Patterns and Shape; and, Space and Measurement) and now are in the process of presenting the lessons they prepared as program participants to their elementary school students and members of the ITCEP instructional team. Several of these teacher participants and masters program graduates are involved with the proposed 2003-04 “Mathematics Within” Professional Development Program.

Working on both these program teams is Simon Morgan, ITCEP’s new post-doctorate assistant professor. In addition, Simon is a workshop leader for the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP) Calculus I and III courses.

In this, UMTYMP’s twenty-second year, UMTYMP has an enrollment of 468 students in grades 6-12 (Twin Cites 373; Outreach 95), 184 of whom are calculus students. Twenty-eight students are in Twin Cities Calculus III and several others are enrolled in advanced mathematics or IT honors course work. Eight alumni are in the new mathematics honors program. For a second consecutive year, Assistant Professor R. Hesse, a School of Mathematics Ph.D. Graduate, is teaching UMTYMP calculus at St. John’s University, St. Cloud. Assistant Professor M. Keel, an UMTYMP alumnus, is teaching the UMTYMP Advanced Topics course, likewise for a second consecutive year. Professor H. Keynes, and Adjunct Professor T. Schwartzbauer, continue teaching Twin Cities’ UMTYMP calculus; Professor Schwartzbauer also teaches calculus at the Rochester site.

Professor Keynes and Dr. A. Olson, ITCEP’s Associate Director, together with other IT participants, are collaborating with several urban and suburban districts on a NSF MSP (Math Science Partnership) grant proposal. The four overall goals of this extensive five-year proposal are to: 1) Improve the mathematics content knowledge of elementary/middle school teachers, 2) integrate physical science and engineering applications based on the newly acquired math content knowledge of targeted teachers, with the possibility to extend to all K-12 later in the initiative, 3) build the leadership capacity of these teachers, and 4) create a teacher leadership network with IT, supported by ITCEP.

We are pleased to report that Matthew Landreman, a St. Paul native and a physics major from Swarthmore College was named as a 2002 Rhodes scholar, the oldest international fellowship. Matthew attended the UMTYMP program for 6 years until 1998 before attending Swarthmore. Only 32 people from the United States are selected each year to receive this prestigious award.

Alexandra Janosek,
ITCEP Communication and Public Relations Coordinator