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Notices
380 348

of the American Mathematical Society

March 2009

Communications
374 WHAT IS…Lehmer’s
Number?
Eriko Hironaka

383 Presidential Views:

Interview with George
Andrews
Allyn Jackson

386 Donald McClure Named

AMS Executive Director 401
Allyn Jackson

388 2008 Annual Survey of the

Mathematical Sciences Features
(First Report, Part II)
Polly Phipps, James W.
Maxwell, and
348 The Family in 2009
Colleen A. Rose Jim Hefferon and Karl Berry
Commentary Many mathematicians routinely use and its vari-
ants to write mathematics, but many of these users
343 Opinion: Global Crisis from do not routinely update their skills as progress is
the Perspective of Complex made in the programs. The authors describe some
Adaptive Systems of this progress and explain how the typical user can
E. Ahmed and A. S. Hegazi
take advantage of these improvements.
345 Letters to the Editor
356 Time-frequency Analysis of Musical
376 The Best of All Possible Rhythm
Worlds: Mathematics and
Destiny—A Book Review Xiaowen Cheng, Jarod V. Hart, and James S. Walker
Reviewed by Hector
Sussmann Gabor transforms, or spectograms, can be used
to graphically represent time-frequency structure
380 The Numbers Behind patterns. Continuous wavelet transforms are a
NUMB3RS: Solving Crime related notion, leading to the notion of a scalogram.
with Mathematics—A Book The authors review these notions and apply them
Review to analyze musical rhythm and its interaction with
Reviewed by Brent melody.
Deschamp
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Opinion

Global Crises from vi) Decisions can result only after serious consultations
with those executing them and those affected by them

the Perspective of
(bottom-up approach).
vii) Deserved decentralization should be encouraged.

Complex Adaptive Comments and Conclusions:

Systems
From the above we have the following comments:
• Collective efforts needed to solve emergent problems
require large scale cooperation (c.f., prisoner’s dilemma
Mathematics of Global Problems: game). However it is known that for such cooperation to
Recently the whole world has faced a global food crisis exist a feeling of imminent danger has to exist [5]. There-
(GFC). We propose to call such a problem an “emergent fore early preparations to deal with such problems are not
problem”. An emergent problem is characterized by: expected to be as efficient as should be. This is particularly
true for the expected water shortage problem, which is
i) It has several reasons not just one. acute at certain places and unseen in other ones.
ii) It cannot be solved locally (e.g., by one country) hence
“collective efforts” are required. • The expected evolution of GFC is that countries will
iii) It needs a long time to be solved, hence evolutions attempt to increase their production but at the same time
in strategies and conditions have to be taken into con- increase their reserves. Moreover the feeding behavior of
sideration. China and India populations is not likely to change. Hence
a quick solution of this problem is not expected.
There are several problems that can be called emergent,
e.g., GFC, climate change, water shortage problem, and • The bottom-up approach is highly efficient in finding
global endemic diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). Such practical solutions and in making people more prepared to
problems require that their mathematical models should share the burden of the problems. But it requires a regime
have the following properties [2, 3, 6, 7]: that has the trust of its people, a property that is rare in
many third world countries.
i) Models and optimization should be stochastic.
ii) Models should contain several time scales. We conclude: emergent problems, “messes”, happen
and will continue to happen. CAS is one of the approaches
iii) Models should be non-autonomous.
to attenuate their effects and make us better prepared
iv) Control theory results based on short time data
for them.
should not be applied on long time scale.
References
It is important to notice that we are not attempting long [1] E. Ahmed, A. S. Elgazzar and A. S. Hegazi, An overview
range predictions since it is known that these phenomena of complex adaptive systems, Mans. J. Math. 32 (2005),
are chaotic. But what we are trying is to keep the system 27.0506059 Nonlin.
within certain limits (thresholds) to avoid crisis. We think [2] P. Allen, Math. Today, 36 (2000), p. 18.
that, despite chaos, this may be possible. [3] W. Brock and A. Xepapadeas, Ecosystem management
in models of antagonistic species coevolution, (2004),
http://www.soc.uoc.gr/xepapadeas/Papers/
Some Guidelines for Local Governments: BrockXepapadeasEAERE2005.pdf.
Human societies are complex adaptive systems (CAS) [4] J. Chapman, System failure, (2004), http://www.demos.
which are known to be open [1], and optimization of co.uk/files/systemfailure2.pdf.
such systems is multi-objective. This implies the follow- [5] A. Dreber and M. A. Nowak, Gambling for global goods, PNAS
ing [4]: 105 (2008), pp. 2261–2262.
[6] J. Noailly, Evolution of harvesting strategies, J. Evol. Econ. 13
i) Complete control of CAS is impossible. Hence the (2003), pp. 183–200.
decisions should instead be guidelines. Detailed plans [7] ——— , Co-evolution of economic ecological systems, J. Evol.
Econ. 18 (2008), pp. 1–29.
should be left to those executing them.
[8] J. B. Smith, Complex systems, arXiv:cs/0303020, (2003).
ii) Expect some failures. Hence continuous revision and
updating are required.
—E. Ahmed
iii) There is no single solution but multi-solutions that —A. S. Hegazi
accommodate the different contradictory objectives. Department of Mathematics
iv) Diversity should be preserved and encouraged. Faculty of Sciences
v) Transparency and trust have to exist. Mansoura, Egypt

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 343

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Letters to the Editor

Math Circles Evaluating Teaching in

Interviews Corrections
In their fascinating article “Cross-
In the “Letter from the Editor” that The January 2009 issue of the
cultural analysis of students with
appeared in the December 2008 issue Notices carried my article, “A Cele-
exceptional talent in mathematical
of the Notices, the one describing bration of Women in Mathematics
problem solving” (Notices, November
a videotaped lecture interview by a at MIT”. A few errors have come
2008), the authors offer six proposals to light since publication of the ar-
to stimulate national discussion re job candidate, one sentence stood
out for me. Andy Magid wrote, “The ticle. On page 44 the article stated
supporting young scholars with keen that in 1968 Karen Uhlenbeck
mathematical interests. May I add presentation made it clear that the
candidate should be an effective in- became the first woman C.L.E.
a seventh, namely, that of strongly Moore Instructor at MIT. I thank
structor.” As I noted in my November
encouraging the continued growth Robert Strichartz for pointing out
2007 Notices article, “Valuing and
of math circles throughout this na- that this distinction actually goes
evaluating teaching in the mathemat-
tion, through both increased student ics faculty hiring process”, using to Nancy Kopell, who started as a
participation and increased involve- candidates’ research talks to evaluate Moore Instructor in 1967. Uhlen-
ment of mathematics profession- their teaching effectiveness is a wor- beck was a regular instructor dur-
als. Math circles provide sustained risome practice. Although the survey ing 1968-69. I also thank Dennis
mathematical experiences for young I reported in my article indicated that Porche for noting that, on page
scholars, a strong culture of support 76 percent of search committees 45, the article did not make fully
and encouragement of mathemati- engage in this practice, there are im- clear that, when Gigliola Staffilani
cal pursuit, exposure to higher level portant differences between talking was hired by MIT as an associate
mathematical ideas and practices, about one’s research to a group of professor in 2002, she was hired
experts and teaching undergraduate with tenure. Also on page 44 the
freedom of mathematical creativity
mathematics. In particular, research name of former MIT dean Robert
and ownership of ideas, and an ex-
talks typically do not allow for dem- Birgeneau was misspelled. Finally,
perience of social acceptance from
onstration of a candidate’s approach in Table 1 Susan Landau is listed
working with like-minded peers.
to in-class formative assessment and as having earned her doctorate
Since the publication of “Math in 1996; the article’s first para-
circles and olympiads: MSRI asks is active learning techniques, important
components of undergraduate teach- graph correctly records the year
the U.S. coming of age?” (Notices, Feb- as 1983.
ruary 2006) and the continued work ing effectiveness. Research talks de-
livered via video are even less able to —Margaret A. M. Murray
of MSRI, the MAA, and AIM [Math-
convey a candidate’s teaching effec-
ematical Sciences Research Institute,
tiveness as these talks are essentially
Mathematical Association of America,
one-way conversations without any of Submitting Letters to the
American Institute of Mathematics]; the back-and-forth discussion that is Editor
of the AMS with its publication of often necessary for student learning. The Notices invites readers to sub-
Circle in a Box; and of very many indi- Although such talks can help search mit letters and opinion pieces on
viduals, math circles are becoming a committees evaluate some compo- topics related to mathematics.
solid part of the student mathematics nents of a candidate’s teaching effec- Electronic submissions are pre-
educational landscape. They could tiveness, I would hesitate to endorse ferred (notices-letters@ams.
benefit all students if adopted as part their use as more than a secondary org); see the masthead for postal
of the national culture (that is, to be- method for evaluating a candidate’s mail addresses. Opinion pieces are
come “a way of life” as one colleague potential in the classroom. usually one printed page in length
puts it), all the while continuing to (about 800 words). Letters are nor-
provide a tremendous springboard —Derek Bruff mally less than one page long, and
for those keen to go further with their Vanderbilt University shorter letters are preferred.
pursuits. The goals and practices of [email protected]
math circles address many of the
issues raised in the November piece (Received November 24, 2008)
and their full support is very much
worthy of a seventh call to action.

—James Tanton
St. Mark’s Institute of Mathematics
[email protected]

(Received November 25, 2008)

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 345

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The TEX Family in 2009
Jim Hefferon and Karl Berry

M
athematicians know TEX as a standard
tool. Along with associated programs
such as LATEX and BibTEX it allows
working professionals to produce
documents of journal quality, with-
out first having to become expert at the intricacies
of typography.
We will highlight some of the exciting recent
developments in the TEX family of programs. We

Copyright 2009, Jim Hefferon.

will not aim the presentation towards TEX experts.
Rather, as long as you are comfortable producing
your own documents in TEX, or perhaps are a be-
ginner interested in learning, you should find here
some information that you can use. Our discussion
will concentrate on things that are available today
or are in a late stage of development.
You may know that TEX has been in some
way frozen by its creator. How can there be big
changes? Today’s executable TEX programs can Note. We’ve made all the links available in
still give output conforming to the standard and clickable form on this article’s webpage, http://
can still process documents made years ago. The tug.org/notices.
freeze was done in a way that allows developers
to adapt TEX to changes in the world of document History
production. In addition, people in the TEX commu- Many Notices readers know the story but some may
nity have developed other programs of interest, not: TEX began when Donald Knuth of Stanford
such as graphical front-ends to make writing a University received the galleys for an edition of
document easier. one of the books in his magnum opus The Art of
Computer Programming and was so discouraged by
how they looked that he resolved to write a system
Jim Hefferon is professor and chair of mathematics at to do the job correctly. In 1978, he delivered the
Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont, as well as Gibbs lecture at the AMS annual meeting, outlining
a maintainer of CTAN, the Comprehensive TEX Archive the basis of his work on both typography and fonts.
Network. His email address is [email protected]. This led the Society to adopt his as a standard
Karl Berry is currently the president of the TEX Users format, which in turn led to its adoption by the
Group and chief maintainer of the TEX Live distribution. mathematical community (and others), from large
His email address is [email protected]. journals to individuals.

348 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 \documentclass{article}
\usepackage[paperwidth=2.75in,paperheight=1.5in,
width=2.75in,height=1.5in,
lmargin=0in,rmargin=0in]{geometry}
\usepackage{amssymb,amsmath,amsthm}
\DeclareMathOperator{\var}{Var}
\newtheorem{thm}{Theorem}
Theorem 1 (Central Limit Theorem). Let \newcommand{\rv}[1]{\mathbf{#1}}
\newcommand{\pr}[1]{\mathbf{#1}}
{Xk } be a sequence of mutually independent \newcommand{\ev}[1]{\mathbf{#1}}
random variables with a common distribution. \begin{document}
Suppose that µ = E(Xk ) and σ 2 = Var(Xk ) \begin{thm}[Central Limit Theorem]
exist and Sn = X1 + · · · + Xn . Then for every Let $\{\rv{X}_k\}$ be a sequence of mutually
fixed β independent random variables with a common
  distribution.
Sn − nµ Suppose that $\mu=\ev{E}(\rv{X}_k)$ and
P √ < β → N(β). $\sigmaˆ2=\var(\rv{X}_k)$ exist and
σ n
$\rv{S}_n=\rv{X}_1+\dots+\rv{X}_n$.
Then for every fixed $\beta$
\begin{equation*}
1 \pr{P}\left\lbrace
\frac{\rv{S}_n-n\mu}{\sigma\sqrt{n}}<\beta
\right\rbrace \rightarrow \mathfrak{N}(\beta).
\end{equation*}\end{thm}
\end{document}
Figure 1. A sample of LATEX output and the associated input (adapted from [6]).

A major factor in that adoption was that Knuth LATEX itself can also be extended. Many people
made the program freely available, including its have contributed packages of materials that adjust
source code. Soon, an informal community of users LATEX’s default behavior. One example is the AMS’s
arose, porting TEX to many platforms, developing class amsart for articles. Another is the AMS’s
ancillary programs, etc. Following Knuth, this com- amsmath style, which adds many options for pre-
munity typically makes its work freely available. A senting equations, mathematical symbols, arrays,
formal infrastructure also appeared, the TEX Users etc. There are many smaller examples, such as the
Group. This group continues to be active, with fancyhdr style that easily adjusts page headings
annual meetings, journals, and funds dedicated to and footings. (A LATEX package is a class if it controls
further development. Other user groups are now whole documents by setting margins, headers, type
active worldwide, working in many languages in size, etc. If it is focused on more local aspects,
addition to English. such as adding facilities for including computer
Another factor in TEX’s adoption was that Knuth code listings, then it is a style.)
designed the system so that any knowledgeable Formats other than LATEX exist. These include
user could create extensions. Leslie Lamport used Eplain, which adds some basic authoring features
this capability to produce the LATEX format. (A to plain, and ConTEXt, which is a comprehensive,
format is the overall set of commands that an modern system. However, LATEX remains the most
author uses to write documents.) LATEX was a major popular by far, in part because it has such a large
departure from Knuth’s original plain format, library of useful additions. Below we will focus on
providing many high-level facilities that authors solutions based on LATEX, although much of our
need: it supports producing articles, reports, and discussion holds for any TEX document.
books, including chapters and sections. It allows
for floating figures and automatic generation or What TEX Can Do
maintenance of cross-references, tables of con- The steps for producing a TEX document are well-
tents, bibliographies, and indexes. It has a simple known to most Notices readers. If you are not
but powerful syntax for tables and strong capabili- familiar: the author creates a source file containing
ties with graphics and color. It also emphasized a mixture of text and commands, somewhat similar
a philosophy that authors should describe the to a document in the webpage language HTML.
logical role of text rather than focus on its appear- The author then runs a program or sequence of
ance. This means that you might start a chapter programs to convert the source to typeset output.
by typing \chapter{Introduction}, rather than For instance, Figure 1 gives a sample of moderately
directly specifying that the name appear in a larger complex output along with its complete input
font surrounded by additional vertical space. source. (Aside: This article is not about persuading

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 349

 you to adopt TEX but we cannot resist one sugges- in mind can be output in PDF simply by processing
tion: this input was done by a user who is not a it with the command pdflatex myfile instead of
wizard but is just reasonably competent. To judge latex myfile.
the value added by TEX, we invite you to ask a Development of the engine continues. Another
reasonably-competent user of a word processing extended engine included in today’s distributions
system to produce a version of this text and then is XETEX. This allows you to move away from TEX-
compare the two on input effort as well as output specific fonts, to easily use any font installed in
comprehensibility and appearance.) your system. XETEX also improves TEX’s non-English
language handling because it fully supports input
Increased Capabilities in the Engines: in Unicode. (Unicode is a standard to provide a
pdfTEX, XETEX, and LuaTEX representation for every character in every human
The main executable TEX program that runs on language. The AMS’s Barbara Beeton, among many
your system is called the engine. The user com- others, has been working to ensure that Unicode
munity has ported the engine and other parts of supports all mathematical symbols.)
the TEX suite to every computing platform that On the horizon is LuaTEX, which connects the
you are likely ever to use. In addition to porting computer language Lua with the TEX engine. Since
it, developers have improved it. For instance, a writing in TEX’s standard extension language can be
modern TEX does not have the memory constraints quite hard, while Lua is a scripting language, mean-
of earlier systems. So the TEX engine that you are ing that it is well-suited to this kind of work, this
running is a descendant of Knuth’s original. makes programming with TEX much easier. LuaTEX
The engine has changed in other ways. One has is being actively developed as of this writing.
to do with output devices such as printers and
computer screens. Rather than try to include in Graphics
the engine the ability to work with every printer or Knuth designed TEX to be able to use or import any
screen on the market, Knuth designed the system to sort of graphics.
produce output in a format called DVI that is easily There are good ways to create graphics within a
read by computers. Separate programs convert TEX source file, notably with the packages PSTricks
these DVI files for use on particular output devices. and TikZ. This approach describes the figure with a
This approach is flexible but has the disadvantage graphics language. Another example of a graphics
that to share documents with colleagues, an author language that is good at making technical figures
must distribute either the TEX source or the DVI is MetaPost; with this language, the code is written
file, and in either case the recipient must do further outside of the TEX source.
processing. Alternatively, you may prefer to produce graph-
A step forward came when many printer vendors ics using a program such as Gnuplot, Excel, Matlab,
adopted the PostScript language for describing or Illustrator. In addition, you may also want to use
pages. Now an author could distribute work as a graphics that don’t come from a program, such as
PostScript file and expect that colleagues could photographs.
print or view it without further processing. Devel- The typesetting engines in current distributions
opers wrote a number of programs that convert can incorporate all of the above. For instance,
DVI to PostScript; the most popular is dvips by pdfTEX can directly import JPEG, PNG, and PDF
Tomas Rokicki. It is still in widespread use today format graphics. You can convert graphics in other
as part of the document production system of formats to one of these three. An example is that
many individuals and publishers, including the you may have graphics in the EPS format (closely
production system at the AMS. related to PostScript), and there are programs to
In recent years a descendant of the PostScript convert EPS graphics to PDF; one that runs on all
language, PDF, has become very popular. This platforms is epspdf.
language is designed for use on the Internet and To insert and manipulate external graphics, LATEX
Web browsers easily display these files. So now provides the package graphicx that is both powerful
authors have a practical way to distribute their and straightforward. As an example, the command
work online while retaining their fonts and for- \includegraphics[width=16pc]{lions.jpg}
matting, something that is especially important appears in the source of this
with mathematical documents (the Web language article to include the graphic on
HTML does not easily offer such control). In re- the first page. That command
sponse to the emergence of PDF, which has become causes the graphicx package to
an open Internet standard, Hàn Thế Thành and examine the graphic file for its
others developed an extension of TEX’s engine natural width and height. The
called pdfTEX. This directly outputs PDF so that package then puts the graphic
the intermediate DVI step is no longer necessary. in the document and scales it to a width that
Many documents written with the original engine works with the column size used by the Notices

350 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 \documentclass{beamer}
\usepackage{amsthm}
\theoremstyle{plain}
\newtheorem{thm}{Theorem}
König’s Lemma \theoremstyle{definition}
\newtheorem{defs}{Definitions}

\begin{document}
Definitions
\begin{frame}\frametitle{K\"onig’s Lemma}
\begin{defs}
I A tree is finite-branching if every vertex has finite degree.
\begin{itemize}
I A tree is infinite if it has infinitely many vertices.
\item A tree is \alert{finite-branching} if
Theorem every vertex has finite degree.
If a tree is finite-branching then it is infinite if and only if it has an \item A tree is \alert{infinite} if it has
infinite branch.
infinitely many vertices.
\end{itemize}
\end{defs}
\begin{thm}
If a tree is finite-branching then it is infinite
if and only if it has an infinite branch.
\end{thm}
\end{frame}
\end{document}
Figure 2. Using the beamer presentation package. The slide has been shrunk to fit this page
(which is why the navigation elements in the lower right look tiny).

(16 pc is about 2.66 inches). This package can it is also a link to the referenced spot. Similarly,
also do simple manipulations: in this paragraph, entries in the table of contents become links to
the picture from the first page has been clipped the chapters and sections, literal URLs become
and shrunken by giving the \includegraphics clickable, and so on.
command the optional arguments width=5pc,
viewport=120 300 360 590, and clip. (The Presentations
viewport unit is 1/72 inch. Also, we have wrapped Another application that became widespread since
the text around the image by using the LATEX add-on TEX was developed is presentation software, of
package wrapfig.) We recommend an article [2] which Microsoft PowerPoint is an example.
by Klaus Höppner for background and tips on Several packages bring TEX’s ability with mathe-
working with graphics. matical text to making presentations. These change
the page size and orientation, produce navigation
Hypertext elements such as buttons for changing pages, and
Web links, technically called URLs, didn’t exist perhaps have a screen area showing an outline of
when TEX was first developed. They are a type- the talk. They also allow the slides to appear in
setting challenge because they tend to be long steps such as one bullet point at a time.
and hard to break across lines. They are also a The beamer package is one of the most popular
challenge because readers expect document links and well-documented; a sample is shown in Fig-
to be clickable, and so the text in the source must ure 2. The tutorial article by Andrew Mertz and
be associated with the right target. The url pack- William Slough [3] introduces it with a graduated
age does a good job of handling the typesetting sequence of examples.
requirements. In particular, it handles the special
characters that can appear in URLs, such as percent Editing and Running TEX: TEXworks
signs, that otherwise have a special meaning for Many users compose their TEX documents inside
TEX. of a graphical user interface. Such a front end typi-
The LATEX document style hyperref is even cally incorporates an editor that is specialized for
more ambitious: it tries to turn a paper-based writing TEX, along with a way to invoke commands;
document into a hyperlinked document without for instance, it may have a single button to compile
requiring any intervention by the author. For the document and display the result. Everyone has
instance, suppose that you have an existing LATEX a favorite. On Windows, both TEXnicCenter and
document in which the input \ref{th:LamesThm} WinEdt are among the most popular. In a Unix
produces the output “Theorem 3”. Adding environment, including GNU/Linux, many people
\usepackage{hyperref} at the start of the use the programming editor Emacs, perhaps with
document will produce that same text, but now the AUCTEX add-on.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 351

 Figure 3. TEXworks screenshot with the edit and previewer windows (text from [5]).

One front end that has made a big splash in while a vector font has each character given by a
recent years is TEXShop by Richard Koch and others, set of parametric curves. Bitmap fonts are simpler
for the Macintosh. It is a clean working environment but vector fonts scale smoothly to different sizes.
directed at an average user. There are many useful Because of this advantage, vector fonts have come
features and an excellent help system (including to dominate practical typesetting, originally in the
videos). But there is one feature that users report form of PostScript Type 1 and TrueType fonts.
makes the biggest difference in their productivity: The recently developed OpenType font format
source/preview synchronization. (Jérôme Laurens standard was created and is supported by the major
wrote the foundation work for this feature.) It font vendors. It combines and extends the capa-
allows you to use a mouse shortcut to switch back bilities of TrueType and Type 1. The description
and forth between the TEX source and the output earlier of the XETEX engine hints at its capability—it
preview. That is, clicking in the output PDF sends allows you to easily use any OpenType font. This
you to the corresponding spot in the TEX input and, means, for instance, that you can use a font that
conversely, clicking in the input sends you to the came with your system, or download one, without
corresponding spot in the output. This works even having to prepare it for use in TEX.
with multifile LATEX documents joined by \include. However, if you want to use the font in a
TEXShop is Macintosh-specific. So the TEX user document that contains mathematics then you still
groups have sponsored the development of a new must supply a large number of parameters (for
front end called TEXworks (by Jonathan Kew, also example, the spacing needed to position super-
the author of XETEX). This has the same “keep it scripts and subscripts). So fonts that have been
simple” attitude as TEXShop and is available for prepared for mathematical text remain unusual
all of today’s major systems: Windows, GNU/Linux and of special interest to the TEX community. A
and other X11-based systems, and Mac OS X. The number of alternatives to Knuth’s original font
editor works in Unicode so non-English text is not (Computer Modern) are currently available [1]. Here
an issue. It will color TEX commands differently we will mention three recently developed vector
from regular text for easier reading. The default font families that are well-suited for use with TEX
output is PDF so that you can share your files documents. All three are freely available.
online or in email with recipients who do not have Latin Modern, by Bogusław Jackowski, Janusz M.
TEX. Finally, it includes an integrated PDF viewer Nowacki, and Marcin Wolínski of the Polish TEX
that supports source/preview synchronization, so users group, is based on Knuth’s original Computer
it brings that advantage of TEXShop to the other Modern fonts, but it is supplemented with a rich
major computing platforms. collection of diacritical marks such as accents or
Figure 3 shows an example of TEXworks in umlauts that can be added to letters, as well as
action on a GNU/Linux system (it will look different letters that are precomposed with them. These
on other platforms because it uses the window supplements make for a better appearance and
drawing system of the platform). It continues to also improve hyphenation, since TEX’s original
develop but is very usable now. The TEXworks mechanism for diacritical marks interferes with its
home page is http://tug.org/texworks. hyphenation algorithm.
The TEX Gyre collection of fonts from the same
Fonts: Latin Modern, TEX Gyre, and STIX group is based on the fonts commonly available
Computer fonts come in two types: a bitmap font in PostScript printers. Gyre adds to these fonts
has each character specified by an array of pixels, its own collection of diacritical marks for use in

352 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

European languages. Figure 3 shows one of these, active for a long time. Whatever issues you come
Gyre Pagella (comparable to the Palatino font; across have very likely been tackled before. You
its use with mathematics is not finalized so this can save yourself many struggles by looking for
example uses the package mathpazo to bring in a solutions that others have shared.
closely related font for math). A great place to look for answers and to
Finally, the STIX fonts are being developed by ask questions is the online discussion group
several leading scientific and technical publishers, comp.text.tex, which is one of the most active
including the AMS, and will provide a comprehen- TEX forums. You can search through two decades
sive set of mathematical symbols. When released, of past questions. If you are still stuck then post
the fonts will have the look of the familiar Times one yourself.
Roman. The TEX community’s largest resource for pack-
ages, programs, documentation, and more is the
Obtaining TEX Comprehensive TEX Archive Network at http://
A downloadable working TEX installation is called www.ctan.org. This is a multi-gigabyte collection
a distribution. Today there are two maintained that contains far more than any TEX distribution.
distributions that are Free Software—both are The solution to your TEX problem may have been
free of cost and contain only materials with li- already developed and made available here. Con-
cense conditions that allow for free redistribution. versely, if you develop a package then please
(Proprietary TEX distributions are also available.) consider uploading it to CTAN. This not only gives
These two, MiKTEX and TEX Live, are discussed your work greater visibility but it also gives it a
below. Both support installation over the Internet stable Web address for years to come.
or from a DVD and provide an install wizard Another way to contribute to the community
to walk users through the steps. Both are large is to join your local TEX user group—this helps
collections, with the programs, fonts, LATEX style support TEX development in all its facets. We
files, etc., that users have come to expect. (To provide a link on our webpage.
obtain these distributions, online or on DVD, see
the http://tug.org/notices webpage.)
Best Practices with Publishers
MiKTEX is the most popular distribution for
For mathematicians, one area of special interest
the Windows platform (it is also being ported
is working with professional publishers. Here are
to GNU/Linux systems). It is best known for its
five points that publishers have passed on to us.
package management and update programs, which
are mature and very capable. For example, it can The biggest one is communication: you should
detect when a document being generated requires communicate with the publisher’s technical staff
a package that is not installed and then download early on, particularly if you will need special
and install that package. packages or fonts.
The other major distribution, TEX Live, also The second point is to use LATEX; every serious
works on Windows but is most popular on Unix- mathematics publisher can use it. Some can use
like systems such as GNU/Linux. It has an active other formats, but don’t count on it.
community of developers who have recently re- The third is to make sure that your source
leased a new package management and installation files are portable. The production staff at your
system. publisher will greatly appreciate this. In addition,
Apple’s Mac OS X is a Unix-like system, but you may want to resubmit your work to a second
for this platform we recommend the MacTEX dis- publisher after a rejection, or otherwise reuse your
tribution, which installs the complete TEX Live mathematical work in different settings: books,
distribution along with a few extra Mac-specific class notes, grant applications, and so on. Having
features and programs. a portable source means that it will adapt to new
situations with less effort.
In the TEX Community How can you make your documents portable?
After successfully installing, what’s next? The most important way is to take advantage of
Most TEX users choose LATEX as the core format the structure inherent in LATEX. Use \chapter and
for their documents. If you are new to TEX, we \section and so on, rather than defining your own
recommend it. One free manual that is enough to structure. In addition to portability, this makes
get you well under way in writing LATEX is The Not So your source file more organized. Be aware that
Short Introduction to LATEX2e [4], available in many if you define special theorem environments, or
translations. Many other excellent documents and other special formatting commands, then your
books have been written over the years; we have publisher may also define those and yours may be
links on this article’s webpage. overridden. (Never redefine basic elements of TEX or
An advantage of using LATEX, and TEX in general, LATEX such as \par.) In general, a light hand at doing
is that you are joining a community that has been your own formatting is best; accept the defaults.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 353

 In contrast with specifying your own commands
for detailed spacing and fonts, a good portabili-
ty practice is to create shorthands for frequent
but cumbersome bits of code. For instance, in
Figure 1 the random variables are not entered as
\mathbf{X} but rather as \rv{X}, where \rv has
been defined appropriately.
The fourth point is to be careful with graphics.
Use standard programs and packages to create
and include them. Find out what formats your
publisher prefers for including graphics. (The AMS
usually wants EPS files.) Be cautious about rescaling
the size of the graphic via LATEX commands since
this can blur differences in line thicknesses.
And, the fifth point, if you are writing a book
then decide at the beginning whether you will have
an index. If so, then use LATEX’s indexing commands
right from the start. Indexing is a painstaking job.
If you do it as you compose the work then it is
less tedious and the result will probably be more
comprehensive.
Finally, you may find useful the AMS’s list of
frequently asked questions for authors: http://
www.ams.org/authors/author-faq.html.

Closing
Despite its age—ancient in computer years—but
because of its capabilities, TEX remains a standard.
This includes publication platforms that didn’t
exist when TEX was written, such as the online
preprint archive arXiv.
In recent years TEX has evolved rapidly, driven
by the emergence of clear standards and by the
effort of a development community that conscious-
ly keeps users in mind. The worldwide TEX user
groups provide a framework and sponsorship for
the activities.
We hope that you will find that taking advan-
tage of these innovations helps you to be more
productive.

References
[1] S. Hartke, A survey of free math fonts for TEX
and LATEX, http://ctan.org/tex-archive/info/
Free_Math_Font_Survey.
[2] K. Höppner, Strategies for including graphics in
LATEX documents, TUGboat 26(1), http://tug.org/
TUGboat/Articles/tb26-1/hoeppner.pdf.
[3] A. Mertz and W. Slough, Beamer by example, TUG-
boat 26(1), http://tug.org/TUGboat/Articles/
tb26-1/mertz.pdf.
[4] T. Oetiker, et al., The not so short introduction
to LATEX2e, http://ctan.org/tex-archive/info/
lshort.
[5] C. de la Vallée Poussin, Cours d’analyse, Dover,
1938.
[6] W. Feller, Probability, Wiley, 1950.

354 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

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SOCIETY FOR I NDUSTRIAL AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS
Time-frequency Analysis
of Musical Rhythm
Xiaowen Cheng, Jarod V. Hart, and James S. Walker

W
e shall use the mathematical tech- from a variety of music styles (rock drumming,
niques of Gabor transforms and African drumming, and jazz drumming). We also
continuous wavelet transforms to explore three examples of the connection between
analyze the rhythmic structure of rhythm and melody (a jazz piano piece, a Bach pi-
music and its interaction with melod- ano transcription, and a jazz orchestration). These
ic structure. This analysis reveals the hierarchical examples provide empirical justification of our
structure of rhythm. Hierarchical structure is com- method. Finally, we explain how the parameters
mon to rhythmic performances throughout the for percussion scalograms are chosen in order
world’s music. The work described here is interdis- to provide a satisfactory display of the pulse
ciplinary and experimental. We use mathematics to trains that characterize a percussion passage (a
aid in the understanding of the structure of music, key component of our method). A brief concluding
and have developed mathematical tools that (while section provides some ideas for future research.
not completely finished) have shown themselves
to be useful for this musical analysis. We aim to Gabor Transforms and Music
explore ideas with this paper, to provoke thought, We briefly review the widely employed method of
not to present completely finished work. Gabor transforms [17], also known as short-time
The paper is organized as follows. We first Fourier transforms, or spectrograms, or sonograms.
summarize the mathematical method of Gabor The first comprehensive effort in employing spec-
transforms (also known as short-time Fourier trans- trograms in musical analysis was Robert Cogan’s
forms, or spectrograms). Spectrograms provide a masterpiece, New Images of Musical Sound [9]—a
tool for visualizing the patterns of time-frequency book that still deserves close study. In [12, 13],
structures within a musical passage. We then re- Dörfler describes the fundamental mathematical
view the method of percussion scalograms, a new aspects of using Gabor transforms for musical
technique for analyzing rhythm introduced in [34]. analysis. Two other sources for applications of
After that, we show how percussion scalograms are short-time Fourier transforms are [31, 25]. There
used to analyze percussion passages and rhythm. is also considerable mathematical background
We carry out four analyses of percussion passages in [15, 16, 19], with musical applications in [14].
Using sonograms or spectrograms for analyzing
Xiaowen Cheng is a student of mathematics at the Uni- the music of bird song is described in [21, 30, 26].
versity of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Her email address is The theory of Gabor transforms is discussed in
[email protected]. complete detail in [15, 16, 19], with focus on its
Jarod V. Hart is a student of mathematics at the Universi- discrete aspects in [1, 34]. However, to fix our
ty of Kansas, Lawrence. His email address is jhart@math. notations for subsequent work, we briefly describe
ku.edu. this theory.
James S. Walker is professor of mathematics at the Uni- The sound signals that we analyze are all dig-
versity of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. His email address is ital, hence discrete, so we assume that a sound
[email protected]. signal has the form {f (tk )}, for uniformly spaced

356 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 (a) (b) (c)
Figure 1. (a) Signal. (b) Succession of shifted window functions. (c) Signal multiplied by middle
window in (b); an FFT can now be applied to this windowed signal.

values tk = k∆t in a finite interval [0, T ]. A Gabor support of w (tk − τm ) for each m. The efficacy of
transform of f , with window function w , is defined these Gabor transforms is shown by how well they
as follows. First, multiply {f (tk )} by a sequence of produce time-frequency portraits that accord well
shifted window functions {w (tk − τ` )}M `=0 , produc- with our auditory perception, which is described
ing time localized subsignals, {f (tk )w (tk − τ` )}M`=0 .
in the vast literature on Gabor transforms that we
Uniformly spaced time values, {τ` = tj` }M `=0 are briefly summarized above.
used for the shifts (j being a positive integer
greater than 1). The windows {w (tk − τ` )}M `=0 are 1.5
all compactly supported and overlap each other.
See Figure 1. The value of M is determined by the
minimum number of windows needed to cover 1
[0, T ], as illustrated in Figure 1(b).
Second, because w is compactly supported, we
treat each subsignal {f (tk )w (tk − τ` )} as a finite 0.5
sequence and apply an FFT F to it. (A good, brief
explanation of how FFTs are used for frequency
0
analysis can be found in [1].) This yields the Gabor
transform of {f (tk )}:
(1) {F {f (tk )w (tk − τ` )}}M
`=0 .
−0.5
−0.5 −0.25 0 0.25 0.5
Note that because the values tk belong to the finite (a) (b)
interval [0, T ], we always extend our signal values
beyond the interval’s endpoints by appending Figure 2. (a) Blackman window, λ = 1 1. Notice
zeroes, hence the full supports of all windows are that it closely resembles the classic Gabor
included. window—a bell curve described by a Gaussian
The Gabor transform that we employ uses a exponential—but it has the advantage of
Blackman window defined by compact support. (b) Time-frequency

representation—the units along the horizontal
0.42 + 0.5 cos(2π t/λ)+


w (t) = 0.08 cos(4π t/λ) for |t| ≤ λ/2 are in seconds, along the vertical are in Hz—of

0 three Blackman windows multiplied by the real
for |t| > λ/2

part of the kernel ei2π nk/N of the FFT used in a
for a positive parameter λ equaling the width Gabor transform, for three different frequency
of the window where the FFT is performed. The values n . Each horizontal bar accounts for
Fourier transform of the Blackman window is very 99.99% of the energy of the cosine-modulated
nearly positive (negative values less than 10−4 in Blackman window (Gabor atom) graphed
size), thus providing an effective substitute for a below it.
Gaussian function (which is well known to have
minimum time-frequency support). See Figure 2. It is interesting to listen to the sound created
by the three Gabor atoms in Figure 2(b). You
Further evidence of the advantages of Blackman-
can watch a video of the spectrogram being
windowing is provided in [3, Table II]. In Figure 2(b) traced out while the sound is played by going
we illustrate that for each windowing by w (tk − τm ) to the following webpage:
we finely partition the frequency axis into thin
(2) http://www.uwec.edu/walkerjs/TFAMRVideos/
rectangular bands lying above the support of the
window. This provides a thin rectangular partition and selecting the video for Gabor Atoms. The
of the (slightly smeared) spectrum of f over the sound of the atoms is of three successive pure

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 357

 (a) Drum Clip (b) Piano scale notes (c) Bach melody
Figure 3. Three spectrograms. (a) Spectrogram of a drum solo from a rock song. (b) Notes along a
piano scale. (c) Spectrogram of a piano solo from a Bach melody.

tones, on an ascending scale. The sound occurs short horizontal segments are the fundamentals
precisely when the cursor crosses the thin dark and overtones of the piano notes. There are also
bands in the spectrogram, and our aural perception thin vertical swatches located at the beginning of
of a constant pitch matches perfectly with the each note. They are the percussive attacks of the
constant darkness of the thin bands. These Gabor notes (the piano is, in fact, classed as a percussive
atoms are, in fact, good examples of individual instrument).
notes. Much better examples of notes, in fact, than Part (c) of Figure 3 shows a spectrogram of
the infinitely extending (both in past and future) a clip from a piano version of a famous Bach
sines and cosines used in classical Fourier analysis. melody. This spectrogram is much more complex,
Because they are good examples of pure tone notes, rhythmically and melodically, than the first two
these Gabor atoms are excellent building blocks passages. Its melodic complexity consists in its
for music. polyphonic nature: the vertical series of horizontal
We shall provide some new examples that fur- segments are due to three-note chords being played
ther illustrate the effectiveness of these Gabor on the treble scale and also individual notes played
transforms. For all of our examples, we used 1024 as counterpoint on the bass scale.1 (This contrasts
point FFTs, based on windows of support Ü 1/8 sec with the single notes in the monophonic passage
with a shift of ∆τ ≈ 0.008 sec. These time-values in (b).) We will analyze the rhythm of this Bach
are usually short enough to capture the essential melody in Example 5 below.
features of musical frequency change.
In Figure 3 we show three basic examples of Scalograms, Percussion Scalograms, and
spectrograms of music. Part (a) of the figure shows Rhythm
a spectrogram of a clip from a rock drum solo. In this section we briefly review the method of
Notice that the spectrogram consists of dark ver- scalograms (continuous wavelet transforms) and
tical swatches; these swatches correspond to the
then discuss the method of percussion scalograms.
striking of the drum, which can be verified by
watching a video of the spectrogram (go to the Scalograms
website in (2) and select the video Rock Drum Solo).
As the cursor traces over the spectrogram in the The theory of continuous wavelet transforms is
video, you will hear the sound of the drum strikes well-established [10, 8, 27]. A CWT differs from a
during the times when the cursor is crossing a spectrogram in that it does not use translations
vertical swatch. The reason why the spectrogram of a window of fixed width; instead it uses trans-
consists of these vertical swatches will be explained lations of differently sized dilations of a window.
in the next section. These dilations induce a logarithmic division of the
Part (b) of Figure 3 shows a spectrogram of a frequency axis. The discrete calculation of a CWT
recording of four notes played on a piano scale. that we use is described in [1, Section 4]. We shall
Here the spectrogram shows two features. Its main only briefly review the definition of the CWT in
feature is a set of four sections consisting of
groups of horizontal line segments placed verti- 1
The chord structure and counterpoint can be determined
cally above each other. These vertical series of either by careful listening or by examining the score [2].

358 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

order to fix our notation. We then use it to analyze Notice that the complex exponential ei2π νt/ω has
percussion. frequency ν/ω. We call ν/ω the base frequency.
Given a function Ψ , called the wavelet, the It corresponds to the largest scale s = 1. The bell-
2
continuous wavelet transform WΨ [f ] of a sound shaped factor ω−1/2 e−π (t/ω) in (7) damps down
signal f is defined as the oscillations of Ψ , so that their amplitude is
1 ∞
Z 
t −τ
 significant only within a finite region centered
(3) WΨ [f ](τ, s) = √ f (t)Ψ dt at t = 0. See Figures 13 and 14. Since the scale
s −∞ s
parameter s is used in a reciprocal fashion in
for scale s > 0 and time-translation τ. For the
Equation (3), it follows that the reciprocal scale
function Ψ in the integrand of (3), the variable s
1/s will control the frequency of oscillations of the
produces a dilation and the variable τ produces a
function s −1/2 Ψ (t/s) used in Equation (3). Thus,
translation.
frequency is described in terms of the parameter
We omit various technicalities concerning the
1/s, which Equation (6) shows is logarithmically
types of functions Ψ that are suitable as wavelets;
scaled. This point is carefully discussed in [1] and
see [8, 10, 27]. In [8, 11], Equation (3) is derived
from a simple analogy with the logarithmically [34, Chap. 6], where Gabor scalograms are shown
structured response of our ear’s basilar membrane to provide a method of zooming in on selected
to a sound stimulus f . regions of a spectrogram.
We now discretize Equation (3). First, we assume
that the sound signal f (t) is non-zero only over Pulse Trains and Percussion Scalograms
the time interval [0, T ]. Hence (3) becomes The method of using Gabor scalograms for analyz-
1 T
Z 
t −τ
 ing percussion sequences was introduced by Smith
WΨ [f ](τ, s) = √ f (t)Ψ dt. in [32] and described empirically in considerable
s 0 s
detail in [33]. The method described by Smith
We then make a Riemann sum approximation to involved pulse trains generated from the sound
this last integral using tm = m∆t, with uniform signal itself. Our method is based on the spectro-
spacing ∆t = T /N, and discretize the time variable gram of the signal, which reduces the number of
τ, using τk = k∆t. This yields samples and hence speeds up the computation,
(4) making it fast enough for real-time applications.
N−1
T 1 X (An alternative method based on an FFT of the
WΨ [f ](τk , s) ≈ √ f (tm )Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 ).
N s m=0 whole signal, the phase vocoder, is described in
The sum in (4) is a correlation of two discrete [31].)
sequences. Given two N-point discrete sequences Our discussion will focus on a particular per-
{fk } and {Ψk }, their correlation {(f : Ψ )k } is defined cussion sequence. This sequence is a passage from
by the song, Dance Around. Go to the URL in (2) and
N−1
select the video, Dance Around percussion, to hear
X this passage. Listening to this passage you will hear
(5) (f : Ψ )k = fm Ψm−k .
m=0
several groups of drum beats, along with some
shifts in tempo. This passage illustrates the basic
(Note: For the sum in (5) to make sense, the sequence
principles underlying our approach.
{Ψk } is periodically extended, via Ψ−k := ΨN−k .)
In Figure 4(a) we show the spectrogram of the
Thus, Equations (4) and (5) show that the
CWT, at each scale s, is approximated by a mul- Dance Around clip. This spectrogram is composed
tiple of a discrete correlation of {fk = f (tk )} and of a sequence of thick vertical segments, which
{Ψks = s −1/2 Ψ (tk s −1 )}. These discrete correlations we will call vertical swatches. Each vertical swatch
are computed over a range of discrete values of s, corresponds to a percussive strike on a drum.
typically These sharp strikes on drum heads excite a con-
tinuum of frequencies rather than a discrete tonal
(6) s = 2−r /J , r = 0, 1, 2, . . . , I · J, sequence of fundamentals and overtones. Because
where the positive integer I is called the number of the rapid onset and decay of these sharp strikes
octaves and the positive integer J is called the num- produce approximate delta function pulses—and a
ber of voices per octave. For example, the choice delta function pulse has an FFT that consists of a
of 6 octaves and 12 voices corresponds—based on constant value for all frequencies—it follows that
the relationship between scales and frequencies these strike sounds produce vertical swatches in
described below—to the equal-tempered scale used the time-frequency plane.
for pianos. Our percussion scalogram method has the
The CWTs that we use are based on Gabor following two parts:
wavelets. A Gabor wavelet, with width parameter ω
I. Pulse train generation. We generate a
and frequency parameter ν, is defined as follows:
“pulse train”, a sequence of subintervals
2
(7) Ψ (t) = ω−1/2 e−π (t/ω) ei2π νt/ω . of 1-values and 0-values (see the graph at

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 359

 0 2.048 4.096 sec

s −1 = 24 ∼ 8.93

s −1 = 22 ∼ 2.23 strikes
sec

0
s −1 = 20 ∼ 0.56
(a) (b)
G

Figure 4. Calculating a percussion scalogram for the Dance Around sound clip. (a) Spectrogram of
sound waveform with its pulse train graphed below it. (b) Percussion scalogram and the pulse
train graphed above it. The dark region labeled by G corresponds to a collection of drum strikes
that we hear as a group, and within that group are other subgroups over shorter time scales that
are indicated by the splitting of group G into smaller dark blobs as one goes upwards in the
percussion scalogram (those subgroups are also aurally perceptible). See Figure 5 for a better
view of G.

the bottom of Figure 4(a)). The rectangular- thick vertical line segments at the top half
shaped pulses in this pulse train correspond of the scalogram correspond to the drum
to sharp onset and decay of transient bursts strikes, and these segments flow downward
in the percussion signal graphed just above and connect together. Within the middle of
the pulse train. The widths of these pulses the time-interval for the scalogram, these
are approximately equal to the widths of the drum strike groups join together over four
vertical swatches shown in the spectrogram. levels of hierarchy (see Figure 5). Listening to
Most importantly, the location and duration this passage, you can perceive each level of
of the intervals of 1-values corresponds to this hierarchy.
our hearing of the drum strikes, while the
location and duration of the intervals of Now that we have outlined the basis for the per-
0-values corresponds to the silences between cussion scalogram method, we can list it in detail.
the strikes. In Step 1 of the method below we The percussion scalogram method for analyzing
describe how this pulse train is generated. percussive rhythm consists of the following two
II. Gabor CWT. We use a Gabor CWT to an- steps.
alyze the pulse train. This CWT calculation Percussion Scalogram Method
is performed in Step 2 of the method. The Step 1. Let {g(τm , yk )} be the spectrogram image,
rationale for performing a CWT is that the like in Figure 4(a). Calculate the average ḡ over all
pulse train is a step function analog of a frequencies at each time-value τm :
sinusoidal of varying frequency. Because of
P −1
this analogy between tempo of the pulses and 1 X
frequency in sinusoidal curves, we employ (8) ḡ(τm ) = g(τm , yk ),
P k=0
a Gabor CWT for analysis. As an example,
see the scalogram plotted in Figure 4(b). The (where P is the total number of frequencies yk ),

360 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 α β

and denote the average of ḡ by A:

M
1 X Level 1 Level 1
(9) A= ḡ(τm ).
M + 1 m=0
Then the pulse train {P(τm )} is defined by
(10) P(τm ) = 1{τk : ḡ(τk )>A} (τm ).
Level 2
where 1 is the indicator function.2 The values Level 2
{P(τm )} describe a pulse train whose intervals of
Level 3
1-values mark off the position and duration of the
vertical swatches (hence of the drum strikes). See
Figure 6.
Step 2. Compute a Gabor CWT of the pulse train
signal {P(τm )} from Step 1. This Gabor CWT pro-
vides an objective picture of the varying rhythms
within a percussion performance.
Remarks. (a) For the time intervals corresponding
to vertical swatches, equations (8) and (9) produce Level 4 Level 3
values of ḡ that lie above the average A (because
A is pulled down by the intervals of silence). See
Figure 5. A rhythm hierarchy, obtained from
Figure 6(a). For some signals, where the volume
the region corresponding to G in Figure 4. The
level is not relatively constant (louder passages
hierarchy has two parts, labeled α and β . In
interspersed with quieter passages) the total av-
each part the top level, Level 1, comprises the
erage A will be too high (the quieter passages
individual strikes. These strikes merge at
will not contribute to the pulse train). We should
Level 2 into regions which correspond to
instead be computing local averages over several
double strikes and which are aurally
(but not all) time-values. We leave this as a goal
perceptible as groupings of double strikes.
for subsequent research. In a large number of
Notice that the Level 2 regions for β lie at
cases, such as those discussed in this article, we
positions of slightly increasing then
have found that the method described above is
decreasing strike-frequency as time proceeds;
adequate. (b) For the Dance Around passage, the this is aurally perceptible when listening to
entire frequency range was used, as it consists the passage. There is also a Level 3 region for
entirely of vertical swatches corresponding to the α that merges with the Level 2 regions for β to
percussive strikes. When analyzing other percus- comprise the largest group G.
sive passages, we may have to isolate a particular
frequency range that contains just the vertical
swatches of the drum strikes. We illustrate this
later in the musical examples we describe (see the research). However, the Haar CWT is more difficult
next section, “Examples of Rhythmic Analysis”). to interpret, as shown in Figure 7.
(c) We leave it as an exercise for the reader to We have already discussed the percussion
show that the calculation of ḡ(τm ) can actually scalogram in Figure 4(b). We shall continue this
be done in the time-domain using the data from discussion and provide several more examples
the windowed signal values. (Hint: Use Parseval’s of our method in the next section. In each case,
theorem.) We chose to use the spectrogram values we find that a percussion scalogram allows us to
because of their ease of interpretation—especially finely analyze the rhythmic structure of percussion
when processing needs to be done, such as using sequences.
only a particular frequency range. The spectro-
gram provides a lot of information to aid in the
Examples of Rhythmic Analysis
processing. (d) Some readers may wonder why we
have computed a Gabor CWT in Step 2. Why not As discussed in the previous section, a percussion
compute, say, a Haar CWT (which is based on a scalogram allows us to perceive a hierarchal orga-
step function as wavelet)? We have found that nization of the strikes in a percussion sequence.
a Haar CWT does provide essentially the same Hierarchical structures within music, especially
information as the magnitudes of the Gabor CWT within rhythmic passages and melodic contours,
(which is all we use in this article; using the phases is a well-known phenomenon. For example, in an
of the complex-valued Gabor CWT is left for future entertaining and thought-provoking book [24] with
an excellent bibliography, This Is Your Brain On
2
The indicator function 1S for a set S is defined by 1S (t) = Music, Daniel Levitin says in regard to musical
1 when t ∈ S and 1S (t) = 0 when t ∉ S. production (p. 154):

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 361

 6 1.5

4 1

2 0.5

0 0

−2 −0.5
0 1.024 2.048 3.072 4.096 0 1.024 2.048 3.072 4.096
Figure 6. Creation of a pulse train. On the left we show the graph of ḡ from equation (8) for the
spectrogram of the Dance Around sound clip [see Figure 4(a)], which we have normalized to have
an average of A = 1
1. The horizontal line is the graph of the constant function 1 . The pulse train,
shown on the right, is then created by assigning the value 1 when the graph of ḡ is larger than A ,
and 0 otherwise.

Our memory for music involves hierarchical strong and weak beats that we count off as
encoding—not all words are equally salient, “ONE-two-THREE-four.” The overall pattern
and not all parts of a musical piece hold equal is summed up in musical notation as the
status. We have certain entry points and exit time signature…The third representation is a
points that correspond to specific phrases reductional structure. It dissects the melody
in the music…Experiments with musicians into essential parts and ornaments. The orna-
have confirmed this notion of hierarchical ments are stripped off and the essential parts
encoding in other ways. Most musicians can- further dissected into even more essential
not start playing a piece of music they know parts and ornaments on them…we sense it
at any arbitrary location; musicians learn when we recognize variations of a piece in
music according to a hierarchical phrase classical music or jazz. The skeleton of the
structure. Groups of notes form units of melody is conserved while the ornaments
practice, these smaller units are combined
differ from variation to variation.
into larger units, and ultimately into phrases;
phrases are combined into structures such In regard to the strong and weak beats referred
as verses and choruses of movements, and to by Pinker, we observe that these are reflected by
ultimately everything is strung together as a the relative thickness and darkness of the vertical
musical piece. segments in a percussion scalogram. For exam-
In a similar vein, related to musical theory, Steven ple, when listening to the Dance Around passage,
Pinker summarizes the famous hierarchical theory the darker groups of strikes in the percussion
of Jackendoff and Lerdahl [23, 22] in his fascinating scalograms seem to correlate with loudness of
book, How The Mind Works [28, pp. 532–533]: the striking. This seems counterintuitive, since
the pulse train consists only of 0’s and 1’s, which
Jackendoff and Lerdahl show how melodies
are formed by sequences of pitches that would not seem to reflect varying loudness. This
are organized in three different ways, all phenomenon can be explained as follows. When a
at the same time…The first representation pulse is very long, that requires a more energetic
is a grouping structure. The listener feels striking of the drum, and this more energetic
that groups of notes hang together in mo- playing translates into a louder sound. The longer
tifs, which in turn are grouped into lines pulses correspond to darker spots lower down on
or sections, which are grouped into stanzas, the scalogram, and we hear these as louder sounds.
movements, and pieces. This hierarchical tree (The other way that darker spots appear lower
is similar to a phrase structure of a sentence, down is in grouping of several strikes. We do not
and when the music has lyrics the two part- hear them necessarily as louder individual sounds,
ly line up...The second representation is a but taken together they account for more energy
metrical structure, the repeating sequence of than single, narrow pulses individually.)

362 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 (a) (b)
Figure 7. (a) Magnitudes of Gabor CWT of a pulse sequence. (b) Haar CWT of the same pulse
sequence.

With these descriptions of the hierarchical scalograms can be used to read off a musical score
structure of music in mind, we now turn to repre- for the drumming from its recorded sound. This
sentations of them within four different percussion is important because percussion playing is often
sequences. extemporaneous, hence there is a need for notating
particularly important extemporaneous passages
Example 1: Rock Drumming as an aid to their repetition by other performers.
In Figure 8 we show a percussion scalogram for a There is, however, much more information in a
clip from a rock drum solo, which we have partially percussion scalogram. We can also use parentheses
analyzed in the previous section. Here we complete to mark off the groupings of the notes into their
our analysis by describing the hierarchy shown in hierarchies, as follows:
the scalogram in a more formal, mathematical way,
and then introducing the notion of production rules ∗| (∗| ∗| ∗| ) ((∗| (∗| ∗| ))(∗| ∗| )(∗| ∗| )(∗| ∗| ))
for the performance of the percussion sequence.
(∗| ∗| ) ((∗| (∗| ∗| )(∗| ∗| ))(∗| ∗| ))
We can see that there are five separate groupings
of drum strikes in the scalogram in Figure 8:
The advantage of this notation over the previous
A B C B0 C0 one is that the hierarchical groupings of notes is
(1-level) (2-levels) (4-levels) (2-levels) (4-levels)
indicated. We believe this enhanced notation, along
The separate hierarchies within these groupings with the videos that we create of sound with per-
can be symbolized in the following way. We use cussion scalograms, provide an important tool for
the notation ∗| to symbolize a “whole note”, a analyzing the performance of percussion sequences.
longer duration, more emphasized strike. And the For example, they may be useful in teaching per-
notation ∗| to symbolize a “half note”, a shorter formance technique (recall Levitin’s discussion of
duration, less emphasized strike. This allows us to how musicians learn to play musical passages) by
symbolize the different emphases in the rhythm. adding two adjuncts, notation plus video, to aid the
Furthermore, the underscore symbol will be ear in perceiving subtle differences in performance
used to denote a rest between strikes (notes). For technique.
example, ∗| ∗| symbolizes a half note followed by In addition to this symbolic notation for per-
a rest followed by a whole note. Using this notation, cussion passages, there is an even deeper (and
the strikes in Figure 8 are symbolized by somewhat controversial) notion of production rules
for the generation of these percussion sequences
(analogous to Chomsky’s notion of “deep structure”
∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗|
in linguistics that generates, via production rules,
the syntactical hierarchy of sentences: [22, Sec-
This notation is essentially equivalent to the tion 11.4] and [7, Sections 5.2, 5.3]). Examples of
standard notation for drumming used in musical these rules in music are described in [22, pp. 283–
scores (for examples of this notation, see [29] 285, and p. 280]. Rather than giving a complete
and [5]). We have thus shown that percussion mathematical description at this time, we will

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 363

 A B C B0 C0
This passage is quite interesting in that it is
comprised of only 20 drum strikes, yet we shall
see that it contains a wealth of complexity. First,
we can see that there are seven separate groupings
of drum strikes in the scalogram in Figure 9:

A B C A B C D
(1-level) (3-level) (3-level) (1-level) (3-level) (3-level) (2-level)

Notice the interweaving of different numbers of

levels within this sequence of groups. Second,
the drum strikes can be notated with hierarchical
grouping as follows:
∗| ((∗| ∗| ) (∗| ∗| )) ((∗| ∗| )(∗| )(∗| ))
∗| ((∗| ∗| ) (∗| ∗| )) ((∗| ∗| )(∗| )(∗| )) (∗| ∗| )
This passage is interesting not only in terms of the
complex hierarchical grouping of notes, but also
Figure 8. Percussion scalogram for rock because of the arrangement of the time intervals
drumming. The labels are explained in between notes. It is a well-known fact among
Example 1. To view a video of the percussion musicians that the silences between notes are
scalogram being traced out along with the at least as important as the notes themselves.
drumming sound, go to the URL in (2) and In this passage we have the following sequence
select the video for Dance Around percussion. of time-intervals between notes (1 representing
a short rest, 2 representing a long rest, and 0
representing no rest):
simply give a couple of examples. For instance, the 2011100022011100010
grouping B 0 in the passage is produced from the
which quantitatively describes the “staggered”
grouping B, by clipping two strikes off the end:
sound of the drum passage. (The reader might find
B 0 ← End(B) it interesting to compute the sequence of rests for
As another example, if we look at the starting notes Example 1, and verify that it is less staggered, with
in the groups C and C 0 defined by longer sequences of either 1’s or 0’s.)

Start(C) := ∗| (∗| ∗| ) and Start(C 0 ) := ∗| (∗| ∗| ) Example 3: Jazz Drumming

then Start(C 0 ) is produced from Start(C) by a In this example we consider a couple of cases of
modulation of emphases: jazz drumming. In Figure 10(a) we show a percus-
Start(C 0 ) ← Modulation(Start(C)) sion scalogram created from the drum solo at the
beginning of the jazz classic, Sing Sing Sing. The
In this paper we are only giving these two examples
tempo of this drumming is very fast. Our notation
of production rules, in order to give a flavor of the
for this sequence was obtained from examining
idea. A more complete discussion is a topic for a
the percussion scalogram both as a picture and as
future paper.
the video sequence (referred to in the caption of
the figure) is played. Here is the notated sequence:
Example 2: African Drumming
Very fast
Our second example is a passage of African drum-
| | | | |
ming, clipped from the beginning of the song ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗|
Welela from an album by Miriam Makeba. In this
∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗|
case, the spectrogram of the passage, shown in
Figure 9(a), has some horizontal banding at lower Our notation differs considerably from the notation
frequencies that adversely affect the percussion given for this beginning drum solo in the original
scalogram by raising the mean value of the spectro- score [29], the first several notes being:
gram averages. Consequently, we used only values Jungle Drum Swing
from the spectrogram that are above 1000 Hz
∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| ∗|
to compute the percussion scalogram shown in
Figure 9(b). By listening to the video referenced in Setting aside its racist overtones, we observe that
the caption of Figure 9, you should find that this this tempo instruction is not terribly precise. We
percussion scalogram does accurately capture the can see from comparing these two scores, that
timing and grouping of the drum strikes in the the drummer (Gene Krupa) is improvising the
passage. percussion (as is typical with jazz). Our percussion

364 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 A B C A B C D

1000

(a) (b) BC BCD

Figure 9. (a) Spectrogram for African drumming. Between 0 and 1000 Hz, as marked on the right
side of (a), there are a considerable number of horizontal line segments. Those segments
adversely affect the percussion scalogram. Consequently only frequencies above 1000 Hz are
used to create the percussion scalogram. (b) Percussion scalogram for African drumming, using
frequencies above 1000 Hz. The labels are explained in Example 2. To view a video of the
percussion scalogram being traced out along with the drumming sound, go to the URL in (2) and
select the video for Welela percussion.

scalogram method allows us to derive a precise within the larger groupings notated as hand claps
notation for Krupa’s improvisation. We leave it as in the original score.
an exercise for the reader to notate the hierarchical These examples are meant to illustrate that the
structure of this drum passage, based on the percussion scalogram method can provide useful
percussion scalogram. From our notation above, musical analyses of drumming rhythms. Several
we find that the pattern of rests in Krupa’s playing more examples are given at the Pictures of Music
has this structure: website [6]. We now provide some examples of
using both spectrograms and percussion scalo-
grams to analyze both the melodic and rhythmic
20111012211212110001201
aspects of music. Because they are based on an
Here, as with the African drumming, we see a assumption of intense pulsing in the musical signal
staggered pattern of rests. due to percussion, which is only satisfied for some
Our second example of jazz drumming is a clip tonal instruments, percussion scalograms do not
of the beginning percussive passage from another always provide accurate results for tonal instru-
jazz classic, Unsquare Dance. In the score for the ments. However, when they do provide accurate
piece [5], the following pattern of strikes (indicated results (a precise description of the timings of the
as hand clapping) notes), they reveal the rhythmic structure of the
music (which is our goal). We now provide three
∗| ∗| ∗| ∗| examples of successful analyses of melody and
is repeated in each measure (consistent with the rhythm.
7/4 time signature). Listening to the passage as
the video is played, we can hear this repeated
series of “strikes” as groups of very fast individual Example 4: A Jazz Piano Melody
strikings of drumsticks. The drummer (Joe Morello) In Figure 11(a) we show a percussion scalogram
is improvising on the notated score by replacing of a recording of a jazz piano improvisation by
individual hand claps by these very rapid strikings Erroll Garner. It was captured from a live recording
of his drumsticks. It is noteworthy that, in many [18]. Since this is an improvisation, there is no
instances, the percussion scalogram is sensitive musical score for the passage. Several aspects
enough to record the timings of the individual of the scalogram are clearly evident. First, we can
drumstick strikings. The scalogram is thus able see a staggered spacing of rests as in the African
to reveal, in a visual representation, the double drumming in Example 2 and the jazz drumming
aspect to the rhythm: individual drum strikings in the Sing Sing Sing passage in Example 3. There

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 365

 (a) (b)
Figure 10. (a) Percussion scalogram for drum solo in Sing Sing Sing using frequencies above 1000
Hz. (b) Percussion scalogram for complex drum stick percussion in Unsquare Dance using
frequencies above 2000 Hz. To view videos of these percussion scalograms being traced out
along with the drumming sound, go to the URL in (2) and select the videos for Sing Sing Sing
percussion or Unsquare Dance percussion.

(a) (b)
Figure 11. (a) Percussion scalogram of a clip from an Erroll Garner jazz piano passage (using
frequencies above 1800 Hz). To view a video of the percussion scalogram being traced out along
with the piano playing, go to the URL in (2) and select the video for Erroll Garner piano recording.
The label S indicates a syncopation in the melody. (b) Percussion scalogram from a clip of a piano
interpretation of a Bach melody (using frequencies above 3000 Hz). To view a video of the
percussion scalogram being traced out along with the piano sound, go to the URL in (2) and select
the video for Bach piano piece (scalogram).

is also a syncopation in the melody, indicated by perform perfectly here (for example the last note
the interval marked S in Figure 11(a). By syncopa- in the sequence marked S is split in two at the
tion we mean an altered rhythm, “ONE-two-three- top; the scalogram has detected the attack and the
FOUR,” rather than the more common “ONE-two- decay of the note), when viewed as a video the
THREE-four.” The percussion scalogram provides percussion scalogram does enable us to quickly
us with a visual representation of these effects, identify the timing and hierarchical grouping of
which is an aid to our listening comprehension. the notes (which would be much more difficult
Although the percussion scalogram does not using only our ears).

366 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

Example 5: A Bach Piano Transcription 1000

As a simple contrast to the previous example, we

M
briefly discuss the percussion scalogram shown in 850
Figure 11(b), obtained from a piano interpretation T RT
of a Bach melody, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. The
sound recording used was created from a MIDI
sequence. In contrast to the previous jazz piece,
this classical piece shows no staggering of rests,
500 Hz
and no syncopation. The hierarchy of groupings of
notes is also more symmetrical than for the jazz H
piece. This hierarchy of notes, the rhythm of the
passage, is easily discernable from this percussion
scalogram, while it is not clearly evident from the
score [2] (at least to untrained musicians).
B
Example 6: A Jazz Orchestral Passage 0

For our final example, we analyze the spectrogram

and percussion scalogram shown in Figure 12. They
were obtained from a passage from a recording of
the jazz orchestral classic, Harlem Air Shaft, by
Duke Ellington. This passage is quite interesting in
that it is comprised of only about 15 notes, yet we
shall see that it contains a wealth of complexity.
(We saw this in the African drum passage as well;
perhaps we have an aspect of aesthetic theory here.)
We now describe some of the elements comprising
the rhythm and melody within this passage. It
should be noted that, although there is a score for
Harlem Air Shaft, that score is a complex orches-
tration that requires a large amount of musical
expertise to interpret. Our spectrogram/percussion
scalogram approach provides a more easily studied S S
description of the melody and rhythm, including
visual depictions of length and intensity of notes Figure 12. Top: Spectrogram of a passage from
from several instruments playing simultaneous- a recording of Harlem Air Shaft. Bottom:
ly. Most importantly, the spectrogram provides an Percussion scalogram of the same passage
objective description of recorded performances. It (using all frequencies). The boxed regions and
can be used to compare different performances in labels are explained in the text. To view videos
an objective way. Our percussion scalograms facili- of this spectrogram and scalogram, go to the
tate the same kind of objective comparison of the URL in (2) and select the links indicated by
rhythm in performances. Harlem Air Shaft.
(1) Reflection of Notes. The passage con-
tains a sequence of high pitched notes played
by a slide trombone (wielded by the legendary (2) Micro-Tones. The pitch interval de-
“Tricky Sam” Nanton). This sequence divides scribed by going down in frequency from 855
into two groups of three, enclosed in the rect- to 845 Hz is
angles labeled T and RT in the spectrogram
shown at the top of Figure 12. The three log2 (855/845) = 0.017 ≈ 1/48,
notes within T are located at frequencies of which is about 1/4 of the (logarithmic) half-
approximately 855, 855, and 845 Hz. They tone change of 1/12 of an octave (on the
are then reflected about the frequency 850, 12-tone chromatic scale). Thus within T the
indicated by the line segment M between the pitch descends by an eighth-tone. Similarly, in
two rectangles, to produce the three notes RT the pitch ascends at the end by an eighth-
within RT at frequencies of approximately tone. These are micro-tone intervals, intervals
845, 845, and 855 Hz. The operation of that are not representable on the standard
reflection R about a specific pitch is a com- 12-tone scoring used in Western classical
mon, group-theoretical, operation employed music. They are, in fact, half the interval of
in classical music [20]. the quarter-tones that are a characteristic

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 367

 of jazz music (based on its roots in African Justification of the Percussion Scalogram
tonal scales [4]). Here Ellington synthesizes Method
a melodic characteristic of jazz (micro-tones) Choosing the Width and Frequency Parameters
with one of classical music (reflection about a In this section we discuss how the parameters
pitch level). are chosen to provide a satisfactory display of a
(3) Staggered Syncopation. Viewing the scalogram for a pulse train, which is the second
video of the percussion scalogram shown in step of the percussion scalogram method. The term
Figure 12, we note that there is a staggering satisfactory means that both the average number
of rests between notes, and we also observe a of pulses/sec (beats/sec) are displayed and the
syncopation. This syncopation occurs when individual beats are resolved.
the slide trombone slides into and between To state our result we need to define several
the emphasized notes in the structures T and parameters. The number T will stand for the time
duration of the signal, while B will denote the total
RT. The pattern lying above the segments
number of pulses in the pulse train signal. We will
marked S in the figure is
use the positive parameter p to scale the width ω
one – TWO – three – FOUR – (rest) – FIVE and frequency ν defined by
pT B
(11) ω= , ν= .
an unusual, staggered syncopation, of rhythm. 2B pT
(One thing we observe when viewing the video Notice that ω and ν are in a reciprocal relationship;
is that the percussion scalogram does cap- this is in line with the reciprocal relation between
ture the timings of most of the note attacks, time-scale and frequency that is used in wavelet
although it does not perfectly reflect some analysis. Notice also that the quantity B/T in ν is
muted horn notes—because the attacks of equal to the average number of pulses/sec. The
those notes are obscured by the higher best choice for the parameter p in these formulas
volume trombone notes. Nevertheless, the will be described below. Two further parameters
scalogram provides an adequate description are the number of octaves I and voices M used in
of the driving rhythm of the trombone notes, the percussion scalogram. We shall see that these
and the muted trumpet notes at the end of two parameters will depend on the value of δ, the
the passage.) minimum length of a 0-interval (minimum space
between two successive pulses).
(4) Hierarchies of Melody. Within the pas-
Now that we have defined our parameters, we
sage there are several different types of
can state our main result:
melody, over different length time-scales.
First, we note that there is the hierarchy Given the constraints of using positive integers for
of T and RT at one level along with their the octaves I and voices M and using 256 total cor-
combination into one long passage, linked relations, satisfactory choices for the parameters of
melodically by a sequence of muted horn a percussion scalogram are:
notes H. Notice that the pitch levels in H pT B √
exhibit, over a shorter time-scale, the pitch ω= , ν= , p=4 π
B pT
pattern shown in the notes within T togeth- (12) $ ! %
p2 T 2 3 256
 
er with RT. That is a type of hierarchical I = log2 − , M = .
organization of melodic contour. There is δB 2 2 I
a further hierarchical level (in terms of a
longer time-scale) exhibited by the melodic The remainder of this section provides the rationale
contour of the bass notes (shown as a long for this result (notice that the value of ω in (12)
sinusoidal arc within the region marked by B). is twice the value given in (11); we shall explain
Here the bassist, Jimmy Blanton, is using the why below). While this rationale may not be a
bass as a plucked melodic instrument as well completely rigorous proof, it does provide useful
as providing a regular tempo for the other insights into how a Gabor CWT works with pulse
players. This is one of his major innovations trains, and it does provide us with the method
for the bass violin in jazz instrumentation. used to produce the scalograms for the pulse
trains shown in the section “Examples of Rhythmic
We can see from this analysis that this passage Analysis” (and for the other examples given at
within just 6 seconds reveals a wealth of structure, the Pictures of Music website [6]). In fact, we have
including many features that are unique to jazz. found that in every case, the method provides a
Such mastery illustrates why Duke Ellington was satisfactory display of the scalogram for a pulse
one of the greatest composers of the twentieth train from a musical passage (whether the pulse
century. train is accurate is a separate question; we are still

368 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

working on extending its capabilities as described of the instrument. This happens because small
previously). values of s result in the function
We shall denote a given pulse train by {P(tm )}.
(Here we use {tm = τm } as the time-values; this s −1/2 Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 )
notational change is clarified by looking at equa- being dampened very quickly, so very little other
tion (16).) This signal satisfies P(tm ) = 1 during than the actual beats are detected by the Gabor
the duration of a beat and P(tm ) = 0 when there is CWT.
no beat. We use the Gabor wavelet in (7) to analyze Detection of the rhythm and grouping of the per-
the pulse signal. Since we are using the complex
cussion signal is accomplished by the larger values
Gabor wavelet, we have both a real and imaginary
of s that result in a slowly dampened Gabor wavelet.
part:
As the correlation sum moves to values such
1 2 2π νt that tm ≠ τk , the function s −1/2 Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 )
(13) Ψ< (t) = ω− 2 e−π (t/ω) cos
ω is being dampened. But with the wavelet be-
1
− 2 −π (t/ω)2 2π νt ing dampened more slowly now, the values of
(14) Ψ= (t) = ω e sin .
ω s −1/2 Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 ) are larger near tm = τk than
These real and imaginary parts have the same they were before. Hence the tm values where
envelope function: P(tm ) = 1 will result in summing more values of
1 2 the wavelet that are significantly large. Therefore,
(15) ΨE (t) = ω− 2 e−π (t/ω) .
any beat that is close to another beat will result
The width parameter ω controls how quickly in larger correlation values for larger values of s.
ΨE is dampened. For smaller values of ω the func- Notice also that those values of tm where P(tm ) = 0
tion dampens more quickly. Also, ω controls the that are close to tm values where P(tm ) = 1 will
magnitude of the wavelet function at t = 0. In fact, result in summing across the lesser dampened
we have Ψ (0) = ω−1/2 . The width parameter also
Gabor wavelet values—our scalogram will thus be
affects the frequency of oscillations of the wavelet.
registering the grouping of closely spaced beats.
As ω is increased, the frequency of oscillations of
Now we need to choose the parameters ω and
the wavelet is decreased. See Figure 13.
ν based on {P(tm )} to obtain the desired shape
The frequency parameter ν is used to control
for the Gabor wavelet. To choose these parameters
the frequency of the wavelet within the envelope
for a specific percussion signal we will use B/T as
function. This parameter has no effect on the
envelope function, as shown in Equation (15). As our measure of the average beats per second. The
ν is increased, the Gabor wavelet oscillates much average time between beats will then be the recip-
more quickly. See Figure 14. rocal of the average beats per second: T /B. Then
When using the Gabor wavelet to analyze mu- we let the width parameter ω and the frequency
sic, correlations are computed using the Gabor parameter ν be defined by (11), with parameter
wavelet with a scaling parameter s. For our pulse p > 0 used as a scaling factor. With these width
train P these correlations are denoted (P : Ψs ) for and frequency parameters, the Gabor wavelet is
s = 2−r /M , r = 0, 1, ..., IM, and are defined by s
2B −π (2Bt/pT )2 i4π B 2 /(p2 T 2 )
(16) (17) Ψ (t) = e e .
M
X pT
(P : Ψs )(τk ) = P(tm )s −1/2 Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 ).
We want to detect beats that are within T /B,
m=0
the average time between beats, of each other.
Since {P(tm )} is a binary signal, the terms of this
Likewise, we want separation of the beats that are
sum will equal s −1/2 Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 ) if P(tm ) = 1,
not within T /B of each other. We accomplish this
and 0 if P(tm ) = 0. The values of τk represent
by inspecting the envelope function evaluated at
the center of the Gabor wavelet being translated
t = T /B,
along the time axis. So for values of tm closer to τk ,
s −1/2 Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 ) will be larger in magnitude.   s
T 2B −4π /p2
Then, at values for tm where P(tm ) = 1 and tm = τk , (18) ΨE = e .
B pT
the corresponding term in the correlation sum will
be The value of the enveloping function ΨE (T /B) can
be written as a function of the parameter p, call it
P(tm )s −1/2 Ψ ([tm − τk ]s −1 ) = s −1/2 Ψ (0)
s M(p):
1 2B s
= √ 2B −4π /p2
s pT (19) M(p) = e .
pT
which will represent the striking of an instrument.
So as s reaches its smallest values, near s = 2−I , Remembering that T and B are constants de-
the correlations will have large magnitude values termined by the percussion sound signal, the
only near τk , and where P(tm ) = 1, i.e., at the beat maximization of the magnitude of the wavelet

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 369

 (a) ω = 0.5 (b) ω = 1 (c) ω = 2
Figure 13. Real parts of Gabor wavelet with frequency parameter ν = 1 and width parameter
ω = 0.5
0.5, 1 , and 2 . For each graph, the horizontal range is [−5, 5] and the vertical range is [−2, 2]
2].

(a) ν = 0.5 (b) ν = 1 (c) ν = 2

Figure 14. Real parts of Gabor wavelet with width parameter ω = 1 and frequency parameter
ν = 0.5
0.5, 1 , and 2 . For each graph, the horizontal range is [−5, 5] and the vertical range is [−2, 2]
2].

at t = T /B becomes a simple one variable opti- remedy that defect, when we display a percussion
mization problem. The first derivative of M(p) scalogram we double the width in order to push
is down the lowest reciprocal-scale by one octave.
16π − p2 Hence we use the following formulas
M 0 (p) = .
2p3 e4π /p2 pT /2B
p
pT B √
√ (20) ω= , ν= , p=4 π
Hence p = 4 π maximizes the value of the en- B pT
velope function of the wavelet at t = T /B, thus for displaying our percussion scalograms.
allowing us to detect beats within T /B of each
other. Choosing Octaves and Voices
With the wavelet function dampened sufficiently
slowly, we know that the envelope function is The variable 1/s along the vertical axis of a per-
sufficiently wide. But the correlations are comput- cussion scalogram (see Figure 4(b), for example)
ed by taking the magnitude of the sum of the is related to frequency, but on a logarithmic scale.
complex Gabor wavelet samples. Since the real and To find the actual frequency at any point along
imaginary parts involve products with sines and the vertical axis we compute the base frequency
ν/ω multiplied by the value of 1/s. The value of
cosines, there are intervals where the functions
I determines the range of the vertical axis in a
are negative. It is these adjacent negative regions,
scalogram, i.e., how large 1/s is, and the value of
on each side of the main lobe of Ψ< , that allow for
M determines how many correlations per octave
the separation of beats that are greater than T /B
we are computing for our scalogram.
apart but less than 2T /B apart (if they are more
In order to have a satisfactory percussion scalo-
than 2T /B apart, the dampening of ΨE produces
gram, we need the maximum wavelet frequency
low-magnitude correlations).
equal to the maximum pulse frequency. The scale
variable s satisfies s = 2−k/M , where k = 0, 1, . . . , IM.
Width and Frequency for Better Display
Hence the maximum 1/s we can use is calculated
There is one wrinkle to the analysis above. If the as follows:
width and frequency parameters are set according 1
= 2IM/M = 2I .
to Equation (11), then at the lowest reciprocal-scale s
value 1/s = 1 the display of the percussion scalo- Now let δ be the minimum distances between
gram cuts off at the bottom, and it is difficult to pulses on a pulse train. By analogy of our pulse
perceive the scalogram’s features at this scale. To trains with sinusoidal curves, we postulate that the

370 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 (a) I = 3 (b) I = 4 (c) I = 5
Figure 15. Examples of percussion scalograms using different values of I , the number of octaves,
for the Dance Around percussion passage. Graph (b) uses the value of I = 4 calculated from
Equation (23).

maximum pulse frequency should be one-half of the individual drum beats very well. On the other
1/δ. Setting this maximum pulse frequency equal hand, if I is set too high, say I = 5 in Figure 15(c),
to the maximum wavelet frequency, we have then the scalogram is too finely resolved. In partic-
1 ν I ular, at the top of the scalogram, for 1/s = 25 , we
(21) = 2. find that the scalogram is detecting the beginning
2δ ω
Notice that both sides of (21) have units of and ending of each drum strike as separate events,
beats/sec. which overestimates by a factor of 2 the number
Using the equations for ν and ω in (20), we of strikes.
rewrite Equation (21) as Having set the value of I, the value for M can
then be expressed as a simple inverse proportion,
1 ν I
= 2 depending on the program’s capacity. For example,
2δ ω with Fawav [35] the number of correlations used
!2
B in a scalogram is constrained to be no more than
= 2I .
pT 256, in which case we set
256
 
Solving for I yields
(24) M=
p2 T 2
! I
(22) I = log2 − 1. and that concludes our rationale for satisfac-
δB 2
torily choosing the parameters for percussion
Because I is required to be a positive integer, we scalograms.
shall round down this exact value for I. Thus we
set
$ ! % Conclusion
p2 T 2 3 In this paper we have described the way in which
(23) I = log2 − .
δB 2 2 spectrograms and percussion scalograms can be
To illustrate the value of selecting I per Equa- used for analyzing musical rhythm and melody.
tion (23), in Figure 15 we show three different While percussion scalograms work fairly effectively
scalograms for the Dance Around percussion se- on brief percussion passages, more research is
quence. For this example, Equation (23) yields the needed to improve their performance on a wider
value I = 4. Using this value, we find that the variety of music (especially when the volume is
scalogram plotted in Figure 15(b) is able to detect highly variable). We only briefly introduced the
the individual drum strikes and their groupings. If, use of spectrograms for analyzing melody and
however, we set I too low, say I = 3 in Figure 15(a), its hierarchical structure; more examples are dis-
then the scalogram does not display the timings of cussed in [34] and at the website [6]. Our discussion

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 371

 showed how percussion scalograms could be used music, using Gabor representations, Proceedings of
to distinguish some styles of drumming, but much the Diderot Forum on Mathematics and Music, 1999,
more work remains to be done. Further research Vienna.
is also needed on using local averages, instead of [15] H. Feichtinger and T. Strohmer, eds., Gabor
Analysis and Algorithms, Birkhäuser, Boston, MA,
the global average A that we employed, and on
1998.
determining what additional information can be
[16] , eds. Advances in Gabor Analysis, Birkhäuser,
gleaned from the phases of the Gabor CWTs. Boston, MA, 2002.
[17] D. Gabor, Theory of communication, Journal of the
Acknowledgment Institute for Electrical Engineers 93 (1946), 873–880.
This research was supported by the National [18] Erroll Garner recording from http://www.youtube.
Science Foundation Grant 144-2974/92974 (REU com/watch?v=H0-ukGgAEUo.
site SUREPAM program). We also thank William [19] K. Gröchenig, Foundations of Time-Frequency
Analysis, Birkhäuser, Boston, MA, 2001.
Sethares for his helpful comments on an earlier
[20] L. Harkleroad, The Math Behind the Music,
version of this paper. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2006.
[21] D. Kroodsma, The Singing Life of Birds, Houghton-
References Mifflin, NY, 2005.
[1] J. F. Alm and J. S. Walker, Time-frequency [22] F. Lerdahl and R. Jackendoff, A Generative Theory
analysis of musical instruments, SIAM Review of Tonal Music, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1983.
44 (2002), 457–476. Available at http://www. [23] F. Lerdahl and R. Jackendoff, An overview of hi-
uwec.edu/walkerjs/media/38228[1].pdf. erarchical structure in music, in Machine Models of
[2] J. S. Bach, (arranged and adapted by M. Scott), Music (1992), S. Schwanauer and D. Levitt, eds., MIT
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. A free version of Press, Cambridge, MA, 289–312.
the part of the score used for the clip an- [24] D. Levitin, This Is Your Brain On Music, Dutton, New
alyzed here can be obtained from http:// York, 2006.
www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn [25] G. Loy, Musimathics: The Mathematical Foundations
=MN0026859 of Music, Vol. 2, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2007.
[3] P. Balazs et al., Double preconditioning for Gabor [26] F. B. Mache, Music, Myth and Nature, Contempo-
frames, IEEE Trans. on Signal Processing 54 (2006), rary Music Studies, Vol. 6., Taylor & Francis, London,
4597–4610. 1993.
[4] L. Bernstein, The world of jazz, The Joy of Music, [27] S. Mallat, A Wavelet Tour of Signal Processing,
Amadeus Press, Pompton Plains, NJ, 2004, pp. 106– Second Edition, Academic Press, San Diego, CA,
131 1999.
[5] D. Brubeck, Unsquare Dance. The beginning of [28] S. Pinker, How the Mind Works, Norton, NY, 1997.
the score, containing the hand-clapping intro- [29] L. Prima, Sing Sing Sing. The initial part of
duction, can be viewed for free at http://www. the score, containing the drum solo introduc-
musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn= tion, can be viewed for free at http://www.
MN0042913. musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/scorch.asp?ppn=
[6] X. Cheng, et al., Making Pictures of Music: New SC0005700.
Images and Videos of Musical Sound. Available at [30] D. Rothenberg, Why Birds Sing: A Journey into the
http://www.uwec.edu/walkerjs/PicturesOf Mystery of Bird Song, Basic Books, NY, 2005.
Music/. Examples of more analyses of rhythmic per- [31] W. Sethares, Rhythm and Transforms, Springer,
cussion can be found at http://www.uwec.edu/ New York, NY, 2007.
walkerjs/PicturesOfMusic/Musical [32] L. M. Smith, Modelling rhythm perception by con-
Rhythm.htm. tinuous time-frequency analysis, Proceedings of
[7] N. Chomsky, Syntactic Structures, Mouton de the 1996 International Computer Music Conference,
Gruyter, New York, 2002. Hong Kong, 392–395.
[8] C. K. Chui, Wavelets: A Mathematical Tool for Signal [33] , A multiresolution time-frequency analy-
Analysis, SIAM, Philadelphia, PA, 1997. sis and interpretation of musical rhythm, thesis,
[9] R. Cogan, New Images of Musical Sound, Harvard University of Western Australia, 2000.
University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1984. [34] J. S. Walker, A Primer on Wavelets and their
[10] I. Daubechies, Ten Lectures on Wavelets, SIAM, Scientific Applications, Second Edition, Chapman
Philadelphia, PA, 1992. & Hall/CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2008. Material
[11] I. Daubechies and S. Maes, A nonlinear squeezing of referenced from Chapters 5 and 6 is available
the continuous wavelet transform based on auditory at http://www.uwec.edu/walkerjs/primer/
nerve models, in Wavelets in Medicine and Biology, Ch5extract.pdf; http://www.uwec.edu/
CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1996, pp. 527–546. walkerjs/primer/Ch6extract.pdf.
[12] M. Dörfler, Gabor analysis for a class of signals [35] , Document on using Audacity and Fawav.
called music, dissertation, University of Vienna, Available at http://www.uwec.edu/walkerjs/
2002. tfamr/DocAudFW.pdf.
[13] , Time-frequency analysis for music signals— [36] J. S. Walker and G. W. Don, Music: A time-
A mathematical approach, Journal of New Music frequency approach, preprint, available at http://
Research 30, No. 1, March 2001. www.uwec.edu/walkerjs/media/TFAM.pdf.
[14] M. Dörfler and H. G. Feichtinger, Quantita-
tive description of expression in performance of

372 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

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 ? W H A T I S . . .
Lehmer’s Number?
Eriko Hironaka

Lehmer’s number, λ ≈ 1.17628, is the largest real Given any δ > 0, is there an algebraic integer
root of the polynomial whose Mahler measure is strictly between 1 and
1 + δ?
fλ (x) = x10 + x9 − x7 − x6 − x5 − x4 − x3 + x + 1.
Algebraic integers with small Mahler measure were
This number appears in various contexts in num- important to Lehmer in his study of prime number-
ber theory and topology as the (sometimes con- generating functions. Using computing machines
jectural) answer to natural questions involving he built himself, he found the smallest Mahler
notions of “minimality” and “small complexity”. measures for even degrees up to 10. Recent com-
Its story begins within number theory. Lehmer’s puter searches by D. Boyd, M. Mossinghoff, and
number λ is the conjectural answer to G. Rhin verify that Lehmer’s number λ is the
What is the smallest size of an algebraic integer smallest Mahler measure greater than one for all
greater than one? degrees up to 40 (see Mossinghoff’s website [2]).
Lehmer’s number λ has special number-
Since two algebraic integers are algebraically con- theoretic properties. First, the coefficients of its
jugate if they are roots of the same minimal minimal polynomial fλ are the same when read
polynomial, any natural notion of the size of an from the left or from the right. We call such
algebraic integer should be constant on conjugacy a polynomial reciprocal, since this implies that
classes. Given an irreducible monic integer poly- the set of algebraic conjugates of λ contains all
nomial f , the Mahler measure of f , or M(f ), is the its reciprocals. Second, Lehmer’s number λ is
absolute value of the product of roots with norm the only one of its algebraic conjugates that lies
greater than one. By size of an algebraic integer outside the unit circle. Such an algebraic integer
α we mean the Mahler measure of the minimal is called either a Salem number (reciprocal case)
polynomial of α. The Mahler measure of α is one or a Pisot number (nonreciprocal case).
if and only if α is a root of unity. Since Lehmer’s What is known about Lehmer’s question re-
number λ is the only root of fλ outside the unit stricted to Salem and Pisot numbers is similar to
circle, λ is its own Mahler measure. what is known for more general Mahler measures.
A related notion of size is the maximal norm For nonreciprocal polynomials f , C. Smyth showed
of algebraic integers conjugate to α, which we will in 1970 that
call the length of α. By this definition, the length
M(f ) ≥ M(x3 − x − 1) = θ(≈ 1.32472) > λ.
of an algebraic integer
√ can be arbitrarily close to
n
one (e.g., consider 2 for n large). It is not known This generalizes A. Siegel’s result that θ is the
whether the same is true for Mahler measures. smallest Pisot number and shows that θ is also
Lehmer in [1] formulated the problem in this way: the smallest Mahler measure of nonreciprocal
polynomials, reducing Lehmer’s question to the
Eriko Hironaka is director of pure mathematics and as- reciprocal case. Similarly, Lehmer’s number is
sociate professor at Florida State University. Her email both the smallest known Salem number and the
address is [email protected]. smallest known Mahler measure greater than one.

374 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

Figure 1. Manifestations of Lehmer’s number as mapping class, pretzel knot, and Coxeter graph.

Lehmer’s question is equivalent to asking for a mapping class φ defined on a surface S

whether an algebraic integer with small length that spans K in S 3 . The Alexander polynomial
must have a correspondingly large number of of K is the characteristic polynomial of the ac-
algebraic conjugates outside the unit circle. The tion of φ on the first homology of S. Its largest
number of exterior conjugates can be thought of root, the homological dilatation of φ, is bounded
as the complexity of α. above by the geometric dilatation. By a theorem of
Lehmer’s question and its offshoots have natu- T. Kanenobu, any reciprocal monic integer polyno-
ral analogs in geometry and topology. For example, mial is the Alexander polynomial of a fibered link.
D. Lind, K. Schmidt, T. Ward, and others have stud- In particular, Lehmer’s number λ is the homolog-
ied the logarithm of a multivariable version of ical dilatation of the (-2,3,7)-pretzel knot (shown
Mahler measure as the topological entropy of an in Figure 1, center) and is the Mahler measure of
associated dynamical system on the n-dimensional its Alexander polynomial.
torus. D. Silver and S. Williams showed that the One can also associate mapping classes to sim-
Mahler measure of the Alexander polynomial of a ply laced Coxeter systems. Given a simple graph Γ
knot or link complement is the growth rate of its with ordered vertices, there is an associated linear
classical torsion numbers. transformation called the Coxeter element of Γ .
There is evidence for the minimality of Lehmer’s From bipartite graphs Γ that are neither spherical
number among Mahler measures in the contexts nor affine, W. Thurston constructed an associated
of mapping classes, fibered links, and Coxeter pseudo-Anosov mapping class so that the homo-
systems. Lehmer’s number itself can be found in logical and geometric dilatations are both equal
the cross-section of these fields of study. to the spectral radius of the Coxeter element. The
An irreducible mapping class is an isotopy monodromy φ of the (-2,3,7)-pretzel knot is the
class of homeomorphisms of a compact oriented mapping class associated to the Coxeter graph
surface to itself so that no power preserves a E10 (Figure 1, right) and is the product of positive
nontrivial subsurface. By the Thurston-Nielsen Dehn twists along simple closed curves dual to
classification, irreducible mapping classes are E10 on a genus 5 surface (Figure 1, left). Thus,
either periodic (analogous to roots of unity) or are Lehmer’s number is the geometric dilatation of φ
of a type called pseudo-Anosov. There is a natural and the spectral radius of the Coxeter element of
notion of length greater than one for pseudo- E10 .
Anosov mapping classes: if φ is pseudo-Anosov, Results from graph theory imply that to find
the surface has a local Euclidean structure (with Coxeter elements with small spectral radius it
singularities) so that φ expands by a real number suffices to look at simple extensions of spherical
α > 1 in one direction and contracts by α−1 in and affine Coxeter graphs. C. McMullen showed
another. The number α is called the (geometric) further that the spectral radius of any element
dilatation of φ. of a Coxeter group is either one or greater than
The dilatations α are special algebraic integers, Lehmer’s number λ. This answers Lehmer’s ques-
called Perron numbers, and are roots of reciprocal tion not only for Coxeter systems but also for the
monic integer polynomials. The logarithm of α is corresponding subclasses of mapping classes and
the length of a geodesic determined by φ in Teich- fibered links.
müller space. As with lengths of algebraic integers,
the dilatations of mapping classes on surfaces of Further Reading
genus g can be made arbitrarily close to one as g [1] D. H. Lehmer, Factorization of certain cyclotomic
grows large. More precisely, R. Penner showed that functions, Ann. of Math. 34 (1933), 461–469.
the minimal dilatation αg for a genus g surface [2] M. Mossinghoff, Lehmer’s problem website,
http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/∼mjm/Lehmer, 2003.
satisfies the asymptotic relation log(αg ) ≍ g1 .
One source of mapping classes comes from
fibered knots and links. A knot or link K in S 3
is fibered if its complement is the mapping torus

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 375

 Book Review

The Best of All Possible

Worlds: Mathematics
and Destiny
Reviewed by Hector Sussmann

The Best of All Possible Worlds: Mathematics terrible disasters

and Destiny and catastrophes,
Ivar Ekeland that “all is well that
University of Chicago Press ends well in the
Cloth US$25.00, 214 pages (2006) best of all possible
ISBN-13:978-0-226-19994-8 worlds.”
Paper US$14.00, 207 pages (2007) Ekeland sets the
ISBN-13:978-0-226-19995-5 tone of his beauti-
fully written and
Leibniz held that we are living in the best of all enormously enjoy-
possible worlds. Maupertuis stated the least ac- able book with its
tion principle, according to which “the quantity opening sentence:1
of action necessary to cause any change in Nature “The optimist be-
always is the smallest possible”, and then went on lieves that this is
to claim, in his 1752 Essay in Cosmology, that he the best of all pos-
had “discovered a principle underlying all the laws sible worlds, and
of motion, which applies to hard bodies as well as the pessimist fears
elastic ones, from which all motions of all corporeal that this might be
substances depend…. Our principle…leaves the the case.” In the book, he tells us about Leibniz’s
world in its natural need of the Creator’s power, “much ridiculed idea”, and about Maupertuis’s
and follows naturally from the use of that power”. “eventful life”, which was “full of impressive
In Ivar Ekeland’s words, Maupertuis claimed “a achievements” (such as holding “the honor of being
grand unification of his own, the unification of the first scientist ever to have stated the idea that
physics with metaphysics, and even with morals. animal and plant species are not immutable”), as
In later work, he claims that a certain quantity of well as his “exasperating arrogance, which did
good (or bad) is attached to each of our actions, little to make him popular among his peers”. The
and that God has ordained the world so that, add- reader is given a clear and precise explanation of
ing up all the good and subtracting all the bad, the what Leibniz meant by the assertion that from
balance will be found to be the greatest possible. In the infinity of all possible worlds God must have
other words, this is the best of all possible worlds.” chosen “the best”, and of how he attempted to
These ideas would become known to future gen- establish that this was true. (In the Monadology,
erations through Voltaire’s ferociously satirical Leibniz writes that “the existence of the best, which
novel Candide, in which the optimistic Doctor is disclosed to God by His wisdom, determines His
Pangloss perseveres in concluding, in the midst of choice by His goodness, and is produced by His

1The sources found by my own Google search attribute

Hector Sussmann is professor of mathematics at Rut-
gers University. His email address is sussmann@math. these words to the writer James Branch Cabell (1879–
rutgers.edu. 1958).

376 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

power.” To explain what Leibniz meant by “the the author of several nontechnical volumes, such
best”, Ekeland rephrases Leibniz’s statements in as The Broken Dice and other Mathematical Tales
his own words: “perfection consists of two things: of Chance, Mathematics and the Unexpected, and
variety on the one hand, that is the inexhaustible The Cat in Numberland, in which he has developed
profusion of natural phenomena, and order on the a unique style for turning stories about mathemat-
other, that is the interrelatedness of all things and ics into engaging narratives filled with interesting
the basic simplicity of natural laws.” And, later, details and explanations of fundamental concepts
“Leibniz belongs to this category of philosophers that are understandable as well as accurate. And
who claim that happiness lies in contemplating in this book he uses his unique approach to scien-
the wonders of God in His creation, an idea that tific storytelling to offer us a guided tour through
is certainly far away from the everyday concerns the successes and failures, during four centuries
of most humans beings. All in all, to say that this of modern science, of efforts by scientists and
world is the best of all possible worlds does not philosophers to understand the world by means
imply that it is a pleasant one to live in.” In other of extremal principles. (In this review, I use “extre-
words, the great philosopher did indeed say that mal principles” to refer to optimization as well as
ours is the best of all possible worlds, but what he critical point principles.) The result is a book that
meant by this was “far from the crude philosophy provides much information about the ideas of op-
‘All’s well that ends well’ incorrectly attributed to timization and critical points and is full of details
Leibniz.”) He discusses Maupertuis’s principle of about a large cast of characters, such as Galileo,
least action, the controversy between Maupertuis Huygens, Descartes, Newton, Fermat, Leibniz, Mau-
and Koenig about whether Leibniz had discovered pertuis, and Voltaire, to name just a few.
the principle before Maupertuis did, and the way Optimizing behavior can be that of an intel-
Euler, Lagrange, Hamilton, and Jacobi formulated ligent optimizer, such as the creator God who
“Maupertuis’s idea in a precise and workable chose to make the best of all possible worlds, or
way”. He sketches a clear, plausible explanation a rational utility-maximizing human being, or an
of how the least action principle—which in reality engineer seeking to build a device or to design
is a principle of stationary action, namely, the as- a plant so as to minimize some cost functional,
sertion that the motion follows a path which is a or the management of an airline looking for a
critical point of the action—may come about. (The schedule that minimizes cost subject to a large
explanation—which, of course, is nonrigorous—is number of constraints, or a social planner maxi-
based on quantum mechanics: the quantum me- mizing society’s welfare. Or it can arise from a
chanical amplitude of a transition from point x at natural process, as in the maximization of fit-
time t ​to point y ​
at time s ​
is given by the Feynman ness of a species by natural selection (which is
2π i
path integral of e h S over all paths that go from x really an ascent process, famously described by
at time t ​
to y ​at time s ​
, where S ​ is the action, and R. Dawkins as “climbing Mount Improbable”), in
the method of stationary phase suggests that, in which a fitness function that can vary in time due
the classical limit as h ​
→​ 0, the leading term in the to changes in the environment (including changes
asymptotic behavior of the integral is the sum of in other species) is required to increase steadily,
the contributions of the critical points of S ​ .) And but may get stuck at a local maximum, and need
he does not forget to tell us about Voltaire’s hos- not even attain a local maximum at all. Stationar-
tility toward Maupertuis. (“When Maupertuis came ity principles occur as basic physical laws, such as
back from his northern expedition [to Lapland in the least action principle and Fermat’s minimum
1736–1737], and all of Paris sang his praises, Vol- time principle in geometrical optics, both of which
taire chimed in with these verses: You have gone to assert that a physical system follows a path that is
confirm in places far and lonesome\\What Newton a critical point of some functional, such as action
always knew without leaving his desk.” And later: or travel time.
“[Voltaire’s] book Story of Doctor Akakia and the All the above types of extremal principles are
Native of Saint-Malo is a collection of pamphlets described by Ekeland in the various chapters of the
against Maupertuis, the general theme being that book. Furthermore, as the guided tour proceeds
such a mass of nonsense had been published under and the extremal principles are presented, other
the name of the respected president of the Berlin topics naturally appear, and the author spends time
Academy of Sciences that it is simply not possible on them, always elegantly working his way from
that they were authentic: they had to be the work secondary topic to secondary topic and eventually
of a young impersonator, whom Voltaire proceeds back to the main theme in a continuous narrative.
to unmask.”) For example, he opens Chapter 3 on the least ac-
But the book is not just about Leibniz, Mau- tion principle with the condemnation of Galileo by
pertuis, Voltaire, and the least action principle. the Inquisition on June 22, 1633. He then makes
Ekeland—himself a distinguished mathematician, the transition from Galileo to Descartes by telling
well known for his important contributions to us that Galileo’s condemnation “was a lesson for
variational analysis and optimization theory—is others as well”, and that Descartes learned of it in

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 377

 November of 1633, and “immediately decided not clearly causal—i.e., such that the past determines
to publish his magnum opus, the Treatise of the the future—whereas Fermat’s approach involves,
World, or of Light”. The stage is thus set for a brief or at least appears to involve, final causes, as the
description of Descartes’s treatises on philosophy, light ray uses time minimization to choose which
mathematics, and physics. Ekeland regrets that, path to follow from all the paths that lead to the
with the separate publication of these works, “An desired target point. Fermat was criticized by
essential part of [Descartes’s] message has…been Descartes’s disciple Clerselier for the seemingly
lost, for unity is central to his way of thinking.” teleological nature of his minimum-time principle,
(This unity is that of reasoning rather than ex- to which he gave the “very modern” reply that “light
perimentation. “Descartes…believed that science propagates as if it had both [the desire to travel
rests on eternal truths. As a consequence, he held fast] and [the means to compute the quickest
experimental results in low esteem…and less trust- path], and while the mathematical problem may
worthy than sound argumentation.”) From here not be an accurate description of what happens
he moves on to the work of at some deeper level of re-
Snell, Descartes, and Fermat ality, it is good enough to
on the law of refraction of
light and the minimum time
“… All in all, to make predictions which turn
out to be in agreement with
principle, including a discus- experiments.” Ekeland ex-
sion of the conflict between say that this world plains that Fermat was even-
two basic approaches to the tually proven right by the
formulation of physical laws,
namely, that of extremal
is the best of all measurement of the speed
of light in water by Foucault
principles—which seems to and Fizeau in 1850 and does
involve final causes, since a possible worlds does not miss the opportunity to
system obeying the least ac- relate this early discussion
tion principle or a light ray
that follows Fermat’s mini-
not imply that it is of determinism vs. extremal
principles to the later argu-
mum time principle appears ments by Mach and the con-
to know that they want to a pleasant one to troversy between Bohr and
go from point A to point B Einstein about the founda-
of configuration space and
then choose their path to be
live in.” tions of quantum mechanics.
He then returns to the theme
extremal—and the equally of the critique of Fermat by
widely used causal approach the Cartesians, by telling us
in which initial conditions determine the future by that this was the “opening battle” of the “long,
means of dynamical laws, such as ordinary differ- drawn-out struggle” of the Cartesians against New-
ential equations. He illustrates this conflict with a tonian physics, and then turning his attention to
discussion of the criticism of Fermat in 1662–1665 the closing battle, which was Maupertuis’s expedi-
by the followers of Descartes (who had died in tion to Lapland. “Newton, working on the idea that
1650) about the law of refraction of light. Descartes the Earth is a liquid ball that had solidified, had
and Fermat derived the same law of refraction predicted that it would be flattened at the poles,
starting from mutually contradictory assumptions. because its rotation when it was fluid would have
Descartes compared “light traveling from air to created a bulge around the equator. Cassini, the
water to a tennis ball which is accelerated in the French astronomer royal, a loyal Cartesian, be-
vertical direction as it crosses the surface, the hori- lieved the opposite: the Earth should be elongated
zontal speed being unaffected”. Fermat believed at the poles, like a lemon.” The measurements that
that the speed of light in air is larger than that in Maupertuis brought, of the arc of meridian in the
water, and that a light ray will travel from a point far North, “compared with the arc of meridian at
A in the air to a point B ​ in the water by following the latitude of Paris, showed that Newton was right
a minimum-time path. Remarkably, both assump- and made Maupertuis a hero overnight”. After
tions lead to exactly the same path, determined entering Ekeland’s book in this triumphant way,
by Snell’s law of refraction sin ​ i​=​n​
sin ​
r​, where Maupertuis finally gets to occupy center stage, to
i​and r ​are the angles of incidence and of refrac- which he is justly entitled in a book on “the best of
tion, and n​ is the index of refraction. “[Descartes all possible worlds”. Thus Ekeland introduces the
and Fermat] both agreed on the value of . ​ .​
. n​
, central theme of the book and turns to the least
namely, 1.33 for the water-air interface, but they action principle.
did not agree on its meaning. For Descartes that The same narrative technique of making con-
number meant that light travels 1.33 times faster tinuous transitions to take us from topic to topic
in water than in air, and for Fermat it meant that and from character to character, always finding
it travels that much slower.” Descartes’s model is a smooth way to return to the main theme, is

378 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 A m e r i c A n m At h e m At i c A l S o c i e t y
displayed throughout the book. We are treated to
side trips to such subjects as the measurement of Bestsellers from the
time and clock making: from Galileo’s ideas about
the pendulum to Huygens’s achievement as “the AMS Distributed Series
founder of modern chronometry”, to John Har-
rison, to the overturning of Galileo’s “idea of the Hindustan Book Agency
whole universe at a given instant” by Einstein’s
theory on the relativity of simultaneity. We learn
of the unification of algebra and geometry by
Descartes, Euler’s analysis of the free motion of
rigid bodies, the integrable cases discovered by
Lagrange and Kowalewska of the motion of a rigid Analysis I & II
body subject to gravity, and the unpredictability of Terence Tao, University of
the behavior of nonintegrable systems (including trim TEXTS AND READINGS
IN MATHEMATICS 37 California, Los Angeles, CA
a detailed discussion of billiard balls and how the
shape of the table determines whether the ball’s
Analysis I ...it would be an error not to stick
motion is integrable or not, with tables that are
very close to the text — its very well
elliptic or close to elliptic leading to integrable Terence Tao

behavior, while chaos occurs for tables that are crafted indeed and deviating
from the score would mean an
TEXTS AND READINGS
trim
IN MATHEMATICS38
far away from being elliptic). Ekeland describes HINDUSTAN
BOOK AGENCY

some of “many attempts toward a scientific theory unacceptable dissonance.

of history, comparable to the theory of evolution” Analysis II
I hope to use “Analysis I, II” in
(especially the account by Thucydides of the Pelo- Terence Tao
an honors course myself, when the
ponnesian War, and that of Guicciardini of the wars opportunity arises.
in Italy between 1492 and 1534, in both of which HINDUSTAN
BOOK AGENCY

Ekeland discerns “an echo of chaos theory”, as in —Michael Berg, for MAA Reviews
Guicciardini’s statement that “small events that Analysis 1; 2006; 420 pages; Softcover; ISBN: 978-81-85931-62-3;
would hardly be noticed are often responsible for List US$36; AMS members US$29; Order code HIN/28
great ruins and successes”). We learn about the Analysis II; 2006; 272 pages; Softcover; ISBN: 978-81-85931-63-0;
List US$30; AMS members US$24; Order code HIN/29
Condorcet three-voters paradox and equilibria
(that is, Nash equilibria) in game theory, and are
treated to a discussion of whether future global Surprises and
catastrophes, such as global warming or a nuclear
war, are avoidable, and of the possible dangers Counterexamples in
of cloning and altering our genes (“history and Real Function Theory
mythology hand down stern warnings against
tampering with such things.…Are such warnings A. R. Rajwade and A. K.
valid for the modern world? We do not know.…Pos- Bhandari, Panjab University,
sible worlds are now crowding our doorstep.…For Chandigarh, India
instance, one very real possibility is a warmer
world, a planet where the environment has been Teachers of the theory of calculus will benefit by
profoundly altered by the greenhouse effect.…We having this book on their shelves; I wish I’d had it
have to shape a new world, and do it now. What a available when I was teaching.
change since the time of Leibniz! In his view the
—Kenneth A. Ross, for MAA Reviews
choice between all possible worlds had been made
once and for all, by God Himself, at the time of Hindustan Book Agency; 2007; 298 pages; Hardcover; ISBN:
978-81-85931-71-5; List US$42; AMS members US$34; Order code
creation. Now this choice is ours to make”).
HIN/32
The book can be savored in bits and pieces,
by reading individual chapters, or portions of
chapters dealing with particular topics such as Publications of Hindustan Book Agency. Distributed on an exclusive basis
the measurement of time or the mathematical by the AMS in North America. Online bookstore rights worldwide.
problems posed by collective decision-making. But
the reader who just chooses to start on page one To view more Hindustan titles, go to
and keep going will almost certainly find it impos- www.ams.org/bookstore/hinseries
sible to put the book down, because it is densely
packed with delightful items of information and is Contact the AMS: 1-800-321-4AMS (4267),
as entertaining as a fast-moving thriller. in the U. S. and Canada, or 1-401-455-4000
(worldwide); fax:1-401-455-4046;
email: [email protected].
American Mathematical Society, 201 Charles
Street, Providence, RI 02904-2294 USA

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 379

 Book Review

The Numbers Behind

NUMB3RS: Solving Crime with
Mathematics
Reviewed by Brent Deschamp

The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS: Solving Crime it deals too much

with Mathematics with the television
Keith Devlin and Gary Lorden show to merit that
Plume, 2007 description.
US$15.00, 256 pages Thus, I keep ask-
ISBN-13: 978-0-452-28857-7 ing, is this book
selling math, or is
Since reading The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS: Solv- it selling the televi-
ing Crime with Mathematics, I’ve started watching sion show? Why was
the television show NUMB3RS again. I’ve always it written?
found crime dramas predictable and repetitive, To be sure, this
and nothing much has changed. Still, I’ve tuned book contains math,
in a few times out of a morbid curiosity spawned and it is good math.
from this book. In thirteen chapters
As many readers know, NUMB3RS focuses on the authors cover
FBI agent Don Eppes, who solves crime with the the following topics:
help of his younger brother Charlie, a mathemati- geographic profil-
cian. ing, statistics, data
The question I’ve been asking myself since I mining, link analysis, geometric clustering, ma-
finished the book is: why was this book written? chine learning, neural networks, facial recognition
The authors, Keith Devlin and Gary Lorden, offer software, change-point detection, Bayesian infer-
a reason in the opening line of the appendix. They ence, DNA profiling, cryptography, fingerprints,
write, “‘Is the math in NUMB3RS real?’ Both of us networks, risk analysis, and math in casinos.
are asked this question a lot.” The two are cer- It’s interesting, and for the most part it’s well
tainly qualified to answer. Both hold doctorates in written.
mathematics, Devlin works at Stanford, and Lorden But then the book ends with an appendix pro-
works at Caltech. Both are also reasonable people viding an episode guide for the first three seasons
of the television show. Why is that important, and
to ask. Devlin is known for his work promoting
what does it have to do with the math involved
mathematics on National Public Radio, and Lorden
in crime solving? Most of the entries read like a
is the mathematical consultant to NUMB3RS.
slightly more intelligent version of the kind of
From this question one infers the book was writ-
entries logged on a fan’s website. Yes, vague de-
ten to show how the math in NUMB3RS is real, but
scriptions of the math used in each episode are
I’m not entirely comfortable with that response.
mentioned, but they are just that: vague.
This is not really a book about mathematics;
If this 256-page book is meant to explore the
Brent Deschamp is professor of mathematics at California use of math in crime solving, then why is nearly
State Polytechnic University, Pomona. His email address fifteen percent of the book solely devoted to the
is [email protected]. television show?

380 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Based on what has been written thus far, it may The case involves the beating of Reginald Denny
seem as if my opinion of this book is rather poor. in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots following the
Certainly, parts of the book are rather disappoint- Rodney King trial. Damian Williams stood trial for
ing, but other parts are fascinating. I learned a lot his participation in the beating, and the defense
from this book. I’ll focus on the two chapters I used image enhancement of news footage to show
found most intriguing. the attacker in the film had the same rose tattoo
The chapter on DNA profiling was an eye-opener as Williams.
for me. Like most people I have a rough under- Since the book is aimed at a general audience, the
standing of how DNA matches are done, but until process of image enhancement is not described in
reading this book I had little idea of what truly goes detail. An additional section offers a brief glimpse
into performing a DNA comparison. Only certain of deeper math using functions and derivatives,
loci on the DNA strand are used in the comparison, and the readers are told they can skip this section
thirteen locations in all, and even then the exact if they don’t have the requisite background. It is a
sequence is not recorded, but in- nice inclusion, but at a single
stead a count of the various base page it could have been more
pairs is recorded. A DNA profile,
to me, now feels more like a hash Is this book detailed. Still, the discussion
is clear and informative, and
function. readers should have a better
What was more surprising, a product tie-in understanding of how image
enhancement works.
though, was the authors’ discus-
sion of the FBI CODIS system that
houses DNA profiles. If evidence for the show, In terms of detail this book
is rather light. The chapter
points to a suspect, then obtain- on geographic profiling has a
ing a DNA sample and comparing
it to DNA evidence found at the
…or is it a wonderful discussion of how
each piece of a given equation
scene has a very low probability relates to the rationale used
of showing an incorrect match. book about in geographic profiling. The
If instead the authorities run a discussion of DNA profiling is
search of CODIS looking for a DNA
match, a “cold hit”, then the odds
mathematics? just as detailed. The chapters
on change-point detection and
of finding an incorrect match rise graph theory both have ad-
dramatically. The authors end the equate discussions, but some
chapter with calculations based on the Arizona chapters are woefully vague.
state database. With 65,000 entries they show the For example, in the chapter on data mining,
probability of finding two matches that agree on many forms of data mining are discussed, but
nine of thirteen loci during a search for cold hits none is explained in any depth. This is an area I
is about five percent. know nothing about, and so I had hoped I would
These sorts of discussions are fascinating for walk away with a better understanding of neural
two reasons. First, it’s nice to see math in action. networks and other forms of data mining. Instead
The science is well presented, and the book dis- I learned just enough to realize that I still knew
cusses the differences inherent in the two view- nothing. Why not devote a few pages to providing
points of having a suspect and searching for a some additional detail, as in the chapter on image
suspect. By the end of the chapter an argument has enhancement? If twenty-five pages can be used to
been made that is based on sound mathematical provide episode summaries, why can’t a few pages
principles and shown in direct calculation. be used to better explain data mining?
Second, it points out a common misconception.
I’ve seen my fair share of crime dramas, and I can My frustration with this book is that when it
recall many instances where a DNA sample was succeeds, it provides great insight, but most of the
run through the system and a cold hit was found. time it falls short.
Inevitably, the name on the screen turned out to My other frustration has to do with the contin-
be the killer. On television, DNA enjoys an aura of ual inclusion of material from the television show.
infallibility, and discussions like these point out Only four out of thirteen chapters are motivated
that methodology is just as important as facts. by real-world cases in which mathematics played a
vital role. The remaining chapters begin with a plot
The discussion is also paired with an actual synopsis of some episode as motivation for the
court case and reports from the forensic com- discussion. The topic is explored, but eventually we
munity about DNA profiling. In this way the facts find ourselves once again reading about how Don
become more than an academic enterprise. The and Charlie get the bad guys using math.
chapter has a reality to it that sells the material. Why?
Another chapter that revolves around an actual Is this book a product tie-in for the show, a mar-
court case is the discussion of image enhancement. keting ploy, or is this a book about mathematics?

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 381

 I get the impression the authors can’t decide. If NUMB3RS, so the mathematics in the book suffers
mathematics is as useful as this book claims, then a similar fate.
shouldn’t there be plenty of actual cases where Strangely, if someone came to me wanting to
math played a role? Why should the authors have know if math was ever really used in the real
to resort to using television fiction to make their world, I would probably point them to this book.
case? In fact, they answer this question by present- It’s inoffensive, accessible, and filled with enough
ing numerous cases where math played a role. So, information that they would probably finish the
the fiction isn’t needed, but it overwhelmingly book with the sense that math is out there being
overshadows the real world in this book. Couple used. Devlin and Lorden have brought together in-
that with the episode guide in the appendix, and teresting and insightful information about certain
the entire book feels less like a book about math areas of math and crime solving, and I appreciate
and more like something concocted in a market- their effort.
ing meeting. But, and I want to emphasize the following
caveat, I am disappointed with this book. Yes, the
Some people will argue that Charlie Eppes and
book is interesting, but only when the authors
NUMB3RS provide a way to reach people about
take the time to delve into the subject matter. Too
the power of math. I cannot argue that point. It is
much of this book feels like the commercials that
nice having a figure in popular entertainment who
punctuate the television show—short snippets of
puts an accessible and interesting face on a subject
vague descriptions designed to titillate but not
that is often disliked. Those same people could educate. My feeling is this approach will do noth-
also argue that using Charlie in a book like this ing to help the public perception of math, will gain
does much the same thing. People who would not few converts, and will ultimately be forgotten like
ordinarily read a book about math might just pick so many thirty-second ads.
this one up because the presentation is accessible: Finally, we should have enough confidence in
Charlie, a fictional character, provides the link to our chosen field to feel comfortable writing a
the applications of math. book about mathematics that does not need gim-
But I disagree. The discussion of real-world micks. The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS shows us a
cases riveted me. The chapter on statistics involved glimmer of how this could be done. I just wish the
a discussion of a nurse nicknamed the “Angel of authors had chosen to put their faith in the power
Death”. Statistics led to her indictment but wasn’t of math to make its own case instead of giving in
used in her trial. The chapter provided a wonder- to what seems like marketing pressure.
ful look at the power and limitations of math in That said, I also cannot deny the results of clever
crime solving. If instead a fictional television epi- marketing—it got me watching again.
sode were used as the basis for that discussion,
then such an approach merely brings us back to
the first line of the appendix: Is any of this real?
Does it take a team of writers and mathematical
consultants to come up with bizarre scenarios
where math might actually be of use? When every
chapter relies on fiction, then yes, it begins to feel
that way. On the other hand, point to enough real
cases and suddenly math is being used every day
in a tangible way.
This leads to the efficacy of having a character
like Charlie. NUMB3RS is entering its fifth season,
but does public perception about math remain the
same? Does having a mathematician on television
increase the number of math majors? Has Charlie
helped in any way?
The problem is that NUMB3RS is ultimately
a crime drama, and Charlie is its gimmick. Most
crime dramas have a gimmick. CSI has its forensic
technicians, Bones has its anthropologist, Criminal
Minds has its profilers, and the new drama The
Mentalist proudly displays its gimmick in the title.
NUMB3RS isn’t really about mathematics; it’s about
selling a crime drama in a market crowded with
similar shows. The math is used as a gimmick,
so the mathematics will always be secondary. A
similar approach is taken in The Numbers Behind

382 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Presidential Views:
Interview with George Andrews
Every other year, when a new AMS president takes office, the Notices publishes interviews with the
outgoing and incoming presidents. What follows is an edited version of an interview with George E.
Andrews, whose two-year term as president begins on February 1, 2009. Andrews is the Evan Pugh
Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Pennsylvania State University. The interview was con-
ducted in fall 2008 by Notices senior writer and deputy editor Allyn Jackson.
An interview with past-president James G. Glimm appeared in the February 2009 issue of the Notices.

Notices: The AMS is a large organization with into the profession. The funding
many activities: publishing, meetings, public aware- issue and expanding employment
ness work, science policy work, etc. How do you see opportunities are most important.
the role of the AMS president in this large, diverse The issues involving mathemat-
enterprise? ics education, stretching from K–12
Andrews: Obviously the president plays a role through undergraduate and gradu-
as the public face of the AMS, both to the members ate school, are things that I also
of the AMS as well as to the rest of society. So I will mentioned in my statement. My
be following in the footsteps of my predecessors, main interest here is to promote
presiding at a variety of meetings, assisting with programs that would provide cur-
our office in Washington in making presentations rent and future teachers with the
to Congress, and attending various policy com- mathematics that they need to
mittee meetings that occur throughout the year. understand in order to do a good
Those are the standard items that involve any job in the classroom. I would also
president. cast a skeptical eye on a variety of George Andrews
When I was first asked to run for the presidency, curricular reforms that seem to me
it came as a great surprise to me, because it was not very far from the mark in achieving
anything and that, just by the confusion that they
something I had ever thought of doing. But once
create, actually turn out to be counterproductive.
I decided to run for the office, I wrote my candi-
date’s statement listing a few things that seemed Notices: Going back to the matter of research
to me important and that I might concentrate on in support, it has often been proposed to the NSF that
the brief period of two years. One of the most im- it could move to the NSERC model of giving smaller
portant is: How can we better fund the research of grants to more people. However, NSF has not been
younger mathematicians? Now with the economy receptive to this idea and has stuck with giving
in such dire straits, this is even more important. large grants to a smaller elite of researchers. Is
In the candidate’s statement I mentioned the way there a new or different way to approach the NSF
research money is awarded by the NSERC [National on this question?
Science and Engineering Research Council] in Andrews: I’m working on that. From my con-
Canada; their program seems to be working very versations with people at the NSF, I believe they
well. Unfortunately the National Science Founda- truly appreciate that we are not funding younger
tion [NSF] does not see the NSERC model as one mathematicians nearly as much as we should.
that they want to follow. I am trying to figure out That was my motivation in bringing up the NSERC
ways that we in the AMS could approach funding grants. The NSF is also deeply concerned about new
agencies with the universal recognition that it’s researchers; so hopefully some new or creative way
terribly important to nurture and develop young can be found to improve matters. In other words,
mathematicians, and concomitantly, there are I am not wedded to any particular proposal. I am
funding problems that are probably going to get perfectly willing to entertain other ideas—perhaps
worse rather than better. Something really serious some sort of large block grant, or a new way of
has to be done, including a careful husbanding of designing an institute, that could be used to obtain
money, in order to keep more young people coming the desired results. Obviously it’s something that

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 383

 requires a fair amount of talking and negotiation. budget than the dues at MAA—and consequently
The conversations I have had so far make it clear the MAA’s concerns about financial problems are
that one cannot just go to the NSF and say, “Let’s understandably much more serious than those for
be like NSERC”, because there is an institutional the other two organizations.
view that that’s the wrong thing to do. Notices: You mentioned education as a major
Notices: What do you see as the impact on young concern of yours. The problems here are big, ex-
mathematicians of the lack of research funding? tensive, and multi-faceted. What can the AMS do to
Andrews: What is the point of funding? For help solve them?
administrators, grants produce overhead and Andrews: Efforts undertaken—not necessarily
cushion the salaries of star researchers. But for a by the AMS, but perhaps with AMS support—that
young person who’s really dedicated to mathemat- are designed primarily to assist teachers in en-
ics, salary is not nearly as important as things like hancing their mathematical knowledge relevant
money for computers and computer use, money to to what they are teaching, are central. It’s widely
bring in visitors, money for travel, money for vari- known that I have been extremely critical of many
ous peripheral things like books, etc. These items of the curricular reforms that have been proposed
require small amounts of money, and yet they can and sometimes implemented over the last fifteen
have a really dramatic impact on one’s career. years. This is primarily because I do not believe
Notices: Do you think federal funding of math- that curriculum is the real problem. I think the
ematics has emphasized applied areas, at the ex- curriculum is not close to the main difficulty. It is
pense of funding the field more broadly? fairly easy to figure out what a reasonable curricu-
Andrews: I think the NSF has been fairly well lum should be for K–12. What is needed are people
balanced. My problem is that the funding is fo- who are really well versed in the mathematics that
cused on big grants, and a number of good young they are teaching and who are comfortable with it.
mathematicians are not getting grants. What one wants to avoid is a curricular fix where
I do want to say one thing about pure and ap- technology plays a substantial role. There are huge
plied mathematics. Surprisingly, all the presidents-
dangers in introducing technology too soon. The
elect of the three major organizations are either
idea that students won’t have access to technology
current or former Penn State-ers. Doug Arnold,
is ridiculous. Computers are ubiquitous. What we
president of SIAM [Society for Industrial and Ap-
need to do is to concentrate on students’ actual
plied Mathematics], David Bressoud, president of
skills in and understanding of mathematics. Tech-
the MAA [Mathematical Association of America],
nology contributes very little to that whole process,
and I all taught at Penn State in the early 1990s.
especially in pre-college education.
The three of us are talking over ways in which we
Notices: Can you say more specifically where
might introduce or at least tentatively begin some
you see a role for the AMS in this?
sort of reciprocity arrangement that would lower
Andrews: Obviously the AMS has research as
dues for people who are members of 2 or 3 of the
its primary focus. The MAA is devoted to teaching,
organizations—something like, but not exactly
like, the way reciprocity arrangements work with and SIAM is devoted to applied mathematics. Of
foreign math societies. The object would be to course this oversimplified splitting up of the three
encourage a greater intersection of the members organizations is unfortunate. We all have great
of the three societies. This is another way to make interests in pure and applied math, and we are all
sure that there is interaction amongst the various teachers. However the activities of the MAA and
aspects of mathematics. the AMATYC [the American Mathematical Associa-
The problem of course is the finances. If you tion of Two-Year Colleges] are much more closely
lower your dues, then you hope that more people focused on the problems of teaching mathemat-
who are only in one society will join two or three ics. I hope to look at what these organizations are
societies. You could make up your losses if you in- doing, and what we can do to support them. Sub-
crease your membership. It is guaranteed that your sequently if there is something that is neglected,
current joint members will be paying lower dues, then the AMS might step up. My hope is that we
but it is not guaranteed that people who are only in will be able, at least for things outside collegiate
one society will think, “Maybe I should join another mathematics, to support efforts that make good
one, or maybe all three.” Such concerns make you sense. The NCTM [National Council of Teachers of
fearful, and in straitened economic times, fear is Mathematics], for example, is amplifying its “focus
something we have to deal with. points” brought out a couple of years ago. These
Notices: I am not sure what the intersection of are much more sensible suggestions concerning
the membership is. mathematics education in the early grades than
Andrews: It’s not that high between SIAM and any of the NCTM documents that appeared in the
AMS, and consequently the reciprocity discussions 1990s. It is my hope that this trend will continue.
there seem easier than with MAA. The AMS dues If the NCTM continues to concentrate on core
support a much smaller portion of the overall AMS mathematics and the actual skills necessary to

384 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

do and understand mathematics, that’s obviously formula—sometimes the formulas are related to
something we should support. one another, and sometimes they aren’t. Some-
Notices: Do you think public understanding and times two or three on a page are related and then
awareness of mathematics have improved in recent there is a fourth one that is completely unrelated.
years? What more can the AMS do in this area? So in terms of gaining a sense of personality, what
Andrews: The Public Awareness Office of the it might call to mind is the dramatized picture
AMS seems to me to have done a number of inter- that Eric Temple Bell portrayed of Galois on the
esting things that are about as effective as they can night before he was to die in a duel, scribbling his
be. The fact that we live in a computer age means thoughts in a very hurried and chaotic way. With
that in some real sense mathematics is everywhere. Ramanujan, it was a year rather than a night. But
But I don’t think that means the public is aware of he was lying ill in India for a year at the end of his
mathematics. I do believe that the diminution of life, and according to interviews with his widow
the average citizen’s mathematical facility works he was always doing his mathematics because it
against whatever public awareness program is put helped him to forget the pain. So I do get the feel-
forward. Any sort of mathematical content at all is ing of hurriedness.
difficult to communicate to people lacking facility Penetrating how he actually thought about
with mathematics. Overall I am pleased with our things is something that I still have not managed.
public awareness efforts. I believe that in order for Ramanujan is what Mark Kac would have called a
them to have a wider audience, we must improve “magical genius”. Kac described the world as hav-
mathematics education. ing two types of geniuses. There are the geniuses
Notices: But mathematics is certainly more who are just ten times smarter than I am, and if I
visible in the popular culture, in the public eye. It had had more time and a few more points in my IQ,
has been a theme in movies, television, plays, and I’d have been able to do what they do. Then there
novels. are others who do things that make you think:
Andrews: Two or three years ago, Penn State “Wow, where did he come up with that? This is
invited John Nash to give a series of lectures. The just beyond belief!” And that’s the way I feel about
person who was to be his host had a family crisis, much of what Ramanujan did. Bruce Berndt and
and as a result I was host of John Nash for three I are bringing out our edited version of the “Lost
Notebook” in four volumes—we have one out, one
days and spent a lot of time with him. The thing
in press, and two more volumes to do to fully give
that I remember most vividly about this charming
proofs of everything in the “Lost Notebook”. But
gentleman is that after he gave a talk on relativity
just because we can prove something does not
that must have been way over the heads of the
mean at all that we understand Ramanujan’s mo-
1,300 undergraduates in the audience, there was a
tivation or how he came up with these things.
line that snaked all the way around the auditorium.
Notices: So they seemed to come out of nowhere.
The students in line were holding their VHS tapes
It’s hard to tell what was going through his head.
of A Beautiful Mind that they wanted him to sign.
Andrews: Obviously lots was going on in his
That dear sweet man sat there and signed every
head; I just don’t know what it was. F. H. Jackson,
single one of them. I loved that movie as did the
one of the British amateur mathematicians who
students, but the problem in making a movie about
was around at the time of Ramanujan, sent one
mathematics is that oftentimes what’s focused on
of his reprints to Ramanujan. I once saw another
is not the mathematics, but the dramatic lives of copy of this reprint in which Jackson had written
the mathematicians who are being portrayed. Is to someone else, “In 1920, I wrote to Ramanujan
the public more aware of mathematics? Or is the three weeks before his death (I did not know of
public is more aware of the fact that some math- his illness) pointing out that there was some con-
ematicians have led eccentric lives? I suspect the nection with his theorems. He wrote me a long
latter. letter in reply showing how he came to guess his
Notices: One last question, not related to the theorems.” That letter would be the only document
AMS. You were the first person to realize the im- where Ramanujan explained how he found some-
portance of what is now called Ramanujan’s “Lost thing out, and we have no idea where that letter is
Notebook”, and you have spent decades studying it. or if it still exists.
What is the mathematical personality that emerges
from those pages?
Andrews: That’s an interesting question, be-
cause certainly the “Lost Notebook” is a perplexing
collection. It was written during the last year of
Ramanujan’s life, when he was dying, and it was
probably his personal notes—not at all something
that he thought of publishing. Consequently,
there are very few words, there are pages that are
just chaotic, there are pages with formula after

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 385

 Donald McClure Named AMS
Executive Director
Allyn Jackson

In January 2009, the AMS Coun- 1991 to 1993, McClure led the computerization of
Photograph by John Abramowski, Brown University.

cil approved the appointment of the data analysis, ushering in the use of statistical
Donald E. McClure of Brown software that greatly expanded the kinds of analy-
University as executive direc- sis that could be done with the survey data. Also
tor of the Society. He succeeds in the early 1990s, he served on the Task Force for
John H. Ewing, who has held Employment, and he designed a targeted survey
the post for the past thirteen to examine the difficulties young mathematicians
years and who is now presi- were having in finding jobs. The recommendations
dent of Math for America, a of the task force influenced many universities
program that aims to attract to expand the number of postdoctoral positions
mathematically talented young available to young mathematicians. These posi-
people to teach in the nation’s tions not only eased the immediate employment
schools. problem, but, after the job outlook improved, they
McClure’s background and helped provide more secure career paths for young
Donald McClure
experience make him an ideal people. McClure also served on the Committee on
candidate for the executive di- the Profession from the time that committee was
rector position. He has a deep commitment to ser- started in 1993 until 2002 and served two years as
vice on behalf of the mathematics community—a chair. He was also a member of the Task Force on
commitment that has led to him play a variety of Excellence, which produced the 1999 AMS report
roles in Society leadership, from hands-on tasks for Towards Excellence.
the Data Committee and the Board of Trustees, to McClure was elected to the AMS Board of Trust-
high-level work on policy committees. He has an ees in 1995 and served on the board until 2000.
impressive research background as well as experi- His service included stints as chair of the board
ence in academic administration, including helping and as liaison to the AMS Publications Division.
to run a distributed mathematics institute for more From 2003 until his appointment as executive
than a decade. He also has developed considerable director, McClure was AMS associate treasurer.
business savvy, having founded and run a consult- Through serving on the board and in the treasurer
ing business with a colleague at Brown University. position, he has come to understand many of the
On top of all this, he is geographically a good practical aspects of running the AMS and has a
fit, for the AMS headquarters office is located in sense of the scope of its programs and publishing
Brown’s home city of Providence, RI. As McClure business. One of his main goals is to keep the busi-
put it, “Here’s a tremendous professional opportu- ness side running strong. “The AMS has for years
nity within walking distance of my house.” been a very successful publishing business, and I
The main emphasis of McClure’s AMS service want to assure that it stays that way,” he said. In
over the years has been on professional issues. particular, he noted, it is important to continue
During the 1980s and early 1990s, he served as an investment in the Society’s most important prod-
AMS representative on the Data Committee, a joint uct, MathSciNet. “I want to continue to find ways
committee of several mathematics organizations to make MathSciNet the very best database it can
that each year produces the Annual Survey of Math- be to serve the community,” he said. The book
ematical Sciences. As chair of this committee from program, which has expanded in the last several
years, could be vulnerable to the recent economic
Allyn Jackson is senior writer and deputy editor of the downturn, he noted, and so the AMS might face
Notices. Her email address is [email protected]. challenges in this area.

386 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 One immediate challenge McClure sees on the design of statistical methods for large-scale clini-
horizon for the mathematical community stems cal trials. The company later expanded its work
from the pressure the current economic climate is to algorithm development for vision software
putting on college and university budgets, which in for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In
turn affects the mathematics job market. “We are 1993 the company received a grant through the
going to see a difficult time for new Ph.D.’s again,” Advanced Technology Program of the National
he said. “We don’t have data yet to back this up, Institute of Standards and Technology and moved
but the forces that affected the condition of the into automation of methods to remove damage
market in the early 1990s are all being applied in and restore digital film and video. This is the main
the same direction that they were then—reduc- focus today of the company, which has about
tion of tax revenues for states and great pressure twenty employees and offices in Providence and
to reduce state budgets. I think this is going to Hollywood. “[Geman and I] still get involved in
have an impact on higher education, and colleges thinking about how to formulate the problems
and universities are figuring out ways to cut their and design algorithms for them, but we don’t sit
budgets.” Drawing on its experience with the job down and write the code!”, McClure remarked.
market difficulties of the 1990s, the AMS can con- “We have a great group of software developers”
sider various ways to help ease the situation, such who understand both the mathematical and the
as doing a targeted survey of new doctorates and programming sides.
facilitating the advertising of positions that open With his research accomplishments, experience
up late in the hiring season. in both business and academic administration, and
McClure received his bachelor’s degree in 1966 extensive knowledge of issues facing the math-
from the University of California, Berkeley, and his ematics profession, McClure brings a wealth of as-
Ph.D. in applied mathematics in 1970 from Brown sets to the executive director position. “I am really
University, where his advisor was Ulf Grenander. excited about the new position,” he remarked. “My
McClure has spent his entire career at Brown, responsibilities and efforts will be guided by the
starting as an instructor in 1969 and rising to the Society’s mission to further mathematics research
rank of professor in 1982. He has advised fifteen and scholarship. The AMS has a very positive im-
Ph.D. students. McClure’s research concerns the pact on mathematics worldwide. I look forward to
formulation of probabilistic models for images and working with the staff and leadership to continue
the design of algorithms based on those models and expand the AMS contributions.”
and classical statistical principles. The research is
motivated by the areas of image processing and
computer vision, ill-posed inverse problems, and
analysis of image sequences such as those occur-
ring in film or progressive video. In early work in
nonlinear approximation theory, he developed
characterizations and very sharp asymptotic re-
sults for convergence of optimal approximations
by variable knot splines. In the area of ill-posed University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
inverse problems, McClure and his Brown colleague
Stuart Geman were the first to propose and ana- Tenure-track Assistant Professor position in mathematics
lyze Bayesian methods for computed tomography. beginning Fall 2009. Qualifications: Ph.D. in mathematics or in
There is now a vast literature in this area. mathematics education with a master degree in pure or applied
In 1986 McClure was part of a group that ap- mathematics, a record of research in biomathematics or in
plied for and received a major grant through the curriculum development and evaluation. Evidence of excellence in
teaching, and, if available, in developing courses, and supervising
University Research Initiative of the Department
undergraduate research projects. Duties: 12 credit/semester
of Defense to launch a distributed mathematics teaching load in Spanish of undergraduate math courses (release
institute, the Center for Intelligent Control Sys- time for research will be offered); student advisement, curriculum
tems. The center ran for fifteen years and involved development and committee work.
twenty-five to thirty faculty members at Brown, To apply send essays stating, teaching philosophy and research
Harvard University, and the Massachussetts In- interests and accomplishments (aprox. 1000 words each).
stitute of Technology, as well as many graduate Curriculum vitae, transcripts, teaching evaluations and three
confidential reference letters. Send to Dr. Edwin Morera,
students and postdoctoral researchers. As associ-
Department of Mathematics, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey,
ate director of the center, McClure ran the center’s 205 Barcelo Ave., Cayey, PR 00736. Dead line April/15/2009.
node at Brown, which was concerned primarily More information is available at http://www.cayey.upr.edu and
with computational vision and control theory. The 787-738-2161 ext. 2029.
center received three grants from the DoD and was
phased out when the last one ended in 2001. The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey is an
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer
In 1981, together with Geman, McClure founded
a consulting company, which initially focused on

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 387

 2008 Annual Survey
of the Mathematical Sciences
(First Report, Part II)

Report on the 2008–2009 Faculty Salaries

Polly Phipps, James W. Maxwell, and Colleen A. Rose

This report of the 2008 Annual Survey provides information Faculty Salary Survey
on the distribution of 2008-2009 academic-year salaries for
The charts on the following pages describe the
tenured and tenure-track faculty at four-year mathematical
distribution of academic-year salaries for tenured
sciences departments in the U.S. The information is gathered
and tenure-track faculty in each of the departmental
from departments using a questionnaire initially distributed
groupings used in the Annual Survey. Salaries
in June of 2008. This year's salary report includes, for the
are described separately by rank, and for the
second time, separate reporting on the salaries of newly
second time, salaries for newly appointed (tenure-
appointed tenure-track assistant professors. This report
track) assistant professors are profiled separately.
has traditionally appeared as part of the First Report of the
Salaries are reported in current dollars (at time of
Annual Survey, published in recent years in the February
data collection). Results reported here are based
issue of Notices of the American Mathematical Society.
on the departments which responded to the survey
The Annual Survey series begun in 1957 by the American
with no adjustment for non-response.
Mathematical Society is currently under the direction of
Table 1 provides the departmental response
the Data Committee, a joint committee of the American
rates for the 2008 Faculty Salary Survey.
Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association,
Departments were asked to report for each rank the
the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the Mathematical
number of tenured and tenure-track faculty whose
Association of America, and the Society of Industrial and
Applied Mathematics. The current members of this committee
are Richard Cleary, Richard M. Dudley, John W. Hagood, Abbe Table 1: Faculty Salary Response Rates
H. Herzig, Ellen Kirkman, David J. Lutzer, Joanna Mitro, James
W. Maxwell (ex officio), Bart Ng, Polly Phipps (chair), Douglas Department Number Percent
Ravenel, Jianguo (Tony) Sun, and Marie Vitulli. The committee Group I (Public) 21 of 25 84
is assisted by AMS survey analyst Colleen A. Rose. Comments
Group I (Private) 15 of 23 65
or suggestions regarding this Survey Report may be directed
to the committee. Group II 45 of 56 80
Group III 60 of 73 82
Group IV (Statistics) 37 of 57 65
Group IV (Biostatistics) 15 of 31 48
Group Va 10 of 17* 59
Group M 93 of 190 49
Group B 308 of 1031 30
Polly Phipps is a senior research statistician with the Bureau of Labor * The population for Group Va is slightly less than for the Doctorates
Statistics. James W. Maxwell is AMS associate executive director for special Granted Survey, because two programs do not formally "house" faculty
projects. Colleen A. Rose is AMS survey analyst. and their salaries.

388 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 2008
2008 Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences in Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences in the U.S.
the U.S.

Group I (Public) Faculty Salaries

Doctoral degree-granting departments of mathematics
21 responses out of 25 departments (84%)
2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean
70 New-Hire Asst Prof 35 72,900 76,800 81,700 76,489 77,108
65 Assistant Professor* 156 71,200 75,100 78,700 74,564 73,711
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

Associate Professor 175 77,000 84,200 91,500 85,032 81,073

60 Full Professor 661 103,100 120,100 145,800 116,525 119,029
55
New-Hires Asst
50
Assistant
45
Associate
40
Full
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
110–120

120–130
30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

>190
100–110

130–140

140–150

150–160

160–170

170–180

180–190
2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

Group I (Private) Faculty Salaries

Doctoral degree-granting departments of mathematics
15 responses out of 23 departments (65%)
2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean
70
New-Hire Asst Prof 15 62,000 64,000 82,000 68,133 69,574
65 Assistant Professor* 49 62,600 77,100 71,637 69,432 71,637
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

Associate Professor 45 76,800 83,600 92,800 84,759 86,942

60 Full Professor 204 107,300 126,000 146,000 128,738 130,006
55
50
New-Hires Asst
45
Assistant
40
Associate
35
Full
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
110–120

120–130
30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

>190
100–110

130–140

140–150

150–160

160–170

170–180

180–190

2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

*Includes new hires and is comparable to previous years' figures.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 389

 2008 Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences in the U.S.

Group II Faculty Salaries

Doctoral degree-granting departments of mathematics
45 responses out of 56 departments (80%)
2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean
70 New-Hire Asst Prof 61 67,300 71,400 74,100 71,276 64,735
65 Assistant Professor* 267 64,200 69,100 73,400 68,707 65,337
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

Associate Professor 385 67,600 73,400 82,000 75,365 71,379

60 Full Professor 930 86,400 100,400 119,100 104,689 101,140

55
New-Hires Asst
50
Assistant
45
Associate
40
Full
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
110–120

120–130
30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

>190
100–110

130–140

140–150

150–160

160–170

170–180

180–190
2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

Group III Faculty Salaries

Doctoral degree-granting departments of mathematics
60 responses out of 73 departments (82%)
2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean
70 New-Hire Asst Prof 83 57,000 61,100 67,900 62,158 59,867
Assistant Professor* 309 56,700 60,100 65,700 62,018 61,633
65
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

Associate Professor 380 62,200 68,100 78,000 72,346 68,556

60 Full Professor 641 78,900 90,500 107,300 95,680 90,390

55
New-Hires Asst
50
Assistant
45
Associate
40
Full
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
110–120

120–130
30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

>190
100–110

130–140

140–150

150–160

160–170

170–180

180–190

2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

*Includes new hires and is comparable to previous years' figures.

390 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 2008 Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences in the U.S.

Group IV Statistics Faculty Salaries

Doctoral degree-granting departments of statistics
37 responses out of 57 departments (65%)
2008–09 2007–08
70 Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean

65 New-Hire Asst Prof 30 71,100 75,800 79,500 75,300 79,381

Assistant Professor* 144 71,000 74,600 79,300 75,665 74,824
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

60 Associate Professor 105 76,400 83,400 90,300 84,960 80,714

Full Professor 258 101,500 124,100 149,600 128,249 125,450
55
New-Hires Asst
50
Assistant
45
Associate
40
Full
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
110–120

120–130
30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

>190
100–110

130–140

140–150

150–160

160–170

170–180

180–190
2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

Group IV Biostatistics Faculty Salaries

Doctoral degree-granting departments of biostatistics
15 responses out of 31 departments (48%)
2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean
70
New-Hire Asst Prof 8 68,100 81,300 87,500 77,813 73,000
65 Assistant Professor* 65 73,700 83,300 91,700 83,138 78,647
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

Associate Professor 59 92,500 106,400 122,500 109,194 101,252

60 Full Professor 84 126,300 147,100 172,800 157,012 149,761
55
New-Hires Asst
50
Assistant
45
Associate
40
Full
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
110–120

120–130
30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

>190
100–110

130–140

140–150

150–160

160–170

170–180

180–190

2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

*Includes new hires and is comparable to previous years' figures.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 391

 2008 Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences in the U.S.

Group Va Faculty Salaries

Doctoral degree-granting departments of applied mathematics
10 responses out of 17 departments (59%)
2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean

75 New-Hire Asst Prof 7 56,700 71,700 76,700 65,143 68,800

Assistant Professor* 38 57,500 69,900 74,000 65,895 67,395
70 Associate Professor 27 71,700 78,300 92,500 80,751 73,476
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

65 Full Professor 89 93,900 117,100 153,000 131,769 109,011

60
New-Hires Asst
55
Assistant
50
Associate
45
Full
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
110–120

120–130
30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

90–100

>190
100–110

130–140

140–150

150–160

160–170

170–180

180–190
2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)
*Includes new hires and is comparable to previous years' figures.

2008–09 academic-year salaries fell within given Acknowledgments

salary intervals (the survey form is available at The Annual Survey attempts to provide an accurate
www.ams.org/employment/surveyforms.html). appraisal and analysis of various aspects of the
Reporting salary data in this fashion eliminates academic mathematical sciences scene for the use
some of the concerns about confidentiality but
and benefit of the community and for filling the
does not permit determination of actual quartiles.
information needs of the professional organizations.
Although the actual quartiles cannot be determined
Every year, college and university departments
from the data gathered, these quartiles have been
estimated assuming that the density over each in the United States are invited to respond. The
interval is uniform. Annual Survey relies heavily on the conscientious
When comparing current and prior year figures, efforts of the dedicated staff members of these
one should keep in mind that differences in the set departments for the quality of its information.
of responding departments may be a significant On behalf of the Annual Survey Data Committee
factor in the change in the reported mean salaries. and the Annual Survey Staff, we thank the many
secretarial and administrative staff members in
Previous Annual Survey Reports the mathematical sciences departments for their
The 2007 First, Second, and Third Annual Survey cooperation and assistance in responding to the
Reports were published in the Notices of the AMS survey questionnaires.
in the February, August, and November 2008 issues
respectively. These reports and earlier reports, as Other Data Sources
well as a wealth of other information from these American Association of University Professors, The Annual
surveys, are available on the AMS website at www. Report on the Economic Status of the Profession 2007–08,
ams.org/employment/surveyreports.html.
Academe: Bull. AAUP (March–April 2008), Washington,
DC.
American Statistical Association, Business, Industry,
and Government 2007 Salary Survey. [http://www.

392 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 2008 Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences in the U.S.

Group M Faculty Salaries

Master's degree-granting departments of mathematics
93 responses out of 190 departments (49%)
2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean
55 New-Hire Asst Prof 94 55,400 55,100 60,800 55,920 54,235
Assistant Professor* 532 51,400 56,200 63,100 57,541 56,682
Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

50 Associate Professor 582 59,300 66,600 75,100 68,011 66,069

Full Professor 691 74,900 86,500 97,900 86,923 84,157
45

40
New-Hires Asst
35
Assistant
30 Associate
25 Full

20

15

10

115–120
<30

30–35

35–40

40–45

45–50

50–55

55–60

60–65

65–70

70–75

75–80

80–85

85–90

90–95

95–100

120–125

125–130

>140
100–105

105–110

110–115

130–135

135–140
2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

Group B Faculty Salaries

Bachelor's degree-granting departments of mathematics
308 responses out of 1031 departments (30%)
55 2008–09 2007–08
Rank No. Reported Q1 Median Q3 Mean Mean

50 New-Hire Asst Prof 175 47,100 52,600 62,000 57,140 50,260

Percent of Total Faculty within Rank

Assistant Professor* 889 48,100 53,800 63,100 58,092 51,883

45 Associate Professor 889 56,500 63,700 74,600 65,997 63,193
Full Professor 900 68,900 80,200 97,900 84,563 81,153
40
New-Hires Asst
35
Assistant
30
Associate
25 Full

20

15

10

0
115–120

125–130
<30

30–35

35–40

40–45

45–50

50–55

55–60

60–65

65–70

70–75

75–80

80–85

85–90

90–95

95–100

120–125

>140
100–105

105–110

110–115

130–135

135–140

2008–09 Academic-Year Salaries (in thousands of dollars)

*Includes new hires and is comparable to previous years' figures.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 393

2008 Annual Survey of the Mathematical Sciences in the U.S.

amstat.org/profession/SPAIGsalarysurvey07.pdf]
(Published in AmstatNews, July 2007, Issue #361.) Definitions of the Groups
——— , 2008–2009 Salary Report of Academic Statisticians. As has been the case for a number of years, much of the data in these
[http://www.amstat.org/profession/ reports is presented for departments divided into groups according
salaryreport_acad2008-9.pdf] (Published in to several characteristics, the principal one being the highest degree
AmstatNews, December 2008, Issue #378.) offered in the mathematical sciences. Doctoral-granting departments
Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology, of mathematics are further subdivided according to their ranking
Salaries of Scientists, Engineers, and Technicians: of “scholarly quality of program faculty” as reported in the 1995
A Summary of Salary Surveys, 22nd ed., CPST, publication Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States:
Washington, DC, 2007.
Continuity and Change.1 These rankings update those reported in a
——— , Professional Women and Minorities, 17th ed., CPST, previous study published in 1982.2 Consequently, the departments
Washington, DC, 2008. which now compose Groups I, II, and III differ significantly from those
National Research Council, Strengthening the Linkages used prior to the 1996 survey.
between the Sciences and the Mathematical Sciences, The subdivision of the Group I institutions into Group I Public
National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 2000. and Group I Private was new for the 1996 survey. With the increase
——— , U.S. Research Institutes in the Mathematical Sciences: in number of the Group I departments from 39 to 48, the Annual
Assessment and Perspectives, National Academy Press, Survey Data Committee judged that a further subdivision of public
Washington, DC, 1999. and private would provide more meaningful reporting of the data
National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indica- for these departments.
tors—2008. Two volumes. (volume 1, NSB 08–01; Brief descriptions of the groupings are as follows:
volume 2, NSB 08–01A), National Science Foundation,
Group I is composed of 48 departments with scores in the 3.00–5.00
Arlington, VA, 2008.
range. Group I Public and Group I Private are Group I departments
at public institutions and private institutions respectively.
Group II is composed of 56 departments with scores in the 2.00–2.99
range.
Group III contains the remaining U.S. departments reporting a doctoral
program, including a number of departments not included in the
1995 ranking of program faculty.
Group IV contains U.S. departments (or programs) of statistics,
biostatistics, and biometrics reporting a doctoral program.
Group Va is applied mathematics/applied science; Group Vb, which
was no longer surveyed as of 1998–99, was operations research
and management science.
Group M contains U.S. departments granting a master’s degree as
the highest graduate degree.
Group B contains U.S. departments granting a baccalaureate degree
only.
Listings of the actual departments which compose these groups are
available on the AMS website at www.ams.org/employment/
groups_des.html.
1Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and
Change, edited by Marvin L. Goldberger, Brendan A. Maher, and Pamela
Ebert Flattau, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1995.
2These findings were published in An Assessment of Research-
Doctorate Programs in the United States: Mathematical and Physical
Sciences, edited by Lyle V. Jones, Gardner Lindzey, and Porter E.
Coggeshall, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1982. The
information on mathematics, statistics, and computer science was
presented in digest form in the April 1983 issue of the Notices of the
AMS, pages 257–67, and an analysis of the classifications was given
in the June 1983 Notices of the AMS, pages 392–3.

394 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Mathematics People
Barlow Receives 2009 CRM- Wilking and Zirnbauer
Fields-PIMS Prize Awarded Leibniz Prizes
Martin Barlow of the University of British Columbia Two mathematicians are among eleven recipients of the
has been awarded the 2009 CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize. The 2009 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizes awarded by the
prize, awarded annually by the Centre de Recherches Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Re-
Mathématiques (CRM), the Fields Institute, and the Pacific search Foundation). Burkhard Wilking of the University
Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS), recognizes of Münster was awarded the prize in differential geometry.
exceptional contributions by a mathematician working in Martin R. Zirnbauer of the University of Cologne was
awarded the prize in mathematical physics.
Canada. The prize carries a cash award of CA$10,000 (ap-
Wilking is a leader in the field of differential geom-
proximately US$8,000) and an invitation to give a lecture
etry. According to the prize citation, “his work has had
at each institute.
a decisive influence, in particular on what is known as
According to the prize citation, Barlow “is a leading ‘Riemannian geometry’.” He has achieved “spectacular
figure in probability and the leading international expert breakthroughs” both in the classification of Riemannian
in diffusion on fractals and other disordered media”. He manifolds of positive sectional curvature and in the
has made important contributions in the fields of partial convergence of the Ricci flow. He “takes a very original
differential equations (including major progress on the approach to algebraic methods using geometric intuition,
De Giorgi conjecture), stochastic differential equations, which enables him to achieve a deep understanding of the
the mathematical finance of electricity pricing, filtration geometric properties of manifolds.”
enlargement, and branching measure diffusions. Zirnbauer is “one of the world’s leading mathemati-
Barlow received his undergraduate degree from Cam- cal physicists”. His research interests focus primarily
bridge University in 1975 and his Ph.D. from University on condensed matter and in particular on mesoscopic
College of Swansea, Wales, in 1978. He held a Royal Society electronic systems, which exhibit chaos due to disorder
University Research Fellowship at Cambridge University or a lack of geometric symmetry. He has done research
from 1985 to 1992, when he joined the mathematics de- on color-flavor transformation and on the generalization
partment at the University of British Columbia. He has held of the three Wigner-Dyson universality classes of random
matrices for the “tenfold way”. He is adept at translating
a number of visiting professorships at leading universi-
physics questions into modern mathematical language,
ties, including the University of Tokyo; Cornell University;
thus stimulating successful cooperation between math-
Imperial College, London; and the Université de Paris. In
ematics and physics.
2008 he received the Jeffery-Williams Prize of the Cana-
As part of the Leibniz Prize, Wilking and Zirnbauer have
dian Mathematical Society. He has also been the recipient each received a cash award of 2.5 million euros (approxi-
of the Rollo Davidson Prize and the Junior Whitehead Prize mately US$3.6 million), which they may use as they like for
of the London Mathematical Society. He is a fellow of the their own research over a period of up to seven years.
Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the Royal Society of
Canada, and the Royal Society of London. —From a Leibniz Prize announcement
The CRM and the Fields Institute established the CRM-
Fields Prize in 1994 to recognize exceptional research
in the mathematical sciences. In 2005, PIMS became an Prizes of the Mathematical
equal partner, and the name was changed to the CRM-
Fields-PIMS Prize. Previous recipients of the prize are Society of Japan
H. S. M. (Donald) Coxeter, George A. Elliott, James Arthur, The Mathematical Society of Japan (MSJ) awarded several
Robert V. Moody, Stephen A. Cook, Israel Michael Sigal, prizes in autumn 2008.
William T. Tutte, John B. Friedlander, John McKay, Edwin Masanao Ozawa of Nagoya University has been
Perkins, Donald A. Dawson, David Boyd, Nicole Tomczak- awarded the Autumn Prize for his contributions to the
Jaegermann, Joel S. Feldman, and Allan Borodin. mathematical foundations of quantum information. He
showed that Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle is not
—From a Fields Institute announcement physically correct, and he proposed and proved the

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 395

Mathematics People

inequality that replaces the principle. He has quantitatively were endorsed by 207 different colleges and universities
generalized the Wigner-Araki-Yanase theorem and shown in a nationwide competition. The names and brief biogra-
severe theoretical restrictions for the construction of phies of the mathematics scholars follow.
quantum computers, has succeeded in characterizing all Joshua A. Lospinoso of Sparta, New Jersey, is a senior
physically possible observables as a measure with the val- at the United States Military Academy with a double major
ues in the completely positive operators, and finally solved in economics and operations research. He has done pio-
Hilbert’s sixth problem. The Autumn Prize is awarded to neering theoretical and applied research on social network
an individual who has made outstanding contributions analysis, has done top-secret-level signals intelligence
within the preceding five years to mathematics in the work at the National Security Agency, and has many publi-
highest and broadest sense. cations in network analysis. He is a Regimental Operations
The Analysis Prizes have been awarded to Ken-iti Officer at West Point and has competed three years in the
Sato of Nagoya University, Hideo Tamura of Okayama Sandhurst competition. Joshua plans to study for an M.Sc.
University, and Nakao Hayahi of Osaka University in in applied statistics at Oxford.
recognition of their outstanding contributions to analysis. Anna Yermakova of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, is a senior
Sato was honored for his contributions to developments at Northwestern University, where she majors in biochem-
in the theory of Levy processes and in particular for his istry, piano, and history and philosophy of science and
work on stochastic integrals with respect to Levy processes logic. Anna immigrated to the United States from Russia
and infinitely divisible distributions. Tamura was selected when she was eleven years old. Since then she has won
for his contributions to the asymptotic analysis of the national awards for piano and French, has done research
spectrum arising from quantum physics and in particular in chemical engineering and nanotechnology at the Uni-
for his results on the Aharanov-Bohm effect in scattering versity of Washington and in neuroscience and biomedi-
theory and the sharp error estimate to the Trotter-Kato cal engineering at Northwestern, and has composed and
product formula. Hayahi was recognized for his work on choreographed works in ballroom dance and flamenco.
various nonlinear dispersive equations and in particular She will study for a doctorate in mathematical biology
for his construction of modified wave operators for gen- at Oxford.
eral equations of KdV type and construction of modified Rhodes Scholarships provide two or three years of
scattering operators for nonlinear Schrödinger equations study at the University of Oxford in England. The value of
and nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations. the Rhodes Scholarship varies depending on the academic
field and the degree (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral) and
—From a Mathematical Society of Japan announcement Oxford college chosen. The Rhodes Trust pays all college
and university fees and provides a stipend to cover stu-

Naor Receives Packard dents’ necessary expenses while they are in residence in
Oxford, as well as during vacations, and transportation to
Fellowship and from England. The total value averages approximately
US$50,000 per year.
Assaf Naor, a mathematician at New York University, has
been awarded a Fellowship for Science and Engineering —From a Rhodes Scholarship Trust announcement
from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for the year
2008. He works in analysis and geometry, investigating
“the extent to which abstract geometries with an intrin-
sic notion of distance (metric spaces) can be faithfully
Siemens Competition Prizes
represented as points in a better understood geometry, Announced
such as Euclidean space”. His work concentrates on the
development of a structure theory for metric spaces and Several students whose work involves the mathematical
the applications of geometry and analysis to the theory sciences have won prizes in the Siemens Competition in
of computing. Math, Science, and Technology.
The Packard Fellowships are awarded to researchers Eric K. Larson of South Eugene High School, Eugene,
in mathematics, natural sciences, computer science, and Oregon, received a US$50,000 scholarship for his project,
engineering who are in the first three years of a faculty “The Classification of Certain Fusion Categories”. Larson
appointment. is a senior who conducted mathematics research that
looked to classify certain types of fusion categories. Fu-
—From a Packard Foundation announcement sion categories are a recently discovered type of algebraic
structure with applications to various areas of theoreti-
cal physics, computer science, and mathematics, such as
Rhodes Scholarships Awarded string theory, quantum computation, and knot theory.
These extremely complex structures are a far-reaching
Two students in the mathematical sciences are among the generalization of groups, which are the algebraic structure
thirty-two American men and women chosen as Rhodes traditionally used in mathematics to model symmetries.
Scholars by the Rhodes Scholarship Trust. The Rhodes The main result of this project identifies and completely
Scholars were chosen from among 769 applicants who classifies a new class of fusion categories which, for the

396 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Mathematics People

of Engineering and Applied Science medal. He enjoys

independent software development and has developed a
“Word of the Day” widget that drew the attention of a no-
table online dictionary website. He is the front-page news
section editor of his school newspaper. Metsky enjoys
mentoring other students in math, running cross-country,
and playing cello in the school orchestra. He hopes to
conduct research in a computer science-related field after
completing his undergraduate education.
Raphael-Joel Lim of the Indiana Academy for Sci-
ence, Math, and Humanities in Muncie, Indiana, and
Mark Zhang of William P. Clements High School, Sugar
Land, Texas, received a US$20,000 scholarship for their
team project, “Previously Unknown Parts of the Greene-
Kleitman Partition for the Tamari Lattice”. Their research
Eric K. Larson (center) wins the US$50,000 scholarship answered a question about the thickness of a fundamen-
in the 2008 Siemens Competition. Photograph courtesy of tal mathematical structure, the Tamari lattice. The team
the Siemens Foundation.
met at the Texas Mathworks Honors Summer Math Camp,
first time, contains non-group-theoretic examples. He where they worked closely with Max Warshauer, founder
was mentored by Pavel Etingof of the Massachusetts In- and director of the camp. The team’s mentor was Edward
stitute of Technology and Victor Ostrik of the University Early of St. Edward’s University. Lim, a senior, likes read-
of Oregon. Larson is an avid piano player, a four-time ing novels, tackling tough math problems, and playing
winner of the Oregon Junior Bach Festival; he has been competitive video games. He spent last summer as a
invited to perform in master classes sponsored by the counselor at the Texas Mathworks Honors Summer Math
Eugene Symphony. He was awarded a silver medal at the Camp and works as a math tutor. Zhang, also a senior,
Forty-eighth International Mathematical Olympiad. He is was a Siemens Competition Regional Finalist in 2007. He
also involved in his high school’s math, chemistry, and is a member of both the Mu Alpha Theta Math Club and
programming clubs. the Junior Engineering Technical Society and regularly
Ashok Cutkosky, a senior at David Henry Hickman competes in a variety of math, science, and computer sci-
High School, Columbia, Missouri, was awarded a US$20,000 ence competitions. In addition, he also enjoys playing the
scholarship for his project, “Associated Primes of the piano, reading and writing fantasy novels, programming
Square of the Alexander Dual of Hypergraphs”. Cutkosky’s games, sketching, playing DDR, and volunteering.
research uncovered new information about the intrinsic Erika DeBenedictis of the Albuquerque Academy,
structure of hypergraphs; these results have potential Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Duanni (Tony) Huang of
applications in such problems as sharing of resources. La Cueva High School, Albuquerque, received a US$40,000
He took an algebraic approach to study hypergraphs and scholarship for their team project, “Optimizing the Direct
worked to restate geometric properties of multivariable Simulation Monte Carlo Algorithm for Multi-core Proces-
polynomials. He was mentored by Christopher Francisco sors”. The goal of the team’s project was to create a physi-
of Oklahoma State University. Cutkosky is the captain of cally realistic direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) model
his school’s math team and a member of the Mu Alpha and optimize its performance on multicore processors,
Theta Math Honor Society. He placed first and second making intricate simulation available on desktop comput-
at the Great Plains Math League State Competition and ers versus a “supercomputer” that may cost tens of mil-
received a silver medal at the USA Mathematical Talent lions of dollars. The research could open doors to simpler
Search in 2007. methods of simulation of physical systems; such systems
Hayden C. Metsky, a senior at Millburn High School, include the weather, reentry of space vehicles (which this
Millburn, New Jersey, received a US$10,000 scholarship project studied), auto collisions, and even modeling of
for his project, “Improving Statistical Machine Translation complex biological processes such as molecular docking.
Through Template-based Phrase-table Extensions”. His DeBenedictis, a junior, enjoys physics and independent
research proposed a novel method to improve the quality research projects. She competes in her school science fair
of machine translation from one language to another. His and on the New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge as part
approach addressed a critical problem in machine transla- of a team each year. She sings with the Girls Ensemble
tion, that of producing good results for phrases that the and her school’s audition choir and plays piano. Huang,
system has not seen before, which will yield performance a senior, has participated in many science competitions
improvements to automatic translators through virtual through the years and has won honors at the Science
extension of a given sample. He was mentored by Nizar Olympiads, Science Bowl/Quiz Bowls, and MATHCOUNTS,
Habash of Columbia University and Paul Citrin, a science for which he is an assistant coach. He is a member of the
teacher and advisor in Millburn High School’s Science Re- National Honor Society and is actively involved in a men-
search Program. Metsky has been named the New Jersey torship at the Center for High Tech Materials.
Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology Scholar
and has won the George Washington University School —From a Siemens Competition announcement

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 397

Mathematics Opportunities

Mathematics Research Inverse Problems, June 20–26, 2009, Guillaume Bal

(Columbia University), Allan Greenleaf (University of
Communities 2009 Rochester), Todd Quinto (Tufts University), and Gunther
Uhlmann (University of Washington, chair).
The American Mathematical Society (AMS) invites math- Modern Markov Chains and Their Statistical Applica-
ematicians just beginning their research careers to tions, June 27–July 3, 2009, Persi Diaconis (Stanford
become part of Math- University, chair), Jim Hobert (University of Florida), and
ematics Research Com- Susan Holmes (Stanford University).
munities (MRC), a new Harmonic Analysis, June 27–July 3, 2009, Ciprian De-
program to develop and
meter (Indiana University), Michael Lacey (Georgia Insti-
sustain long-lasting co-
tute of Technology), and Christoph Thiele (University of
horts for collaborative re-
California, Los Angeles, chair).
search projects in many
areas of mathematics. Situated in a beautiful mountain setting, Snowbird Re-
Women and underrep- sort provides an extraordinary environment for the MRC.
resented minorities are The atmosphere is comparable to the collegial gatherings
especially encouraged at Oberwolfach and other conferences that combine peace-
to participate. The AMS ful natural ambience with stimulating meetings.
will provide a structured MRC participants have access to a range of activities,
program to engage and such as a tram ride to the top of the mountain, guided
guide all participants as hikes, swimming, mountain bike tours, rock climbing, plus
they start their careers. The program will include: a one- heated outdoor pools. More than a dozen walking and
week summer conference for each topic, special sessions hiking trails head deep into the surrounding mountains.
at the national meeting, discussion networks by research Participants also enjoy the simpler pleasures of convening
topic, ongoing mentoring, and a longitudinal study of early on the patios at the resort to read, work, and socialize.
career mathematicians. In the evenings colleagues enjoy informal gatherings
The summer conferences of the Mathematics Research to network and continue discussion of the day’s sessions
Communities will be held in the breathtaking mountain over refreshments. Within a half hour of the University
setting of the Snowbird Resort, Utah, where participants of Utah, Snowbird is easily accessible from the Salt Lake
can enjoy the natural beauty and a collegial atmosphere.
City International Airport. For more information about
The application deadline for summer 2009 is March 2,
Snowbird Resort, see http://www.snowbird.com.
2009. This program is supported by a grant from the
A report about the 2008 MRC conferences appeared in
National Science Foundation.
the February issue of the Notices, pages 224–225. For infor-
The topics, dates, and organizers of the 2009 confer- mation on applying for the 2009 program, please visit the
ences follow. website http://www.ams.org/amsmtgs/mrc-09.html.
Mathematical Challenges of Relativity, June 13–19, For further information about the MRC program, please
2009, Mihalis Dafermos (University of Cambridge), Alex- contact AMS Associate Executive Director Ellen Maycock
andru Ionescu (University of Wisconsin, Madison), Sergiu at [email protected].
Klainerman (Princeton University, chair), and Richard
Schoen (Stanford University). —AMS announcement

398 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Mathematics Opportunities
A MERICAN M ATHEMATICAL S OCIETY
NSF Collaboration in
Mathematical Geosciences New
The Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) within the Book
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS),
the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), and the Office of
Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation (NSF)
expect to make a number of awards in fiscal year 2009 that
will support the activities of groups of investigators work-
ing at the frontiers of mathematical geosciences. Proposals
should bring together scientists from both the mathemat-
ics and geosciences communities in a truly collaborative
effort. Proposals in three broad thematic areas are solicited
in this competition: mathematical and statistical modeling
of complex geosystems, understanding and quantifying
uncertainty in geosystems, and analyzing large/complex
geoscience data sets. The window for submission is Feb-
ruary 24–March 10, 2009. See http://www.nsf.gov/
pubs/2009/nsf09520/nsf09520.htm?govDel=USNSF_
25 for more information.

—From an NSF announcement

NSF Integrative Graduate

Education and Research
Training Structure and Randomness
The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Train-
ing (IGERT) program was initiated by the National Science pages from year one
Foundation (NSF) to meet the challenges of educating of a mathematical blog
Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the interdisciplinary
backgrounds and the technical, professional, and per- Terence Tao, University of California,
sonal skills needed for the career demands of the future. Los Angeles, CA
The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in
graduate education for students, faculty, and universities This collection of articles from Tao’s research
by establishing innovative models for graduate educa- blog captures the insight, the inquisitiveness and
tion in a fertile environment for collaborative research even the playfulness of a great mathematician at
that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. It the height of his influence. His contributions in
is also intended to facilitate greater diversity in student diverse areas of mathematics allow him to estab-
participation and to contribute to the development of a lish connections between seemingly disparate
diverse, globally aware science and engineering workforce. subjects. An informal approach to the writing
Supported projects must be based on a multidisciplinary focuses on general ideas rather than detailed
research theme and administered by a diverse group of techniques.
investigators from U.S. Ph.D.-granting institutions with ap-
2008; 298 pages; Softcover; ISBN: 978-0-8218-4695-7;
propriate research and teaching interests and expertise.
List US$35; AMS members US$28; Order code MBK/59
The preliminary proposal deadline for the 2009 IGERT
competition is March 13, 2009. The deadline for full pro-
posals is September 14, 2009. Further information may be
found at the website http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/ 1-800-321-4AMS (4267), in the U. S. and Canada, or 1-401-455-4000
nsf09519/nsf09519.htm?govDel=USNSF_25. (worldwide); fax:1-401-455-4046; email: [email protected].

—From an NSF announcement www.ams.org/bookstore

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 399

For Your Information
Program Director Positions at IPA provisions may be made for a period of up to two
years, with a possible extension for up to an additional
NSF two-year period. The individual remains an employee of
the home institution, and NSF provides funding toward
The Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) announces a the assignee’s salary and benefits. Initial IPA assignments
nationwide search for a number of program director posi- are made for a one-year period and may be extended by
tions at the National Science Foundation (NSF). mutual agreement.
NSF program directors bear the primary responsibility Temporary Excepted Service Appointment: Appoint-
for carrying out the NSF’s overall mission: to support in- ment to this position will be made under the Excepted
novative and merit-reviewed activities in basic research Authority of the NSF Act. Candidates who do not have civil
and education that contribute to the nation’s technical service status or reinstatement eligibility will not obtain
strength, security, and welfare. To discharge this respon- civil service status if selected. Candidates currently in the
sibility requires not only knowledge in the appropriate competitive service will be required to waive competitive
disciplines but also a commitment to high standards, a civil service rights if selected. Usual civil service benefits
considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new (retirement, health benefits, life insurance) are applicable
ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a for appointments of more than one year. Temporary ap-
high degree of personal integrity. pointments may not exceed three years.
Applicants should have a Ph.D. or equivalent training For additional information on NSF’s rotational pro-
in a field of the mathematical sciences, a broad knowledge grams, see “Programs for Scientists, Engineers and Educa-
of one of the relevant disciplinary areas of the DMS, some tors” on the NSF website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/
administrative experience, a knowledge of the general career_opps.
scientific community, skill in written communication and Applicants should send a letter of interest and vita
preparation of technical reports, an ability to communi- (preferably via email) to Deborah F. Lockhart, Executive Of-
cate orally, and several years of successful independent ficer, Division of Mathematical Sciences, National Science
research normally expected of the academic rank of as- Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1025, Arlington,
sociate professor or higher. Skills in multidisciplinary Virginia 22230; phone: 703-292-4858; fax: 703-292-9032;
research are highly desirable. email: [email protected].
Qualified individuals who are women, ethnic/racial mi- NSF is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to
norities, and/or persons with disabilities are strongly urged employing a highly qualified staff that reflects the diver-
to apply. No person shall be discriminated against on the sity of our nation. This announcement can also be found
basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.
disability in hiring by the National Science Foundation. jsp?ods_key=dms0601.
Program director positions recruited under this an-
nouncement may be filled under one of the following —DMS announcement
appointment options:
Visiting Scientist Appointment: Appointment to this
position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the
Everett Pitcher Lectures
NSF Act. Visiting scientists are on unpaid leave status from The next series of Everett Pitcher Lectures will be held
their home institutions and appointed to NSF’s payroll as March 16–18, 2009, on the campus of Lehigh University
federal employees. NSF withholds Social Security taxes in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The speaker will be Maria
and pays the home institution’s contributions to maintain Chudnovsky of Columbia University. The lectures, which
retirement and fringe benefits (i.e., health benefits and are open to the public, are held in honor of Everett Pitcher,
life insurance) either directly to the home institution or who was secretary of the AMS from 1967 until 1988.
to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for up to Pitcher served in the mathematics department at Lehigh
one year and may be extended for an additional year by University from 1938 until 1978, when he retired as Dis-
mutual agreement. tinguished Professor of Mathematics. He passed away
Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Assignment: in December 2006 at the age of ninety-four. For further
Individuals eligible for an IPA assignment with a federal information, contact the Everett Pitcher Lecture Series,
agency include employees of state and local government Department of Mathematics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem,
agencies or institutions of higher education, Indian tribal PA, 18015; telephone 610-758-3788; or see the website
governments, and other eligible organizations in instances http://www.lehigh.edu/~math/pitcher.html.
in which such assignments would be of mutual benefit
to the organizations involved. Initial assignments under —From a Lehigh University announcement

400 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Inside the AMS

Mathematics Awareness math and science are central to the development of both
traditional and alternative energy sources and to the
Month, April 2009: evolution of other strategies for mitigating the effects of
climate change.
“Mathematics and Climate” Mathematics departments can find a sample press re-
lease that can be adapted for public awareness activities on
The AMS, the American Statistical Association, the Math- the Mathematics Awareness Month website, http://www.
ematical Association of America, and the Society for mathaware.org.
Industrial and Applied Each year the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics spon-
Mathematics announce sors Mathematics Awareness Month to recognize the
that the theme for Math- importance of mathematics through written materials
ematics Awareness Month, and an accompanying poster that highlight mathematical
April 2009, is Mathematics developments and applications in one particular area.
and Climate. One of the
most important challenges —JPBM announcement from the
of our time is modeling AMS Public Awareness Office
global climate. Some of the
fundamental questions re-
searchers are currently ad-
dressing are:
Deaths of AMS Members
• How long will the sum- G. C. Byers, from Hancock, MI, died on January 19, 1996.
mer Arctic Sea ice pack sur- Born on June 18, 1918, he was a member of the Society for
vive? 45 years.
Charles Christenson, from Moscow, ID, died on Sep-
• Are hurricanes and
tember 20, 2008. Born on September 17, 1936, he was a
other severe weather events getting stronger?
member of the Society for 43 years.
• How much will sea level rise as ice sheets melt? H. Cornet, from The Hague, Netherlands, died in No-
• How do human activities affect climate change? vember 2008. Born on June 21, 1923, he was a member of
• How is global climate monitored? the Society for 35 years.
Michael Herschorn, from Westmount, Quebec, Can-
Calculus, differential equations, numerical analysis, ada, died on March 2, 2008. Born on April 21, 1933, he
probability, and statistics are just some of the areas of was a member of the Society for 52 years.
mathematics used to understand the oceans, atmosphere, Jack Ohm, from Pensacola Beach, FL, died on May 24,
polar ice caps, and the complex interactions among these 2008. Born on September 23, 1932, he was a member of
vast systems. Indeed, analyzing feedback effects is a cru- the Society for 51 years.
cial component of global climate modeling and often a Nicholas Reingold, from Somerville, MA, died on
significant factor in long-term predictions. For example, July 3, 2008. Born in July 1960, he was a member of the
warmer temperatures cause ice to melt, exposing more Society for 25 years.
land and water, so that more sunlight is absorbed instead John Robert Stallings, from Berkeley, CA, died on No-
of being reflected, in turn leading to more warming. vember 24, 2008. Born on July 22, 1935, he was a member
Mathematics, computer science, and other sciences of the Society for 36 years.
are inextricably linked, and each is required to begin to
solve the fundamental questions about Earth’s climate,
particularly those concerning global warming. Moreover,

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 401

 Reference and Book List

The Reference section of the Notices Upcoming Deadlines Mathematical Geosciences (CMG).
is intended to provide the reader February 24, 2009: Full proposals See “Mathematics Opportunities” in
with frequently sought information in for NSF Project ADVANCE Partner- this issue.
an easily accessible manner. New ships for Adaptation, Implemen- February 26, 2009: Preliminary
information is printed as it becomes tation, and Dissemination (PAID) proposals for NSF Partnerships for
available and is referenced after the awards. See http://www.nsf.gov/
International Research and Education
first printing. As soon as information pubs/2009/nsf09504/nsf09504.
htm?govDel=USNSF_25. (PIRE). See http://www.nsf.gov/
is updated or otherwise changed, it
will be noted in this section. February 24–March 10, 2009: pubs/2009/nsf09505/nsf09505.
Proposals for NSF Collaboration in htm?govDel=USNSF_25#awd_info.
Contacting the Notices
The preferred method for contacting Where to Find It
the Notices is electronic mail. The A brief index to information that appears in this and previous issues of the Notices.
editor is the person to whom to send AMS Bylaws—November 2007, p. 1366
articles and letters for consideration. AMS Email Addresses—February Where2009,
to Find It
p. 278
Articles include feature articles, me- A brief index to information that appears
AMS Ethical Guidelines—June/July 2006, p. 701 in this and previous issues of the Notices.
morial articles, communications, AMS Officers
Bylaws—November 2005, p. 1239
2006 and 2007 Updates—May 2008, p. 629
opinion pieces, and book reviews. Email Addresses—February 2006, p. 251
AMS Officers and Committee Members—October 2008, p. 1122
The editor is also the person to whom
AMS Ethical Guidelines—June/July
Conference Board of the Mathematical 2006, p. 701
Sciences—September 2008,
to send news of unusual interest p. 980
AMS Officers 2005 and 2006 (Council, Executive Committee,
about other people’s mathematics Publications Committees, Board of Trustees)—May
IMU Executive Committee—December 2008, p. 1441 2006, p. 604
research.
AMS Officersfor
Information and Committee
Notices Members—October
Authors—June/July 2008,2006,
p. 723p. 1076
The managing editor is the person
Mathematics Research Institutes Contact Information—August 2006,
Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences—September 2008,
to whom to send items for “Math- 911
p. 844
ematics People”, “Mathematics Op- Information for Notices Authors—June/July
National Science Board—January 2009, p. 672006, p. 696
portunities”, “For Your Information”,
Mathematics Research Institutes
New Journals for 2006, 2007—June/July Contact2008,Information—August
p. 725 2006,
“Reference and Book List”, and “Math- p. 798
ematics Calendar”. Requests for NRC Board on Mathematical Sciences and Their Applications—March
National
2009, Science Board—January 2006, p. 62
p. 404
permissions, as well as all other
New Journals
NRC Mathematical for 2004—June/July
Sciences Education2006,Board—April
p. 697 2008, p. 515
inquiries, go to the managing editor.
NRC Board on Mathematical Sciences
NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences Advisory and TheirCommittee—February
Applications—March
The electronic-mail addresses are 2006, p. 278 369
2009,
[email protected] in the case of
Program OfficersSciences
NRC Mathematical Education
for Federal Board—April
Funding 2006, p. 488 2008,
Agencies—October
the editor and [email protected] in
p.
NSF1116 (DoD, DoE);
Mathematical andDecember 2007, p.Advisory
Physical Sciences 1359 (NSF); December 2008,
Committee—February
the case of the managing editor. The p. 1440
2006, p. (NSF
255 Mathematics Education)
fax numbers are 405-325-7484 for Program Officers for NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences—
Federal Funding Agencies—October 2006,
the editor and 401-331-3842 for the November
p. 1072 (DoD, 2008, p. 1297
DoE); December 2006 p. 1365 (NSF)
managing editor. Postal addresses Stipends for Study and Travel—September 2008, 2006, p. 983
913
may be found in the masthead.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 403

Reference and Book List

February 27, 2009: Applications Mathematics, 11240 Waples Mill Road, August 15, 2009: Applications for
for 2009 Summer Program for Women Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030. National Academies Research Associ-
in Mathematics (SPWM2009). Contact May 15, 2009: Applications for ateship Programs. See http://www7.
the director, Murli M. Gupta, email: National Academies Research Associ- nationalacademies.org/rap/ or
[email protected]; telephone: 202-994- ateship Programs. See http://www7. contact Research Associateship Pro-
4857; or see the website http:// nationalacademies.org/rap/ or grams, National Research Council,
www.gwu.edu/~spwm/. contact Research Associateship Pro- Keck 568, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Wash-
February 27, 2009: Submis- grams, National Research Council, ington, DC 20001; telephone 202-
sions for Association for Women in Keck 568, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Wash- 334-2760; fax 202-334-2759; email:
Mathematics (AWM) essay contest. ington, DC 20001; telephone 202- [email protected].
See http://www.awm-math.org/ 334-2760; fax 202-334-2759; email: September 14, 2009: Full propos-
biographies/contest.html. [email protected]. als for NSF Integrative Graduate Edu-
February 27, 2009: Proposals for June 1, 2009: Applications for cation and Research Training (IGERT).
DMS New Institute Competition. See the September program of the Chris- See “Mathematics Opportunities” in
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/ tine Mirzayan Science and Technol- this issue.
pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5302. ogy Policy Graduate Fellowship Pro- October 1, 2009: Applications for
March 1, 2009: Applications for gram of the National Academies. See AWM Travel Grants. See http://
the June program of the Christine http://www7.nationalacademies. www.awm-math.org/travelgrants.
Mirzayan Science and Technology org/policyfellows; or contact The html; telephone: 703-934-0163; email:
Policy Graduate Fellowship Pro- National Academies Christine Mirza- [email protected]. The postal ad-
gram of the National Academies. See yan Science and Technology Policy dress is: Association for Women in
http://www7.nationalacademies. Graduate Fellowship Program, 500 Mathematics, 11240 Waples Mill
org/policyfellows; or contact The Fifth Street, NW, Room 508, Wash- Road, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030.
National Academies Christine Mirza- ington, DC 20001; telephone: 202- November 1, 2009: Applications
for the January program of the Chris-
yan Science and Technology Policy 334-2455; fax: 202-334-1667; email:
tine Mirzayan Science and Technol-
Graduate Fellowship Program, 500 [email protected].
ogy Policy Graduate Fellowship Pro-
Fifth Street, NW, Room 508, Wash- June 1, 2009: Applications for the
gram of the National Academies. See
ington, DC 20001; telephone: 202- Math for America Foundation (MfA)
http://www7.nationalacademies.
334-2455; fax: 202-334-1667; email: Fellowship Program in San Diego.
org/policyfellows; or contact The
[email protected]. See http://www.mathforamerica.
National Academies Christine Mirza-
March 2, 2009: Applications for org/.
yan Science and Technology Policy
EDGE Summer Program. See http:// June 2, 2009: Proposals for NSF’s
Graduate Fellowship Program, 500
www.edgeforwomen.org/?page_ Enhancing the Mathematical Sci-
Fifth Street, NW, Room 508, Wash-
id=5. ences Workforce in the Twenty-First
ington, DC 20001; telephone: 202-
March 31, 2009: Submissions for Century program. See http://www.
334-2455; fax: 202-334-1667; email:
Plus Magazine New Writers Award. See nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.
[email protected].
the website http://plus.maths. jsp?ods_key=nsf05595. November 12, 2009: Full proposals
org/competition/. June 30, 2009: Applications for for NSF Project ADVANCE Institutional
April 15, 2009: Applications for Fermat Prize for Mathematics Re- Transformation (IT) and Institutional
fall 2009 semester of Math in Mos- search. Contact Prix Fermat de Re- Transformation Catalyst (IT-Catalyst)
cow. See http://www.mccme.ru/ cherche en Mathématiques, Service awards. See http://www.nsf.gov/
mathinmoscow or write to: Math in Relations Publiques, Université Paul pubs/2009/nsf09504/nsf09504.
Moscow, P.O. Box 524, Wynnewood, PA Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, htm?govDel=USNSF_25.
19096; fax: +7095-291-65-01; email: France, or see the website http:// November 15, 2009: Applications
[email protected]. For information on www.math.ups-tlse.fr/Fermat/. for National Academies Research As-
AMS scholarships see http://www. August 4, 2009: Letters of intent sociateship Programs. See http://
ams.org/outreach/mimoscow.html for NSF Project ADVANCE Institutional www7.nationalacademies.org/
or write to: Math in Moscow Program, Transformation (IT) and Institutional rap/ or contact Research Associate-
Membership and Programs Depart- Transformation Catalyst (IT-Catalyst) ship Programs, National Research
ment, American Mathematical Soci- awards. See http://www.nsf.gov/ Council, Keck 568, 500 Fifth Street,
ety, 201 Charles Street, Providence RI pubs/2009/nsf09504/nsf09504. NW, Washington, DC 20001; tele-
02904-2294; email: student-serv@ htm?govDel=USNSF_25. phone 202-334-2760; fax 202-334-
ams.org. August 4, 2009: Full proposals 2759; email: [email protected].
May 8, 2009: Applications for (by invitation only) for NSF Partner-
AWM Travel Grants. See http:// ships for International Research and Board on Mathematical Sciences
www.awm-math.org/travelgrants. Education (PIRE). See http://www. and Their Applications,
html; telephone: 703-934-0163; email: nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09505/ National Research Council
[email protected]. The postal ad- nsf09505.htm?govDel=USNSF_ The Board on Mathematical Sciences
dress is: Association for Women in 25#awd_info. and Their Applications (BMSA) was

404 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Reference and Book List

established in November 1984 to nationalacademies.org/bms/ *Crossing the Equal Sign, by

lead activities in the mathematical BMSA_Members.html. Marion D. Cohen. Plain View Press,
sciences at the National Research January 2007. ISBN-13: 978-18913-
Council (NRC). The mission of BMSA Book List 866-95.
is to support and promote the qual- The Book List highlights books that Digital Dice, by Paul J. Nahin. Princ-
ity and health of the mathematical have mathematical themes and are eton University Press, March 2008.
sciences and their benefits to the aimed at a broad audience potentially ISBN-13: 978-06911-269-82.
nation. Following are the current including mathematicians, students, Dimensions, by Jos Leys, Etienne
BMSA members. and the general public. When a book Ghys, and Aurélien Alvarez. DVD, 117
has been reviewed in the Notices, a minutes. Available at http://www.
Massoud Amin, University of reference is given to the review. Gen- dimensions-math.org.
Minnesota erally the list will contain only books Discovering Patterns in Mathemat-
Tanya Styblo Beder, SB Consult- published within the last two years, ics and Poetry, by Marcia Birken and
ing Corporation though exceptions may be made in Anne C. Coon. Rodopi, February 2008.
Marsha Berger, New York Uni- cases where current events (e.g., the ISBN-13: 978-9-0420-2370-3.
versity death of a prominent mathematician, *The Drunkard’s Walk: How Ran-
Philip Bernstein, Microsoft Cor- coverage of a certain piece of math- domness Rules Our Lives, by Leonard
poration ematics in the news) warrant drawing Mlodinow. Pantheon, May 2008. ISBN-
Patricia Brennan, University of readers’ attention to older books. Sug- 13: 978-03754-240-45.
Wisconsin gestions for books to include on the list Einstein’s Mistakes: The Human Fail-
Emery N. Brown, Massachusetts may be sent to notices-booklist@ ings of Genius, by Hans C. Ohanian.
Institute of Technology, Harvard ams.org. W. W. Norton, September 2008. ISBN-
Medical School *Added to “Book List” since the 13: 978-0393062939.
Gerald G. Brown, Naval Postgradu- list’s last appearance. Emmy Noether: The Mother of
ate School Modern Algebra, by M. B. W. Tent.
An Abundance of Katherines, by A K Peters, October 2008. ISBN-13: 978-
Gunnar Carlsson, Stanford Uni-
15688-143-08.
versity John Green. Dutton Juvenile Books,
Euclidean and Non-Euclidean
Brenda Dietrich, IBM Thomas J. September 2006. ISBN-13:978-0-5254-
Geometries: Development and History,
Watson Research Center 7688-7. (Reviewed October 2008.)
fourth revised and expanded edition,
Debra Elkins, Allstate Insurance Amongst Mathematicians: Teach-
by Marvin Jay Greenberg. W. H. Free-
Company ing and Learning Mathematics at
man, September 2007. ISBN-13: 978-
Susan Friedlander, University of University Level, by Elena Nardi.
0-7167-9948-1.
Southern California Springer, November 2007. ISBN-13:
Euler’s Gem: The Polyhedron For-
John Geweke, University of Iowa 978-0-387-37141-2.
mula and the Birth of Topology, by
Darryll Hendricks, UBS Invest- The Annotated Turing: A Guided
David S. Richeson. Princeton Univer-
ment Bank Tour Through Alan Turing’s His-
sity Press, September 2008. ISBN-13:
Peter Wilcox Jones, Yale Univer- toric Paper on Computability and
97-80691-1267-77.
sity the Turing Machine, by Charles Pet- Fifty Mathematical Ideas You Really
Karen Kafadar, University of Colo- zold. Wiley, June 2008. ISBN-13: 978- Need to Know, by Tony Crilly. Quercus,
rado, Denver 04702-290-57. 2007. ISBN-13: 978-18472-400-88.
C. David Levermore, (Chair), Uni- The Archimedes Codex, by Reviel Fighting Terror Online: The Con-
versity of Maryland Netz and William Noel. Weidenfeld vergence of Security, Technology and
Charles M. Lucas, American Inter- and Nicolson, May 2007. ISBN-13: the Law, by Martin Charles Golum-
national Companies 978-0-29764-547-4. (Reviewed Sep- bic. Springer, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-387-
Donald Saari, University of Cali- tember 2008.) 73577-1.
fornia at Irvine *The Best of All Possible Worlds: Five-Minute Mathematics, by
J. B. Silvers, Case Western Reserve Mathematics and Destiny, by Ivar Ehrhard Behrends (translated by
University Ekeland. University Of Chicago Press, David Kramer). AMS, May 2008. ISBN-
George Sugihara, University of October 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-226- 13: 978-08218-434-82.
California, San Diego 19994-8. (Reviewed in this issue.) Fly Me to the Moon: An Insider’s
The Book of Numbers: The Secret Guide to the New Science of Space
The postal address for BMSA is: of Numbers and How They Changed Travel, by Edward Belbruno. Prince­
Board on Mathematical Sciences and the World, by Peter J. Bentley. Firefly ton University Press, January 2007.
Their Applications, National Acad- Books, February 2008. ISBN-13: 978- ISBN-13: 978-0-6911-2822-1. (Re-
emy of Sciences, Room K974, 500 15540-736-10. viewed April 2008.)
Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC The Cat in Numberland, by Ivar Geekspeak: How Life + Mathemat-
20001; telephone: 202-334-2421; Ekeland. Cricket Books, April 2006. ics = Happiness, by Graham Tattersall.
fax: 202-334-2422/2101; email: bms@ ISBN-13: 978-0-812-62744-2. (Re- Collins, September 2008. ISBN-13:
nas.edu; website: http://www7. viewed January 2009.) 978-00616-292-42.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 405

Reference and Book List

Geometric Folding Algorithms: The Last Theorem, by Arthur C. More Mathematical Astronomy
Linkages, Origami, Polyhedra, by Clarke and Frederik Pohl. Del Rey, Au- Morsels, by Jean Meeus. Willmann-
Erik D. Demaine and Joseph O’Rourke. gust 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0345470218. Bell, 2002. ISBN 0-943396743.
Cambridge University Press, July Logic’s Lost Genius: The Life of More Sex Is Safer Sex: The Uncon-
2007. ISBN-13: 978-05218-57574. Gerhard Gentzen, by Eckart Menzler- ventional Wisdom of Economics, by
*Geometric Origami, by Robert Trott, Craig Smorynski (translator), Steven E. Landsburg. Free Press, April
Geretschläger. Arbelos, October 2008. Edward R. Griffor (translator). AMS- 2007. ISBN-13: 978-1-416-53221-7.
ISBN-13: 978-09555-477-13. LMS, November 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0- (Reviewed June/July 2008.)
The Golden Section: Nature’s Great- 8218-3550-0. Number and Numbers, by Alain
est Secret (Wooden Books), by Scott Making Mathematics Work with Badiou. Polity, June 2008. ISBN-13:
Olsen. Walker and Company, October Needlework: Ten Papers and Ten 978-07456-387-82.
2006. ISBN-13: 978-08027-153-95. Projects, edited by Sarah-Marie Bel- Number Story: From Counting to
Group Theory in the Bedroom, and Cryptography, by Peter M. Higgins.
castro and Carolyn Yackel. A K Peters,
Other Mathematical Diversions, by Springer, February 2008. ISBN-13:
September 2007. ISBN-13: 978-1-5688-
Brian Hayes. Hill and Wang, April 2008. 978-1-8480-0000-1.
1331-8.
ISBN-13: 978-08090-521-96. (Reviewed *The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS:
The Map of My Life, by Goro
February 2009.) Solving Crime with Mathematics, by
Shimura. Springer, September 2008.
Guesstimation: Solving the World’s Keith Devlin and Gary Lorden. Plume,
ISBN-13: 978-03877-971-44. August 2007. ISBN-13: 978-04522-
Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Mathematical Omnibus: Thirty
Napkin, by Lawrence Weinstein and 8857-7. (Reviewed in this issue.)
Lectures on Classic Mathematics, by The Numerati, by Stephen Baker.
John A. Adam. Princeton University Dmitry Fuchs and Serge Tabachnikov.
Press, April 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-6911- Houghton Mifflin, August 2008. ISBN-
AMS, October 2007. ISBN-13: 978- 13: 978-06187-846-08.
2949-5. 08218-431-61. (Reviewed December
Hexaflexagons, Probability Para- One to Nine: The Inner Life of
2008). Numbers, by Andrew Hodges. W. W.
doxes, and the Tower of Hanoi: Martin
The Mathematician’s Brain, by Norton, May 2008. ISBN-13: 978-
Gardner’s First Book of Mathematical
David Ruelle. Princeton University 03930-664-18.
Puzzles and Games, by Martin Gardner.
Press, July 2007. ISBN-13 978-0- Origami, Eleusis, and the Soma
Cambridge University Press, September
691-12982-2. (Reviewed November Cube: Martin Gardner’s Mathematical
2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-521-73525-4.
2008.) Diversions, by Martin Gardner. Cam-
*How Math Explains the World: A
Mathematics and the Aesthetic: bridge University Press, September
Guide to the Power of Numbers, from
New Approaches to an Ancient Af- 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-521-73524-7.
Car Repair to Modern Physics, by
finity, edited by Nathalie Sinclair, *Our Days Are Numbered: How
James D. Stein. Collins, April 2008.
David Pimm, and William Higginson. Mathematics Orders Our Lives, by
ISBN-13: 978-00612-417-65.
Springer, November 2006. ISBN-13: Jason Brown. McClelland and Stewart,
How Round Is Your Circle, by John
978-03873-052-64. (Reviewed Febru- to appear April 2009. ISBN-13: 978-
Bryant and Chris Sangwin. Princeton 07710-169-67.
University Press, January 2008. ISBN- ary 2009.)
Mathematics and Democracy: De- A Passion for Discovery, by Peter
13: 978-0-6911-3118-4. Freund. World Scientific, August
Impossible?: Surprising Solutions to signing Better Voting and Fair-Division
Procedures, by Steven J. Brams. Princ- 2007. ISBN-13: 978-9-8127-7214-5.
Counterintuitive Conundrums, by Julian Plato’s Ghost: The Modernist Trans-
Havil. Princeton University Press, April eton University Press, December
2007. ISBN-13: 978-0691-1332-01. formation of Mathematics, by Jeremy
2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-6911-3131-3. Gray. Princeton University Press, Sep-
The Indian Clerk, by David Leavitt. Mathematics at Berkeley: A History,
tember 2008. ISBN-13: 978-06911-
Bloomsbury USA, September 2007. by Calvin C. Moore. A K Peters, Febru-
361-03.
ISBN-13: 978-15969-1040-9. (Reviewed ary 2007. ISBN-13: 978-1-5688-1302-
The Presidential Election Game, by
September 2008.) 8. (Reviewed November 2008.)
Steven J. Brams. A K Peters, December
Irreligion: A Mathematician Ex- Mathematics in Ancient Iraq: A
2007. ISBN-13: 978-1-5688-1348-6.
plains Why the Arguments for God Social History, by Eleanor Robson. The Princeton Companion of Math-
Just Don’t Add Up, by John Allen Princeton University Press, August ematics, edited by Timothy Gowers
Paulos. Hill and Wang, December 2008. ISBN13: 978-06910-918-22. (June Barrow-Green and Imre Leader,
2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-8090-591-95. The Mathematics of Egypt, Meso- associate editors). Princeton University
(Reviewed August 2008.) potamia, China, India, and Islam: A Press, November 2008. ISBN-13: 978-
Is God a Mathematician? by Mario Sourcebook, by Victor J. Katz et al. 06911-188-02.
Livio. Simon & Schuster, January Princeton University Press, July 2007. Professor Stewart’s Cabinet of
2009. ISBN-13: 978-07432-940-58. ISBN-13: 978-0-6911-2745-3. Mathematical Curiosities, by Ian Stew-
Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Measuring the World, by Daniel art. Basic Books, December 2008.
Who’s Boss, by Danica McKellar. Hud- Kehlmann. Pantheon, November 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-465-01302-9.
son Street Press, August 2008. ISBN-13: ISBN 0-375-42446-6. (Reviewed June/ Pursuit of Genius: Flexner, Einstein,
978-1594630491. July 2008.) and the Early Faculty at the Institute

406 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Reference and Book List

for Advanced Study, by Steve Bat- Walker and Company, October 2006.
terson. A K Peters, June 2006. ISBN ISBN-13: 978-08027-153-88.
1-56881-259-0. (Reviewed August Tools of American Math Teaching,
2008.) 1800–2000, by Peggy Aldrich Kidwell,
Pythagorean Crimes, by Tefcros Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, and David
Michalides. Parmenides Publishing, Lindsay Roberts. Johns Hopkins Uni-
September 2008. ISBN-13: 978-19309- versity Press, July 2008. ISBN-13:
722-78. (Reviewed January 2009.) 978-0801888144.
Random Curves: Journeys of a The Unfinished Game: Pascal, Fer-
Mathematician, by Neal Koblitz. mat, and the Seventeenth-Century Let-
Springer, December 2007. ISBN-13: ter That Made the World Modern, by
978-3-5407-4077-3. Keith Devlin. Basic Books, September
Reminiscences of a Statistician: The 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-4650-0910-7.
Company I Kept, by Erich Lehmann. The Unimaginable Mathematics of
Springer, November 2007. ISBN-13: Borges’ Library of Babel, by William
978-0-387-71596-4. Goldbloom Bloch. Oxford University
*Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game The- Press, August 2008. ISBN-13: 978-
ory in Everyday Life, by Len Fisher. 01953-345-79.
Basic Books, November 2008. ISBN- Unknown Quantity: A Real and
13: 978-04650-093-81. Imaginary History of Algebra, by John
Roots to Research: A Vertical De- Derbyshire. Joseph Henry Press, May
velopment of Mathematical Problems, 2006. ISBN 0-309-09657-X. (Reviewed
by Judith D. Sally and Paul J. Sally Jr. May 2008.)
AMS, November 2007. ISBN-13: 978- Useless Arithmetic: Why Environ-
08218-440-38. (Reviewed December mental Scientists Can’t Predict the
2008.) Future, by Orrin Pilkey and Linda
Sacred Mathematics: Japanese Tem- Pilkey-Jarvis. Columbia University
ple Geometry, by Fukagawa Hidetoshi Press, February 2007. ISBN 0-231-
13212-3. (Reviewed April 2008.)
and Tony Rothman. Princeton Univer-
The Wraparound Universe, by Jean-
sity Press, July 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-
Pierre Luminet. A K Peters, March
6911-2745-3.
2008. ISBN 978-15688-130-97. (Re-
The Shape of Content: An Anthol-
viewed December 2008.)
ogy of Creative Writing in Mathemat-
Zeno’s Paradox: Unraveling the
ics and Science, edited by Chandler
Ancient Mystery behind the Science
Davis, Marjorie Wikler Senechal, and
of Space and Time, by Joseph Mazur.
Jan Zwicky. A K Peters, November
Plume, March 2008 (reprint edition).
2008. ISBN-13: 978-15688-144-45.
ISBN-13: 978-0-4522-8917-8.
Souvenirs sur Sofia Kovalevskaya
(French), by Michèle Audin. Calvage
et Mounet, October 2008. ISBN-13:
978-29163-520-53.
Strange Attractors: Poems of Love
and Mathematics, edited by Sarah
Glaz and JoAnne Growney. A K Pe-
ters, November 2008. ISBN-13: 978-
15688-134-17.
Super Crunchers: Why Thinking-
by-Numbers Is the New Way to Be
Smart, by Ian Ayres. Bantam, August
2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-5538-0540-6.
The Symmetries of Things, by
John H. Conway, Heidi Burgiel, and
Chaim Goodman-Strauss. A K Peters,
May 2008. ISBN-13: 978-1-5688-1220-5.
Symmetry: A Journey into the Pat-
terns of Nature, by Marcus du Sautoy.
Harper, March 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-
0607-8940-4.
Symmetry: The Ordering Princi-
ple (Wooden Books), by David Wade.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 407

 American Mathematical Society

u
AMS Award for Mathematics Programs
That Make a Difference

+s Deadline: August 15, 2009

This award was established in 2005 in response to a recommendation from

the AMS’s Committee on the Profession that the AMS compile and publish

2l
a series of profiles of programs that:

1. aim to bring more persons from underrepresented minority backgrounds

into some portion of the pipeline beginning at the undergraduate level and
leading to advanced degrees in mathematics and professional success, or
retain them once in the pipeline;
2. have achieved documentable success in doing so; and

fzh
3. are replicable models.

w
Two programs are highlighted annually.

Nomination process: Letters of nomination may be submitted by one or

more individuals. Nomination of the writer’s own institution is permitted.
The letter should describe the specific program(s) for which the department
is being nominated as well as the achievements that make the program(s) an
outstanding success, and may include any ancillary documents which support
the success of the program. The letter of nomination should not exceed two
pages, with supporting documentation not to exceed three more pages. Up to
three supporting letters may be included in addition to these five pages.

Send nominations to:

Programs That Make a Difference
c/o Ellen Maycock

et
American Mathematical Society
201 Charles Street
Providence, RI 02904
or via email to [email protected]

Previous Winners:
2008: Summer Undergraduate Mathematical Science Research Institute
(SUMSRI), Miami University (Ohio); Mathematics Summer Program in
Research and Learning (Math SPIRAL), University of Maryland, College

g
Park.

2007: Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE), Bryn Mawr

College and Spelman College; and Mathematical Theoretical Biology
Institute (MTBI), Arizona State University.

2006: Summer Institute in Mathematics for Undergraduates (SIMU),

Universidad de Puerto Rico, Humacao; and Graduate Program, Department
of Mathematics, University of Iowa.
 Mathematics Calendar
Please submit conference information for the Mathematics
Calendar through the Mathematics Calendar submission form at
http://www.ams.org/cgi-bin/mathcal-submit.pl.
The most comprehensive and up-to-date Mathematics Calendar
information is available on the AMS website at
http://www.ams.org/mathcal/.

March 2009 10–13 IPAM/Quantum and Kinetic Transport Equations:

Tutorials, Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM), UCLA,
* 2–6 IMA Workshop: Coherence, control, and dissipation, Institute
Los Angeles, California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1447)
for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota. 14 Statistical Methods for Complex Data: A conference in honor of
Description: This workshop will focus on the interplay between the 60th birthday of Raymond J. Carroll, Texas A& M University, De-
mathematical and physical aspects on the three complementary partment of Statistics, College Station, Texas. (Sept. 2008, p. 1030)
subjects of quantum coherence, control, and dissipative dynamics, 15–17 Frontier Probability Days 2009, University of Utah, Salt Lake
with a special emphasis on the dynamics of time-dependent systems City, Utah. (Dec. 2008, p. 1447)
driven by external electromagnetic fields and interacting with a me- 15–20 ALGORITMY 2009 Conference on Scientific Computing, Hotel
dium. These fields have benefited from many ideas and techniques Permon, Podbanske, High Tatra Mountains, Slovak Republic. (Jun./
coming from the mathematical and engineering worlds, and have Jul. 2008, p. 741)
many applications to chemistry and physics.
Information: http://www.ima.umn.edu/2008-2009/W3.2- 15–21 Spring School on Index Theory, Lie Groupoids and Bound-
ary Value Problems, University of Regensburg, Germany. (Feb. 2009,
6.09/.
p. 308)
2–6 SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineer-
* 16–20 Entropy and the Quantum, University of Arizona, Tucson,
ing (CSE09), Miami Hilton Downtown, Miami, Florida. (Feb. 2009,
Arizona.
p. 307)
Description: This school aims at introducing junior mathematicians
6–8 2nd Bluegrass Algebra Conference, University of Kentucky, to analytic inequalities and several of their applications. It will con-
Lexington, Kentucky. (Feb. 2009, p. 307) sist of four main lectures: “Quantum Physics from Zero” by Jan Wehr
(University of Arizona); “Trace Inequalities and Quantum Entropy”
7–11 The Spring Topology and Dynamics Conference and the
by Eric Carlen (Rutgers University); “Quantum Entropy in Condensed
Ulam Centennial Conference, University of Florida, Gainesville,
Matter and Information Theory” by Bruno Nachtergaele (University
Florida. (Feb. 2009, p. 308)
of California, Davis); “Inequalities for Schroedinger Operators and
9–June 12 Quantum and Kinetic Transport: Analysis, Computa- Applications” by Robert Seiringer (Princeton University). In addition,
tions, and New Applications, Institute for Pure and Applied Math- many participants will contribute research talks.
ematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Apr. 2008, p. 526) Information: http://www.ueltschi.org/AZschool/.

This section contains announcements of meetings and conferences in the mathematical sciences should be sent to the Editor of the Notices in
of interest to some segment of the mathematical public, including ad care of the American Mathematical Society in Providence or electronically
hoc, local, or regional meetings, and meetings and symposia devoted to [email protected] or [email protected].
to specialized topics, as well as announcements of regularly scheduled In order to allow participants to arrange their travel plans, organizers of
meetings of national or international mathematical organizations. A meetings are urged to submit information for these listings early enough
complete list of meetings of the Society can be found on the last page to allow them to appear in more than one issue of the Notices prior to
of each issue. the meeting in question. To achieve this, listings should be received in
An announcement will be published in the Notices if it contains a call Providence eight months prior to the scheduled date of the meeting.
for papers and specifies the place, date, subject (when applicable), and The complete listing of the Mathematics Calendar will be published
the speakers; a second announcement will be published only if there are
only in the September issue of the Notices. The March, June/July, and
changes or necessary additional information. Once an announcement
December issues will include, along with new announcements, references
has appeared, the event will be briefly noted in every third issue until
to any previously announced meetings and conferences occurring
it has been held and a reference will be given in parentheses to the
month, year, and page of the issue in which the complete information within the twelve-month period following the month of those issues.
appeared. Asterisks (*) mark those announcements containing new or New information about meetings and conferences that will occur later
revised information. than the twelve-month period will be announced once in full and will
In general, announcements of meetings and conferences carry only not be repeated until the date of the conference or meeting falls within
the date, title of meeting, place of meeting, names of speakers (or the twelve-month period.
sometimes a general statement on the program), deadlines for abstracts The Mathematics Calendar, as well as Meetings and Conferences of
or contributed papers, and source of further information. If there is any the AMS, is now available electronically through the AMS website on
application deadline with respect to participation in the meeting, this the World Wide Web. To access the AMS website, use the URL: http://
fact should be noted. All communications on meetings and conferences www.ams.org/.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 409

 Mathematics Calendar

18–20 IAENG International Conference on Scientific Computing Information: http://www.erlang100.dk.

ICSC 2009, Regal Kowloon Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong. (Aug. 2008, * 1–4 Harmonic Analysis & Partial Differential Equations, Marrakech,
p. 871) Morocco.
20–22 Southern Regional Algebra Conference 2009, University of Mini-Courses: M. Englis (Czech Republic), V. V. Kisil (England), T.
South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama. (Feb. 2009, p. 308) Koorwinder (Netherland), T. Nomura (Japan).
20–23 Cincinnati Symposium on Probability Theory and Applica- Conferences: A. Boussejra (Morocco), S. Echterhoff (Germany), Y.
tions 2009, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. (Feb. 2009, Hantout (France), A. Intissar (France), M. Kolountzakis (Greece), K.
p. 308) Koufany (France), E. Ouhabaz (France), M. Sifi (Tunisia), K. Stempak
(Poland), A. Zinoun (France).
22–26 SETIT 2009: The Fifth International Conference Sciences of Information: email: [email protected]; http://groups.
Electronic, Technologies of Information and Telecommunications, google.com/group/ahgsMorocco.
Hammamet, Tunisia. (Nov. 2008, p. 1319)
* 2–4 Career Options for Women in Mathematical Sciences, Univer-
22–28 Talbot Workshop 2009: Fukaya Categories, Nags Head, North sity of Minnesota Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, Twin
Carolina. (Jan. 2009, p. 70) Cities Campus, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
* 23–26 IMA Hot Topics Workshop: Higher Order Geometric Evolu- Description: This workshop aims to familiarize women in the math-
tion Equations: Theory and Applications from Microfluidics to ematical sciences with professional opportunities in industry and gov-
Image Understanding, Institute for Mathematics and its Applications ernment labs and to help them thrive in these fields. The audience is
(IMA), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. graduate students and Ph.D.’s in the early stages of their post-gradu-
Description: This workshop will bring together analysts, numerical ate careers. Researchers at any stage of their careers will also find it
analysts, and domain scientists in the challenging area of research. valuable. Speakers, panelists, and discussion leaders are women in
Information: h t t p : / / w w w . i m a . u m n . e d u / 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 / research and management positions in industry and government labs
SW3.23-26.09/. as well as women in academia who have strong ties with industry.
Participants are encouraged to present a poster on their research.
23–27 Combinatorial, Enumerative and Toric Geometry, Mathe-
Sponsored by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)
matical Sciences Research Institute, Berkeley, California. (Aug. 2008,
at the University of Minnesota and the Association for Women in
p. 871)
Mathematics (AWM).
* 24–26 Workshop on CR and Sasakian Geometry, University of Lux- Information: For more information and a tentative schedule, visit:
embourg, Luxembourg. http://www.ima.umn.edu/2008-2009/SW4.2-4.09 or contact
Description: Recent developments in the theory of Cauchy-Riemann Cheri Shakiban at [email protected]. The IMA’s mission is
and Sasakian manifolds, and related topics. to foster interdisciplinary research to address important problems
Information: http://math.uni.lu/CRSasaki. arising in science, technology, and society.
25–26 Illinois Number Theory Celebration, University of Illinois at 2–4 International Conference on Multimedia Computing and Sys-
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois. (Jan. 2009, p. 70) tems (ICMCS’09), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Ouarzazate, Morocco.
27 Illinois/Missouri Applied Harmonic Analysis Seminar, University (Jan. 2009, p. 71)
of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. (Feb. 2009, p. 308) 4–5 AMS Southeastern Section Meeting, North Carolina State Uni-
27–28 35th Annual New York State Regional Graduate Mathemat- versity, Raleigh, North Carolina. (Aug. 2008, p. 871)
ics Conference, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. (Dec. 2008, 6–9 BMC 2009/IMS. This is a joint meeting of the 61st British
p. 1447) Mathematical Colloquium and the 22nd annual meeting of the
27–29 AMS Central Section Meeting, University of Illinois at Urbana- Irish Mathematical Society, National University of Ireland, Galway,
Champaign, Urbana, Illinois. (Aug. 2008, p. 871) Ireland. (Jan. 2009, p. 71)

27–29 GSCC09: Fifth Annual Graduate Student Combinatorics Con- 6–10 The 3D Euler and 2D surface quasi-geostrophic equations,
ference, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. (Oct. 2008, American Institute of Mathematics, Palo Alto, California. (May 2008,
p. 1134) p. 636)

* 27–30 The Fifth International Conference on Number Theory and * 14–17 3rd International Workshop on Elementary Operators and
Smarandache Notions, Shangluo College, Shangluo, Shaanxi, People’s their Applications (ElOp2009), Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast,
Republic of China. Northern Ireland.
Description: This conference is organized by the Mathematics Insti- Description: The third international workshop on elementary opera-
tute of Northwest University and Shangluo College. Papers on num- tors and applications will be held in the Pure Mathematics Research
ber theory and Smarandache notions should be sent to the organizer Centre of Queen’s University, Belfast, between April 14–17, 2009,
by March 15, 2009. as a satellite to the BMC2009, which is held jointly with the annual
meeting of the Irish Mathematical Society at NUI Galway in the week
30–April 3 Quantum and Kinetic Transport: Computational Kinetic before Easter. The workshop is organised by Dr. Martin Mathieu and
Transport and Hybrid Methods, Institute for Pure and Applied Math- supported by the London Mathematical Society and the Irish Math-
ematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1447) ematical Society.
Information: All information, including the list of invited speak-
April 2009
ers, can be found on the conference website: http://elop2009.
* 1–3 100 Years of Queueing — The Erlang Centennial, Technical awardspace.co.uk/; email: [email protected].
University of Denmark, Copenhagen.
15–17 Quantum and Kinetic Transport: The Boltzmann Equation
Description: In 1909 A.K. Erlang published the paper “The theory
— DiPerna-Lions Plus 20 Years, Institute for Pure and Applied Math-
of probabilities and telephone conversations” (Nyt Tidsskrift for
ematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1447)
Matematik B, Vol. 20. pp. 33-39), which may be considered to be the
first publication in queueing theory. To celebrate the centennial of * 16 NSV-II: Second International Workshop on Numerical Software
queueing theory, a conference “100 years of queueing — The Erlang Verification. Verification of Cyber-Physical Software Systems, Parc
Centennial” will be organized in Copenhagen, on April 1-3, 2009. The Hotel 55, San Francisco, California.
number of participants is restricted. The journal Queueing Systems Description: The focus of the workshop for 2009 will be on the verifi-
will devote a special issue to the papers that will be presented. The cation of software for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). CPS refers to the
editors of the special issue are Søren Asmussen and Onno Boxma. class of systems that integrate physical systems with computational
There will be invited talks by Francois Baccelli, Sem Borst, Serguei and communication systems. Examples of CPS range from small scale
Foss, Peter Glynn, Frank Kelly, John Kingman, Sean Meyn, Peter Tay- systems, such as implanted medical devices or autonomous robots,
lor, Ward Whitt. to medium scale, such as automobiles and aircrafts, to large scale

410 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Mathematics Calendar

systems, for example, a power grid. A key component of every CPS is chiodi, Jeff Viaclovsky and a couple of meetings: “Geometric Flows in
the underlying software that controls a system or a system of systems. Mathematical and Theoretical Physics” 22/25 of June 2009 and “GFO
Numerical and logical errors in the software can have catastrophic in Pisa” –June 29/July 3, 2009. Moreover, we plan to organize during
results on the physical system. Many well-known CPSs failures have all the trimester daily seminars given by the participants. For more
been attributed to the existence of numerical errors and bugs in the detailed info and abstracts, the website of the trimester is: http://
software. NSV-II aims to initiate and catalyze work along such research cvgmt.sns.it/GFO. If you are interested in participating, please
directions by bringing together people from the hybrid systems, con- register there. Financial support is available for young students. In-
trol and software verification communities. A secondary goal will be terested people must fill the form at the link above BEFORE February
to create a benchmark problems library. 15, 2009. There is a mailing list for participants or interested people
Information: http://theory.stanford.edu/~srirams/ to get up-to-date info on the trimester. To be put on or removed
nsv2/. from the list, see: http://cvgmt.sns.it/gfopisa.
16–18 New Results on the Discrepancy Function, and Related Re- Information: http://cvgmt.sns.it/GFO
sults, University of Arkansas Spring Lecture Series, University of * 4–8 Combinatorics, Randomization, Algorithms and Probability,
Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Dec. 2008, p. 1448) Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Québec.
17–18 2009 Barrett Lectures, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Description: The ties between combinatorics and probability run so
Tennessee. (Feb. 2009, p. 308) deep that for many deep and interesting problems, it is nonsensical
to try to assign one category or the other. The subject of this work-
19–25 Spring School on Variational Analysis and its Applications,
shop is these sorts of problems, many of which in fact come from
Paseky nad Jizerou, Czech Republic. (Feb. 2009, p. 308)
the theoretical computer science and statistical physics communi-
19–May 2 Spring School on Fluid Mechanics and Geophysics of En- ties. Most of the speakers straddle two or several of these areas in
vironmental Hazards, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, National their research. We expect the workshop to both expose participants
University of Singapore, Singapore. (Jan. 2009, p. 71) to cutting edge research in combinatorics and probability, and, im-
20–22 Geometry and Physics: Atiyah80, Edinburgh, Scotland, United portantly, to lead to fruitful discussions and the opening of new
Kingdom. (Dec. 2008, p. 1448) avenues of research.
Information: http://www.crm.umontreal.ca/CARP09/index.
23–25 Twelfth New Mexico Analysis Seminar, University of New
php.
Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Feb. 2009, p. 308)
* 4–8 IMA Special Workshop: MOLCAS, Institute for Mathematics and
25–26 AMS Eastern Section Meeting, Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
its Applications (IMA), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Min-
Worcester, Massachusetts. (Aug. 2008, p. 871)
nesota.
25–26 AMS Western Section Meeting, San Francisco State University, Description: This 5-day workshop is an hands-on training on MOL-
San Francisco, California. (Aug. 2008, p. 872) CAS, a quantum chemistry software package. MOLCAS is a research
27–May 1 Combinatorial Challenges in Toric Varieties, American In- tool for scientists, and was developed by the Lund quantum chemis-
stitute of Mathematics, Palo Alto, California. (Jun./Jul. 2008, p. 741) try group. The basic philosophy behind MOLCAS is to develop meth-
ods that will allow an accurate ab initio treatment of very general
27–May 1 Quantum and Kinetic Transport: Flows and Networks in
electronic structure in small molecules in both ground and excited
Complex Media, Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM),
states, to more versatile procedures applied to systems of large size.
UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1448)
The workshop is aimed at users and potential users of the MOLCAS
28–30 CMIS2009 5th Contact Mechanics International Sympo- suite. The workshop will consist of 8 hours of lectures and 17 hours
sium, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Crete, Greece. (Jan. 2009, of practical sessions. Participants are encouraged to bring their own
p. 71) problems to solve. Researchers interested in using MOLCAS as a plat-
30–May 2 SIAM International Conference on Data Mining, John form to implement their own software are also welcome.
Ascuaga’s Nugget, Sparks, Nevada. (Dec. 2008, p. 1448) Information: http://www.ima.umn.edu/2008-2009/SW5.4-
8.09/.
May 2009
4–8 Stochastic and Deterministic Spatial Modeling in Population
* 1–3 3rd Annual Graduate Student Probability Conference, UNC- Dynamics, American Institute of Mathematics, Palo Alto, California.
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Oct. 2008, p. 1134)
Description: This conference is co-hosted by the Statistics and Opera-
7–9 8th Mississippi State: UAB Conference on Differential Equa-
tions Research Department at UNC-Chapel Hill and the Mathematics
tions and Computational Simulations, Mississippi State University,
Department at Duke University. It provides graduate students and
post-docs from across the country with the opportunity to speak Mississippi State, Mississippi. (Nov. 2008, p. 1319)
on an area of interest within probability. Participants will have the * 8–9 Irish Geometry Conference, University College Cork, Cork, Ire-
opportunity to deliver and attend talks on a variety of topics within land.
probability. With an audience composed primarily of students, the Description: The annual meeting of Irish algebraic and differential
friendly and informal atmosphere fosters constructive discussions geometers and geometric topologists and allied researchers.
and promotes innovative research. In addition to the student talks, Information: http://euclid.ucc.ie/pages/staff/Mckay/
there will be keynote speaker addresses delivered by Professors David conferences/irish-geometry-2009/.
Aldous (UC-Berkeley), Russell Lyons (Indiana University) and Daniel
* 8–10 Workshop on “Connections in Geometry and Physics 2009”,
Stroock (MIT).
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Ontario, Can-
Information: http://www.unc.edu/~crbaek/gscp.
ada.
1–June 20 INdAM Intensive Period “Geometric Properties of Non- Description: The workshop aims to gather together researchers,
linear Local and Nonlocal Problems”, Department of Mathematics from Canada and around the world, who work at the interface be-
“F. Brioschi”, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Math- tween geometry and physics. A secondary objective is to further
ematics “F. Casorati”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. (Dec. 2008, increase Canada’s presence and visibility in geometry within the
p. 1448) wider international mathematical community, and to serve as an
* 2–July 30 Geometric Flows and Geometric Operators, Center “Ennio opportunity for geometers in the region with common interests to
De Giorgi”, Pisa, Italy. meet. This in particular influences the choice to focus the workshop
Description: Intensive research period at the Ennio De Giorgi Center on three main research areas: elliptic and parabolic equations in ge-
in Pisa about “Geometric Flows and Geometric Operators” in May/ ometry, geometry and topology of moduli spaces, and structures in
June/July 2009. The main program will consist of a series of lectures symplectic geometry.
delivered by Mauro Carfora, Klaus Ecker, Matthew Gursky, Andrea Mal- Information: http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~gap/

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10–15 ICMI Study 19: Proof and Proving in Mathematics Education, Information: h t t p : / / w w w . m a t h . v a n d e r b i l t . e d u /
Taipei, Taiwan. (May 2008, p. 636) ~shanks2009.
* 11–13 2009 IEEE International Conference on Technologies for 18–22 Quantum and Kinetic Transport: Asymptotic Methods for
Homeland Security, The Westin Waltham Boston, 70 Third Avenue, Dissipative Particle Systems, Institute for Pure and Applied Math-
Waltham, Massachusetts. ematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1448)
Description: With technical assistance from the U.S. DHS S&T Direc- 18–22 SAMPTA’09 (Sampling Theory and Applications), Centre In-
torate, U.S. DHS DNDO, and the U.S. DOE NNSA; the ninth annual IEEE ternational de Rencontres Mathématiques (CIRM), Luminy campus,
Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security HST’09, will focus Marseille, France. (Dec. 2008, p. 1448)
on novel and innovative technologies, which address the most press-
ing national security problems. The conference will bring together in- * 18–22 Workshop on Topological Field Theories, Northwestern Uni-
novators from leading universities, research laboratories, Homeland versity, Evanston, Illinois.
Security Centers of Excellence, small businesses, system integrators, Description: This workshop is intended primarily for graduate stu-
and the end user community and provide a forum to discuss ideas, dents and others preceding a conference on Topological Field Theory
concepts, and experimental results. and related geometry, topology, and category theory to be held at
Information: http://www.ieeehomelandsecurityconference. Northwestern University during the week of Memorial Day (May 25-
org/.
29, 2009). The workshop will be run by David Ben-Zvi, Jacob Lurie,
and Bertrand Toen. The organizers are Kevin Costello, Ezra Getzler,
11–13 TQC 2009: The 4th Workshop on Theory of Quantum Com- and Paul Goerss. Both the conference and the workshop will be sup-
putation, Communication, and Cryptography, University of Water- ported by the National Science Foundation and Northwestern Univer-
loo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. (Dec. 2008, p. 1448) sity. If you are interested in support, please notify the organizers by
11–15 Workshop and Advanced Course on Deterministic and Sto- February 20, 2009.
chastic Modelling in Computational Neuroscience and other Bio- Information: h t t p : / / w w w . m a t h . n o r t h w e s t e r n . e d u /
logical Topics, Barcelona, Spain. (Nov. 2008, p. 1319) ~pgoerss/tftemphasis/.

12–14 7th International Symposium on Hysteresis Modeling and 18–23 Workshop on Interacting Stochastic Particle Systems, Cen-
Micromagnetics (HMM-2009), Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Nov. 2008, tre de recherches mathématiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal,
p. 1319) Québec, Canada. (Jan. 2008, p. 78)

12–16 (NEW DATE) First Buea International Conference on the 25–29 6th European Conference on Elliptic and Parabolic Problems,
Mathematical Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon. (Mar. 2008, Hotel Serapo, Gaeta, Italy. (Oct. 2008, p. 1134)
p. 408) 25–29 14th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking,
* 13–15 The 2nd International Conference on Nonlinear Analysis Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada. (Oct. 2008, p. 1134)
and Optimization, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. * Conference on Topological Field Theory, Northwestern University,
Description: The main aim of this conference is to gather researchers Evanston, Illinois.
on nonlinear analysis and optimization, stimulate scientific informa- Description: This is a conference on Topological Field Theory and
tion on nonlinear analysis and optimization, and to discuss recent related geometry, topology, and category theory. There will be a work-
advances in theoretical and applicable aspects of these areas. The shop intended primarily for graduate students and others new to the
conference also seeks to strengthen ties with the international com- field during the preceding week. The speaker list is on the conference
munity and enable participants to benefit from an exchange of results web site and will be updated there. The organizers are Kevin Costello,
and experience with their colleagues from other countries. Ezra Getzler, and Paul Goerss. Both the conference and the workshop
Scientific and Organizing Committee: M. Chinaie, M. Fakhar, N. Had- will be supported by the National Science Foundation and Northwest-
jisavvas, H. Harsij, J. E. Martinez-Legaz, S. Nobakhtian, M. Pouryayevali, ern University. If you’d like support, please contact the organizers by
A. Rejali , M. Rezaei, J. Zafarani. February 20, 2009. Priority will go to those who respond early.
Tentative list of Main Speakers: F. Flores-Bazan, N. Hadjisavvas, L. Information: h t t p : / / w w w . m a t h . n o r t h w e s t e r n . e d u /
J. Lin, N. Mahdavi-Amiri, J. E. Martinez-Legaz, P. Pardalos, M. Thera, ~pgoerss/tftemphasis/ ; email: tftconference@math.
X. Q. Yang, J. C. Yao. northwestern.edu.
Information: http://www.sci.ui.ac.ir/~naop2009 ; email: 25–29 Indam School on symmetry for elliptic PDEs (30 years after
[email protected]. a conjecture of De Giorgi and related problems), Istituto Nazionale
17–21 SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems di Alta Matematica, Universita’ di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. (Feb.
(DS09), Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, Snowbird, Utah. (Oct. 2008, 2009, p. 309)
p. 1134) * 26–29 Fourth Symposium on Analysis and PDEs, Purdue University,
17–22 Topology, C*-Algebras, and String Duality - an NSF/CBMS West Lafayette, Indiana.
Regional Conference in the Mathematical Sciences, Texas Christian Description: The symposium will be held on the occasion of the 55th
University, Fort Worth, Texas. (Jun./Jul. 2008, p. 742) birthday of Nicola Garofalo in recognition of his scientific achieve-
ments and his dedication to the mathematical community. It will
* 18–21 Mathematical Modeling in the Medical Sciences, in conjunc- bring together some of the world’s most prominent specialists in the
tion with the 24th Annual Shanks Lecture, Department of Mathemat- general areas of Partial Differential Equations, Harmonic Analysis,
ics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. and Geometric PDEs. One of the purposes of the symposium is to in-
Description: Biomathematics encompasses the application of math- troduce prospective and young researchers to a larger mathematical
ematical methods to the study of living organisms. Mathematics plays community and help them to establish professional connections with
an essential role in understanding of biological systems on many dif- key figures in their areas of interest. Furthermore, the symposium will
ferent scales both size and time. For example, we can model biologi- provide an opportunity to summarize some of the most recent prog-
cal processes at various scales: (1) molecular, sub-cellular, cellular, ress in the field, exchange ideas towards the solution of open ques-
tissue, organism and population; and (2) milliseconds, seconds, min- tions, and formulate new problems and avenues of research.
utes, hours, days and years. Mathematics has a rich history as a tool Information: http://www.math.purdue.edu/~danielli/
for biologists. More recently, mathematics has found applications symposium09/Home.html.
in the medical sciences, both in the basic sciences of medicine and
in patient care. The 24th Shanks Conference is a forum for all areas 27–30 17th biennial conference of the Association of Christians
of biomathematics, but speakers have been invited from the special in the Mathematical Sciences, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.
interest areas: Models of cancer growth; models of epidemics and (Jan. 2009, p. 71)
infection; models of physiologic systems and clinical practice; and * 27–30 Dynamical trends in Analysis, Royal Institute of Technology,
medical imaging. The featured Shanks Lecturer is Nicola Bellomo of Stockholm, Sweden.
Politecnico Torino.

412 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Mathematics Calendar

Description: This conference will focus on dynamical methods and ing back 30 years in which researchers bring each other up to date on
ideas in analysis. Several world-leading experts will represent various recent developments and establish working relationships for future
aspects of the interaction between these subjects. research projects. This conference immediately follows the meeting of
Information: http://www.math.kth.se/dynamictrends/. the Canadian Mathematical Society that will be held in St. John’s.
Organizing Committee: Philip Heath (chair), Robert F. Brown, Evelyn
27–June 1 The International Conference “Infinite Dimensional
Hart, Edward Keppelmann.
Analysis and Topology”, Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. (May
Information: email: [email protected].
2008, p. 636)
11–13 Representation Theory, Institut de Recherche Mathématique
31–June 6 Spring School on Analysis: Function Spaces, Inequalities
Avancée, Université de Strasbourg, 7 rue René Descacrtes, Strasbourg,
and Interpolation, Paseky nad Jizerou, Czech Republic. (Feb. 2009,
France. (Dec. 2008, p. 1449)
p. 309)
* 13–17 Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Research and
June 2009 Education, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey.
1–3 Second Global Conference on Power Control and Optimization Description: BERE-2009 aims to bring together mathematicians, statis-
(PCO-2009), Bali, Indonesia. (Jan. 2009, p. 71) ticians and bio-scientists who apply mathematical modeling techniques
in solving their biological or life-sciences problems. With this sympo-
1–5 2nd Chaotic Modeling and Simulation International Conference sium we also aim to support the initiation of connections between
(CHAOS2009), MAICh Conference Center, Chania, Crete, Greece. (Dec. university researchers and bio-sciences related institutes. In addition
2008, p. 1449) to plenary speakers, contributions from participants in parallel ses-
1–5 Fifth Summer School in Analysis and Applied Mathematics, sions will constitute the main part of the conference.
Department of Mathematics, Sapienza, Universita’ di Roma, Rome, Information: http://www.biomath.ilstu.edu/bere or http://
Italy. (Feb. 2009, p. 309) dm.ieu.edu.tr/konferans/bere/; email: [email protected]
or [email protected].
1–5 Geometry & Topology at Muenster 2009, University of Muen-
ster, Muenster, Germany. (Jan. 2009, p. 71) 14–20 47th International Symposium on Functional Equations,
Gargnano, Italy. (Dec. 2008, p. 1449)
1–28 Statistical Genomics, Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Na-
tional University of Singapore, Singapore. (Jan. 2009, p. 71) 14–27 ESI workshop on large cardinals and descriptive set theory,
Esi, Vienna, Austria. (Oct. 2008, p. 1134)
3–5 Conference on Character Theory of Finite Groups in honor of
Martin Isaacs, Universitat de Valencia, Spain. (Sept. 2008, p. 1031) 15–18 The 5th International Conference “Dynamical Systems and
Applications”, “Ovidius” University of Constantza, Constantza, Ro-
3–15 Interactions Between Hyperbolic Geometry, Quantum Topol-
mania. (Nov. 2008, p. 1319)
ogy and Number Theory Workshop, Columbia University, New York,
New York. (Oct. 2008, p. 1134) 15–18 SIAM Conference on Mathematical & Computational Issues
in the Geosciences, Leipziger Kubus Conference Center, Helmholtz
8–11 25th Nordic and 1st British-Nordic Congress of Mathemati-
- Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany. (Dec.
cians, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. (Jan. 2009, p. 71)
2008, p. 1449)
8–11 MAMERN09: 3rd International Conference on Approximation
15–19 Conference on Harmonic Analysis, Geometric Measure The-
Methods and Numerical Modeling in Environment and Natural Re-
ory and Quasiconformal Mappings, Barcelona, Spain. (Nov. 2008,
sources, University of Pau, Pau, France. (Dec. 2008, p. 1449)
p. 1319)
8–11 The 2nd International Conference on Mathematical Modelling
* 15–19 The analytic theory of automorphic forms (at the 65th birth-
and Computation and The 5th East Asia SIAM Conference, Uni-
day of Roelof Bruggeman), Woudschoten, The Netherlands.
versiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. (Feb. 2009,
Preliminary list of speakers: E. M. Baruch, K. Bringmann, R. Brugge-
p. 309)
man, G. Chinta, N. Diamantis, O. Imamoglu*, H. Iwaniec*, M. Kaneko,
8–12 Computational Methods and Function Theory 2009, Bilkent E. Kowalski, W. Li, A. Mellit, R. Miatello, Y. Motohashi*, A. Reznikov, M.
University, Ankara, Turkey. (Jun./Jul. 2008, p. 742) Risager, P. Sarnak*, A. Venkatesh*, N. Wallach* , D. Zagier, S. Zwegers
* 8–12 Geometrie Algebrique en Liberte, Lorents Center, Leiden, Neth- (*=to be announced).
erlands. Organizers: Frits Beukers, Gunther Cornelissen (Utrecht University,
Description: GAeL, Geometrie Algebrique en Liberte, is a conference The Netherlands).
organized by and for researchers in algebraic geometry at the begin- Location: Woudschoten is a beautiful estate in the forests near Utre-
ning of their scientific career. The conference gives Ph.D. students cht in The Netherlands.
and post-docs the opportunity to lecture, often for the first time, in Information: http://www.math.uu.nl/rb65.html.
front of an international audience. In addition, selected international 15–19 Waves 2009: The 9th International Conference on Mathe-
experts deliver mini-courses on topics at the cutting-edge of impor- matical and Numerical Aspects of Waves Propagation, Pau, France.
tant new developments in algebraic geometry. (Jun./Jul. 2008, p. 742)
Information: h t t p : / / w w w . l o r e n t z c e n t e r . n l / l c /
15–July 3 Summer School and Conference in Geometric Representa-
web/2009/326/description.php3?wsid=326.
tion Theory and Extended Affine Lie Algebras, University of Ottawa,
8–13 Workshop on Disordered Systems: Spin Glasses, Centre de Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Feb. 2009, p. 309)
recherches mathématiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec,
16–22 Sixth International Workshop on Optimal Codes and Related
Canada. (Jan. 2008, p. 78)
Topics: OC 2009, Varna, Bulgaria. (Feb. 2009, p. 309)
8–19 Geometry and Arithmetic around Galois Theory, Galatasaray
18–19 2nd IMA International Conference on Mathematics in Sport,
University, Istanbul, Turkey. (Dec. 2008, p. 1449)
University of Groningen, The Netherlands. (Oct. 2008, p. 1134)
8–19 Recent Developments in Dynamic Equations on Time Scales,
* 19–22 International Conference on Asymptotic Analysis and Infi-
University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming. (Jan. 2009, p. 71)
nite-dimensional Dynamical Systems, City University of Hong Kong,
* 9–13 International Conference on Nielsen Theory and Related Top- Hong Kong, China.
ics, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Description: In recent years, there have been great advances and de-
Description: Nielsen theory is the part of topological fixed point the- velopments in asymptotics including the study of exponential asymp-
ory that employs techniques of algebraic topology to determine lower totics and the Riemann-Hilbert approach, and of localized reaction
bounds on the number of fixed points of all maps in a homotopy class. diffusion equation with metastable behavior. Meanwhile, there has
Related topics include coincidence and periodic point theories. Nielsen also existed significant progress in the theory of infinite-dimensional
theory has close interactions with nonlinear analysis, dynamics and dynamical systems with many new results being obtained and various
geometric group theory. This conference continues a series extend- new applications being found. Such a fast advancing feature requires

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 413

Mathematics Calendar

mathematicians in the related areas to update and refresh their knowl- A short description: It is an annual international conference orga-
edge and to keep good pace with the development. The purpose of nized by the Department of Mathematical Physics of the University
this conference is to bring together top researchers in these two areas of Bialystok since 1981, and takes place in the heart of the Bialowieza
to expose their recent new results, to exchange their new ideas, to ex- forest, one of the largest remaining parts of the primeval forest in
plore new methods and new applications, to discuss future directions Europe. The program consists of invited plenary lectures, often of a
of research, and to initiate possible research collaborations. review nature, and more specialized shorter talks.
Information: h t t p : / / w w w 6 . c i t y u . e d u . h k / r c m s / Plenary speakers: Daniel Beltita (Bucharest) Pierre Bieliavsky (Lou-
ICAAIDS2009/. vain), Victor Buchstaber (Moscow/Manchester), Alberto Cattaneo
21–27 Eighth International Conference Symmetry in Nonlinear (Zurich), Boris Dubrovin (Trieste), Christian Duval (Marseille), Vladi-
Mathematical Physics, Institute of Mathematics, National Academy mir Fock (Aarhus), Franco Magri (Milano), Giuseppe Marmo (Napoli),
of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine. (Nov. 2008, p. 1319) Jouko Michelsson (Stockholm), Alexander Odesski (St. Catharines,
Ontario), Vasilisa Shramchenko (Sherbrooke), Sergei Tabachnikov
21–27 2nd Mile High Conference on Nonassociative Mathematics, (Pennsylvania).
University of Denver, Denver, Colorado. (Jan. 2009, p. 72) Organizers: A. Odzijewicz, chairman; T. Golinski. secretary; S. T. Ali
22–26 (NEW DATE) 5th Asian Mathematical Conference (AMC 2009), (Montreal); A. Dobrogowska, P. Kielanowski (Bialystok/Mexico City),
Penang /Kulalumpur, Malaysia. (Jun./Jul. 2008, p. 742) M. Schlichenmaier (Luxembourg), A. Tereszkiewicz, Th. Voronov
22–26 The 10th European Congress of Stereology and Image Analy- (Manchester).
sis, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy. (Oct. 2008, p. 1135) Information: http://wgmp.uwb.edu.pl/index.html. Contact
person: Dr Theodore Voronov, email: theodore.voronov@man-
22–27 3rd Nordic EWM Summer School for Ph.D. Students in Math- chester.ac.uk.
ematics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. (Feb. 2009, p. 309)
28–July 18 IAS/Park City Mathematics Institute (PCMI) 2009 Sum-
22–27 First Conference “Application of Mathematics in Technical mer Session: Arithmetic of L-functions, Park City, Utah. (Sept. 2008,
and Natural Sciences” (AMiTaNS’09), Resort of Sozopol, Bulgaria. p. 1032)
(Feb. 2009, p. 309)
28–July 25 UA VIGRE: Arizona Summer Program 2009, University
22–July 3 Automorphic forms and L-functions, computational as- of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. (Jan. 2009, p. 72)
pects, CRM, Montreal, Canada. (Feb. 2009, p. 309)
29–July 1 1st Rapid Modelling Conference, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
* 22–July 4 Renormalization, graph polynomials, Hopf algebras and (Dec. 2008, p. 1450)
relations with motives (summer school). Algebraic geometry and
algebra related to renormalization (workshop), CIMAT, Guanajuato, July 2009
Mexico.
1–3 International Conference of Applied and Engineering Math-
Description: The aim of the school is to familiarize participants with
ematics 2009, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Feynman-graphs and renormalization theory; explain those parts of
(Oct. 2008, p. 1135)
Hopf algebras relevant to physics; explain how periods of integrals
can be understood from the perspective of Hodge theory; introduce 1–August 31 Mathematical Theory and Numerical Methods for
motives and their connection with graph polynomials. It will be fol- Computational Materials Simulation and Design, Institute for Math-
lowed by a workshop where the specialists explain the recent state ematical Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, (Jan.
of the art. 2009, p. 72)
Information: h t t p : / / w w w - f o u r i e r . u j f - g r e n o b l e .
5–10 22nd British Combinatorial Conference, University of St. An-
fr/~peters/CIMAT/CIMAT3.html.
drews, Fife, Scotland. (Dec. 2008, p. 1450)
* 23–26 The 9th Central European Conference on Cryptography
6–8 SIAM Conference on Control and Its Applications, Sheraton
(CECC09), Trebic, Czech Republic.
Denver Hotel, Denver, Colorado. (Dec. 2008, p. 1450)
Description: The conference CECC09 is the next in the series of Cen-
tral European Conferences on Cryptography, a series which has be- 6–10 2009 SIAM Annual Meeting (AN09), Sheraton Denver Hotel,
come a traditional meeting of people interested in all areas of cryp- Denver, Colorado. (Feb. 2009, p. 309)
tography. The CECC series is organized every year since the year 2000 6–10 26th Journées Arithmétiques, Université de Saint-Etienne, Saint-
in one of the Central European countries — Austria, Czech Republic, Etienne, France. (Jun./Jul. 2008, p. 742)
Hungary, Slovak Republic, and Poland. The aim of the conference is to
bring together researchers in all aspects of foundations of cryptogra- 6–10 First PRIMA Pacific Rim Congress of Mathematicians, Univer-
phy, and related areas, theoretical or applied (e.g., encryption schemes, sity of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. (Jun./Jul. 2008, p. 742)
signature schemes, general cryptographic protocols, design of crypto- 6–10 Journées de Géométrie Arithmétique de Rennes, Institut de
graphic systems, key management, computational difficulty, one-way Recherche Mathématique de Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes,
functions, zero-knowledge proofs, pseudorandomness, information France. (Sept. 2008, p. 1032)
assurance, security in information systems, coding theory etc.).
Information: http://conf.fme.vutbr.cz/cecc09/. * 6–10 Workshop on equivariant Gromov-Witten theory and sym-
plectic vortices, CIRM, Luminy, France.
23–26 The 33rd Summer Symposium in Real Analysis, Southeastern Description: The focus of the workshop will be on the development
Oklahoma State University, Durant, Oklahoma. (Jan. 2009, p. 72) of equivariant Gromov-Witten theory, including the study of moduli
25–27 Current Geometry: The X Edition of the International Confer- spaces of maps to quotient stacks by reductive groups, and from the
ence on Problems and Trends of Contemporary Geometry, Palazzo symplectic point of view, moduli spaces of symplectic vortices. The
Serra di Cassano, Via Monte di Dio, 80132 Naples, Italy. (Feb. 2009, workshop is organized around this specific direction, with an aim to
p. 309) bring together researchers in algebraic and symplectic geometry who
have had no previous interaction. On the other hand, the workshop
* 28–July 2 20th International Workshop on Combinatorial Algo-
will promote discussion of the interaction of holomorphic maps, gauge
rithms, Novy Hradec, Czech Republic.
theory, and group actions more broadly.
Topics: Algorithms and Data Structures, Applications, Combinato-
Information: http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~ctw/Luminy/
rial Enumeration, Combinatorial Optimization, Complexity Theory,
index.html.
Computational Biology, Databases, Decompositions and Combinato-
rial Designs, Discrete and Computational Geometry, Graph Theory 6–11 Conference on Algebraic Topology CAT’09, University of War-
and Combinatorics. saw, Warsaw, Poland. (Jan. 2009, p. 72)
Information: http://graphs.vsb.cz/iwoca2009/. 6–11 International Conference on Semigroups and Related Topics,
* 28–July 4 XXVIII Workshop on Geometric Methods in Physics, Bi- Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. (Nov.
alowieza, Poland (Organized by the University of Bialystok). 2008, p. 1319)

414 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Mathematics Calendar

* 6–11 International Conference on Topology and its Applications, August 2009

ICTA 2009, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
* 3–5 SNC2009: The 3rd International Workshop on Symbolic-Numeric
Description: The aim of this conference is to bring together experts
Computation, Hotel “CO-OP INN Kyoto”, Kyoto, Japan.
and young researchers in the field of topology from Turkey and
abroad. Description: The program of SNC 2009 will include invited presenta-
Topics: Asymmetric topology, symmetric topology, point-free, con- tions, contributed research papers, and posters.
structive or categorical aspects, topology on lattices and applica- Topics: Specific topics include, but are not limited to: Hybrid symbolic-
tions. numeric algorithms, approximate polynomial GCD and factorization,
Information: http://www.icta.hacettepe.edu.tr. symbolic-numeric methods for solving polynomial systems, resultants
and structured matrices for symbolic-numeric computation, differen-
* 9–13 The 3rd International Workshop on Matrix Analysis and Ap- tial equations for symbolic-numeric computation, symbolic-numeric
plications, Hangzhou (Lin’An), China. methods for geometric computation, symbolic-numeric algorithms in
Description: To be held at Hangzhou (Lin’An) under the auspices of algebraic geometry, symbolic-numeric algorithms for nonlinear opti-
Zhejiang Forestry University, Zhejiang Province, China. The purpose mization, numeric computation of characteristic sets and Groebner
of this conference is to stimulate research, providing an opportunity
bases, implementation of symbolic-numeric algorithms, approximate
for researchers to present their newest results and to meet for in-
algebraic algorithms, applications of symbolic-numeric computation.
formal discussions. The previous meetings of the workshop series
Information: http://www.snc2009.cs.ehime-u.jp.
have taken place in Beijing (China) and Fort Lauderdale (USA). The
http://www.math.technion.ac.il/iic/ela/index.html 3–8 XVI International Congress on Mathematical Physics (ICMP09),
Electronic Journal of Linear Algebra (ELA) will devote a special issue Clarion Congress Hotel Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. (Jan. 2009,
to the conference, and abstracts of the talks will be published by p. 73)
World Academic Press. 3–14 Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute (PASI): In Commuta-
Keynote Speaker: Chi-Kwong Li, Ferguson Professor of Mathematics tive Algebra and its connections to Geometry, Olinda, Brazil. (Feb.
at The College of William and Mary, USA. 2009, p. 310)
Sponsor: This meeting is sponsored by the National Natural Science
Foundation of China and Zhejiang Forestry University, and is endorsed 10–12 Continuing Statistics Education Workshop, Statistics Online
by the International Linear Algebra Society (ILAS). Computational Resource (SOCR), University of California, Los Angeles,
Organizers: Chairs of the organizing committee are Changqing Xu California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1450)
(Zhejiang Forestry University, China, [email protected]); Guan- 10–12 Workshop on Technology-Enhanced Probability and Statistics
ghui Xu (Zhejiang Forestry University, China) and Fuzhen Zhang (Nova Education Using SOCR Resources, Statistics Online Computational
Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, USA, [email protected]). Resource (SOCR), University of California, Los Angeles, California. (Dec.
Information: For more information and updates, visit http://www. 2008, p. 1451)
nova.edu/~zhang/09MatrixWorkshop.html.
10–14 Topological complexity of random sets, American Institute of
13–16 MULTICONF-09, Orlando, Florida. (Jan. 2009, p. 72) Mathematics, Palo Alto, California. (Jan. 2009, p. 73)
13–17 9th International Conference on Finite Fields and Appli- 12–14 18th USENIX Security Symposium, Le Centre Sheraton Hotel
cations, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. (Jun./Jul. 2008, Montreal, 1201 Boulevard Rene-Levesque, West Montreal, Quebec H3B
p. 742) 2L7 Canada. (Jan. 2009, p. 73)
13–17 Permutation Patterns 2009, Dipartmento di Sistemi e Infor-
12–December 18 Dynamics of Discs and Planets, Isaac Newton In-
matica, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy. (Jan. 2009, p. 72)
stitute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge, England. (Aug. 2008,
13–18 7th International ISAAC Congress, Imperial College, London, p. 872)
United Kingdom. (Jan. 2009, p. 72)
17 Symplectic and Contact Geometry and Topology, Mathematical
14–24 The 19th International Conference on Banach algebras, Be- Sciences Research Institute, Berkeley, California. (Sept. 2008, p. 1033)
dlewo, Poland. (Oct. 2008, p. 1135)
17–21 International Conference on Complex Analysis and Related
16–31 XII Diffiety School — on Geometry of Partial differential Topics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. (Feb. 2009, p. 310)
Equations and Secondary Calculus, Santo Stefano del Sole, Avellino,
17–21 Modular forms on noncongruence groups, American Institute
Italy. (Feb. 2009, p. 309)
of Mathematics, Palo Alto, California. (Aug. 2008, p. 872)
20–24 21st International Conference on Formal Power Series &
Algebraic Combinatorics, Research Institute for Symbolic Computa- 17–December 18 Tropical Geometry, Mathematical Sciences Research
tion, Hagenberg, Austria. (Dec. 2008, p. 1450) Institute, Berkeley, California. (Sept. 2008, p. 1033)

20–24 AIP (Applied Inverse Problems), Vienna, Austria. (Nov. 2008, 24–28 Relative trace formula and periods of automorphic forms,
p. 1319) American Institute of Mathematics, Palo Alto, California. (Sept. 2008,
p. 1033)
20–24 Equadiff 12, Brno, Czech Republic. (Aug. 2008, p. 872)
27–29 Ukrainian Mathematical Congress 2009 (Dedicated to the
20–31 2009 ESSLLI Student Session, Bordeaux, France. (Jan. 2009, Centennial of Nikolai N. Bogoliubov), Institute of Mathematics of
p. 72) NASU, Kiev (Kyiv), Ukraine. (Jan. 2009, p. 73)
20–December 18 Non-Abelian Fundamental Groups in Arithmetic 30–September 4 Algebraic Groups and Invariant Theory, Centro Ste-
Geometry, Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cam-
fano Franscini, Ascona, Switzerland. (Jan. 2009, p. 73)
bridge, England. (Aug. 2008, p. 872)
27–30 The Society for Mathematical Biology Annual Meeting, September 2009
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. (Nov. 2008, 2–4 Workshop in nonlinear elliptic PDEs, Université Libre de Brux-
p. 1319) elles, Brussels, Belgium. (Feb. 2009, p. 310)
27–31 33rd Conference on Stochastic Processes and their Applica- 4–9 2nd Dolomites Workshop on Constructive Approximation and
tions, Berlin, Germany. (May 2008, p. 636) Applications (DWCAA09), Alba di Canazei, Trento, Italy. (Jan. 2009,
29–July 24 The Cardiac Physiome Project, Isaac Newton Institute for p. 73)
Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge, England. (Aug. 2008, p. 872) 8–December 11 Long Program: Combinatorics: Methods and Ap-
31–August 2 3rd Jairo Charris Seminar—Symmetries of differen- plications in Mathematics and Computer Science, Institute for Pure
tial and difference equations, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Bogotá, and Applied Mathematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Jan.
Colombia. (Feb. 2009, p. 310) 2009, p. 73)

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 415

Mathematics Calendar

9–16 Combinatorics: Methods and Applications in Mathematics and network, storage, and security administration on a variety of platforms
Computer Science, Tutorials, Institute for Pure and Applied Math- including Linux, BSD, Solaris, and OS X.
ematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Jan. 2009, p. 73) Information: http://usenix.org/events/lisa09/.
10–12 Quantum topology and Chern-Simons theory, Institut de Re- 1–December 31 Financial Mathematics, Institute for Mathematical
cherche Mathématique Avancée, Université de Strasbourg, 7 rue René Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore. (Jan. 2009,
Descartes, Strasbourg, France. (Jan. 2009, p. 73) p. 73)
11–17 (NEW DATE) Models in Developing Mathematics Educa- 2–6 Combinatorics: Topics in Graphs and Hypergraphs, Institute for
tion, Dresden University of Applied Sciences, Dresden, Germany. Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
(Apr. 2007, p. 498) (Jan. 2009, p. 74)
15–18 Bogolyubov Kyiv Conference: “Modern Problems of Theoreti- 7–8 AMS Western Section Meeting, University of California, Riverside,
cal and Mathematical Physics”, Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical California. (Aug. 2008, p. 872)
Physics, Kyiv, Ukraine. (Nov. 2008, p. 1319) 16–20 Combinatorics: Analytical Methods in Combinatorics, Addi-
tive Number Theory and Computer Science, Institute for Pure and
October 2009 Applied Mathematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Dec.
5–8 2009 SIAM/ACM Joint Conference on Geometric Design and 2008, p. 1452)
Solid & Physical Modeling, Hilton San Francisco Financial District,
29–December 4 Southern Right Delta (ΣP∆’09) Conference on the
San Francisco, California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1451) Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statis-
5–9 Combinatorics: Probabilistic Techniques and Applications, In- tics, Gordon’s Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. (Feb. 2009, p. 310)
stitute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles,
California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1451) December 2009
9–11 SIAM Conference on Mathematics for Industry: Challenges 7–9 SIAM Conference on Analysis of Partial Differential Equations
and Frontiers (MI09), Hilton San Francisco Financial District, San (PD09), Hilton Miami Downtown, Miami, Florida. (Feb. 2009, p. 310)
Francisco, California. (Feb. 2009, p. 310) 16–18 The 4th Indian International Conference on Artificial In-
12–16 Algebra, Geometry, and Mathematical Physics, The Bedlewo telligence: (IICAI-09), Tumkur (near Bangalore), India. (Dec. 2008,
Mathematical Research and Conference Center, Bedlewo, Poland. (Dec. p. 1452)
2008, p. 1451)
July 2010
14–16 The 9th Conference Shell Structures Theory and Applica-
* 26–August 6 Winter School on Topics in Noncommutative Geom-
tions, Neptun Hotel, Hel Peninsula, Baltic Sea, Jurata, Poland. (Dec.
etry, Departamento de Matematica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y
2008, p. 1451) Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
16–18 AMS Central Section Meeting, Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Description: The school will cover different topics in non-commuta-
(Aug. 2008, p. 872) tive geometry and its connections with other areas of mathematics
and physics, such as operator index theory, strings, representations,
19–23 Combinatorics: Combinatorial Geometry, Institute for Pure
operator algebras, and K-Theory. As of December 2008, the following
and Applied Mathematics (IPAM), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (Dec.
people have agreed in principle to come and give a course: Henrique
2008, p. 1451)
Bursztyn, Joachim Cuntz, Pavel Etingof, Victor Ginzburg, Victor Kac,
19–23 Higher Reidemeister Torsion, American Institute of Math- Max Karoubi, Henri Moscovici, Holger Reich, Nicolai Reshetikhin, Marc
ematics, Palo Alto, California. (Dec. 2008, p. 1451) Rieffel, Jonathan Rosenberg, Georges Skandalis, Boris Tsygan.
* 20–22 International Conference in Modeling Health Advances 2009, Organizers: G. CortiÒas, M. Farinati, J. A. Guccione, J. J. Guccione,
UC Berkeley, San Francisco Bay Area, California. M. Graña.
Description: A host of new diseases, like HIV/AIDS, BSE, Avian Flu, Scientific Committee: G. Cortiñas, J. Cuntz, B. Tsygan.
West Nile Virus and others have appeared on the scene during the Information: http://cms.dm.uba.ar/Members/gcorti/
last twenty-five years and undoubtedly, more will come in the coming workgroup.GNC/3EILS.
years. To tackle these illnesses, the cooperation of modelers, math-
ematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, and others, and of re-
searchers from the medical community is absolutely essential. Model-
ing is important because it gives important insight into the method of
treatment. In the case of HIV/AIDS, for example, mathematical mod-
eling indicated that a combination of both protease inhibitors and
reverse transcriptase inhibitors would be far more effective than any
one of these two drugs. The purpose of this conference is to bring all
the people working in the area of epidemiology under one roof and
encourage mutual interaction.
Information: http://www.iaeng.org/WCECS2009/ICMHA2009.
html; email: [email protected].
24–25 AMS Eastern Section Meeting, Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, Pennsylvania. (Aug. 2008, p. 872)
30–November 1 AMS Southeastern Section Meeting, Florida Atlantic
University, Boca Raton, Florida. (Aug. 2008, p. 872)

November 2009
* 1–6 23rd Large Installation System Administration Conference
(LISA ‘09), Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna Street, Bal-
timore, Maryland.
Description: Over 1,000 system administrators of all specialties and
levels of expertise meet at LISA to exchange ideas, sharpen old skills,
learn new techniques, debate current issues, and meet colleagues,
vendors, and friends. Talks, presentations, posters, WiPs, and BoFs
address a wide range of administration specialties, including system,

416 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 New Publications
Offered by the AMS
To subscribe to email notification of new AMS publications,
please go to http://www.ams.org/bookstore-email.

Algebra and Algebraic Analysis

Geometry
Functional Analysis
Abstract Algebra and Complex Analysis
Aydın Aytuna, Sabancı
Ronald Solomon, Ohio State
University, İstanbul, Turkey,
University, Columbus, OH
Reinhold Meise, University of
This undergraduate text takes a novel Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany,
approach to the standard introductory Tosun Terzioğlu, Sabancı
material on groups, rings, and fields. At University, İstanbul, Turkey,
the heart of the text is a semi-historical
and Dietmar Vogt, University of
journey through the early decades of the
subject as it emerged in the revolutionary Wuppertal, Germany, Editors
work of Euler, Lagrange, Gauss, and Galois.
In recent years, the interplay between the methods of functional
Avoiding excessive abstraction whenever
analysis and complex analysis has led to some remarkable results
possible, the text focuses on the central problem of studying the
in a wide variety of topics. It turned out that the structure of
solutions of polynomial equations. Highlights include a proof of the
spaces of holomorphic functions is fundamentally linked to certain
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, essentially due to Euler, and a
invariants initially defined on abstract Fréchet spaces as well as to
proof of the constructability of the regular 17-gon, in the manner of
the developments in pluripotential theory.
Gauss. Another novel feature is the introduction of groups through
a meditation on the meaning of congruence in the work of Euclid. The aim of this volume is to document some of the original
Everywhere in the text, the goal is to make clear the links connecting contributions to this topic presented at a conference held at
abstract algebra to Euclidean geometry, high school algebra, and Sabancı University in İstanbul, in September 2007. This volume also
trigonometry, in the hope that students pursuing a career as contains some surveys that give an overview of the state of the art
secondary mathematics educators will carry away a deeper and and initiate further research in the interplay between functional and
richer understanding of the high school mathematics curriculum. complex analysis.
Another goal is to encourage students, insofar as possible in a Contents: C. O. Kiselman, Vyacheslav Zakharyuta’s complex
textbook format, to build the course for themselves, with exercises analysis; Z. Błocki, Remark on the definition of the complex
integrally embedded in the text of each chapter. Monge-Ampère operator; J. Bonet and R. Meise, Convolution
Contents: Background; Geometry; Polynomials; Numbers; The operators on quasianalytic classes of Roumieu type; J. S. Brauchart,
grand synthesis; Index. D. P. Hardin, and E. B. Saff, Riesz energy and sets of revolution
in R3 ; P. Djakov and B. Mityagin, Bari-Markus property for
Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 9
Riesz projections of Hill operators with singular potentials;
February 2009, 227 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4795-4, LC M. Langenbruch, Right inverses for differential operators
2008047399, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 12-01, AMS on Fourier ultra-hyperfunctions and the property (DN); S. E.
members US$50, List US$62, Order code AMSTEXT/9 Marzguioui and J. Wiegerinck, Connectedness in the pluri-fine
topology; V. P. Palamodov, Quantum shape of compact domains
in phase plane; A. Rashkovskii, Analyticity and propagation
of plurisubharmonic singularities; D. Vogt, Linear topological
properties of spaces H ω and of spaces of ultradifferentiable
functions; J. Wengenroth, Invertibility for Fréchet valued real
analytic functions; V. Zakharyuta, Kolmogorov problem on widths
asymptotics and pluripotential theory.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 417

New Publications Offered by the AMS

Contemporary Mathematics, Volume 481

April 2009, 196 pages, Softcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4460-1, Fourier Analysis and
LC 2008040610, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 46E10, Its Applications
46A04, 46F05, 32U15, 35E20, 32E30, 28A78, 46A63, 47B06, 32W20,
AMS members US$55, List US$69, Order code CONM/481 Gerald B. Folland, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA
This book presents the theory and
Advanced Calculus applications of Fourier series and
integrals, eigenfunction expansions, and
Second Edition related topics, on a level suitable for
advanced undergraduates. It includes
Patrick M. Fitzpatrick, University material on Bessel functions, orthogonal
of Maryland, College Park, MD polynomials, and Laplace transforms, and it concludes with
chapters on generalized functions and Green’s functions for
Advanced Calculus is intended as ordinary and partial differential equations. The book deals almost
a text for courses that furnish the exclusively with aspects of these subjects that are useful in physics
backbone of the student’s undergraduate and engineering, and includes a wide variety of applications. On the
education in mathematical analysis. theoretical side, it uses ideas from modern analysis to develop the
The goal is to rigorously present the concepts and reasoning behind the techniques without getting
fundamental concepts within the context bogged down in the technicalities of rigorous proofs.
of illuminating examples and stimulating exercises. This book is Contents: Overture; Fourier series; Orthogonal sets of functions;
self-contained and starts with the creation of basic tools using the Some boundary value problems; Bessel functions; Orthogonal
completeness axiom. The continuity, differentiability, integrability, polynomials; The Fourier transform; The Laplace transform;
and power series representation properties of functions of a Generalized functions; Green’s functions; Appendices; Answers to
single variable are established. The next few chapters describe the the exercises; References; Index of symbols; Index.
topological and metric properties of Euclidean space. These are the
basis of a rigorous treatment of differential calculus (including the Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 4
Implicit Function Theorem and Lagrange Multipliers) for mappings March 2009, 433 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4790-9,
between Euclidean spaces and integration for functions of several LC 2008047394, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 42-01;
real variables.
00A05, 33-01, 34B05, 34L10, 44A10, 46-01, AMS members US$58,
Special attention has been paid to the motivation for proofs. List US$72, Order code AMSTEXT/4
Selected topics, such as the Picard Existence Theorem for
differential equations, have been included in such a way that
selections may be made while preserving a fluid presentation of the
essential material.
Supplemented with numerous exercises, Advanced Calculus is a
Introduction to
perfect book for undergraduate students of analysis. Analysis
Contents: Preliminaries; Tools for analysis; Convergent sequences; Fifth Edition
Continuous functions; Differentiation; Elementary functions as
solutions of differential equations; Integration: Two fundamental Edward D. Gaughan, New Mexico
theorems; Integration: Further topics; Approximation by Taylor State University, Las Cruces, NM
polynomials; Sequences and series of functions; The Euclidean
space Rn ; Continuity, compactness, and connectedness; Metric Introduction to Analysis is designed
spaces; Differentiating functions of several variables; Local to bridge the gap between the
approximation of real-valued functions; Approximating nonlinear intuitive calculus usually offered at the
mappings by linear mappings; Images and inverses: The inverse undergraduate level and the sophisticated
function theorem; The implicit function theorem and its analysis courses the student encounters at the graduate level. In
applications; Integrating functions of several variables; Iterated this book the student is given the vocabulary and facts necessary
integration and changes of variables; Line and surface integrals; for further study in analysis. The course for which it is designed
Consequences of the field and positivity axioms; Linear algebra; is usually offered at the junior level, and it is assumed that
Index. the student has little or no previous experience with proofs in
Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 5 analysis. A considerable amount of time is spent motivating the
theorems and proofs and developing the reader’s intuition. Of
March 2009, 590 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4791-6, course, that intuition must be tempered with the realization that
LC 2008047395, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 26-01, rigorous proofs are required for theorems. The topics are quite
26A06, AMS members US$66, List US$82, Order code AMSTEXT/5 standard: convergence of sequences, limits of functions, continuity,
differentiation, the Riemann integral, infinite series, power series,
and convergence of sequences of functions. Many examples are
given to illustrate the theory, and exercises at the end of each
chapter are keyed to each section. Also, at the end of each section,
one finds several Projects. The purpose of a Project is to give the
reader a substantial mathematical problem and the necessary
guidance to solve that problem. A Project is distinguished from an

418 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 New Publications Offered by the AMS

exercise in that the solution of a Project is a multi-step process Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) receive a 20% discount
requiring assistance for the beginner student. from list price.
Contents: Preliminaries; Sequences; Limits of functions; Continuity; Contents: M. A. Lewis and J. Keener, Introduction; J. P. Keener,
Differentiation; The Riemann integral; Infinite series; Sequences and Introduction to dynamics of biological systems; M. A. Lewis,
series of functions; Index. T. Hillen, and F. Lutscher, Spatial dynamics in ecology; J. M.
Cushing, Matrix models and population dynamics; D. J. D.
Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 1
Earn, Mathematical epidemiology of infectious diseases; L.
March 2009, 240 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4787-9, LC Glass, Topological approaches to biological dynamics; H. Byrne,
2008047387, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 26-01, AMS Mathematical modelling of solid tumour growth: from avascular to
members US$50, List US$62, Order code AMSTEXT/1 vascular, via angiogenesis; P. C. Bressloff, Lectures in mathematical
neuroscience.
IAS/Park City Mathematics Series, Volume 14
April 2009, approximately 408 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-
Applications 4765-7, LC 2008047401, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification:
34-02, 35-02, 37-02, 92-02, AMS members US$63, List US$79,
Order code PCMS/14

Mathematical Biology
Mark A. Lewis, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, The Mathematics of
Mark A. J. Chaplain, University Finance
of Dundee, Scotland, James P.
Keener, University of Utah, Salt Modeling and Hedging
Lake City, UT, and Philip K. Victor Goodman and Joseph
Maini, University of Oxford, Stampfli, Indiana University,
England, Editors Bloomington, IN
Each summer the IAS/Park City Mathematics Institute Graduate This book is ideally suited for an
Summer School gathers some of the best researchers and introductory undergraduate course on
educators in a particular field to present lectures on a major area financial engineering. It explains the basic
of mathematics. A unifying theme of the mathematical biology concepts of financial derivatives, including put and call options,
courses presented here is that the study of biology involves as well as more complex derivatives such as barrier options and
dynamical systems. Introductory chapters by Jim Keener and Mark options on futures contracts. Both discrete and continuous models
Lewis describe the biological dynamics of reactions and of spatial of market behavior are developed in this book. In particular,
processes. the analysis of option prices developed by Black and Scholes is
Each remaining chapter stands alone, as a snapshot of in-depth explained in a self-contained way, using both the probabilistic
research within a sub-area of mathematical biology. Jim Brownian Motion method and the analytical differential equations
Cushing writes about the role of nonlinear dynamical systems method.
in understanding complex dynamics of insect populations. The book begins with binomial stock price models, moves on to
Epidemiology, and the interplay of data and differential equations, multistage models, then to the Cox–Ross–Rubinstein option pricing
is the subject of David Earn’s chapter on dynamic diseases. process, and then to the Black–Scholes formula. Other topics
Topological methods for understanding dynamical systems are presented include Zero Coupon Bonds, forward rates, the yield
the focus of the chapter by Leon Glass on perturbed biological curve, and several bond price models. The book continues with
oscillators. Helen Byrne introduces the reader to cancer modeling foreign exchange models and the Keynes Interest Rate Parity
and shows how mathematics can describe and predict complex Formula, and concludes with the study of country risk, a topic not
movement patterns of tumors and cells. In the final chapter, Paul inappropriate for the times.
Bressloff couples nonlinear dynamics to nonlocal oscillations, to
provide insight to the form and function of the brain. In addition to theoretical results, numerical models are presented
in much detail. Each of the eleven chapters includes a variety of
The book provides a state-of-the-art picture of some current exercises.
research in mathematical biology. Our hope is that the excitement
and richness of the topics covered here will encourage readers to Contents: Financial markets; Binomial trees, replicating portfolios,
explore further in mathematical biology, pursuing these topics and and arbitrage; Tree models for stocks and options; Using
others on their own. spreadsheets to compute stock and option trees; Continuous
models and the Black-Scholes formula; The analytic approach to
The level is appropriate for graduate students and research Black-Scholes; Hedging; Bond models and interest rate options;
scientists. Each chapter is based on a series of lectures given Computational methods for bonds; Currency markets and foreign
by a leading researcher and develops methods and theory of exchange risks; International political risk analysis; Answers to
mathematical biology from first principles. Exercises are included selected exercises; Index.
for those who wish to delve further into the material.
Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 7
Titles in this series are co-published with the Institute for
Advanced Study/Park City Mathematics Institute. Members of the April 2009, 250 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4793-0,
Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and the National LC 2008047397, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 91-01;

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 419

New Publications Offered by the AMS

60H10, 60H30, 91B28, AMS members US$50, List US$62, Order This volume will benefit researchers interested in advances in
code AMSTEXT/7 quantum computation and communication, as well as graduate
students who wish to enter the field of quantum computation.
Contents: Z. Zhang and G. Chen, Mathematical formulations of
atom trap quantum gates; H. E. Brandt, Charge renormalization,
Apréry’s number, and the trefoil knot; Y. Zhang, Braid
Numerical Analysis group, Temperley-Lieb algebra, and quantum information and
computation; T. Schedler, Poisson algebras and Yang-Baxter
Mathematics of Scientific equations; J. M. Myers and F. H. Madjid, Ambiguity in
Computing, Third Edition quantum-theoretical descriptions of experiments; P. Benioff,
Reference frame fields based on quantum theory representations
David Kincaid and Ward of real and complex numbers; E. C. Rowell, Two paradigms
Cheney, University of Texas at for topological quantum computation; S. Bravyi, Contraction
of matchgate tensor networks on non-planar graphs; M.
Austin, TX
Haque, Probing topological order in quantum Hall states using
This book introduces students with entanglement calculations; A. Hamma, Topological order and
diverse backgrounds to various types of entanglement; V. E. Korepin and Y. Xu, Hierarchical quantum
mathematical analysis that are commonly search.
needed in scientific computing. The subject of numerical analysis is Contemporary Mathematics, Volume 482
treated from a mathematical point of view, offering a complete
April 2009, 240 pages, Softcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4627-8,
analysis of methods for scientific computing with appropriate
motivations and careful proofs. LC 2008042590, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 81P68,
81T18, 81V10, 68M07, 37F25, 20F36, 57M25, 57M27, 47N55, AMS
In an engaging and informal style, the authors demonstrate that
members US$63, List US$79, Order code CONM/482
many computational procedures and intriguing questions of
computer science arise from theorems and proofs. Algorithms
are presented in pseudocode, so that students can immediately
write computer programs in standard languages or use interactive
mathematical software packages.
Differential Equations
This book occasionally touches upon more advanced topics that are
not usually contained in standard textbooks at this level.
Contents: Numerical analysis: What is it?; Mathematical Layer Potential
preliminaries; Computer arithmetic; Solution of nonlinear
equations; Solving systems of linear equations; Selected topics in
Techniques in Spectral
numerical linear algebra; Approximating functions; Numerical Analysis
differentiation and integration; Numerical solution of ordinary
differential equations; Numerical solution of partial differential
Habib Ammari, Ecole
equations; Linear programming and related topics; Optimization; Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France,
Appendix A. An overview of mathematical software; Bibliography; and Hyeonbae Kang and
Index. Hyundae Lee, Inha University,
Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 2 Incheon, South Korea
January 2009, 788 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4788-6, LC Since the early part of the twentieth
2008047389, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 65-01, AMS century, the use of integral equations has developed into a range of
members US$71, List US$89, Order code AMSTEXT/2 tools for the study of partial differential equations. This includes
the use of single- and double-layer potentials to treat classical
boundary value problems.
The aim of this book is to give a self-contained presentation of an
Advances in Quantum asymptotic theory for eigenvalue problems using layer potential
Computation techniques with applications in the fields of inverse problems, band
gap structures, and optimal design, in particular the optimal design
Kazem Mahdavi and Deborah of photonic and phononic crystals. Throughout this book, it is
Koslover, University of Texas at shown how powerful the layer potentials techniques are for solving
Tyler, TX, Editors not only boundary value problems but also eigenvalue problems if
they are combined with the elegant theory of Gohberg and Sigal on
This volume represents the talks given meromorphic operator-valued functions. The general approach in
at the Conference on Interactions between this book is developed in detail for eigenvalue problems for the
Representation Theory, Quantum Field Laplacian and the Lamé system in the following two situations: one
Theory, Category Theory, Mathematical under variation of domains or boundary conditions and the other
Physics, and Quantum Information due to the presence of inclusions.
Theory, held in September 2007 at the University of Texas at Tyler.
The book will be of interest to researchers and graduate students
The papers in this volume, written by top experts in the field, working in the fields of partial differential equations, integral
address physical aspects, mathematical aspects, and foundational equations, and inverse problems. Researchers in engineering and
issues of quantum computation. physics may also find this book helpful.

420 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 New Publications Offered by the AMS

This item will also be of interest to those working in applications. Geometry and Topology
Contents: Introduction; Gohberg-Sigal theory: Generalized
argument principle and Rouché’s theorem; Eigenvalue perturbation
problems and applications: Layer potentials; Eigenvalue
perturbations of the Laplacian; Vibration testing for detecting
internal corrosion; Perturbations of scattering frequencies of Beginning Topology
resonators with narrow slits and slots; Eigenvalue perturbations of Sue E. Goodman, University of
the Lamé system; Photonic and phononic band gaps and optimal
North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
design: Floquet transform, spectra of periodic elliptic operators,
and quasi-periodic layer potentials; Photonic band gaps; Phononic Beginning Topology is designed to give
band gaps; Optimal design problems; Bibliography; Index. undergraduate students a broad notion of
Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, Volume 153 the scope of topology in areas of point-set,
geometric, combinatorial, differential,
March 2009, 202 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4784-8, and algebraic topology, including an
LC 2008048317, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 47A55, introduction to knot theory. A primary
47A75, 31A10, 34A55, 35R30, 35B34, 45Q05, 30E25, AMS members goal is to expose students to some
US$55, List US$69, Order code SURV/153 recent research and to get them actively
involved in learning. Exercises and open-ended projects are placed
throughout the text, making it adaptable to seminar-style classes.
The book starts with a chapter introducing the basic concepts of
point-set topology, with examples chosen to captivate students’

Discrete Mathematics and imaginations while illustrating the need for rigor. Most of the
material in this and the next two chapters is essential for the

Combinatorics remainder of the book. One can then choose from chapters on map
coloring, vector fields on surfaces, the fundamental group, and knot
theory.
A solid foundation in calculus is necessary, with some differential
equations and basic group theory helpful in a couple of chapters.
A Discrete Transition Topics are chosen to appeal to a wide variety of students:
to Advanced primarily upper-level math majors, but also a few freshmen and
sophomores as well as graduate students from physics, economics,
Mathematics and computer science. All students will benefit from seeing the
interaction of topology with other fields of mathematics and
Bettina Richmond and Thomas
science; some will be motivated to continue with a more in-depth,
Richmond, Western Kentucky rigorous study of topology.
University, Bowling Green, KY
Contents: Introduction to point set topology; Surfaces; The Euler
As the title indicates, this book is intended characteristic; Maps and graphs; Vector fields on surfaces; The
for courses aimed at bridging the gap fundamental group; Introduction to knots; Bibliography and
between lower-level mathematics and reading list; Index.
advanced mathematics. The text provides a careful introduction Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 10
to techniques for writing proofs and a logical development of
topics based on intuitive understanding of concepts. The authors February 2009, 236 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4796-1, LC
utilize a clear writing style and a wealth of examples to develop an 2008047400, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 55-01, 57-
understanding of discrete mathematics and critical thinking skills. 01, AMS members US$50, List US$62, Order code AMSTEXT/10
While including many traditional topics, the text offers innovative
material throughout. Surprising results are used to motivate the
reader. The last three chapters address topics such as continued
fractions, infinite arithmetic, and the interplay among Fibonacci
numbers, Pascal’s triangle, and the golden ratio, and may be used
for independent reading assignments. The treatment of sequences
Geometry for College
may be used to introduce epsilon-delta proofs. The selection of Students
topics provides flexibility for the instructor in a course designed
to spark the interest of students through exciting material while I. Martin Isaacs, University of
preparing them for subsequent proof-based courses. Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Contents: Sets and logic; Proofs; Number theory; Combinatorics; One of the challenges many mathematics
Relations; Functions and cardinality; Graph theory; Sequences; students face occurs after they complete
Fibonacci numbers and Pascal’s triangle; Continued fractions; their study of basic calculus and linear
Answers or hints for selected exercises; Bibliography; Index. algebra, and they start taking courses
Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 3 where they are expected to write proofs.
Historically, students have been learning
February 2009, 424 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4789-3, LC to think mathematically and to write proofs by studying Euclidean
2008047393, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 00-01, AMS geometry. In the author’s opinion, geometry is still the best way to
members US$58, List US$72, Order code AMSTEXT/3 make the transition from elementary to advanced mathematics.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 421

New Publications Offered by the AMS

The book begins with a thorough review of high school geometry, Contents: The algebra of observables in classical mechanics;
then goes on to discuss special points associated with triangles, States; Liouville’s theorem, and two pictures of motion in
circles and certain associated lines, Ceva’s theorem, vector classical mechanics; Physical bases of quantum mechanics; A
techniques of proof, and compass-and-straightedge constructions. finite-dimensional model of quantum mechanics; States in quantum
There is also some emphasis on proving numerical formulas like the mechanics; Heisenberg uncertainty relations; Physical meaning of
laws of sines, cosines, and tangents, Stewart’s theorem, Ptolemy’s the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of observables; Two pictures
theorem, and the area formula of Heron. of motion in quantum mechanics. The Schrödinger equation.
Stationary states; Quantum mechanics of real systems. The
An important difference of this book from the majority of modern
college geometry texts is that it avoids axiomatics. The students Heisenberg commutation relations; Coordinate and momentum
using this book have had very little experience with formal representations; “Eigenfunctions” of the operators Q and P ;
The energy, the angular momentum, and other examples of
mathematics. Instead, the focus of the course and the book
observables; The interconnection between quantum and classical
is on interesting theorems and on the techniques that can be
mechanics. Passage to the limit from quantum mechanics to
used to prove them. This makes the book suitable to second- or
classical mechanics; One-dimensional problems of quantum
third-year mathematics majors and also to secondary mathematics
education majors, allowing the students to learn how to write mechanics. A free one-dimensional particle; The harmonic
oscillator; The problem of the oscillator in the coordinate
proofs of mathematical results and, at the end, showing them what
representation; Representation of the states of a one-dimensional
mathematics is really all about.
particle in the sequence space l2 ; Representation of the states for a
Contents: The basics; Triangles; Circles and lines; Ceva’s theorem one-dimensional particle in the space D of entire analytic functions;
and its relatives; Vector methods of proof; Geometric constructions; The general case of one-dimensional motion; Three-dimensional
Some further reading; Index. problems in quantum mechanics. A three-dimensional free
Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 8 particle; A three-dimensional particle in a potential field; Angular
momentum; The rotation group; Representations of the rotation
April 2009, 222 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4794-7, LC group; Spherically symmetric operators; Representation of
2008047398, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 51-01, AMS rotations by 2 × 2 unitary matrices; Representation of the rotation
members US$50, List US$62, Order code AMSTEXT/8 group on a space of entire analytic functions of two complex
variables; Uniqueness of the representations Dj ; Representations of
the rotation group on the space L2 (S 2 ). Spherical functions; The
radial Schrödinger equation; The hydrogen atom. The alkali metal
atoms; Perturbation theory; The variational principle; Scattering
Mathematical Physics theory. Physical formulation of the problem; Scattering of a
one-dimensional particle by a potential barrier; Physical meaning
of the solutions ψ1 and ψ2 ; Scattering by a rectangular barrier;
Scattering by a potential center; Motion of wave packets in a central
force field; The integral equation of scattering theory; Derivation
Lectures on Quantum of a formula for the cross-section; Abstract scattering theory;
Mechanics for Properties of commuting operators; Representation of the state
space with respect to a complete set of observables; Spin; Spin of a
Mathematics Students system of two electrons; Systems of many particles. The identity
principle; Symmetry of the coordinate wave functions of a system of
L. D. Faddeev, Steklov
two electrons. The helium atom; Multi-electron atoms. One-electron
Mathematical Institute, St. approximation; The self-consistent field equations; Mendeleev’s
Petersburg, Russia, and O. A. periodic system of the elements; Lagrangian formulation of
Yakubovskiı̆, St. Petersburg classical mechanics.
University, Russia Student Mathematical Library, Volume 47
with an appendix by Leon April 2009, approximately 242 pages, Softcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-
Takhtajan 4699-5, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 81-01, 81Qxx,
This book is based on notes from the course developed and taught AMS members US$31, List US$39, Order code STML/47
for more than 30 years at the Department of Mathematics of
Leningrad University. The goal of the course was to present the
basics of quantum mechanics and its mathematical content to Mathematical
students in mathematics. This book differs from the majority of
other textbooks on the subject in that much more attention is Methods in Quantum
paid to general principles of quantum mechanics. In particular,
the authors describe in detail the relation between classical and
Mechanics
quantum mechanics. When selecting particular topics, the authors With Applications to
emphasize those that are related to interesting mathematical
theories. In particular, the book contains a discussion of problems
Schrödinger Operators
related to group representation theory and to scattering theory. Gerald Teschl, University of
This book is rather elementary and concise, and it does not require Vienna, Austria
prerequisites beyond the standard undergraduate mathematical
curriculum. It is aimed at giving a mathematically oriented student Quantum mechanics and the theory of
the opportunity to grasp the main points of quantum theory in a operators on Hilbert space have been deeply linked since their
mathematical framework. beginnings in the early twentieth century. States of a quantum

422 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 New Publications Offered by the AMS

system correspond to certain elements of the configuration space the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries with
and observables correspond to certain operators on the space. This many years of experience as a university professor and industry
book is a brief, but self-contained, introduction to the mathematical practitioner, the book is suitable as a text for senior undergraduate
methods of quantum mechanics, with a view towards applications and beginning graduate students in mathematics, statistics,
to Schrödinger operators. actuarial science, finance, or engineering as well as a reference for
practitioners in these fields. The book is particularly well suited
Part 1 of the book is a concise introduction to the spectral theory of
unbounded operators. Only those topics that will be needed for later for students preparing for professional exams, and for several
years it has been recommended as a textbook on the syllabus of
applications are covered. The spectral theorem is a central topic in
examinations for the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of
this approach and is introduced at an early stage. Part 2 starts with
Actuaries.
the free Schrödinger equation and computes the free resolvent and
time evolution. Position, momentum, and angular momentum are In addition to covering the standard topics and probability
discussed via algebraic methods. Various mathematical methods distributions, this book includes separate sections on more
are developed, which are then used to compute the spectrum of the specialized topics such as mixtures and compound distributions,
hydrogen atom. Further topics include the nondegeneracy of the distributions of transformations, and the application of specialized
ground state, spectra of atoms, and scattering theory. distributions such as the Pareto, beta, and Weibull. The book also
has a number of unique features such as a detailed description of
This book serves as a self-contained introduction to spectral theory
the celebrated Markowitz investment portfolio selection model.
of unbounded operators in Hilbert space with full proofs and
A separate section contains information on how graphs of the
minimal prerequisites: Only a solid knowledge of advanced calculus
specific distributions studied in the book can be created using
and a one-semester introduction to complex analysis are required.
MathematicaTM .
In particular, no functional analysis and no Lebesgue integration
theory are assumed. It develops the mathematical tools necessary The book includes a large number of problems of varying difficulty.
to prove some key results in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. A student manual with solutions to selected problems are available.
For more information regarding the student manual, please contact
Mathematical Methods in Quantum Mechanics is intended for
beginning graduate students in both mathematics and physics and AMS Member and Customer Services at [email protected].
provides a solid foundation for reading more advanced books An instructor’s manual with complete solutions to all the problems
and current research literature. It is well suited for self-study and as well as supplementary material is available to teachers using
includes numerous exercises (many with hints). the book as the text for the class. To receive it, send e-mail to
[email protected].
Contents: Preliminaries: A first look at Banach and Hilbert spaces;
Mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics: Hilbert spaces; Contents: Introduction; A survey of some basic concepts through
Self-adjointness and spectrum; The spectral theorem; Applications examples; Classical probability; Random variables and probability
of the spectral theorem; Quantum dynamics; Perturbation distributions; Special discrete distributions; Special continuous
theory for self-adjoint operators; Schrödinger operators: The distributions; Transformations of random variables; Sums
free Schrödinger operator; Algebraic methods; One dimensional and products of random variables; Mixtures and compound
Schrödinger operators; One-particle Schrödinger operators; Atomic distributions; The Markowitz investment portfolio selection model;
Schrödinger operators; Scattering theory; Appendix: Almost Appendixes; Answers to selected exercises; Index.
everything about Lebesgue integration; Bibliographical notes; Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume 6
Bibliography; Glossary of notation; Index.
February 2009, 448 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218-4792-3, LC
Graduate Studies in Mathematics, Volume 99
2008047396, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 60-01, AMS
April 2009, approximately 302 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-8218- members US$58, List US$72, Order code AMSTEXT/6
4660-5, LC 2008045437, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification:
81-01, 81Qxx, 46-01, 34Bxx, 47B25, AMS members US$47, List
US$59, Order code GSM/99

Probability

Probability: The
Science of Uncertainty
with Applications to
Investments, Insurance,
and Engineering
Michael A. Bean
This book covers the basic probability
of distributions with an emphasis
on applications from the areas of
investments, insurance, and engineering. Written by a Fellow of

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 423

New AMS-Distributed Publications

Available exclusively from the AMS.

New AMS-Distributed A publication of Brooks/Cole: Cengage Learning.

Brooks/Cole: Cengage Learning, Volume 15

Publications October 2004, 336 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-534-41911-0,

AMS members US$55, List US$69, Order code CENGAGE/15

Analysis
Algebra and Algebraic
Geometry
Measured Quantum
Groupoids
Concepts in Abstract Franck Lesieur, Université de
Caen, France
Algebra
Charles Lanski, University of In this volume, the author gives a
definition for measured quantum
Southern California, Los Angeles,
groupoids. He aims to construct objects
CA with duality including both quantum
groups and groupoids. J. Kustermans
The style and structure of Concepts in
and S. Vaes’ works about locally compact
Abstract Algebra are designed to help
quantum groups the author generalizes thanks to formalism
students learn the core concepts and
introduced by M. Enock and J. M. Vallin in the case of inclusion
associated techniques in algebra deeply
of von Neumann algebras. From a structure of Hopf-bimodule
and well. Providing a fuller and richer
with left and right invariant operator-valued weights, the author
account of material than time allows in a lecture, this text presents
defines a fundamental pseudo-multiplicative unitary. To get a
interesting examples of sufficient complexity so that students can
satisfying duality in the general case, he assumes the existence
see the concepts and results used in a nontrivial setting. Charles
of an antipode given by its polar decomposition. This theory is
Lanski gives students the opportunity to practice by offering many
illustrated with many examples, among them the inclusion of
exercises that require the use and synthesis of the techniques and
von Neumann algebras (M. Enock) and a sub family of measured
results. Both readable and mathematically interesting, the text
quantum groupoids with easier axiomatic.
also helps students learn the art of constructing mathematical
arguments. Overall, students discover how mathematics proceeds A publication of the Société Mathématique de France, Marseilles
and how to use techniques that mathematicians actually employ. (SMF), distributed by the AMS in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Orders from other countries should be sent to the SMF. Members of
Available exclusively from the AMS.
the SMF receive a 30% discount from list.
A publication of Brooks/Cole: Cengage Learning.
Contents: Introduction; Recalls; Fundamental pseudo-
Brooks/Cole: Cengage Learning, Volume 14 multiplicative unitary; Part I. Measured quantum groupoids:
Definition; Uniqueness, modulus and scaling operator; A density
September 2004, 550 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-534-42323-0,
theorem; Manageability of the fundamental unitary; Duality; Part II.
AMS members US$71, List US$89, Order code CENGAGE/14
Examples: Adapted measured quantum groupoids; Groupoids;
Finite quantum groupoids; Quantum groups; Compact case;
Quantum space quantum groupoid; Pairs quantum groupoid;
Inclusions of von Neumann algebras; Operations on adapted
measured quantum groupoids; Bibliography.
Topics in Applied Mémoires de la Société Mathématique de France, Number 109
Abstract Algebra November 2008, 122 pages, Softcover, ISBN: 978-2-85629-233-
S. R. Nagpaul and S. K. Jain, Ohio 4, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 46Lxx, Individual
University, Athens, OH member US$36, List US$40, Order code SMFMEM/109

This book presents interesting

applications of abstract algebra to
practical real-world problems. Especially
for those whose interest in algebra is
not confined to abstract theory, the text
makes the study of abstract algebra more
exciting and meaningful. The book is appropriate as either a text
for an applied abstract algebra course or as a supplemental text
for a standard course in abstract algebra. While fully developed,
the algebraic theory presented is just what is required for the
applications discussed in the book.

424 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 New AMS-Distributed Publications

General and Interdisciplinary Thomas Harriot’s

Doctrine of Triangular
Numbers: the
Séminaire Bourbaki ‘Magisteria Magna’
Volume 2006/2007 Janet Beery, University of
Exposés 967–981 Redlands, CA, and Jacqueline
Stedall, The Queens College,
As in the preceding volumes of this
Oxford, England, Editors
seminar, one finds here fifteen survey
lectures on topics of current interest: Thomas Harriot (1560–1621) was a
three lectures on algebraic geometry, mathematician and astronomer who founded the English school of
two on arithmetic geometry, one about algebra. He is known not only for his work in algebra and geometry
Diophantine approximation, two on but also as a prolific writer with wide-ranging interests in ballistics,
number theory, three on differential navigation, and optics. (He discovered the sine law of refraction now
geometry, two about groups or Lie algebras, and two about known as Snell’s law.)
mathematical physics.
By about 1614, Harriot had developed finite difference interpolation
A publication of the Société Mathématique de France, Marseilles methods for navigational tables. In 1618 (or slightly later) he
(SMF), distributed by the AMS in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. composed a treatise entitled ‘De numeris triangularibus et inde
Orders from other countries should be sent to the SMF. Members of de progressionibus arithmeticis, Magisteria magna’, in which he
the SMF receive a 30% discount from list. derived symbolic interpolation formulae and showed how to use
Contents: Novembre 2006: Y. F. Bilu, The many faces of the them. This treatise was never published and is here reproduced for
subspace theorem; A. Chambert-Loir, Compter (rapidement) the first time. Commentary has been added to help the reader follow
le nombre de solutions d’équations dans les corps finis; Harriot’s beautiful but almost completely nonverbal presentation.
V. Colin, Livres ouverts en géométrie de contact; O. Debarre, The introductory essay preceding the treatise gives an overview
Systèmes pluricanoniques sur les variétés de type général; of the contents of the ‘Magisteria’ and describes its influence on
A. Zuk, Groupes engendrés pour les automates; Mars 2007: Harriot’s contemporaries and successors over the next sixty years.
C. De Lellis, Ordinary differential equations with rough coefficients Harriot’s method was not superseded until Newton, apparently
and the renormalization theorem of Ambrosio; F. Pellarin, independently, made a similar discovery in the 1660s. The
Aspects de l’indépendance algébrique en caractéristique non ideas in the ‘Magisteria’ were spread primarily through personal
nulle; J. V. Pereira, Algebraization of codimension one Webs; communication and unpublished manuscripts, and so, quite apart
J.-M. Roquejoffre, Propriétés qualitatives des solutions des from their intrinsic mathematical interest, their survival in England
équations de Hamilton–Jacobi; O. Schiffmann, Variétés carquois during the seventeenth century provides an important case study in
de Nakajima; Juin 2007: H. Carayol, La conjecture de Sato–Tate; the dissemination of mathematics through informal networks of
Y. C. de Verdière, Semi-classical measures and entropy; D. Harari, friends and acquaintances.
Points rationnels sur les sous-variétés des variétés abéliennes
au-dessus d’un corps de fonctions; C. Torossian, La conjecture de A publication of the European Mathematical Society (EMS).
Kashiwara–Vergne; C. Voisin, Géométrie des esapces de modules Distributed within the Americas by the American Mathematical
de courbes et de surfaces K3. Society.

Astérisque, Number 317 Contents: Thomas Harriot and the ‘Magisteria magna’: A short
chronology; Thomas Harriot’s ‘Magisteria magna’ and constant
November 2008, 535 pages, Softcover, ISBN: 978-2-85629-230-3, difference interpolation in the seventeenth century; Bibliography;
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 11J68, 11D61, 11G30, De numeris triangularibus et inde de progressionibus arithmeticis:
11G35, 11J81, 57R17, 53D35, 14J40, 14F17, 14E25, 14E30, 20F69, Magisteria magna; Acknowledgements.
37C10, 35Q35, 35B65, 35L65, 49N60, 11J93, 11G09, 12H10, 14L17, Heritage of European Mathematics, Volume 2
11G05, 11G20, 11G25, 11Y16, 14G15, 14G40, 14Q05, 35A05, 35C15,
35D10, 37J50, 70H20, 14J10, 17B65, 11F80, 37D20, 37D40, 58J40, November 2008, 144 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-3-03719-059-3,
58J50, 14G05, 17Bxx, 17B25, 22Exx, 53C35, 53D55, 14H10, 14J15, 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 01-02, AMS members
14J28, Individual member US$81, List US$90, Order code AST/317 US$67, List US$84, Order code EMSHEM/2

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 425

New AMS-Distributed Publications

Geometry and Topology contactomorphisms; T. Tsuboi, On the uniform perfectness of

diffeomorphism groups.
Advanced Studies in Pure Mathematics, Volume 52

Groups of Diffeomorphisms November 2008, 524 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-4-931469-48-8,

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 57-06; 19D06, 19D10,
In Honor of Shigeyuki Morita on the 37C85, 37D40, 37E10, 37E25, 37E30, 53D05, 53D10, 53D12, 53D35,
Occasion of His 60th Birthday 53D40, 53D45, 55P35, 55P47, 55P62, 55R35, 55R40, 57R17, 57R19,
Robert Penner, University of Southern California, 57R20, 57R30, 57R32, 57R50, 57S05, 57S25, 57S30, 58H10, AMS
members US$69, List US$86, Order code ASPM/52
Los Angeles, CA, Dieter Kotschick,
Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Munich,
Germany, Takashi Tsuboi and Nariya Kawazumi,
University of Tokyo, Japan, Teruaki Kitano, Soka Mathematical Physics
University, Tokyo, Japan, and Yoshihiko
Mitsumatsu, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan, Editors
This volume is dedicated to Shigeyuki Morita on the occasion of The Formation of
his 60th birthday. It consists of selected papers on recent trends
and results in the study of various groups of diffeomorphisms, Black Holes in General
including mapping class groups, from the point of view of algebraic Relativity
and differential topology, as well as dynamical ones involving
foliations and symplectic or contact diffeomorphisms. Demetrios Christodoulou,
Most of the authors were invited speakers or participants of the Eidgen Technische Hochschule,
International Symposium on Groups of Diffeomorphisms 2006, Zürich, Switzerland
which was held at the University of Tokyo (Komaba) in September
2006. The editors believe that the scope of this volume well reflects In 1965 Penrose introduced the
Morita’s mathematical interests and hope this book inspires not fundamental concept of a trapped surface,
only the specialists in these fields but also a wider audience of on the basis of which he proved a theorem
mathematicians. which asserts that a spacetime containing
such a surface must come to an end. The presence of a trapped
Published for the Mathematical Society of Japan by Kinokuniya, surface implies, moreover, that there is a region of spacetime, the
Tokyo, and distributed worldwide, except in Japan, by the AMS. black hole, which is inaccessible to observation from infinity.
Contents: S. R. Fenley, Asymptotic geometry of foliations and Since that time a major challenge has been to find out how trapped
pseudo-Anosov flows—a survey; K. Igusa, Pontrjagin classes and surfaces actually form, by analyzing the dynamics of gravitational
higher torsion of sphere bundles; T. Kitano and T. Morifuji, collapse. The present monograph achieves this aim by establishing
L2 -torsion invariants and the Magnus representation of the the formation of trapped surfaces in pure general relativity through
mapping class group; H.-V. Lê and K. Ono, Parameterized the focusing of gravitational waves.
Gromov–Witten invariants and topology of symplectomorphism
groups; R. C. Penner, Mapping class actions on surface group The theorems proved in this monograph constitute the first foray
completions; T. Sakasai, Johnson’s homomorphisms and the into the long-time dynamics of general relativity in the large,
rational cohomology of subgroups of the mapping class group; that is, when the initial data are no longer confined to a suitable
T. Akita, On mod p Riemann-Roch formulae for mapping neighborhood of trivial data. The main new method, the short pulse
class groups; J. S. Birman, T. E. Brendle, and N. Broaddus, method, applies to general systems of Euler–Lagrange equations of
Calculating the image of the second Johnson-Morita representation; hyperbolic type and provides the means to tackle problems which
J. S. Birman, D. Johnson, and A. Putman, Symplectic Heegaard have hitherto seemed unapproachable.
splittings and linked abelian groups; D. Burago, S. Ivanov, and This monograph will be of interest to people working in general
L. Polterovich, Conjugation-invariant norms on groups of relativity, geometric analysis, and partial differential equations.
geometric origin; H. Endo, A generalization of Chakiris’ fibrations;
A publication of the European Mathematical Society (EMS).
K. Fujiwara, Subgroups generated by two pseudo-Anosov elements
Distributed within the Americas by the American Mathematical
in a mapping class group. I. Uniform exponential growth;
Society.
K. Gomi, Differential characters and the Steenrod squares;
R. Hain, Relative weight filtrations on completions of mapping Contents: The optical structure equations; The characteristic initial
class groups; Y. Kasahara, Remarks on the faithfulness of the data; L∞ estimates for the connection coefficients; L4 (S)estimates
Jones representations; N. Kawazumi, On the stable cohomology for the 1st derivatives of the connection coefficients; The
algebra of extended mapping class groups for surfaces; uniformization theorem; L4 (S) estimates for the 2nd derivatives of
D. Kotschick, Stable length in stable groups; Y. Mitsumatsu the connection coefficients; L2 estimates for the 3rd derivatives
and E. Vogt, Foliations and compact leaves on 4-manifolds I. of the connection coefficients; The multiplier fields and the
Realization and self-intersection of compact leaves; S. Morita, commutation fields; Estimates for the derivatives of the
Symplectic automorphism groups of nilpotent quotients of deformation tensors of the commutation fields; The Sobolev
fundamental groups of surfaces; G. Segal and U. Tillmann, inequalities on the Cu and the C u ; The S-tangential derivatives
Mapping configuration spaces to moduli spaces; M. Suzuki, New and the rotational Lie derivatives; Weyl fields and currents. The
examples of elements in the kernel of the Magnus representation of existence theorem; The multiplier error estimates; The 1st-order
the Torelli group; T. Tsuboi, On the simplicity of the group of Weyl current error estimates; The 2nd-order Weyl current error

426 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 New AMS-Distributed Publications
A MERICAN M ATHEMATICAL S OCIETY

The AMS
estimates; The energy-flux estimates. Completion of the continuity
argument; Trapped surface formation; Bibliography; Index.
EMS Monographs in Mathematics, Volume 4
January 2009, 600 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-3-03719-068-5,
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 83C57, 35L70, 35Q75,
58J45, 83C75, AMS members US$102, List US$128, Order code
Bookstore
EMSMONO/4 www.ams.org/bookstore

Surveys on Geometry and Integrable

Systems Where you can …
Martin Guest, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan,
Reiko Miyaoka, Tohoku University, Japan, and
Yoshihiro Ohnita, Osaka City University, Japan
The articles in this volume provide a panoramic view of the role of
geometry in integrable systems, firmly rooted in surface theory
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but currently branching out in all directions. The longer articles deals
by Bobenko (the Bonnet problem), Dorfmeister (the generalized • Special Member
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Published for the Mathematical Society of Japan by Kinokuniya,
Tokyo, and distributed worldwide, except in Japan, by the AMS. Browse new and
Contents: A. I. Bobenko, Exploring surfaces through methods forthcoming books
from the theory of integrable systems: The Bonnet problem;
J. Dorfmeister, Generalized Weierstraß representations of surfaces; • View the Table of Contents
A. Fujioka and J. Inoguchi, Timelike surfaces with harmonic
inverse mean curvature; C. Gu, Darboux transformations and
• Read a sample chapter
generalized self-dual Yang–Mills flows; F. Hélein and P. Romon, • Browse the “What’s New”
From CMC surfaces to Hamiltonian stationary Lagrangian surfaces; section for upcoming titles
D. Joyce, Special Lagrangian 3-folds and integrable systems; X. Liu,
Quantum product, topological recursion relations, and the Virasoro
conjecture; S. Matsutani, A generalized Weierstrass representation
for a submanifold S in En arising from the submanifold Dirac
operator; I. McIntosh, Harmonic tori and their spectral data; Find the right
R. Miyaoka, Isoparametric geometry and related fields; textbook
H. Pedersen, Kähler Ricci solitons; W. Rossman, M. Umehara, and
K. Yamada, Period problems for mean curvature one surfaces in H 3
for your course
(with applications to surfaces of low total curvature); C.-L. Terng, • Specifically designed for
Geometries and symmetries of soliton equations and integrable undergraduate or graduate
elliptic equations; P. Topalov, A-integrability of geodesic flows and courses
geodesic equivalence.
Advanced Studies in Pure Mathematics, Volume 51
November 2008, 510 pages, Hardcover, ISBN: 978-4-931469-46-4,
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 70H06; 35Q53, 37K05,
37K10, 53A05, 53A07, 53A10, 58D25, 58D27, 58E20, AMS
members US$61, List US$76, Order code ASPM/51

Go to the
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March 2009 Notices of the AMS 427

Classified Advertisements
Positions available, items for sale, services available, and more
Utah College of Science, and Search Committee curriculum vitae, and three letters of rec-
Co-Chair Michael Hardman, Dean of the ommendation to:
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH College of Education, University of Utah, Director
College of Science 1705 East Campus Center Drive, Room Departamento de Matemáticas
225, Dean’s Office Education, Salt Lake Pontificia Universidad Católica de
Director of the Center for Mathematics City, Utah 84112. Chile
and Science Education with Appoint- Applications should include: (1) a let- Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4860
ment as Senior Faculty Member in the ter of intent, (2) the names and contact Santiago, Chile;
College of Science and the College of fax: (56-2) 552-5916;
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Education. email: [email protected].
speak to the candidate’s qualifications,
The University’s College of Science (3) recent research publications and/or For full consideration, complete ap-
and College of Education are designing manuscripts, and (4) a current curriculum plication materials must arrive by June
a unique and exciting interdisciplinary 30, 2009.
vitae. Direct inquiries to Pierre Sokol-
research and instructional program that sky (801-581-6958, [email protected].
000018

will begin with the creation of the Center

edu) or Michael Hardman (801-581-8221,
for Mathematics and Science Education.
[email protected]).
The candidate for director should be
The University of Utah is an Equal Op- India
an established distinguished scientist
within his or her discipline, holding a portunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
000017
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
tenured position in biology, chemistry, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
mathematics, or physics. Candidate must
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have a strong interest and background in
IISER Mohali, India
mathematics and science education. The Chile
director of the center will have a dual Indian Institute of Science Education and
tenured appointment in both the College PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA Research (IISER), Mohali, is in the pro-
of Science and the College of Education, cess of building a School of Mathematics
DE CHILE
and will be expected to continue an ac- and Computer Science. The institute has
tive scholarly program in conjunction Departamento de Matemáticas
started an integrated five-year MS program
with responsibilities associated with the in basic sciences as well as a Ph.D. program
The Department of Mathematics invites
design and development of the center with from August 2007. The focus of the insti-
applications for one tenure-track position
a commitment to building diverse racial, tute is to combine cutting edge research
ethnic, and linguistic learning environ- at the assistant professor level begin-
ning either March or August 2010. Appli- with pedagogy of science. Outstanding
ments that support students’ mastery in candidates having a flair for teaching and
math and science. cants should have a Ph.D. in mathematics,
proven research potential either in pure a strong research background are encour-
The Search Committee will begin review- aged to apply for faculty positions. For
ing applications in January 2009. The or applied mathematics, and a strong
details see: http://www.iisermohali.
anticipated starting date for the posi- commitment to teaching and research. ac.in/faculty_openings.htm. IISER
tion is August 15, 2009. Salary is highly The regular teaching load for assistant Mohali is funded by the Ministry of Human
competitive, and the appointment is on a professors consists of three one-semester Resource Development, Government of
nine-month academic year schedule with courses per year, reduced to two during India, and is a degree-granting institution.
funding available for summer administra- the first two years. The annual salary Mohali is adjacent to Chandigarh near the
tive duties. A liberal benefits package is will be US$36,000. Please send a letter foothills of the Himalayas.
provided. indicating your main research interests, 000019

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directed to Pierre Sokolsky, Dean of the ment (http://www.mat.puc.cl), detailed

Suggested uses for classified advertising are positions available, books or 2009; August 2009 issue–May 28, 2009; September 2009 issue–June 29, 2009;
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428 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Meetings & Conferences
of the AMS
IMPORTANT information regarding meetings programs: AMS Sectional Meeting programs do not appear
in the print version of the Notices. However, comprehensive and continually updated meeting and program information
with links to the abstract for each talk can be found on the AMS website. See http://www.ams.org/meetings/. Final
programs for Sectional Meetings will be archived on the AMS website accessible from the stated URL and in an electronic
issue of the Notices as noted below for each meeting.

Urbana, Illinois
Algebraic Methods in Statistics and Probability, Marlos
A. G. Viana, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Complex Dynamics and Value Distribution, Aimo
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Hinkkanen and Joseph B. Miles, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
March 27–29, 2009 Concrete Aspects of Real Positive Polynomials, Victoria
Friday – Sunday Powers, Emory University, and Bruce Reznick, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Meeting #1047 Differential Geometry and Its Applications, Stephanie
Central Section B. Alexander, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
Associate secretary: Susan J. Friedlander and Jianguo Cao, University of Notre Dame.
Announcement issue of Notices: January Geometric Function Theory and Analysis on Met-
Program first available on AMS website: February 12, ric Spaces, Sergiy Merenkov, Jeremy Taylor Tyson,
2009 and Jang-Mei Wu, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Program issue of electronic Notices: March Champaign.
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 2 Geometric Group Theory, Sergei V. Ivanov, Ilya
Deadlines Kapovich, Igor Mineyev, and Paul E. Schupp, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
For organizers: Expired
Graph Theory, Alexander V. Kostochka and Douglas
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
B. West, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
sions: Expired
Holomorphic and CR Mappings, John P. D’Angelo, Jiri
For abstracts: Expired
Lebl, and Alex Tumanov, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign.
The scientific information listed below may be dated.
For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/ Hyperbolic Geometry and Teichmüller Theory, Jason
sectional.html. Deblois, University of Illinois at Chicago, Richard P.
Kent IV, Brown University, and Christopher J. Leininger,
Invited Addresses University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Jeffrey C. Lagarias, University of Michigan, From Local and Homological Methods in Commutative Alge-
Apollonian circle packings to Fibonacci Numbers (Erdős bra, Florian Enescu, Georgia State University, and Sandra
Memorial Lecture). Spiroff, University of Mississippi.
Jacob Lurie, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, On Mathematical Visualization, George K. Francis, Univer-
topological quantum field theories. sity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Louis H. Kauffman,
Gilles Pisier, Texas A&M University, Complex interpola- University of Illinois at Chicago, Dennis Martin Rose-
tion for Banach spaces of operators. man, University of Iowa, and Andrew J. Hanson, Indiana
Akshay Venkatesh, New York University-Courant In- University.
stitute, Title to be announced. Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations and Applica-
tions, Igor Kukavica, University of Southern California,
Special Sessions and Anna L. Mazzucato, Pennsylvania State University.
Algebra, Geometry and Combinatorics, Rinat Kedem Number Theory in the Spirit of Erdős, Kevin Ford
and Alexander T. Yong, University of Illinois at Urbana- and A. J. Hildebrand, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign. Champaign.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 429

Meetings & Conferences

Operator Algebras and Operator Spaces, Zhong-Jin Invited Addresses

Ruan, Florin P. Boca, and Marius Junge, University of Nathan Dunfield, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Champaign, Surfaces in finite covers of 3-manifolds: The
Probabilistic and Extremal Combinatorics, Jozsef virtual Haken conjecture.
Balogh and Zoltan Furedi, University of Illinois at Urbana- Reinhard C. Laubenbacher, Virginia Bioinformatics
Champaign. Institute, Algebraic models in systems biology.
The Interface Between Number Theory and Dynamical Jonathan C. Mattingly, Duke University, Stochasti-
Systems, Florin Boca, University of Illinois at Urbana- cally forced fluid equations: Transfer between scales and
Champaign, Jeffrey Lagarias, University of Michigan, ergodicity.
and Kenneth Stolarsky, University of Illinois at Urbana- Raman Parimala, Emory University, Arithmetic of linear
Champaign. algebraic groups over 2-dimensional geometric fields.
Michael S. Waterman, University of Southern California,
The Logic and Combinatorics of Algebraic Structures,
Reading DNA sequences: Twenty-first century technology
John Snow, Concordia University, and Jeremy Alm,
with eighteenth century mathematics (Einstein Public Lec-
Illinois College.
ture in Mathematics).
Time, Scale and Frequency Methods in Harmonic Analy-
sis, Richard S. Laugesen, University of Illinois at Urbana- Special Sessions
Champaign, and Darrin M. Speegle, St. Louis University. Advancements in Turbulent Flow Modeling and Compu-
Topological Dynamics and Ergodic Theory, Alica Miller, tation, Leo G. Rebholz, Clemson University, and Traian Ili-
University of Louisville, and Joseph Rosenblatt, University escu, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Algebraic Groups and Symmetric Spaces, Stacy Beun,
Topological Field Theories, Representation Theory, and Cabrini College, and Aloysius Helminck, North Carolina
Algebraic Geometry, Thomas Nevins, University of Illinois State University.
at Urbana-Champaign, and David Ben-Zvi, University of Applications of Algebraic and Geometric Combinatorics,
Texas at Austin. Seth M. Sullivant, Harvard University, and Carla D. Savage,
q-Series and Partitions, Bruce Berndt, University of North Carolina State University.
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Ae Ja Yee, Pennsylvania Applications of Dynamical Systems to Problems in Biol-
ogy, John E. Franke and James F. Selgrade, North Carolina
State University.
State University.
Brauer Groups, Quadratic Forms, Algebraic Groups, and

Raleigh, North Lie Algebras, Eric S. Brussel and Skip Garibaldi, Emory
University.

Carolina Commutative Rings and Monoids, Scott T. Chapman,

Sam Houston State University, and James B. Coykendall,
North Dakota State University.
North Carolina State University Computational Methods in Lie Theory, Eric Sommers,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Molly Fenn,
April 4–5, 2009 North Carolina State University.
Saturday – Sunday Deferred Correction Methods and their Applications,
Elizabeth L. Bouzarth and Anita T. Layton, Duke Uni-
Meeting #1048 versity.
Southeastern Section Enumerative Geometry and Related Topics, Richard L.
Associate secretary: Matthew Miller Rimanyi, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and
Announcement issue of Notices: January 2009 Leonardo C. Mihalcea, Duke University.
Program first available on AMS website: February 19, Galois Module Theory and Hopf Algebras, Robert G.
2009 Underwood, Auburn University Montgomery, and James
Program issue of electronic Notices: April 2009 E. Carter, College of Charleston.
Geometry of Differential Equations, Thomas A. Ivey,
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 2
College of Charleston, and Irina A. Kogan, North Carolina
Deadlines State University.
Homotopical Algebra with Applications to Mathematical
For organizers: Expired
Physics, Thomas J. Lada, North Carolina State University,
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses- and Jim Stasheff, University of North Carolina, Chapel
sions: Expired Hill.
For abstracts: Expired Kac-Moody Algebras, Vertex Algebras, Quantum Groups,
and Applications, Bojko N. Bakalov, Kailash C. Misra, and
The scientific information listed below may be dated. Naihuan N. Jing, North Carolina State University.
For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/ Low-Dimensional Topology and Geometry, Nathan M.
sectional.html. Dunfield, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,

430 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Meetings & Conferences

John B. Etnyre, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Len- Invited Addresses

hard Ng, Duke University. Yehuda Shalom, University of California Los Angeles,
Mathematical Progress and Challenges for Biological Title to be announced.
Materials, Mansoor A. Haider, North Carolina State Uni- Roman Vershynin, University of California Davis, Title
versity, and Gregory Forest, University of North Carolina, to be announced.
Chapel Hill. Karen Vogtmann, Cornell University, Title to be an-
Mathematics of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, nounced.
Stanca M. Ciupe, Duke University, and Jonathan Forde, Efim Zelmanov, University of California San Diego, Title
Hobart and William Smith Colleges. to be announced.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Control, Anthony M. Bloch,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Dmitry Zenkov, Special Sessions
North Carolina State University. Advances in the Theory of Integer Linear Optimization
Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations and and its Extensions (Code: SS 7A), Matthias Koeppe and
Applications, Alina Chertock and Zhilin Li, North Carolina Peter Malkin, University of California Davis.
State University. Algebra and Number Theory with Polyhedra (Code: SS
Recent Advances in Symbolic Algebra and Analysis, 11A), Matthias Beck, San Francisco State University, and
Michael F. Singer and Agnes Szanto, North Carolina State Christian Haase, Freie Universität Berlin.
University. Applications of Knot Theory to the Entanglement of
Rings, Algebras, and Varieties in Combinatorics, Patricia Biopolymers (Code: SS 10A), Javier Arsuaga, San Francisco
Hersh, North Carolina State University, Christian Lenart, State University, Kenneth Millett, University of California
SUNY Albany, and Nathan Reading, North Carolina State Santa Barbara, and Mariel Vazquez, San Francisco State
University. University.
Stochastic Dynamics, Yuri Bakhtin, Georgia Institute Aspects of Differential Geometry (Code: SS 9A), David
of Technology, and Scott McKinley and Jonathan C. Bao, San Francisco State University, and Lei Ni, University
Mattingly, Duke University. of California San Diego.
The Mathematics of Biochemical Reaction Networks, Banach Algebras, Topological Algebras and Abstract
Anne Shiu, University of California Berkeley, Manoj Harmonic Analysis (Code: SS 1A), Thomas V. Tonev, Uni-
Gopalkrishnan, University of Southern California, and versity of Montana-Missoula, and Fereidoun Ghahramani,
Gheorghe Craciun, University of Wisconsin-Madison. University of Manitoba.
Concentration Inequalities (Code: SS 3A), Sourav Chat-

San Francisco, terjee, University of California Berkeley, and Roman Ver-

shynin, University of California Davis.

California
Geometry and Topology of Orbifolds (Code: SS 6A), Eliza-
beth Stanhope, Lewis & Clark University, and Joseph E.
Borzellino, California State University San Luis Obispo.
San Francisco State University Lie Group Actions, Teichmüller Flows and Number
Theory (Code: SS 12A), Jayadev Athreya, Yale University,
April 25–26, 2009 Yitwah Cheung, San Francisco State University, and Anton
Saturday – Sunday Zorich, Rennes University.
Matroids in Algebra and Geometry (Code: SS 8A), Fed-
Meeting #1049 erico Ardila, San Francisco State University, and Lauren
Western Section Williams, Harvard University.
Associate secretary: Michel L. Lapidus Nonlinear Dispersive Equations (Code: SS 4A), Sebastian
Announcement issue of Notices: February 2009 Herr, University of California Berkeley, and Jeremy L.
Program first available on AMS website: March 12, 2009 Marzuola, Columbia University.
Program issue of electronic Notices: April 2009 Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations (Code: SS 13A),
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 3 Igor Kukavica, Amjad Tuffaha, and Mohammed Ziane,
University of Southern California.
Deadlines Recent Progress in Geometric Group Theory (Code: SS
For organizers: Expired 2A), Seonhee Lim and Anne Thomas, Cornell Univer-
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses- sity.
sions: Expired
For abstracts: March 3, 2009

The scientific information listed below may be dated.

For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/
sectional.html.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 431

Meetings & Conferences

Worcester, Real and Complex Dynamics of Rational Difference

Equations with Applications (Code: SS 9A), M. R. S. Kule-
novic and Orlando Merino, University of Rhode Island.
Massachusetts Scaling, Irregularities, and Partial Differential Equations
(Code: SS 7A), Umberto Mosco and Bogdan M. Vernescu,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Symplectic and Contact Topology (Code: SS 1A), Peter
April 25–26, 2009 Albers, Purdue University/ETH Zurich, and Basak Gurel,
Saturday – Sunday Vanderbilt University.
The Mathematics of Climate Change (Code: SS 3A), Cath-
Meeting #1050 erine A. Roberts and Gareth E. Roberts, College of the
Eastern Section Holy Cross, and Mary Lou Zeeman, Bowdoin College.
Associate secretary: Steven H. Weintraub Topological Robotics (Code: SS 2A), Li Han and Lee N.
Announcement issue of Notices: February 2009 Rudolph, Clark University.
Program first available on AMS website: March 12, 2009
Program issue of electronic Notices: April 2009
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 3 Waco, Texas
Deadlines Baylor University
For organizers: Expired
October 16–18, 2009
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: Expired Friday – Sunday
For abstracts: March 3, 2009
Meeting #1051
The scientific information listed below may be dated. Central Section
Associate secretary: Susan J. Friedlander
For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/
Announcement issue of Notices: August 2009
sectional.html.
Program first available on AMS website: September 3,
Invited Addresses 2009
Program issue of electronic Notices: October 2009
Octav Cornea, Université de Montréal, Lagrangian
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 4
submanifolds: From physics to number theory.
Fengbo Hang, Courant Institute of New York University, Deadlines
Topology of weakly differentiable maps.
For organizers: March 17, 2009
Umberto Mosco, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Frac-
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
tal spectra between Scylla and Charybdis.
sions: June 30, 2009
Kevin Whyte, University of Illinois at Chicago, A rapid
For abstracts: August 25, 2009
survey of coarse geometry.
The scientific information listed below may be dated.
Special Sessions
For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/
Algebraic Graph Theory, Association Schemes, and Re- sectional.html.
lated Topics (Code: SS 8A), William J. Martin, Worcester
Polytechnic Institute, and Sylvia A. Hobart, University of Invited Addresses
Wyoming. David Ben-Zvi, University of Texas at Austin, Title to
Analysis of Weakly Differentiable Maps with Constraints be announced.
and Applications (Code: SS 11A), Fengbo Hang, Courant Alexander A. Kiselev, University of Wisconsin, Title to
Institute, New York University, and Mohammad Reza be announced.
Pakzad, University of Pittsburgh. Michael C. Reed, Duke University, Title to be an-
Discrete Geometry and Combinatorics (Code: SS 5A), nounced.
Egon Schulte, Northeastern University, and Brigitte Ser- Igor Rodnianski, Princeton University, Title to be an-
vatius, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. nounced.
Effective Dynamics and Interactions of Localized Struc-
tures in Schrödinger Type Equations (Code: SS 10A), Fri- Special Sessions
dolin Ting, Lakehead University. Commutative Algebra: Module and Ideal Theory (Code:
Number Theory (Code: SS 4A), John T. Cullinan, Bard SS 4A), Lars W. Christensen, Texas Tech University, Louiza
College, and Siman Wong, University of Massachusetts, Fouli, University of Texas at Austin, and David Jorgensen,
Amherst. University of Texas at Arlington.
Quasi-Static and Dynamic Evolution in Fracture Me- Dynamic Equations on Time Scales: Analysis and Ap-
chanics (Code: SS 6A), Christopher J. Larsen, Worcester plications (Code: SS 1A), John M. Davis, Ian A. Gravagne,
Polytechnic Institute. and Robert J. Marks, Baylor University.

432 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Meetings & Conferences

Lie Groups, Lie Algebras, and Representations (Code:

SS 6A), Markus Hunziker, Mark Sepanski, and Ronald
Stanke, Baylor University.
Boca Raton, Florida
Mathematical Models of Neuronal and Metabolic Mecha- Florida Atlantic University
nisms (Code: SS 3A), Janet Best, Ohio State University, and
Michael Reed, Duke University. October 30 – November 1, 2009
Numerical Solutions of Singular or Perturbed Partial Friday – Sunday
Differential Equation Problems with Applications (Code: Meeting #1053
SS 2A), Peter Moore, Southern Methodist University, and
Southeastern Section
Qin Sheng, Baylor University.
Associate secretary: Matthew Miller
Topological Methods for Boundary Value Problems for
Announcement issue of Notices: August 2009
Ordinary Differential Equations (Code: SS 5A), Richard
Program first available on AMS website: September 17,
Avery, Dakota State University, Paul W. Eloe, University
2009
of Dayton, and Johnny Henderson, Baylor University.
Program issue of electronic Notices: October 2009
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 4

University Park, Deadlines

For organizers: March 30, 2009
Pennsylvania For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: July 14, 2009
Pennsylvania State University For abstracts: September 8, 2009

October 24–25, 2009 The scientific information listed below may be dated.
Saturday – Sunday For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/
sectional.html.
Meeting #1052
Eastern Section Invited Addresses
Associate secretary: Steven H. Weintraub Spyros Alexakis, Princeton University, Title to be an-
Announcement issue of Notices: August 2009 nounced.
Program first available on AMS website: September 10, Kai-Uwe Bux, University of Virginia, Title to be an-
2009 nounced.
Program issue of electronic Notices: October 2009 Dino J. Lorenzini, University of Georgia, Title to be
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 4 announced.
Deadlines Eduardo D. Sontag, Rutgers University, Title to be an-
For organizers: March 24, 2009 nounced.
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
Special Sessions
sions: July 7, 2009
For abstracts: September 1, 2009 Commutative Ring Theory (Code: SS 3A), Alan Loper,
Ohio State University, and Lee C. Klingler, Florida Atlantic
The scientific information listed below may be dated. University.
For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/ Concentration, Functional Inequalities, and Isoperimetry
sectional.html. (Code: SS 2A), Mario Milman, Florida Atlantic University,
Christian Houdre, Georgia Institute of Technology, and
Invited Addresses Emanuel Milman, Institute for Advanced Study.
Michael K. H. Kiessling, Rutgers University, Title to be Constructive Mathematics (Code: SS 1A), Robert Lubar-
announced. sky, Fred Richman, and Martin Solomon, Florida Atlantic
Kevin R. Payne, Universita degli di Milano, Title to be University.
announced. Dynamical Systems (Code: SS 6A), William D. Kalies and
Laurent Saloff-Coste, Cornell University, Title to be Vincent Naudot, Florida Atlantic University.
announced. Enumerative Combinatorics (Code: SS 4A), Christian
Robert C. Vaughan, Penn State University, Title to be Krattenthaler, University of Vienna, and Aaron D. Mey-
announced. erowitz, Heinrich Niederhausen, and Wandi Wei, Florida
Atlantic University.
Special Sessions Harmonic Analysis (Code: SS 5A), Galia D. Dafni, Con-
Difference Equations and Applications (Code: SS 2A), cordia University, and J. Michael Wilson, University of
Michael A. Radin, Rochester Institute of Technology. Vermont, Burlington.
Homotopy Theory (Code: SS 1A), James Gillespie and Homological Aspects of Module Theory (Code: SS 7A),
Mark W. Johnson, Pennsylvania State University, Simona Andrew R. Kustin, University of South Carolina, Sean M.
Paoli, University of Haifa, and Donald Yau, Ohio State Sather-Wagstaff, North Dakota State University, and Janet
University. Vassilev, University of New Mexico.

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 433

Meetings & Conferences

Riverside, California Noncommutative Geometry (Code: SS 2A), Vasiliy

Dolgushev and Wee Liang Gan, University of California
Riverside.
University of California Representation Theory (Code: SS 3A), Vyjayanthi Chari,
Wee Liang Gan, and Jacob Greenstein, University of Cali-
November 7–8, 2009 fornia Riverside.
Saturday – Sunday Representations of Finite Dimensional Algebras (Code:
SS 7A), Frauke Bleher, University of Iowa, Birge Huisgen-
Meeting #1054 Zimmermann, University of California at Santa Barbara,
Western Section and Markus Schmidmeier, Florida Atlantic University.
Associate secretary: Michel L. Lapidus Research Conducted by Students (Code: SS 10A), Robert
Announcement issue of Notices: September 2009 G. Niemeyer, University of California Riverside, and Jack
Program first available on AMS website: September 24, R. Bennett, University of California Riverside.
2009
Program issue of electronic Notices: November 2009
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 30, Issue 4 Seoul, Korea
Deadlines December 16–20, 2009
For organizers: April 6, 2009 Wednesday – Sunday
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses- First Joint International Meeting of the AMS and the Korean
sions: July 21, 2009 Mathematical Society.
For abstracts: September 15, 2009
Meeting #1055
The scientific information listed below may be dated. Associate secretary: Georgia Benkart
For the latest information, see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/ Announcement issue of Notices: June 2009
Program first available on AMS website: Not applicable
sectional.html.
Program issue of electronic Notices: Not applicable
Invited Addresses Issue of Abstracts: Not applicable
Christopher Hacon, University of Utah, Title to be an- Deadlines
nounced.
For organizers: To be announced
Birge Huisgen-Zimmerman, University of California
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
Santa Barbara, Title to be announced. sions: To be announced
Jun Li, Stanford University, Title to be announced. For abstracts: To be announced
Joseph Teran, University of California Los Angeles,
Title to be announced.

Special Sessions San Francisco,

Algebraic Geometry (Code: SS 1A), Christopher Hacon,
University of Utah, and Ziv Ran, University of California California
Riverside. Moscone Center West and the San
Fluid Mechanics (Code: SS 5A), James Kelliher and Qi
Zhang, University of California Riverside.
Francisco Marriott
Fractal Geometry, Dynamical Systems, Number Theory January 13–16, 2010
and Analysis on Rough Spaces (Code: SS 6A), Michel L.
Wednesday – Saturday
Lapidus, University of California Riverside, Hung Lu,
Joint Mathematics Meetings, including the 116th Annual
Hawaii Pacific University, and Erin P. J. Pearse, University
Meeting of the AMS, 93rd Annual Meeting of the Math-
of Iowa. ematical Association of America (MAA), annual meetings
History and Philosophy of Mathematics (Code: SS 4A), of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and
Shawnee L. McMurran, California State University San the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), and the
Bernardino, and James J. Tattersall, Providence College. winter meeting of the Association for Symbolic Logic (ASL),
Homotopy Theory and Higher Algebraic Structures with sessions contributed by the Society of Industrial and
(Code: SS 8A), John Baez and Julie Bergner, University of Applied Mathematics (SIAM).
California Riverside. Associate secretary: Matthew Miller
Interactions Between Algebraic Geometry and Noncom- Announcement issue of Notices: October 2009
mutative Algebra (Code: SS 9A), Kenneth R. Goodearl, Program first available on AMS website: November 1,
University of California Santa Barbara, Daniel S. Rogalski, 2009
University of California San Diego, James Zhang, Univer- Program issue of electronic Notices: January 2010
sity of Washington. Issue of Abstracts: Volume 31, Issue 1

434 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Meetings & Conferences

Deadlines Announcement issue of Notices: To be announced

For organizers: April 1, 2009 Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses- nounced
sions: To be announced Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced
For abstracts: To be announced Issue of Abstracts: To be announced

Deadlines
Lexington, Kentucky For organizers: September 17, 2009
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
University of Kentucky sions: To be announced
For abstracts: To be announced
March 27–28, 2010
Saturday – Sunday
Southeastern Section
Associate secretary: Matthew Miller
Hoboken, New Jersey
Announcement issue of Notices: To be announced New Jersey Institute of Technology
Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
nounced May 22–23, 2010
Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced
Saturday – Sunday
Issue of Abstracts: To be announced
Eastern Section
Deadlines Associate secretary: Steven H. Weintraub
For organizers: August 28, 2009 Announcement issue of Notices: To be announced
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses- Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
sions: To be announced nounced
For abstracts: To be announced Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced
Issue of Abstracts: To be announced

St. Paul, Minnesota Deadlines

For organizers: November 23, 2009
Macalester College For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: To be announced
April 10–11, 2010 For abstracts: To be announced
Saturday – Sunday
Central Section
Associate secretary: Susan J. Friedlander
Announcement issue of Notices: To be announced
Berkeley, California
Program first available on AMS website: To be an- University of California Berkeley
nounced
Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced June 2–5, 2010
Issue of Abstracts: To be announced
Wednesday – Saturday
Deadlines Eighth Joint International Meeting of the AMS and the
Sociedad Matemática Mexicana.
For organizers: September 10, 2009
Associate secretary: Susan J. Friedlander
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: To be announced Announcement issue of Notices: February 2010
For abstracts: To be announced Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
nounced
Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced
Albuquerque, New Issue of Abstracts: To be announced

Mexico Deadlines
For organizers: To be announced
University of New Mexico For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: To be announced
April 17–18, 2010 For abstracts: To be announced
Saturday – Sunday
Western Section
Associate secretary: Michel L. Lapidus

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 435

Meetings & Conferences

Notre Dame, Indiana National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), and the

winter meeting of the Association for Symbolic Logic (ASL),
with sessions contributed by the Society for Industrial and
Notre Dame University Applied Mathematics (SIAM).
Associate secretary: Steven H. Weintraub
September 18–19, 2010 Announcement issue of Notices: October 2010
Saturday – Sunday Program first available on AMS website: November 1,
Central Section 2010
Associate secretary: Susan J. Friedlander Program issue of electronic Notices: January 2011
Announcement issue of Notices: To be announced Issue of Abstracts: Volume 32, Issue 1
Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
nounced Deadlines
Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced For organizers: April 1, 2010
Issue of Abstracts: To be announced For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: To be announced
Deadlines For abstracts: To be announced
For organizers: February 19, 2010

Statesboro, Georgia
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: To be announced
For abstracts: To be announced
Georgia Southern University

Los Angeles, March 12–13, 2011

Saturday – Sunday
California Southeastern Section
Associate secretary: Matthew Miller
University of California Los Angeles Announcement issue of Notices: To be announced
Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
October 9–10, 2010 nounced
Saturday – Sunday Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced
Western Section Issue of Abstracts: To be announced
Associate secretary: Michel L. Lapidus
Deadlines
Announcement issue of Notices: To be announced
For organizers: August 12, 2010
Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
nounced
sions: To be announced
Program issue of electronic Notices: To be announced
For abstracts: To be announced
Issue of Abstracts: To be announced

Deadlines
For organizers: March 10, 2010 Boston,
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: To be announced
For abstracts: To be announced
Massachusetts
John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Conven-
tion Center, Boston Marriott Hotel, and
New Orleans, Boston Sheraton Hotel
Louisiana January 4–7, 2012
Wednesday – Saturday
New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton New Joint Mathematics Meetings, including the 118th Annual
Orleans Hotel Meeting of the AMS, 95th Annual Meeting of the Math-
ematical Association of America, annual meetings of the
January 5–8, 2011 Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and the
Wednesday – Saturday National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), and the
Joint Mathematics Meetings, including the 117th Annual winter meeting of the Association for Symbolic Logic (ASL),
Meeting of the AMS, 94th Annual Meeting of the Math- with sessions contributed by the Society for Industrial and
ematical Association of America, annual meetings of the Applied Mathematics (SIAM).
Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and the Associate secretary: Michel L. Lapidus
Announcement issue of Notices: October 2011

436 Notices of the AMS Volume 56, Number 3

 Meetings & Conferences

Program first available on AMS website: November 1, Program first available on AMS website: November 1,
2011 2013
Program issue of electronic Notices: January 2012 Program issue of electronic Notices: January 2013
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 33, Issue 1 Issue of Abstracts: Volume 35, Issue 1

Deadlines Deadlines
For organizers: April 1, 2011 For organizers: April 1, 2013
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses- For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
sions: To be announced sions: To be announced
For abstracts: To be announced For abstracts: To be announced

San Diego, California San Antonio, Texas

San Diego Convention Center and San Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and
Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina Grand Hyatt San Antonio

January 9–12, 2013 January 10–13, 2015

Saturday – Tuesday
Wednesday – Saturday
Joint Mathematics Meetings, including the 121st Annual
Joint Mathematics Meetings, including the 119th Annual
Meeting of the AMS, 98th Annual Meeting of the Math-
Meeting of the AMS, 96th Annual Meeting of the Math-
ematical Association of America, annual meetings of the
ematical Association of America, annual meetings of the
Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and the
Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), and the
National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), and the winter meeting of the Association of Symbolic Logic, with
winter meeting of the Association for Symbolic Logic (ASL), sessions contributed by the Society for Industrial and Ap-
with sessions contributed by the Society for Industrial and plied Mathematics (SIAM).
Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Associate secretary: Steven H. Weintraub
Associate secretary: Susan J. Friedlander Announcement issue of Notices: October 2014
Announcement issue of Notices: October 2012 Program first available on AMS website: To be an-
Program first available on AMS website: November 1, nounced
2012 Program issue of electronic Notices: January 2015
Program issue of electronic Notices: January 2012 Issue of Abstracts: Volume 36, Issue 1
Issue of Abstracts: Volume 34, Issue 1
Deadlines
Deadlines For organizers: April 1, 2014
For organizers: April 1, 2012 For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses-
For consideration of contributed papers in Special Ses- sions: To be announced
sions: To be announced For abstracts: To be announced
For abstracts: To be announced

Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore
Hilton, and Marriott Inner Harbor
January 15–18, 2014
Wednesday – Saturday
Joint Mathematics Meetings, including the 120th Annual
Meeting of the AMS, 97th Annual Meeting of the Math-
ematical Association of America, annual meetings of the
Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and the
National Association of Mathematicians (NAM), and the
winter meeting of the Association for Symbolic Logic, with
sessions contributed by the Society for Industrial and Ap-
plied Mathematics (SIAM).
Associate secretary: Matthew Miller
Announcement issue of Notices: October 2013

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 437

 AMS presidents
play a key role in
leading the Society
and representing the
profession. Browse
through the timeline to see each
AMS president’s page, which
includes the institution and date
of his/her doctoral degree, a brief
note about his/her academic
career and honors, and links to
more extensive biographical
information.
 Meetings and Conferences of the AMS
Associate Secretaries of the AMS NY 11201-2990; e-mail: [email protected]; telephone:
Western Section: Michel L. Lapidus, Department of Math- 718-260-3505. Steven H. Weintraub (after January 31, 2009),
ematics, University of California, Surge Bldg., Riverside, CA Department of Mathematics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem,
92521-0135; e-mail: [email protected]; telephone: PA 18105-3174; e-mail: [email protected]; tele-
951-827-5910. phone: 610-758-3717.
Central Section: Susan J. Friedlander, Department of Math- Southeastern Section: Matthew Miller, Department of Math-
ematics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 851 S. Morgan (M/C ematics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208-0001,
249), Chicago, IL 60607-7045; e-mail: [email protected]; e-mail: [email protected]; telephone: 803-777-3690.
telephone: 312-996-3041. 2009 Seoul, Korea Meeting: Georgia Benkart, University of
Eastern Section: Lesley M. Sibner (until January 31, 2009), Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mathematics, 480 Lincoln
Department of Mathematics, Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1388; e-mail: [email protected].
edu; telephone: 608-263-4283.

The Meetings and Conferences section of the Notices 2011

gives information on all AMS meetings and conferences January 5–8 New Orleans, Louisiana p. 436
approved by press time for this issue. Please refer to the page Annual Meeting
numbers cited in the table of contents on this page for more March 12–13 Statesboro, Georgia p. 436
detailed information on each event. Invited Speakers and
Special Sessions are listed as soon as they are approved by the 2012
cognizant program committee; the codes listed are needed January 4–7 Boston, Massachusetts p. 436
for electronic abstract submission. For some meetings the Annual Meeting
list may be incomplete. Information in this issue may be 2013
dated. Up-to-date meeting and conference information can January 9–12 San Diego, California p. 437
be found at www.ams.org/meetings/. Annual Meeting
2014
Meetings: January 15–18 Baltimore, Maryland p. 437
2009 Annual Meeting
March 27–29 Urbana, Illinois p. 429 2015
April 4–5 Raleigh, North Carolina p. 430 January 10–13 San Antonio, Texas p. 437
April 25–26 San Francisco, California p. 431 Annual Meeting
April 25–26 Worcester, Massachusetts p. 432
October 16–18 Waco, Texas p. 432
October 24–25 University Park,
Important Information Regarding AMS Meetings
Potential organizers, speakers, and hosts should refer to
Pennsylvania p. 433
page 89 in the January 2009 issue of the Notices for general
October 30–Nov. 1 Boca Raton, Florida p. 433
information regarding participation in AMS meetings and
November 7–8 Riverside, California p. 434 conferences.
December 6–20 Seoul, Korea p. 434
Abstracts
2010 Speakers should submit abstracts on the easy-to-use interac-
January 13–16 San Francisco, California p. 434 tive Web form. No knowledge of is necessary to submit
Annual Meeting an electronic form, although those who use may submit
March 27–28 Lexington, Kentucky p. 435 abstracts with such coding, and all math displays and simi-
larily coded material (such as accent marks in text) must
April 10–11 St. Paul, Minnesota p. 435
be typeset in . Visit http://www.ams.org/cgi-bin/
April 17–18 Albuquerque, New Mexico p. 435
abstracts/abstract.pl. Questions about abstracts may be
May 22–23 Hoboken, New Jersey p. 435 sent to [email protected]. Close attention should be paid to
June 2–5 Berkeley, California p. 435 specified deadlines in this issue. Unfortunately, late abstracts
September 18–19 Notre Dame, Indiana p. 436 cannot be accommodated.
October 9–10 Los Angeles, California p. 436

Conferences: (see http://www.ams.org/meetings/ for the most up-to-date information on these conferences.)
Co-sponsored conferences:
February 12–16, 2009: AAAS Meeting in Chicago, IL (see page 86, January 2009 issue for more information).
June 13–July 3, 2009: Mathematics Research Communities, Snowbird, UT (see www.ams.org/amsmtgs/mrc.html for
more information).

March 2009 Notices of the AMS 439

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