Mathematics outreach program awarded Dolciani grant

(Press-News.org) Two years after launching a new mathematics outreach program, a team of Texas A&M University professors has been awarded a Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant to support their program's efforts to promote math enrichment for high school students.

The Program for Research in Mathematics (PReMa) was established in 2022 by four members of Texas A&M’s Department of Mathematics: Dr. Sherry Gong, Dr. Wencai Liu, Dr. Kun Wang and Dr. Zhizhang Xie. The program, directed by Wang, targets high school students living in Texas and neighboring states. Designed to cultivate a deep appreciation and understanding of advanced mathematics, PReMa works to provide a structured platform that encourages student engagement in mathematical research and problem-solving.

“Under the guidance of experienced mathematicians and educators, PReMa not only enhances participants’ mathematical skills, but also fosters critical thinking and analytical abilities through immersive research experiences,” Wang said. “To the best of my knowledge, it is the first and only program in Texas that offers students the opportunity to engage directly in mathematical research.”

Before PReMa’s creation, Gong, Liu and Xie had teamed up in 2021 to organize the Summer Program in Coding and Mathematics, which attracted 14 and 15 students, respectively, in its first two years. While PReMa registered 16 participants in its first year in 2023, 44 have already registered for 2024.

During the past three years, PReMa has collaborated with students from 38 different high schools in multiple states beyond Texas, including New York, California, Oregon, Michigan, Oklahoma and Minnesota — but they do not plan on stopping there.

“In the next year, we want to expand our outreach to include additional high schools, particularly targeting underserved communities,” Wang said. “We also want to continue to enhance the curriculum by incorporating more topics on data science and technology.”

PReMa’s lofty aspirations led faculty to apply for a Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant awarded by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). These grant proposals are sought from college and university mathematical sciences faculty that have established projects in attempts to actively engage middle or high school students beyond the standard curriculum — an idea closely related to the mission of PReMa.

“We applied for a Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant to secure the additional funding necessary to expand the reach and enhance the resources of our program,” Wang said.

With the help of the grant, PReMa will have broadened access to digital resources and the opportunity to provide more comprehensive training materials. The grant also enables the program to facilitate the inclusion of guest lecturers.

“We’ll be able to purchase new software and mathematical tools with the help of this grant,” Wang said. “It’s also going to support travel expenses, giving our students the opportunity to present their research results at conferences.”

PReMa has also recently added new faculty members, such as Dr. Chun-Hung Liu, Dr. Simone Chechini and Dr. Yuliia Yershova, to the program to serve as mentors for participants.

“Each of these faculty members specializes in different mathematical disciplines, thereby enriching the program with a diverse range of mathematical perspectives,” Wang said. “From what I have observed, our PReMa students are thoroughly enjoying their lectures and are actively engaged in discussions.”

With the new additions and the help of the Dolciani Grant, the program’s expansion and enhancement objectives seem closer than ever.

“PReMa is crucial because it introduces young minds to the mathematics research area, fostering a new generation of thinkers who are well-prepared to tackle complex problems with innovative solutions,” Wang said. “The program not only enhances participants' mathematical skills but also boosts their analytical, research and presentation skills, preparing them for successful careers in various fields.”

On August 10, Wang and PReMa student Steven Ning are scheduled to present their co-authored abstract and corresponding research at MAA MathFest 2024 in Indianapolis — the first of many achievements sure to come for the growing program.

Learn more about PreMa or additional outreach programs offered by Texas A&M Mathematics.

 By Emily Godsey. Texas A&M University College of Arts and Sciences

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