RUI: CSUMS: Research in Scientific Computing in Undergraduate Education (RESCUE)

University Of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, North Dartmouth MA

Investigators

Abstract

Gottlieb DMS-0802974 The overall goal of this project is to prepare undergraduate mathematics students for, and engage them in, a sustained research experience in computational mathematics. The PI and her colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth integrate research in scientific computing into the undergraduate curriculum by designing research-based courses from the Freshman level upwards, and engaging upper-level students in a sustained and significant research experience. The project creates an integrated undergraduate research experience by engaging students in research from the introductory level through graduation, completely embedding research into the undergraduate curriculum. The essence of this approach is to mentor students into genuine research problems and research methods in computational science, beginning with senior high school students for recruitment purposes, freshman and sophomore students for orientation to research in computational science through carefully selected research topics, and culminating in major senior undergraduate research projects where an expected outcome is professional presentation at a SIAM, AMS or MAA meeting, and preparation of a publishable research paper. An integral part of this project involves the identification, training, and support of students from groups not normally well-represented in scientific computing, to encourage and support diversity in this field. This project engages students in an integrated program that leads them from the use of computational tools in course work to the development and use of computational tools in research projects. It serves as a model for a curriculum that stimulates research activity in computational science as an integral part of a mathematics degree program, from the freshman year onwards. The overriding goal of this project is to include and integrate research activities into the undergraduate mathematics curriculum. This program revolutionizes the teaching of mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth by including research-based activities in courses across the undergraduate mathematics curriculum. This project has a significant impact on the structure of undergraduate courses by introducing research seminars from the freshman year, linking students across year levels in common goals and cohorts, and stimulating new research-based courses in computational science. Furthermore, outreach to high school students and their mathematics teachers has an impact on awareness of the field of computational mathematics and careers in computational science. The approach of this project recognizes that students can be attracted to and prepared for a career in scientific computing by engaging in genuine research-based activities throughout their undergraduate education. The benefit of this approach is that it builds a stronger and more diverse population of computational scientists by attracting talented students to the field of scientific computing and training them in the tools and analysis of numerical methods for solution of various real-world problems. The project is supported by the MPS Division of Mathematical Sciences, the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities, and the EHR Division of Undergraduate Education.