2012 Trends in Undergraduate Research in Mathematical Sciences Conference
October 26-28, 2012
Westin O’Hare Hotel in Chicago, IL
Today the number of doctoral degrees granted to U.S. citizens remains strikingly low, and there is a shortage of graduates entering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Undergraduate research programs serve not only as an outlet for creative thinking, but also as an introduction to the profession. These experiences are valued by graduate schools, businesses, and beyond. Students involved in these programs work on research problems, present to a professional audience, and develop professional-level writing skills, all under the guidance of qualified mentors.
TURMS 2012 will invite faculty and graduate students to address several issues pertinent to undergraduate research in the mathematical sciences. The conference will explore the following topics: (1) student demand for undergraduate research that is not being met; (2) strategies for creating undergraduate research opportunities for all mathematics majors; (3) opportunities for undergraduate research during the academic year; (4) competition between disciplines for funding to support undergraduate research in mathematics; and (5) the role of undergraduate research in tenure and promotion decisions at different institutions - an issue that is essential to getting junior faculty involved.
Junior faculty and graduate students at the conference will benefit from networking with more experienced faculty. The conference will hold a session for junior faculty that provides advice when applying for an REU grant. The conference program will include a panel session for graduate students on how they can best serve as mentors to undergraduate researchers. Some REU programs have graduate student mentors, and we will present best practices from these programs.
After the conference, summaries of outcomes of panel and break-out sessions will be posted. In addition the website will include an electronic copy of the conference proceedings, which will be published as a special issue of the journal Involve, and will be available to everyone free of charge.
Registration for the conference is limited. To apply download this form and return as directed to Darren Narayan at dansma@rit.edu by August 16. For those accepted, a $200 registration fee will include hotel and some meals while at the conference. Please note that only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to attend.
Organizers include Joseph Gallian (University of Minnesota Duluth), Aparna Higgins (University of Dayton), Darren Narayan (Rochester Institute of Technology), Michael Pearson (Mathematical Association of America) and Ivelisse Rubio (Computer Science Department of the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras). The conference will be organized by the Mathematical Association of America and is supported by grants from the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation. Additional background information on TURMS 2012.