|
By Kristin
Harris
In a short time, about 30 graduate students and four faculty
from around the world will descend on Memorial for the AARMS
(Atlantic Association for Research in the Mathematical Sciences)
summer school program. Conceived, developed and run by Memorial’s
Dr. Edgar Goodaire, this unique program is perhaps the only
one of its kind in North America. Modelled on a similar program
in Italy, the AARMS summer school is about to embark on its
second annual session at Memorial.
While the primary objectives of the school are to bring together
emerging and established researchers in the field of mathematics,
Dr. Goodaire hopes that certain segments of the school will
appeal to the wider community. More specifically, Dr. Robert
Elliott of the University of Calgary will deliver a public
lecture on financial mathematics that Dr. Goodaire anticipates
will be well-attended not only by summer school attendees,
but by members of the local business and academic communities
as well. It will be held on Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., in the Arts
and Administration building, room AA-1046. Titled Money Markets
and Mathematics, this lecture is intended for the general
public and something that Dr. Goodaire feels will be of interest
and benefit to many.
Dr. Goodaire asserts that, while financial mathematics is
not offered by many Canadian universities, it is a burgeoning
field in business and industry.
“Financial mathematics is a popular area now; graduates
in the field are hired by banks, brokerage firms, financial
institutions, and so on.” Financial mathematics involves
stock market trends and interest rates, so financial institutions
often hire financial mathematicians for their research and
development departments.
After the summer school session, there will also be a four
day workshop from Aug. 17-20, that will be conducted by an
international body of scholars, headed by Dr. Elliott. Ultimately,
bringing mathematical experts together with those who are
in need of their expertise bridges the gap between university
and industry. “The workshop, sponsored in part by Aliant,
will bring together experts in the field as well as graduate
students. They can listen, collaborate, and exchange knowledge.
Good things are happening here at Memorial, and we want to
highlight that.”
As for the future of the AARMS summer school, Dr. Goodaire
foresees one more year at Memorial, then he plans for it to
move to another Atlantic Canadian university, as it is currently
supported not only by Memorial, but by UNB and Dalhousie as
well. Regardless, the success of the school thus far indicates
that it will thrive even after it leaves Newfoundland and
Labrador. “The work is extraordinary, amazingly exciting,”
says Dr. Goodaire. “It is a great thing to be hosting.”
|
