MathNews

Mathematics graduate teaching assistants Amy Crizer, Carla Gerberry, Jaebang Kim, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Laurentiu Sega, and Courtney Taylor each received 2007-2008 Excellence in Teaching Awards on November 19.

Recipients of the annual awards are selected on the basis of student and faculty recommendations.

Purdue University’s College of Science and the Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics (CCAM) of the Department of Mathematics announced in March the launch of the Geo-Mathematical Imaging Group (GMIG).�

“GMIG will put significant resources into multi-scale approaches to (elastic) wave-equation modeling, scattering, inverse scattering, and tomography,” according to Maarten de Hoop, professor and director of Purdue University’s Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics.

De Hoop has set up global partnerships that involve researchers and leading energy-production oil companies. ExxonMobil, Total, and BP have entered into agreements with GMIG for the purpose of collaborative research.

De Hoop will serve as the director of GMIG. Mathematics professors Antonio Sa Barreto and Steven Dong will serve as research leaders along with de Hoop. The program in CCAM has been developed in conjunction with Purdue’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, the Department of Physics, and the Department of Statistics. Physics professor Laura Pyrak-Nolte, Statistics professor Chong Gu, and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences professor Robert Nowack comprise this interdisciplinary team. Additional institutions involved in the research are MIT, Lund University (Sweden), and the University of Washington.

An advisory board has also been formed. ExxonMobil, Total, and BP will each have corporate representation on the GMIG advisory board. Jeffrey S. Vitter, Frederick L. Hovde Dean and Professor of Computer Science, is the chair of the GMIG advisory board.

“The launch of the Geo-Mathematical Imaging Group is very exciting for Purdue University and the College of Science. Maarten assembled the team of researchers and industry partners shortly after his arrival at Purdue. Things have moved swiftly since then,” Vitter said. The first GMIG advisory board meeting took place March 5 and 6. Active research will begin in the fall of 2007.

The College of Science bestowed Distinguished Alumni status to ten science alumni on April 6, 2007. Dr. Barbara Kile was the 2007 Distinguished Mathematics Alumna.

Barbara Kile graduated from Purdue in 1963 with a B.S. in mathematics with highest honors. She subsequently earned an M.S. from the University of Illinois and a D.A. in mathematics from Carnegie Mellon.”

Purdue provided the nurturing environment where I developed a love for mathematics and problem-solving and gained confidence in my ability to pursue a technical career,” recalled Kile. “Professor Meyer Jerison is the person I remember best in this regard.”

For over 25 years, Kile used mathematical tools to address real-world issues in various industry and government positions. After working as an analyst for ANSER and R&D Associates (now Logicon) in Arlington, VA, she was employed by the Defense Intelligence Agency for several years before moving to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where she was Division Director of Strategic & Information Programs.”

I have had the exciting experience of being a Soviet-Warsaw Pact intelligence analyst and manager at the height of the Cold War and was involved as an analyst and manager in some of the major U.S. weapon system decisions, including the B-2 bomber and the Trident submarine force,” said Kile. ”

My mathematics degree, with a physics minor, at Purdue prepared me well for graduate school and all of the career positions I have held.”

Currently, Dr. Kile is an adjunct associate professor of mathematics at the Northern Virginia Community College.”I’ve often seized the opportunity to teach mathematics, even when my position involved mathematics only indirectly,” said Kile.

“Purdue laid the foundation for the two constants that have marked all phases of my life–a rigorous, analytic approach to problem solving and a dedication to physical fitness and participation in competitive sports. When I look back at all of the good things that I have enjoyed over my career and think about how I want to give back, Purdue rises to the top of the list.”

Nearly 70 eighth grade students from Benton Central Jr./Sr. High School and Wainwright Middle School visited the Purdue campus for Math Field Day on November 15, 2006. Hosted by the Mathematics Education Club, this was the first year for the math enrichment event designed to demonstrate the everyday applications of mathematics.

“We wanted to generate interest in mathematics and help them see that math is practical and fun,” said Steve Warner, club president.

The students worked in teams on hands-on mathematics activities. Events included “What’s My Density” and “Campus Slope,” through which students used the mathematical definition of slope to locate Purdue landmarks.

“The activities were designed to stress math concepts, problem-solving skills, and teamwork,” Warner said.
The event was supported by a Student Grant for Community Service/Service Learning Project from the Purdue Office of Engagement.

“Math Field Day was a great opportunity to engage middle school students in exciting and challenging mathematics activities,” said Bill Walker, Director for College of Science K-12 Outreach. “It was also a great service learning opportunity for members of the Mathematics Education Club, who gained some practical experience creating lessons and working with middle school students.”