MAA Math Alert - August 2012

News and Views

MAA MathFest 2012 Highlights

This year's MAA MathFest was a rollicking success, bringing nearly 1,500 members of the mathematical community to Madison, Wisconsin for lectures, minicourses, poster sessions, music, movies, and much more. Thanks to all who were able to make this year's MathFest a great event.

2012 China GirlsMathOlympiad

All eight members of the USA team won medals, and Victoria Xia earned a perfect score at the 2012 China GirlsMathOlympiad.More.

Inaugural Mary P. Dolciani Award Presented at MAA MathFest 2012

William G. McCallum (University of Arizona) received the first Mary P. Dolciani Award during the MAA Prize Session on Friday, August 3, 2012, at MAA MathFest 2012 in Madison, Wisconsin.More.

Successful Summer for MAA-Sponsored IMO Team

After training at the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program in June, the MAA-sponsored team to the International Mathematical Olympiad in Argentina in mid-Julywon five gold medals and achieved third place, bested only by South Korea and China.Article.

Are you a fan of The American Mathematical Monthly? Tell us!

Send a photo of yourself readingThe Monthlytomonthly@shsu.edu. Let us know when you started readingThe Monthlyand your favorite article or note.Gallery.

Announcements

MAA FOCUS

The August/September issue of is now availableonline.

Member Book Benefits Changing in 2013

Beginning in January, and varying by month, the MAA is changing the way members receive a discount or other offers when they buy MAA books. Members will receive a new code each month, via email, that enables them to take advantage of that month's benefit. MAA book catalogs, book advertisements, and the MAA store will show only the list price; members will need to use the current code to use the discount or offer. In addition to sending the code via email, it will also be placed in the members-only section of the MAA website, printed in the MAA FOCUS and available through the MAA Service Center.More.

Fifth Series of Commemorative Bricks Installed in the Paul R. Halmos Commemorative Walk

The fifth series of bricks in the Paul R. Halmos Commemorative Walk was installed earlier this summer in the courtyard outside the entrance to the MAA's Carriage House Conference Center. The walk forms a map of the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers in the District of Columbia. This latest installation of 78 bricks, which includes bricks ordered throughJuly2011, brings the installation to where the two rivers meet. Funds raised through the bricks help support the Center and its activities. If you are interested in ordering a commemorative brick, please call Christina Knowles in the MAA's Development Office at202-319-8497or print out a from and mail it to Christina at the MAA.

Alder Award Nominations Due October 1st

The deadline for receiving nomination packets for the Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or UniversityMathematicsFaculty Member is October 1. The Alder Awards are handed out annually at the summer MathFest. Named after Henry Alder, former President of the MAA and lifetime active member of this organization, this prestigious award is intended to stimulate beginning faculty to accomplishment in teaching as well as in their scholarly endeavors.More information.

Travel Grant Program for the 2013 Mathematical Congress of the Americas

Funding for partial travel support for up to 60 U.S.-based mathematicians attending MCA 2013 in Guanajuato, Mexico, August 5-9, 2013, is now available.Details.

Featured Articles

Commentary: Reflections onMathematicsand Democracy by Lynn Arthur Steen

Former MAA President Lynn Arthur Steen responds to the recent New York Times opinion piece "Is Algebra Necessary?" and more.Article.

Devlin's Angle

Read Keith Devlin's August provocative column "The future of textbook publishing is us."Blog.

"Barriers to Change"

In his AugustLaunchingscolumn, David Bressoud discusses the barriers to adoption of empirically validated teaching practices and what steps themathematicscommunity needs to take to improve the teaching and learning of undergraduatemathematics.Article.

MAA MathFest 2012 in Photos

Did you take photos at MAA MathFest? Send them toeditor@maa.organd we'll add them to ourgallery.

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