Students try to solve the unsolved
The University of Akron, Yale University, Western Michigan University and Butler University all have a common bond.
All were among the schools that sent undergraduate students to CMU last summer for the National Science Foundation mathematics research program.
The mathematics research program is an intensive program that undergraduate students from across the United States are invited to apply.
“The students work on math projects that we don’t know the answer to,” said Sivaram Narayan, mathematics professor. “They aren’t normal math problems out of a book.”
He said they have an idea of how to approach the problems, but they have never been solved.
Last year, Narayan received a grant and ran the summer program by himself. This year Narayan received a grant from the NSF for $160,000 to continue the program for three years.
“The grant will continue the program for this summer, as well as in 2004 and 2005,” Smith said.
Narayan said he is the principal investigator for the grant, and Ken Smith, mathematics professor, is the co-principal investigator.
Narayan will be joined by Yuri Ionin and Lisa Demeyer, both mathematics professors, in conducting the summer program.
Students from other institutions will receive a $2,400 stipend along with room and board for their participation. CMU students also get $2,400, but are responsible for their own room and board.
Eight sports are reserved for students from other schools and five spots for CMU students. Six positions have already been filled for this summer.
The students will work from May 27 to July 18, Narayan said.
“We also let the students have some fun and not just work all the time,” Narayan said. “We have a pizza party and a trip to Mackinac Island and get-togethers planned. We are also trying to set up a canoe trip.”
A final report is required at the end of the summer and the professors encourage participants to present their reports at professional meetings, Narayan said.
“There are five different research projects that we present to the students,” Smith said. “A number of faculty members have done extensive research and will be working with the students.”
Application information can be obtained by calling 774-3566.
“It is a good program and we are looking forward to continuing it,” Narayan said.
