EPaDel Section Governor's Report
When I began teaching about two decades ago, "undergraduate research" was a popular academic buzz phrase, but most mathematicians lamented that it was impossible in our own discipline. Undergrads in chemistry laboratories, maybe: undergrads at mathematical frontiers, unlikely. And yet, because of the combined efforts of many people and organizations, MAA conferences today are abuzz with undergraduate research, and their professors and mentors glow when describing their seminal results.
It struck me at the latest MAA Board of Governors meeting (held in the surprisingly chic city of Madison Wisconsin), that we are on the verge of another sea change in what constitutes undergraduate mathematics. In an era of increased global interconnectedness, and as university administrators everywhere begin to urge their faculty to "internationalize the curriculum", the MAA is prepared to help our discipline lead the way.
Here are just a few of the many ways I noticed that the MAA is (in spite of the last "A" in our acronym) already crossing frontiers of the figurative and literal kind.
In the undergraduate arena, the MAA co-sponsors (with MSRI) the US-Chinese Girls' Mathematics Olympiad Teams, and we made a great video of the US Team that went to the International Math Olympiad! In addition, the MAA has begun working with FUMEC (which promotes cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico). Our many efforts in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines include presenting examples of international curricula at our own meetings.
In the publishing arena, the joint MAA/CMS book series links us with the Canadian Mathematical Society. Online Journals and electronic versions of our flagship print journals may soon become an economical way to bring the best of MAA exposition to mathematicians overseas—even to establish a solid international membership base in our Association.
And what about mathematicians here in the U.S.? The MAA helps us go abroad. The Study Tour to Peru sold out last summer, so you should sign up for the summer 2009 Study Tour to Egypt early!
At a recent meeting of the Canadian Mathematical Society, one person approached the MAA Vice President, Betty Mayfield, and told her: "We don't have an organization quite like the MAA in Canada," he said, "and I want you to know how much we appreciate you do."
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On another topic entirely, I urge you to check out the MAA catalog to see the brand new line of textbooks for undergraduate mathematics. These textbooks are not only more affordable than most trade books (important to my frugal colleagues and their students), but they're high quality, extensively reviewed by mathematicians.
Respectfully submitted,
Annalisa Crannell
Franklin & Marshall College