SIMUW 2004

The Summer Institute for Mathematics at the University of Washington (SIMUW) has completed its second year, and this was as successful as the first one. SIMUW is an exciting program for students who have not yet completed their final year of high school. It is funded entirely by a generous gift from an anonymous couple.

The second class of twenty-four enthusiastic, talented students arrived at the campus of the University of Washington on June 20, 2004 for a six-week program of classroom activities, special lectures, field trips, social activities, and intense interaction with faculty, TAs, and fellow students.

The two dozen students from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia studied topics ranging from mathematical ideas in scientific computing to higher dimensional geometry in two-week segments, interspersed with special half-day sessions on topics like mathematical reasoning, knot theory, and the mathematics of movement. They spent four days each week on the two-week topics, and one day on the special sessions. Most of this time they worked together and with the staff, grappling with hard mathematical problems. On weekends, there were planned excursions to museums, science labs, and the beach.

Students in the program deepened their understanding and appreciation of many active areas of mathematics. They also established friendships and contacts that will last long after the final session.

The SIMUW program is directed by UW faculty members Ron Irving, Sándor Kovács, Paul LePore, and Jim Morrow. In 2004 there were six faculty members from the UW, the University of Chicago, and Microsoft; seven special lecturers from the UW and the University of California at Los Angeles; and six teaching assistants from around the country who also served as counselors.

The original funding for SIMUW was for two years, which ended with this year's program; however, our generous donors have agreed to continue funding for another two years. As a result, we are now starting preparations for SIMUW 2005. Students from Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho are encouraged to apply.

Information about the 2005 program will soon appear on the SIMUW website.

Sándor Kovács