数学与系统科学研究院

计算数学所学术报告

报告人：        Samuel Shen

University of Alberta, Canada

报告题目 When should a mathematician know everything about something and something about everything?

Abstract: An answer to the title question is that when you have a Ph.D. in mathematics, you should know everything about your specific research area and something about every other mathematics, such as algebra, analysis, topology, logic, applied mathematics, and statistics, or related fields like physics, biology, and engineering. This is what I learned at the orientation session for new mathematics graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although that was 20 years ago, the conclusion is still largely valid. My professors at Wisconsin claimed that they followed this principle of mathematical education inherited from Gottingen, i.e., Hilbert’s school. The purposes of this talk are as follows: (i) to show the benefit for a mathematician to know everything about something and something about everything, (ii) to demonstrate some ways of enjoying mathematics research, and (iii) to describe some social responsibilities of mathematicians and statisticians. The talk will include my experience as a graduate student, my good and not-so-good experience in my career, and a bit about my current research on global warming.

报告时间：2005年2月22日  上午10：30-11:30

报告地点：科技综合楼三层报告厅