Here we are! The MAA 2002 Committee on Mathematics and
the Environment.
In case you can read the names above, we are Ahlam Tannouri, Claudette
Bradly, Ben Fusaro, Joe Watkins, Marcia Sward Doherty, Marty Walter, Bill
Stone, and me, Pat Kenschaft.
The Committee for Mathematics and the Environment had a
lively meeting in
San Diego with about 20 people attending. We planned for 3 future
meetings and made some other decisions (below). No votes were taken; all
interested people were heard and welcome.
Lee Seitleman suggested that our next year (Baltimore) panel feature book
authors giving sample lessons using their own book for a half hour each.
They will demonstrate how matheamtics can be taught integrating the
environment. Marty Walter and Nancy Zumoff will be two of the presenters
and Greg Longkamp will see if he can be the third. I will preside.
Due to Karen Boliger's quick wits, she and Ben Fusaro set up a panel for
Baltimore on "Environmental Mathematics in the Classroom." I
have been
told that in the future, MAA committee chairs will be informed of
deadlines. However, I think I may remember that contributed paper
sessions and short courses must be applied for 13 months before the
meetings; the purpose for this is that the appropriate committee can
choose which proposals they will accept at the Meeting 12 months before.
We decided to apply for two contributed paper sessions for the January
Meeting of 2004 in Phoenix, one on "Environmental Mathematics in the
Classroom" and one on simply, "Environmental Mathematics."
I have
informed the MAA of these intentions. Marty Walter said he would apply to
give a short course at that Meeting.
We discussed the need to get papers about our issues into sessions other
than those we sponsored. We agreed we should be encouraging people to
apply to give contributed papers about environmental issues at sessions
about interdisplinary courses and the sessions about alternatives to
algebra. (Personally, I gave a very similar paper to the one in our
session to one on "Who needs Algebra?" on Wednesday afternoon and
found
the reception at the latter even better; I was presenting new and
therefore more interesting ideas to the second group.)
We discussed webpages. Bill Stone has set one up for the Committee, but
the MAA has not yet linked to it. We encouraged him to make whatever
appeals are needed for the linking.
Marty Walter has set one up for the EM SIG. Ben Fusaro reported that the
SIG (Special Interest Group) has not yet been authorized as officially
being associated with the MAA. He is working on this. Meanwhile,
people
receiving this memo are part of an unofficial group concerned with
Environmental Mathematics that we unofficially refer to has the
Environmental Mathematics SIG.
There are, alas, not many of us planning to go to Burlington this August.
Instead of a panel, we have decided to sponsor an "Informal Conversation
about Matheamtics and the Environment. Come share your ideas and share
with those of Ben Fusaro, Michael Olinick, and Pat Kenschaft." If
you
want your name on this list, there is still time. However, I sent it in
already in order not to miss another deadline.
Meanwhile, in San Diego the EM Committee sponsored a fascinating panel
featuring Gerald Leiberman about the successes of using the environment as
an integrating context for improving K-12 teaching with stimulating
responses from Nancy Zumoff and Lee Seitleman and many contributions from
the audience. Ben Fusaro, ably assisted by Marty Walter, led two
contributed paper sessions with about a dozen speakers, and he also ran
his own short course. Thank you, Ben, for all your leadership last week
and in the past! (Ben was the organizer and first chair of the MAA EM
Committee.)
Most messages from the EM Committee won't be this lengthy. However, it
was indeed a busy week. If you don't want to get any more, let me know.
It is my intention to send the next messages with names showing so that
you can be in touch with each other and others can make their own list if
they like. If you don't want to be on that list, but want to be included
on the blind messages, let me know, and I will try to comply. If you want
to be on this list and didn't receive this message.... hmm.. how do I
say, "Let me know"? Anyway, spread the word that everyone is
welcome. I
think that the more we keep each other informed about our varied
activities, the better for both the environment and the mathematical
profession.
Happy New Year!
Pat Kenschaft
Chair, MAA Committee on Mathematics and the Environment
There were 20 people at the San Diego committee meeting, but most of them
were not official so they couldn't get reimbursement. I am concerned
about the small size of our official committee, especially since Marty is
the only new member now and Marcia and Joe were the only new ones last
year. The other five of us rotate off the committee next year, and even
assuming there are some continuations, it doesn't provide for much
continuity.
I've done some begging and have permission to submit a "short list"
for
another (or others?) who might be asked to be on the committee. Do you
have suggestions? My own priorities would be young people we want to
support by giving them status (on a national MAA committee) and
experienced people likely to come to most national meetings who might
succeed to leadership roles.
I believe that all of you received my messages to the SIG about the SD
meeting and plans for Burlington. Most substantive committee activities
can be (and I think should be) shared with anyone who indicates an
interest in being included. Our strength has not yet engendered any inner
contraversies, so we haven't had to take any votes where it matters who is
on the committee and who isn't.
If you have either substantive ideas about what the committee should do
(especially if you weren't at the SD Meeting), let me know. PLEASE think
about who I should suggest for membership in the committee, and let me
know about your contemplations there too.
Pat