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Prof. Dan Margalit will give an invited lecture at the AMS Special Session AMS Maryam Mirzakhani Lecture at the Joint Math Meetings (JMM), in April 2022.
The Maryam Mirzakhani Lectures
The AMS Council established this Lecture in 2018 to honor Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017), the first woman and the first Iranian to win a Fields Medal. Mirzakhani was a professor at Stanford University and a highly original mathematician who made a host of striking and influential contributions to hyperbolic geometry, complex analysis, topology, and dynamics.
Title: AMS Maryam Mirzakhani Lecture - Dan Margalit, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date: Thursday April 7, 2022, 9:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.
Abstract: Taffy pullers, lab stirrers, and paint mixers are complicated dynamical systems. To any such system we can ascribe a real number, called the entropy, which describes the amount of mixing being achieved. Which real numbers arise, and what do they say about the dynamics of the system? We will explore this question through the lens of topological surfaces, making unexpected connections to algebra and number theory. Our tour will take us from the work of Max Dehn and Jakob Nielsen a century ago, to the revelations of the Fields medalist William Thurston in the 1970s, to the breakthroughs of Fields medalist Maryam Mirzakhani in the 21st century.
Moderator: Ruth Charney (Brandeis University)
Organizer: Georgia Benkart (University of Wisconsin - Madison)
Dan Margalit, Georgia Tech University dmargalit7@gatech.edu
For more details see the JMM AMS Special Session website:
https://www.jointmathematicsmeetings.org/meetings/national/jmm2022/2268_program_ss133.html
About Maryam Mirzakhani
Maryam Mirzakhani was an Iranian mathematician and a professor of mathematics at Stanford University. Her research topics included Teichmüller theory, hyperbolic geometry, ergodic theory, and symplectic geometry.[3] In 2005, as a result of her research, she was honored in Popular Science's fourth annual "Brilliant 10" in which she was acknowledged as one of the top 10 young minds who have pushed their fields in innovative directions.
On 13 August 2014, Mirzakhani was honored with the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics, becoming the first Iranian to be honored with the award[15] and the only woman to date. The award committee cited her work in "the dynamics and geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces".
On 14 July 2017, Mirzakhani died of breast cancer at the age of 40.
An Excerpt From the Talk
I'd like to tell one story about my personal interaction with Maryam. She invited me to give a seminar talk at Stanford. I didn't know she was already sick. Still she came in an hour before the seminar to discuss my work. She sat down next to the board, pen and paper ready to go. We both quickly realized that I couldn't answer her questions in the depth that she wanted. I saw her slowly put down her pen and her pad. She shifted gears and steered the conversation to things I knew a little better, and when I gave the talk she was smiling the whole time and full of enthusiastic comments. Given the situation, her positivity was such a generous act of grace, and I will always appreciate her for that.
During International Education Week, the College of Sciences celebrates the impact of international perspectives, connection, and contributions in our community. We’ve gathered stories over the years celebrating the work of math, science, and technology within our international community. From international students enrolled at Georgia Tech, to professors with unique cultural perspectives, to partnerships with our global community, this month we shine a special spotlight on the importance of international education and research.
What is International Education Week?
International Education Week, celebrated at Tech November 15 to 19 this year, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of the efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.
The worldwide celebration of IEW offers a unique opportunity to reach out to people in every nation, to develop a broader understanding of world cultures and languages, and to reiterate the conviction that enduring friendships and partnerships created through international education and exchange are important for a secure future for all countries.
Faculty and Staff Perspectives
Hispanic and Latinx Heritage: President Ángel Cabrera
During National Hispanic Heritage Month, President Ángel Cabrera reflected on his time as a student in the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech, and spoke to recruiting and supporting more Hispanic and Latinx students and faculty in STEM.
Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month: Faculty Perspectives
“I want to make sure that other people like me can see themselves…as scientists.” Frances Rivera-Hernández, Facundo Fernández and Carlos Silva Acuña share early school day stories, why they chose science, and their perspectives on representation.
Joshua Weitz Named Blaise Pascal International Chair of Excellence
Joshua Weitz, School of Biological Sciences professor, Tom and Marie Patton Chair, and key member of Georgia Tech’s Covid-19 response team continues his research on viruses through fall of 2021, and is now conducting those studies from Paris, France, thanks to receiving a prestigious award designed to foster more collaboration among international scientists. Weitz is currently based at the Institute of Biology at the École Normale Supérieure (IBENS) in Paris.
Tansu Celikel Appointed School of Psychology Chair
Newly appointed chair of the School of Psychology Tansu Celikel brings a unique international perspective from Europe to Georgia Tech. Celikel received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience at La Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) in Italy and conducted postdoctoral research the Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research in Germany. He also conceived and led the establishment of the European University of Brain and Technology (NeurotechEU), funded by the European Union.
School of Mathematics Celebrates Two Researchers Receiving “Very High Prestige” Invitations to Lecture at Major Global Math Conference
Jennifer Hom, Konstantin Tikhomirov will present on topology, discrete probability at the 2022 International Congress of Mathematicians in Russia. “The ICM speaker invitations are a major news item in the mathematics community every four years. The invitations carry very high prestige, selected with extreme diligence to highlight leading breakthroughs across all of mathematics,” explains Rachel Kuske, Professor and Chair of the School of Mathematics.
Chung Kim: Inclusivity, Kindness, Celebrating Heritage and Culture
Academic Program Coordinator Chung Kim speaks on representation and racial justice, her experiences growing up Korean-American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. She also discusses the College of Sciences Staff Advisory Council, of which she is an inaugural member.
Bernard F. Schutz Elected as Fellow of the Royal Society
Bernard Schutz, School of Physics adjunct professor, served as a founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute - AEI) in Germany, helped spark the creation of the Center for Relativistic Astrophysics (CRA) at Georgia Tech, and laid the analytical foundation in the search for gravitational waves. He is now the recipient of top honors as a Fellow to the Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences and the world's oldest independent scientific academy.
Bernard F. Schutz Elected as Fellow of the Royal Society | News Center (gatech.edu)
Global Research & Impact
New 'Vibrant Pack Energy Harvesters' to Harness Big Bridge Vibrations
In collaboration with colleagues at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and Georgia State University, Georgia Tech researchers including School of Mathematics chair Rachel Kuske have intended to capture and recycle vibrations on bridges using principles of physics. They have received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, and the National Science Foundation.
Global Climate Action Symposium
With swaths of the country engulfed in flames, battered by winds, steeped in floodwaters, or parched by drought – tragic and costly conditions that a recent United Nations report links to global warming – Georgia Tech joined UN leaders in hosting the third annual Global Climate Action Symposium in September of this year.
Finding and Connecting Ocean Ecoregions — to Find and Conserve Marine Species
A study by School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences researchers is charting a new path to help scientists create tools to uncover global marine connectivity through sea surface temperature. The study is led by professor Annalisa Bracco, graduate student Fabrizio Falasca, and one of Bracco’s visiting students, Ljuba Novi from the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (part of the National Research Council in Pisa, Italy).
Creative Cutting-Edge Coral Scientist
In alumna Kristen Marhaver’s research lab at CARMABI (Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity) on the island of Curaçao, Marhaver and her team have made great strides in aiding coral survival by inventing methods for coral breeding, baby coral propagation, and coral gene banking. Marhaver now sponsors a first-year biology researcher each year at Tech through the FastTrack Research Program.
Georgia Tech Alumni Association - Creative Cutting-Edge Coral Scientist (gtalumni.org)
Student Stories
Where Linguistics, French, and Psychology Intersect: Zach Hopton Discusses Collaborative Time at Tech
Psychology and Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies student Zachary Hopton discusses the balance between experimental psychology and language, and the relationship that the two disciplines have with each other. He shares his experiences in the French Language, Business, and Technology Program and during an exchange semester at Sciences Po in Paris, France.
Celebrating #GT21 Graduate Stories: Maria Zulfiqar
“I am the first person in my family’s history to obtain a college degree in the United States, the first woman to ever obtain a college degree at all in my family — and I’m doing it two years early, with highest honors,” shares Maria Zulfiqar. Zulfiqar, who is Pakistani, grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia, and was born in Mississauga, Canada.
Georgia Tech Language Institute: Meet Taehwan Yang
After completing a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and bioscience in South Korea, Taehwan Yang decided to pursue a master’s degree in biology in the United States with support from the Georgia Tech Language Institute. The Language Institute helps international students, professionals and visitors improve their English proficiency through short courses, summer classes, and semester-long programs.
International Education Week Events
This year, IEW will take place from November 15-19. If your organization is interested in participating in International Education Week, there's still time to fill out the following form with a proposal for your event: https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8CkFDGTubkx5VBk.
Monday, November 15:
Georgia Tech-Lorraine Table at IEW Kick-Off!
Location: Outside of Clough
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am
Description: Stop by the Georgia Tech-Lorraine table at the IEW Kick-Off Event on November 15th from 10:30-11:30am outside of Clough. GTL representatives will be present to answer all your questions and give you details about a semester on Tech's campus in France for undergraduates and graduates!
French program tabling at IEW Kick-off
Location: Outside of Clough
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am
Description: Information about French and Francophone Studies at Georgia Tech, including study abroad summer 2021 LBAT Paris and Senegal, and SLS GT Lorraine semester-long immersion program in Metz, fall 2022.
English Conversation Hour
Location: Clough 447
Time: 5 to 6 pm
Description: Learning English? Come practice your spoken English skills in a friendly, informal setting with the staff of the Naugle Communication Center!
Tuesday, November 16:
How to Afford Study Abroad
Location: Exhibition Hall: Buckhead Room
Time: 11 am to 12 pm
Description: Study abroad doesn't have to break the bank. Come to the "How to Afford Study Abroad" information session to learn more.
Salud in Spain Summer Program Informational Session
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/556633472/1660
Time: 11 am to 12 pm
Description: If you are interested in participating in the Salud in Spain Program in Summer 2022, please attend this information session.
ISYE Summer Program in Europe Information Session
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/616106986/8966
Time: 11 am to 12 pm
Description: Learn more about the ISYE Summer Program in Europe! This 10-week summer program offers Georgia Tech ISYE students the opportunity to take standard undergraduate industrial engineering courses in Ireland and Spain during the Summer 2022 semester.
French and Francophone Studies Research Round Table
Location: Swann 115
Time: 11 am to 12 pm
Description: French and Francophone Studies Round Table and Q&A with Faculty. Moderated by Andrea Jonsson.
Leadership for Social Good Virtual Info Session
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/676192608/7312
Time: 11 to 11:30 am
Description: Come join this alumni-led information session to hear more about the Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program. The Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program in Central and Eastern Europe offers interested students the opportunity to gain insight into global civil society, to learn about the challenges of creating and leading effective and sustainable social enterprises, and to make a positive impact by working closely with a non-profit organization in Budapest, Hungary.
Japan Day
Location: Swann Building Backyard
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Description: Please join us, "Japan Day"! Learn about the Japanese program at Tech! Meet Furoshiki master and Kendama master and have fun with Anime trivia contest and more! Japanese sweet and bakery will be served.
Note: If it rains on the 16th, this event will be move to Nov. 18th
Virtual Info Session on the Study Abroad & Immersion Programs in France and Senegal
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/441452800/9256
Time: 12 to 1 pm
Description: Learn more about the School of Modern Languages' LBAT (Language for Business & Technology) France (Paris) and LBAT Senegal (Dakar) study abroad summer programs, and the SLS (Serve-Learn-Sustain) fall semester program at Georgia Tech Lorraine (Metz,France).
Georgia Tech-Lorraine Undergraduate Info Session
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/gjfwagkq
Time: 1 to 2 pm
Description: Can't make it to a weekly GTL Info Session held on Thursdays from 11am-12pm? No worries! Tune in to this special IEW GTL Info Session held on Tuesday, November 16th from 1-2pm for details about studying at Tech's campus in France!
ISYE Summer Program in Asia Information Session
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/734576054/3476
Time: 2 to 3 pm
Description: Learn more about the ISYE Summer Program in Asia! This 12-week summer program offers Georgia Tech ISYE students the opportunity to take standard undergraduate industrial engineering courses while exploring some of the most important locations for logistics and manufacturing in the 21st century: China and Singapore.
Wednesday, November 17:
Passport to GT
Location: virtual/bluejeans - RSVP at https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7QxiuEsHQtiuqnc
Time: 9:30 to 11:30 am
Description: Join OIE ISSS Staff to learn more about the international student experience of coming to Georgia Tech, as well as the various services ISSS offers. Registration is required. Limit of 30 attendees. *This event if for faculty/staff only*
Graduate Studies at Georgia Tech-Lorraine: Virtual Info Session
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/uwfqpxtj
Time: 10:00 to 11:00 am
Description: Join Georgia Tech-Lorraine's virtual Grad Student info session to learn how easy it is to spend a semester on Tech's European campus in Metz, France at up to half the cost of the Atlanta campus!
LBAT Ecuador Information Session
Location: Skiles 170
Time: 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Description: Information session about Study Abroad Program in Ecuador (Cuenca and Galapagos Islands) for summer 2022. https://modlangs.gatech.edu/lbat/ecuador-galapagos
Thursday, November 18
International Fellowships
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/2610797883/
Time: 11 am to 12 pm
Description: Attend this informational webinar to learn about Prestigious Fellowships offering International Placements!!
Photo Contest Reception
Location: Price Gilbert - G116 Wilby (by Blue Donkey)
Time: 2 to 3 pm
Description: Join the Office of International Education as we celebrate the winners of the annual Photo Contest!
Boren Information Session
Location: Savant #308
Time: 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Description: Want to learn more about getting $23,000 to study language abroad? Join us at the Boren Information Session to learn more about this exciting
Q&A with Sabine Landolt & Agathe Laurent, co-authors of Can We Agree to Disagree
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/655772209/7771
Time: 5:00 to 6:00 pm
Description: Join us for a Q& A with Sabine Landolt, the co-authors of Can We Agree to Disagree, a compelling collection of anecdotes about French and American professionals on their experiences working together. This book reveals the risks of misjudgments. It provides tips and tricks to foster mutual understanding, sparks curiosity, and encourages professionals to adopt the best methods from both cultures, and to better work together. Meeting URL
Friday, November 19
Pacific Program Information Session
Location: virtual/bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/655185001/1185
Time: 11 am to 12 pm
Description: Are you interested in participating in study abroad program during the Summer? If you are, make sure you mark your calendar and come to one of the Pacific program's information sessions. The Pacific program is GT faculty-led program that usually happens during the Spring semester; however, it has recently been shifted to the Summer semester for 2022 only. The Pacific program travels to New Zealand and Australia for 11 weeks! In this information session you will learn valuable information about the program including what classes the program is offering, specific program dates, program itinerary, and much more. Please note that the program's application is nor open. If you can't attend the session, but you would like more information, reach out to Andrea Henriquez (andrea.henriquez@oie.gatech.edu) to make an online advising appointment.
Budgeting for International Experiences
Location: Savant #308
Time: 4 to 5 pm
Description: Join us to learn ways to make international experiences more affordable!
Laternenfest
Location: Tech Green
Time: 4:15 to 6:15 pm
Description: Join the German Program to celebrate Laternenfest by making Lanterns, eating sweet treats, and learning children's songs for the holiday!
Questions? Need help developing an idea? Email Kelci Reyes-Brannon at Kelci@oie.gatech.edu
Visit the Georgia Tech International Education Week Website to learn more.
Tech Topology Summer School
The first ever Tech Topology Summer School was run in Summer 2021, organized by Wade Bloomquist, John Etnyre, Jen Hom, Miriam Kuzbary, and Beibei Liu. There were over 200 registered participants and many of the talks had 100 or more people in attendance.
This will be a biennial summer school with each iteration focusing on a different area of modern topology.
The 2021 summer school focused on 4-manifold topology and ran from July 26 through July 30, 2021. The summer school was focused around three mini-courses given by
- Lisa Piccirillo (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
- Aru Ray (Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in Bonn)
- András Stipsicz (Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics)
There was also be a number of research talks given by
- Paul Melvin (Bryn Mawr)
- Allison Miller (Rice University)
- Maggie Miller (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
- Sümeyra Sakalli (University of Arkansas)
- Hannah Schwartz (Princeton University)
Note: the summer school was held on-line.
See https://ttss.math.gatech.edu for the schedule and photos!
Class of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society 2022
Santosh Vempala, Frederick G. Storey Chair and professor in the College of Computing who is also an adjunct faculty member in the School of Mathematics, has been named to the 2022 class of American Mathematical Society Fellows. Vempala is recognized for contributions to research of randomized algorithms, high-dimensional geometry, numerical linear algebra, and service to the profession. Fellowship in the AMS recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and utilization of mathematics. Vempala, who is the director of Georgia Tech's Algorithms, Combinatorics,and Optimization program, also holds adjunct membership in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Monday through Friday, nestled in the breezeway under Skiles Classroom Building, mathematics students scribble away on rolling white boards, deep in discussion, while others sit at tables, writing on worksheets and chatting with another. For these students, understanding equations is no longer an individual problem to be solved on one’s own, online. With the new outdoor Math Lab, students can now work in collaboration with teaching assistants and each other to reach solutions.
As director of the Math Lab for the School of Mathematics, student success and fulfillment are Stephanie Reikes’ main priorities. And with the return to full in-person learning this fall, Reikes also wanted to provide full tutoring services to students, while also offering flexible hybrid options.
The solution to this tricky equation? Take it outdoors — and offer online options.
This semester, the Math Lab offers outdoor tutoring in Skiles Courtyard during the day, and online sessions in the evenings. As colder weather approaches, the Math Lab will move to a “hybrid” format starting on Monday, November 1:
- Indoor Math Lab: Monday-Thursday 11am-6pm and Friday 11am-3pm, Clough 246/252
- Outdoor Math Lab: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 2-4pm, Skiles Courtyard
- Virtual Math Lab: limited hours after 6pm; for links: https://tutoring.gatech.edu/drop-in/
“During the past year, we have learned that students like the flexibility of being opened more hours,” says Reikes. “While the Outdoor Math Lab closes at 6 p.m., we are offering limited virtual hours after 6 p.m. As of early October, we have already had 600 student visits to the Math Lab,” she adds.
After several previous semesters of mostly virtual instruction, Reikes recognized students’ desires for more in-person learning options. But she also wanted to avoid crowding indoor spaces with students.
“The current indoor space in Clough was just not conducive to social distancing as the lab is often very busy, especially during midterm exam weeks,” she explains, so she “came up with moving our Math Lab operations outdoors to the Skiles Courtyard, a central location to both the Math Department and TAs.”
Teaching assistant Brennan Dolson, second-year Ph.D. student in mathematics, also notices that in-person help has renewed relationships between younger students and older advisors.
“In-person help, in my opinion, feels more personal, and allows instructors the flexibility to help multiple students at once by circulating around a group, suggesting students from the same class work on a problem together, and generally gauge how well advice is being received,” Dolson says. “Virtual instruction, for me, tended to devolve into lecturing, rather than having a conversation, which was not as beneficial for students.”
Dolson also says the Math Lab offers a comfortable space for students and TAs to ask questions they may be too nervous to ask in class, and to work with trusted mentors and classmates.
“Normally, I think students have a sense that math lectures have a certain pacing, and can be hesitant to stop the class to ask questions — I at least feel this way as a student — which can leave them stuck on a certain doubt about the material,” he notes. “Math Lab is an outlet to clear up these doubts with an older student in a more free and unstructured setting.”
That comfortable environment can help build comradery and shared support, too. “I had a Linear Algebra graduate version midterm the same day that a group of math lab students had a Linear Algebra midterm, so that was a nice piece of solidarity,” Dolson adds.
Math Lab Hours and Location
To take advantage of Math Lab tutoring resources, stop by Skiles Courtyard Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., or log into BlueJeans during the hours posted in the Math Lab Schedule. More information on this and other free tutoring options available under Drop-In Tutoring & Academic Support.
SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) News recently published research from Alex Blumenthal, assistant professor in the School of Mathematics, along with colleagues from the University of Maryland and Tulane University. The study validates Batchelor's Law, which is a prediction of ratios for large-scale phenomena involving fluid mechanics. Despite the success of Batchelor’s prediction, no mathematical justification exists outside of highly restrictive settings or toy models. Blumenthal and his colleagues report their recent mathematical results on passive scalar mixing, and the first proof of Batchelor’s Law.
Congratulations go to our colleagues named to the Summer 2021 Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: Class of 1934 CIOS Honor Roll-
Small Classes: Summer 2021
- Neha Gupta
Large Classes: Summer 2021
- Greg Mayer
These awards honor instructors who have at least a 70% response rate and place in the top 25% of the composite CIOS scores for each size group of large and small classes.
Further details on the Honor Roll: https://ctl.gatech.edu/content/student-recognition-excellence-teaching-class-1934-honor-roll#Summer%202021
Please note that these interviews were conducted, and photos were taken, during the summer semester prior to Institute Operations Updates published August 2, 2021 in preparation for fall semester, which include: “To lower the risk for you and others, you are encouraged to wear a mask in indoor public places, including campus buildings, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
Faith Colbert, a rising senior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, was born in Dallas, Texas. When her home state experienced a dangerous, deep cold spell in February of this year, the atmospheric sciences and meteorology major figured the best way she could help her family would be to study that catastrophic weather event.
A National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program at Georgia Tech that she had enrolled in for summer 2021 gave her that chance. More students will soon have a similar opportunity; starting in summer 2022, for the first time, all six College of Sciences schools will offer an REU.
“My motivation was mainly driven by emotional pulls,” Colbert says. “My family being directly affected by the storm pushed me to find research-based answers for both them and me.”
The REU that enabled her to conduct that research was the Aquatic Chemical Ecology at Georgia Tech summer research program, an interdisciplinary REU with the Schools of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), Biological Sciences, and Chemistry and Biochemistry. EAS also has its own REU: Georgia Tech Broadening Participation in Atmospheric Science, Oceanography, and Geosciences research program.
Sara Cuevas-Quiñones, a second year student at Purdue University, attended both of those REUs this summer. She’s a physics major but had a chance to explore planetary sciences with her research project on potential volcanic activity near Mars’ Jezero Crater, where NASA’s Perseverance Rover is currently exploring.
“I’ve never had research experiences before,” Cuevas-Quiñones says. “It's been a great environment, great people. It's been wonderful working with all my peers, and just learning about them, seeing where they come from, what they're researching. Many people here are in totally different fields. That's also been interesting, to get exposed to these new things that I had no idea even existed, honestly.”
Georgia Tech’s REUs give Cuevas-Quiñones and other students — particularly those from underrepresented communities and those who are enrolled at universities without research opportunities found at Tech — a chance to get in the lab, or out in the field. The experiences also give students from smaller colleges and universities the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment, and to be mentored by top Georgia Tech researchers.
That was the situation for Meredith Clayton, who is set to graduate this December from Stephen F. Austin State University (enrollment: 13,000) in Nacogdoches, Texas. She attended this year’s Mathematics Research Experiences for Undergraduates REU at Georgia Tech. “It was great just to meet other math majors from different universities. Georgia Tech's a great environment and campus — all the faculty are awesome that I've met. It's just been a really good time.”
Last December, Lydia Jefferson, a rising senior at the University of Missouri, did a Google search for REUs that addressed “aquatic chemistry for environmental science, stream ecology, — anything I could find. Georgia Tech popped up near the top,” Jefferson says.
Jefferson was obviously water-focused when it came to REUs. “But it was interesting seeing people interested in the race side of things — of environmental justice problems in flooding issues. Just anything in the environment was free game. And I didn't realize, going in, that it would be that diverse. I assumed all of us would be water-focused.”
“This experience was just eye opening for how other people communicate their science, how other people present,” they add. “I'm learning the ins and outs of presentations.”
Jefferson hopes to get a Ph.D. in aquatic sciences and then apply at a US National Laboratory, or perhaps the United States Geological Survey.
“Wherever the water takes me.”
Georgia Tech College of Sciences: All about our REUs — and their leaders
REUs are sponsored and funded for science and math programs in higher education by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
This year, 3M also sponsored a student in the EAS REU. Some of the College of Sciences REUs accept Georgia Tech students, while others are limited to out-of-state students. Check the links for acceptance requirements of each REU.
David Collard, senior associate dean in the College, who previously led the REU program in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry for more than a decade, shares that “NSF REU programs in the College of Sciences have a long record of engaging diverse cohorts of participants in cutting edge research.”
“Since most of the undergraduate participants are recruited from institutions that do not have extensive research infrastructure, the immersive research experience available to them in these programs can be transformational,” he says. “A measure of success of the REU programs in the College of Sciences is that many of the undergraduate participants subsequently go on to complete their Ph.D., some at Georgia Tech, and others elsewhere.”
Collard highlights that “the new additions to the College's set of NSF REU programs — in neuroscience and in atmospheric science, oceanography, and geosciences — represent a strong commitment of the School of Psychology, the School of Biological Sciences, and the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences to broadening participation and fostering inclusivity in research careers.”
“In each school, there is very much a team effort in running these programs,” he adds, “and the coordination of these efforts between the schools is a particularly important feature in allowing us to provide high quality programs.”
REU: Aquatic Chemical Ecology Summer Research Program (ACE)
Hosted by the Schools of Biological Sciences, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Brian Hammer, associate professor, School of Biological Sciences and ACE co-director:
Our Aquatic Chemical Ecology (ACE) REU program has been running since 2004. Our program hosts about 10 students each summer for a 10-week research experience in the lab of a Georgia Tech scientist.
NSF's intent is to support research opportunities that recruit students from non-Ph.D. institutions where such opportunities are rare. This summer we hosted 9 ACE students. Joshua Weitz and his Weitz Group also hosted 3 students with support from the Simon's Foundation and they joined our ACE cohort this summer. This summer, two of our ACE REU students (were) on a research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico!
The goal of our ACE REU is to train students in an interdisciplinary setting, where they interact with a variety of other students and faculty to experience how scientific discoveries are made. They learn about career opportunities in scientific disciplines related to aquatic chemical ecology, they develop mentoring relationships that ignite their desire to pursue scientific careers, and they strengthen their ability to do so through enhanced communication skills, professional ethics training, and exposure to career-building information.
REU: Broadening Participation in Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and Geosciences Research
Hosted by the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Zachary Handlos, academic professional and REU professional development lead, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences:
The goal of this REU program is to provide undergraduate students, especially underrepresented students — as well as those with limited to no research opportunities at their college or university — the opportunity to participate in world-class research at a major research university with leading experts in the fields of atmospheric sciences, oceanography and the geosciences.
Along with learning the skills and tools required to actively participate within a research project, participants attend a variety of professional development and social events that prepare them for research-based career and graduate school opportunities. They also foster collaborations with experts and colleagues within their field of study, and network and develop lifelong friendships with other participants within their program.
Professional development opportunities focus on best practices for conducting research, strategies for writing research papers/conducting research presentations, tips for applying to graduate school, and discussions on topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Social activities, while limited this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, range from field trips to local Atlanta tourist attractions, to companies/organizations relevant to students' career interests.
To my knowledge, the students are having a wonderful time, and the impression I get is that they are so happy to be working in-person at a college campus performing research with other undergraduate students and Georgia Tech faculty. Since last year was supposed to be our first year running this program, but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year was really our true first year.
The tone was set immediately on day one when I emailed the students arriving on campus to ask if everything was going okay. One student simply responded to my email question with a picture of the majority of the EAS REU students at the grocery store, buying supplies for the summer, and all were smiling.
This is the most exciting research program I have ever been a part of. These students are amazing people who are highly talented at research. They’re creative, strongly motivated, and most importantly, they’re kind, respectful, and constantly striving to make the world a better place through their work. While they may have learned a lot from this program, I learned a lot from them! They are excellent role models, and it's an honor and a privilege to have worked with them.
REU: Broadening Participation Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Physics
Hosted by the School of Physics
Jennifer Curtis, associate professor and REU director, School of Physics:
The GT Physics REU program offers a wide range of cutting-edge independent research projects to a diverse group of undergraduates from around the country.
Students have explored a wide range of physical phenomena including Bose-Einstein condensation, quantum properties of magnetic materials, gravitational waves, computational astrophysics, physics of living systems, and soft condensed matter.
The program stands out for its commitment to broadening participation in physics by a diverse cohort of students. To facilitate its goal to broaden participation in physics, the GT REU program is dedicated to building connections with the Atlanta University Consortium (Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University), with approximately 20 percent of the students originating from those institutions. Since 2018, AUC students have been offered additional funding to continue their research collaboration with GT research groups.
Shaun Ashley, faculty support coordinator and REU coordinator, School of Physics:
I had the pleasure and opportunity to create a more engaging and holistic experience for students by serving as a mentor and the “go to person” for any concerns the students experienced during the program.
This has allowed me to foster long lasting relationships that span from 2016 to present. For example, students continue to reach out to me to guide them with graduate applications, other summer research programs and even to be a sounding board about whether they should continue to graduate school or take a wellness break.
My responses are always positive and encouraging: Education first, or education and work!
REU: Chemistry Function, Application, Structure and Theory (FAST)
Hosted by the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Michael Evans, senior academic professional and freshman chemistry laboratory coordinator, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry:
REUs have been a long-standing priority for our school for many years, for undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry majors outside and inside Georgia Tech. REU programs are a win-win for students and faculty, as students receive valuable training, and faculty can further their research efforts. These programs also increase the visibility and prestige of Georgia Tech research programs nationally.
I think much of our success with REU programs flows from a commitment to building up research by undergraduates at Georgia Tech. Because of that history and the quality of Georgia Tech students, our faculty are very comfortable working with undergraduates. Our expanding list of programs builds on that solid foundation.
REU: Human Neuroscience Research and Techniques
First offering: Summer 2022; hosted by Georgia Tech School of Psychology and Georgia State University
Lewis Wheaton, associate professor, School of Biological Sciences, REU co-director (Eric Schumacher, professor in the School of Psychology, is the principal investigator for the Neuroscience REU; Wheaton is co-PI):
There is tremendous interest in neuroscience, and we have seen an incredible expansion of technology in our ability to record from the human nervous system. At the same time, many students do not have access to these technologies at their academic institutions because of expense.
We feel that it is vital to ensure that students who do not have access to these technologies at their universities get exposure to the tools and approaches to understand the human brain. I am excited to further focus on providing opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities to engage in this research.
A unique feature of this program allows some students to come back for a two-year experience, which can really provide a great opportunity to enhance their research, and put these students in a stronger position to advance their careers.
REU: Mathematics Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Hosted by the School of Mathematics
Dan Margalit, professor and REU co-director, School of Mathematics:
On the face of it, the REU is a chance for undergraduate students to pursue a research project in mathematics with a more senior mentor. As mentors, we do our best to airlift the students into the center of a research problem, where there are calculations to be done, examples to be discovered, or specific arguments to be made. Personally, I am always impressed with the students' fearlessness and their abilities to make meaningful contributions.
Besides the obvious benefit of being able to contribute to cutting edge research in mathematics, the REU has many other goals and benefits. For many students, the REU is a chance to get a taste of what graduate school might be like, and to decide if they want to apply. We run a professional development program on various topics such as applying to graduate school, creating a poster, and designing a presentation.
This year, we started a graduate research experience boot camp with several other Atlanta schools. On top of this, the students gain valuable experience learning to work together in groups, to think about the big picture of science and mathematics, and to communicate mathematics effectively.
From my perspective, I get to see the students experience the highs and lows of research — from the excitement of thinking they have a solution, to the despair of thinking that everything they did is wrong, and back again. In the end, our students take many more steps forward than backwards, and I am very proud of what they all accomplished this summer.
Eight members of the College of Sciences were honored for their work on expanding representation at Georgia Tech during the 2021 Diversity Symposium on Sept. 15th, sponsored by Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Lewis Wheaton, associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences and co-chair of the College of Sciences’ Task Force on Racial Equity, is the 2021 Diversity Champion Faculty Award winner. The 2021 Diversity Champion Awards recognize members of the faculty, staff, and student body, and a unit (office, department, school, or lab) who are advancing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Georgia Tech community.
Wheaton is a lead principal investigator for a $16 million National Institutes of Health-FIRST proposal, a collaborative project across several institutions that includes the aim of hiring 10 new underrepresented minority faculty in the College of Sciences and College of Engineering joint neuroscience program at Georgia Tech. He is also co-principal investigator on an NSF-funded Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in human neuroscience, which focuses on increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities from limited-resource undergraduate institutions.
During the Sept. 15th event, seven College of Sciences faculty and staff were named Faces of Inclusive Excellence:
Juan Archila, Director of Facilities and Capital Planning, College of Sciences
Serves as the principal empowerment officer for the HOLA (Hispanics Or Latinos and Allies) Employee Resource Group. Led the steering committee to create the College of Sciences Staff Advisory Council. Served on the team that won the 2020 Process Improvement Excellence Award from Georgia Tech Human Resources.
Ruth Kanfer, Professor, School of Psychology:
Co-author of 2021 book Ageless Talent, on managing workforce age diversity. Founding director of the Work Science Center initiative.
Wenjing Liao, Assistant Professor, School of Mathematics:
Won a National Science Foundation (NSF) award in deep neural networks for structured data as a principal investigator in 2020, representing the third NSF award and fourth award overall she has won since becoming an assistant professor at Tech in 2017.
Stephanie Reikes, Lecturer, School of Mathematics:
Received the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Undergraduate Educator Award in 2021 for contributions supporting at-risk students. Actively fosters classroom environments in which diversity and inclusion are respected by all.
Kathy Sims, Development Assistant, College of Sciences:
Serves as chair of the College of Sciences’ Staff Advisory Council. Served on the Task Force for Racial Equity. Member of the Employee Engagement Leadership Council and a recipient of the Women of Georgia Tech ERG Safeguard Freedom of Inquiry and Expression Award.
Emily Weigel, Senior Academic Professional, School of Biological Sciences:
Received the Ecological Society of America’s Education Scholar award for the creation of environmental justice materials on Atlanta’s water quality using open-source coding software readable by screen readers (Inclusive Pedagogy, Data Access Faculty).
Mayya Zhilova, Assistant Professor, School of Mathematics:
Recipient of the 2021 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program Award for research in statistical analysis, outreach, and mentorship plans for students and high schoolers from underrepresented communities.
“All honorees featured in Faces of Inclusive Excellence share one thing in common: They epitomize excellence in their research, teaching, leadership, and service, or have been honored and otherwise recognized by their peers within their respective fields of endeavor,” says IDEI Vice President Archie Ervin. “When you dive deeper to explore the source of Georgia Tech’s greatness, you discover that this diverse group of faculty, staff, and students reveals the true faces of inclusive excellence.”
The Math Lab has moved part of its operations into an in-person and outdoor format. Students taking any of the fundamental math courses this semester can get help Monday through Friday, from TAs who teach the courses.
Hours:
- Monday - Thursday 11am - 6pm
- Friday 11am - 3pm
Free “drop-in” help is available in the Math Lab. The Math Lab is staffed by math Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). Out of an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the math lab will take on two forms this semester:
- “Virtual Math Lab” from Aug. 30th – Sept.10th via online, BlueJeans/Teams
- “Outdoor Math Lab” from Sept. 13th – Dec. 7th via in-person, Skiles Courtyard
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