Penn State University's Conference on Undergraduate Research in Mathematics, 4-5 November 2011
This conference provides a venue for undergraduate students to communicate the results of their research and/or to learn about ongoing research and future careers in all areas of the mathematical sciences. They will give 20-minute talks in parallel sessions with breaks for meals, snacks, discussion, a visit to the Penn State Creamery, and a tour of the Pritchard Fluid Mechanics Laboratory. Two invited speakers, Annalisa Crannell and Francis Su, who are well-known for successfully engaging undergraduates students, will give mathematics talks aimed at the undergraduate audience.
The objective for the students is two-fold: to experience the intellectual thrill of sharing research experiences, and to network with faculty who can answer questions about graduate education and future careers in the mathematical sciences as well as concerns of a more personal nature, such as issues facing women mathematicians. Our hope is that students will make friends with other students who like math; that they will experience and enjoy ``talking math'', and want to continue doing so in a graduate program; and that they will receive recognition for the hard work they put into their research. The objective for the faculty who are involved is that they learn more about undergraduate research possibilities and the rewards of mentoring undergraduate research; that they learn how mentoring undergraduate research can enhance their teaching missions, both in and out of the classroom; and in general, that they network with others who can share ideas and best practices.
This grant supported our third, bi-annual Conference for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics held on 4-5 November 2011 at Penn State University with 116 attendees from 31 institutions from 14 states. The need to increase the participation of US citizens in the STEM fields, especially in Mathematics and the Physical Sciences is well-documented. We believe that undergraduate research conferences are a means toward that goal. The conference provided a venue for undergraduates to present and discuss their work, an introduction for students to a variety of fields within mathematics, an opportunity for students to network with faculty and learn about graduate school and other careers in the mathematical sciences, and in general, a means of channeling bright undergraduates into the U.S. mathematical community, where we hope they will find a home. Respondents to our survey were very positive about the conference in general, as well as its influence on their decisions to attend graduate school and to provide exposure to branches of mathematics they wish to pursue. The conference started on a Friday evening with dinner, a plenary talk, and an ice cream social. The next day, Saturday, consisted of six parallel sessions of 20-minute student talks, and ended with a second plenary talk. The two plenary speakers were Annalisa Crannel from Franklin & Marshall College and Francis Su from Harvey Mudd College. In addition to Friday dinner, we provided breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and a tour of the Pritchard Laboratory.
