Mathematics Graduate Organization hosts 32nd annual NY Regional Graduate Mathematics Conference April 7-8

Mathematics Graduate Organization hosts 32nd annual NY Regional Graduate Mathematics Conference April 7-8March 28, 2006Carol K. Masiclatclkim@syr.edu

Each year, students, faculty and other mathematics enthusiasts gather at Syracuse University for the New York Regional Graduate Mathematics Conference, an event devoted to the sharing of information and ideas on various topics in mathematics and building camaraderie in the math community. This year’s conference will take place April 7-8.

The conference has been held every year at Syracuse University since 1974 and is organized entirely by students, with financial support from many campus organizations including the Mathematics Department and the Graduate Student Organization. The Mathematics Graduate Organization (MGO) at SU, which consists of a number of graduate student officers and many volunteers, oversees the event.

“We are excited to be part of a piece of SU history by hosting this year’s conference,” says Adam McCaffery, graduate student and vice-president of the MGO at SU. “For years, this completely student-organized event has allowed participants to interact with mathematicians who are conducting groundbreaking research. Our main speakers, Professor Joseph Gallian and Professor James Oxley are both highly respected in their fields. Gallian, of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, wrote the book that many junior and senior undergrads use for their first course in abstract algebra. Oxley, of Louisiana State University, is the author of ‘Matroid Theory’ (Oxford University Press, 1992), one of the premier texts on the subject.”

Each year, this two-day conference draws students and faculty from colleges and universities all over New York, across the country and Canada. Participants come to hear invited speakers, and many give presentations themselves. Past speakers include Wu Yi Hsiang of the University of California-Berkeley (2005); Douglas Arnold of the University of Minnesota (2005); and Kenneth Brown of Cornell University (2004).

The conference kicks off at 8 p.m., Friday evening, with the opening address, “Using Groups and Graphs to Create Symmetry Patterns,” delivered by Gallian, A reception will follow at 9:30 p.m. Saturday begins with morning presentations and short talks by conference participants. Oxley’s keynote address, “What is a Matroid?” will take place at 11 a.m. A luncheon and full afternoon of more presentations will follow. Both Gallian’s and Oxley’s addresses take place in Heroy Auditorium at SU’s Heroy Geology Laboratory. Presentation and short talk sessions will take place in various classrooms in Carnegie Library.

Attending graduate students are particularly encouraged to give a talk, though faculty and well-prepared undergraduates are also welcome to present. Conference speakers are asked to aim their talks to the level of a first- or second-year graduate student. Topics to be discussed range from mathematics education and recreational problems to current research.

“Our goal is to offer a forum where graduate students can go to any talk, understand it and feel comfortable asking questions,” says McCaffery. “For many graduate students, the opportunity to talk to a famous mathematician rarely presents itself. At this conference, graduate students could have a glass of wine with Kenneth Appel, a bagel with Paul Halmos or lunch with Serge Lang. The speakers genuinely enjoy the opportunity to talk to graduate students. If you are a graduate student, a professor, an undergraduate or just someone interested in mathematics, come join us at this year’s conference.”

Registration for the event is free for students, and $25 for faculty and the general public. To register, download a form at the event’s registration website http://webwork.syr.edu/~mgo/index.php. Early registration (by March 31) is encouraged, but participants can also register in person from 5:30-7:45 p.m. in the reading room of SU’s Carnegie Library.

For more information contact McCaffery at ajmccaff@syr.edu or visit http://webwork.syr.edu/~mgo/index.php.