The REU Site, Mathematical Sciences at Ursinus College: A Broad Spectrum of Opportunities, will be a vibrant community of scholars with students as integral members, and will focus on exposing students to opportunities in numerous subfields of the mathematical sciences. Exposure to questions, concepts, and viewpoints from multiple fields has inspired new, deep and interesting theorems, theories and algorithms. The PIs and senior personnel are active researchers in diverse fields in the mathematical sciences ranging from pure mathematics (analysis, operator theory) to applied mathematics (mathematical modeling, differential equations) to computer science (information retrieval, high performance computing). The REU includes the use of cross-project discussion to advance knowledge across different fields in the mathematical sciences with a focus on engaging undergraduates in serious research. The REU activities have been conceived and organized so that participants will have transformative learning experiences on- and off-campus, and will work in an environment that fosters interaction. The program goals are to nurture undergraduates? interest and skills in research, improve their ability to utilize complex constructions and analyze complex issues, and provide them with the mathematical sophistication required for successful research careers in the mathematical sciences.
Students from diverse backgrounds will be recruited nationwide, and will interact with each other and with experienced faculty. Students will spend eight weeks devoted exclusively to working in teams on original research in the mathematical sciences under the close tutelage of a faculty mentor. The REU will require weekly visible products, presentations at regional and national conferences, preparation of papers for submission to research journals, attendance at sessions on post-graduate opportunities, and visits to other REU sites. The REU students will network and develop professional relationships with the larger mathematical sciences community by participating in a number of off-campus professional events. Participants will be seamlessly integrated into the existing Ursinus Summer Fellows research program which will expose the students to scholarly investigations in a wide range of fields. The REU places a special emphasis on recruiting students who would not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in a research project. Ursinus College is one of the more diverse campuses among highly selective liberal arts colleges, and the PI has a record of, as well as a commitment to, involving students from underrepresented groups on research projects.
The program nurtured undergraduates’ interest and skills in research, exposed students to a broad spectrum of opportunities in the mathematical sciences, and advanced discovery, understanding and the application of topics in the mathematical sciences into other STEM fields. Undergraduate participants developed abilities to utilize and analyze complex issues, and were provided with the professional information required for successful research careers in the mathematical sciences. Novel research were initiated and disseminated, and new collaborations were forged as a consequence of the REU activities. The variety and depth of the activities was made possible by the extended interaction between faculty mentors and students post-REU. Faculty advanced their own scholarship achievement through the projects in the REU program. Results from the REU research projects were largely disseminated through professional meetings and submission of papers for publications. Ten technical reports and eleven honors theses were initiated from these research projects. The REU research activities led to twelve papers accepted or submitted for publication in research journals or in conference proceedings. REU participants gave over 50 presentations at regional and national meetings. Students learned to adapt their presentations for technical and nontechnical audiences. Participants were invited to be the keynote speakers and others won prizes at poster competitions or received outstanding presentation awards. Twenty two out of the twenty five participants went to or plan to go to a graduate or professional program. Participants indicated that the REU activities, during and post summer, were important factors in their success post-baccalaureate and in their desire to pursue further study in the mathematical sciences. The REU activities provided transformative learning experiences on- and off-campus, and made it possible to share and acquire resources vital for research in a small college. Close attention was given to recruiting a diverse group of students from institutions with limited undergraduate research opportunities and from underrepresented groups. We have established collaborations with two REU sites in the region, and developed connections with faculty and graduate programs at research institutions in the region. Moreover, the REU had a broader impact at our institution, including an increase in the number of students who applied and were accepted into graduate programs and other departments planned on developing programs that are similar to our REU structure.
