REU Site in Mathematics at Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA

Investigators

Abstract

Founded in 1993, the REU at Louisiana State University is intended for advanced undergraduates from all national demographic groups. Our REU represents a modest step in the effort to help alleviate the current and projected national shortage of scientific and technological workers by providing access for all demographic groups to participate in the excitement and challenge of current mathematical research. The REU will focus on current research topics in number theory, geometry and topology (particularly braids, knots and links). For summer, 2001, the theme will be: Counting problems and zeta functions in number theory, geometry and topology. Further details are available on our web site: http://www.math.lsu.edu/REU/. The program is designed for eight weeks during the summer with twelve students divided among three faculty mentors. Some basic features of the REU include: cluster housing in student apartments on the LSU campus and daily afternoon teas to foster interaction and promote group cohesion; intial introductory lectures and individual meetings with the mentors during the first two weeks, after which the students group themselves into cohorts of four students working with a mentor on individual but closely-related projects. Communication of mathematics is fostered both informally and formally with an oral project description given early in the summer and final oral and written presentations.