Shenandoah Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics Conference
at James Madison University, October 28, 2006
Opening Address
Conjugate Coupling: The
romantic adventure of the quintessential quadratic
Dr. Edward Burger, Williams College
Dr. Edward Burger, Williams College
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Abstract: Here we
will come to understand the
"personality" of real numbers. Along the way we will encounter some
beautiful ideas from number theory and develop an appreciation for an
area known as "diophantine approximation". Results of both the ancient
and recent variety will be offered. No number theory background is required beyond a desire to explore the alluring notion of number. Biography: Edward Burger is Professor of Mathematics at Williams College. His research interests are in number theory, and he is the author of over 30 research articles and 12 books including "The Heart of Mathematics: An invitation to effective thinking" (winner of a 2001 Robert W. Hamilton Book Award). Burger was awarded the 2000 Northeastern Section of the MAA Award for Distinguished Teaching and 2001 MAA Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo National Award for Distinguished Teaching of Mathematics. The MAA named him the 2001-2003 Polya Lecturer. In 2002-2003 he was the Ulam Visiting Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was awarded the 2003 Residence Life Teaching Award. In 2004 he was awarded Mathematical Association of America's Chauvenet Prize and in 2006 he was a recipient of the Lester R. Ford Prize. Burger is an associate editor of the American Mathematical Monthly and a trustee of the Educational Advancement Foundation. In 2006, Reader's Digest listed Burger in their annual "100 Best of American" as America's Best Math Teacher. |