Matters Mathematical: 2004 PNWMAA Section Meeting in Alaska

PNW Section Meeting
in Anchorage, Alaska

June 24-27, 2004

Mark your calendar now!

The University of Alaska Anchorage will host the PNW-MAA 2004 meeting. This meeting will follow shortly after one of Alaska’s most exciting days – the summer solstice. The meeting schedule will include adventures in both mathematics and Alaskan travel.

Although the meeting is over a year away, the host institution has already begun preparations. Ronald L. Graham, MAA President, and Ken Ross, a past MAA President from our section, will be keynote speakers. In addition, a George Pólya Lectureship will grace the meeting. Other sessions and activities planned for the meeting include

Minicourses and the PNW Section NExT workshop on Thursday,
June 24, 2004

Invited addresses, contributed paper sessions, and banquet on Friday and Saturday, June 25^th & 26^th.

Organized travel on Sunday June 27, 2004 for those so inclined. Two trips are being planned (Seward and Denali, south and north of Anchorage, respectively). Trips prior to the meeting (June 23, 2004) are also possible with sufficient guests.

Topics planned for paper sessions include dynamical systems, research by early career faculty, undergraduate research, and a general paper session. In addition to these more traditional meeting topics, a session addressing the applications of mathematics in the arctic is planned. Topics could include mathematics of the aurora, wildlife and biological modeling, oil production, and cold regions modeling. We also hope to have some teachers in the bush who will describe the rather unique challenges of teaching mathematics in very small native villages with rather distinct cultures.

To reduce the cost of travel, a block of University of Alaska Anchorage residence hall rooms will be available at reasonable rates. The possibility of reduced airline tickets from the northwest to Anchorage will be discussed with several major carriers next summer.

Start planning now to attend this wonderful meeting!

For additional information, contact Larry Foster (aflmf@uaa.alaska.edu) of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage.