Math
SPIRAL
Summer
Program In Research And Learning
at
the University of Maryland
The Math SPIRAL summer program in the
Department
of Mathematics at the University of Maryland in College Park is a
multi-year
program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the
National
Security Agency (NSA). Working with a group of affiliated
minority
serving colleges and universities, we bring gifted college sophomores
and
juniors to the College Park campus for a six-week intensive program to
prepare them for graduate study in the mathematical sciences.
Math SPIRAL has three core components: academics, research and
professional
development.
The
academic
program consists of two course sequences that run in
parallel.
The first, developed by Prof. Bill Gasarch of Computer Science, is an
investigation
of a variety of games with the goal of finding successful strategies
for
winning through the use of a variety of mathematical tools. This
is a very hands-on problem solving program. The second is a study
of the core methods of mathematical reasoning a proof. We focus
not
only on solving problems but on accurately communicating those
solutions
both in writing and verbally.
The
research
program also focuses on the analysis of games. Students
are
offered a variety of games to investigate and form three or four person
teams to carry out the investigations. Teams meet daily
with
a graduate student mentor and a faculty advisor and make weekly
oral
presentations of their progress. The highlight of the
program
comes with the formal presentations by the students of their
work.
Attached here are the Powerpoint presentations of the four groups from
the 2003 Math SPIRAL program.
Random
Nim
Catch
the Rabbit
Arithmetic
Sequences
Tiling
Games
Professional
development activities involve field trips, colloquia and
panel discussions. On most Wednesdays we take a field trip to a
Federal
Agency or major industry. In 2004 field trips are planned to the
National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), the National
Security
Agency (NSA) and to Northrup Grummon. We bring established
figures from academic, government and industry to offer personal
insights
in our weekly colloquia. A luncheon preceding the colloquium
offers
SPIRAL'ers a chance to talk intimately with our speakers.
Panel
discussions bring insight into preparing for and succeeding in graduate
school, finding external funding and taking advantage of University
resources.
This program was developed in close coordination with our affiliated
institutions, Bowie State University, Morehouse College, North Carolina
A&T, Spelman College, Trinity College in DC, Xavier University of
Louisiana
as well as the University of Maryland. This network of
affiliates
is a central strength of Math SPIRAL.
Math SPIRAL is only available to students
in the
mathematical sciences at the University of Maryland or one of the six
affiliates
named above. Our focus is on students who have completed their
sophomore
or junior years. In particular you must have completed an
advanced
proof-based course. Linear algebra is also extremely
useful.
If you are interested in applying or in learning more, contact the the
Affiliate listed below at your home institution.
Bowie State University - Prof.
Rebecca Berg
Morehouse College - Prof. Duane
Cooper
North Carolina A&T - Prof.
Janis
Oldham
Xavier U. of LA - Prof. Bill
Jones
Trinity College in DC - Prof.
Laurie
Johnson
Spelman College - Prof. Tasha
Inniss
The application
deadline for the 2004 MATH SPIRAL Program is March 5.
In addition you may contact the
following
people for further information:
Prof. Dan Rudolph,
Professor of
Mathematics,
UMD and SPIRAL Director <djr@math.umd.edu>
Joelle Carter, Director for Diversity, Recruitment
and Retention in the College of Computer,
Mathematical
and Physical Sciences <jdcarter@deans.umd.edu>
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