This class is a professional development class on "Introduction
to Mathematics Profession" coordinated by
Graduate Chair,
M. Peszynska, with participation by other Mathematics Graduate
Faculty, and guests.
Students who complete this class will have satisfied the Ethics
component of graduate study required by Graduate School.
Class content:
We will dicuss the ethics of the profession and more generally
"responsible conduct of research", and how this is applied in our
field of mathematics. Other topics will include discussions on career
options for mathematicians, developing skills and techniques to
identify/ apply/ compete for/ and suceed in (i) academia, (ii)
government, (iii) industry, and other (?) careers. We will touch upon
mathematical writing and presentations, and techniques to research
using library and online tools.
As we continue towards Spring, we will talk about how to choose an
major professor/adviser who would guide you through the rest of your
graduate study. There might be a few visits from Mathematics Graduate
Faculty (more in Spring) who would present opportunities in their
area, and an occasional visit from Dr Swisher to discuss any ongoing
teaching issues.
Meetings: Most weeks we will meet on Wednesdays noon
in BEXL 417.
Some weeks the location might be different and will be announced ahead
of the time.
Grading is on S/U basis.
Attendance in all but one class
meetings is required for an S grade. In extenuating circumstances (when
more absences are inevitable), please contact the Instructor.
The class will be run as a "flipped" classroom: reading of some
materials will be assigned, and students are expected to come to the class
meetings prepared.
Active participation in discussions and class activities is
required. This will include answering to polls, emails, and similar,
as dictated by class schedule.
Special arrangements for students with disabilities: please contact the instructor and Services for Students with
Disabilities prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss
accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for
accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS
should contact DAS immediately at 737-4098.
Course drop/add information is at
http://oregonstate.edu/registrar/.
Student Conduct: All students are expected to obey to OSU's student
conduct regulations, see
OSU's Statement of Expectations for Student Conduct
at this link
http://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/sites/studentlife.oregonstate.edu/files/student_conduct_code_1.pdf,
and specifically the information about Academic or Scholarly
Dishonesty beginning on p.2. In particular, please consult the
definitions of (A) CHEATING, (C) ASSISTING, and (E) PLAGIARISM, as
well as recommended handling.
Weekly Schedule:
1/11/16: Introduction. Read Diane O'Leary's Gradstudy
or this link
(Chapter 4 and especially 4.7)
See also recent article
http://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-You-Might-Love-Working-at/238204
Be ready for discussion on 1/18/2017.
1/18/16: Career options. Read Chapters 10,11,12 in O'Leary's book
and follow the links in
http://www.ams.org/profession/career-info/new-phds/new-phds
by Kelton, or by Seitelman, or O'Neil, or any of the other career/job sites.
HW Assignment (send me an email) due Fri 1/20/15 by 5:00pm. Based on these resources, please email me:
(a) the career you would most likely choose
(b) the career you would least likely choose
Extra credit :-) email to me any other website you know of that has great
suggestions on careers for mathematicians. (We will include it in the 599
website for Winter 18).
1/25/17: Ethics in Mathematics
AMS
Ethics Guidelines, link to a paper by Hersh (by email), and
Chapter 13 from O'Leary's book. Be ready to discuss on 1/25!
HW Assignment by email due Friday 1/27/2017: Hersh
refers to various issues such as "Star Wars" (not what you
think). [This is clearly no more a topic, at least not as hot as it
was then.] Please send me (i) your opinion about some contemporary
issue in which you think mathematics/mathematicians are involved and
which ethical questions arise, and (ii) another one that Hersh
mentioned and which is still much of an issue. From other materials on
ethics, (iii) was there something you would prioritize as the most
ethical issue you expect you may face as a mathematician.
2/1/17: Teaching check (with Holly Swisher).
2/8/17: Library resources for research with hands-on
activities. MathSciNet vs Google Scholar. Also, what are Citation
Indices.
[Valley 2082 (Autzen classroom)]. Guest: Uta Hussong-Christian.
Read about: Nefarious numbers (AMS Notices)
http://www-users.math.umn.edu/~arnold/integrity.html
http://www-users.math.umn.edu/~arnold/papers/impact-factors.pdf
HW due Fri 2/10: pick three examples (a) a historic figure in
Mathematics, (b) a contemporary Mathematician, (c) a current
researcher working in interdisciplinary Mathematics and publishing in
mathematical and interdisciplinary venues. Discuss the following, for
these three exmaples, and based on the readings above.
do you think you can judge the stature of a scientist
from the citations?
do you think you can judge the stature of the given scientist
from the citations on Google Scholar?
do you think you can judge the stature of the given scientist
from the citations on MathSciNet?
2/15/17:
National Academy of Sciences: Responsible conduct of research.
1. Please read: Introduction. Treatment of data. Discovering an error.
2. See NSF defines
CoI (Conflict of Interest) for its employees. (read just the first
lines up to 5301.103 Outside employment abd activities.)
HW: please answer the following questions: (i) If a
mathematician makes a mistake in the proof and publishes it, what
should they do when they discover the mistake? (ii) If your colleague
makes a mistake in their published work, what should you do? (iii) If
a result of Prominent Mathematician is different than that published
on Wikipedia, what should you do? (iv) If you serve on awards
committee, and your sister's husband is one of the nominees, what
should you do? What if you chair this committee comprised of two
people.
Further materials to read (optional):
Order of
authorship, Publish or perish.
2/22/16: Finding an adviser, first discussion.
Read Chapter 7, "How to choose an adviser" from
O'Leary's
book. Also more
general adviser-mentor seeking with pointers on what to do when
you change your mind. Finally, lightly written article on
"Care and Maintenance of Your Adviser" by Kearns and Gardiner, on styles
of advising and adviser-advisee relationships.
3/1/17: Research group presentation: Professors Restrepo and Thomann
3/8/17: Research group presentation: Professors Cozzi and Escher
3/15/17: Research group presentation: Professors Swisher and Schmidt
HW due March 15:
Read and provide answers to questions listed at the bottom of each
sections listed below.
(Marie and Yuan) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK214565/