| |
|
| Instructor: |
Nigel Higson |
| Email address: |
higson@math.psu.edu |
| Office: |
228 McAllister Building |
| Office Hours: |
By appointment |
| |
|
| Class meeting time: |
Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-2:15 |
| Location: |
113 McAllister Building |
| Short description: |
Math 597E is the Graduate Student Seminar.
The main goals of the course are to give participants early
practice in the preparation and delivery of mathematics
lectures (beyond the elementary lectures they give as
instructors); to expose them to a variety of important
mathematical topics that they might not otherwise encounter
in their classes; and to bring them into contact with the
faculty and their research interests through faculty
presentations and faculty assistance in the preparation of
student presentations. The course will also touch on other
topics, including mathematical writing and points of
mathematical etiquette and ethics. |
| |
|
| More details: |
The major assignments in the course will be
the preparation and presentation of a half-hour lecture
before Spring Break and an hour lecture after the break.
Further details about these assignments will be posted on the
resources page for this course
and discussed in class. Please make special note of the
various deadlines for choosing
presentation topics, obtaining approvals, and meeting with me
to discuss your presentations. In addition to the
presentations there will be occasional reading or writing
assignments that will be announced in class. |
| Assessment: |
Students will be assessed on basis of their
performance on the class assignments, especially on the
effectiveness of their presentations. |
| Attendance: |
Students should attend all class
meetings. |
| |
|
| Academic
Integrity: |
Students must adhere to the University's and
the College's standards of academic integrity. The University
defines academic integrity as "the pursuit of scholarly
activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner." It
further states that "Academic integrity includes a commitment
not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification,
misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty
violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University
community and compromise the worth of work completed by
others." See this
page for more information about the University and
College academic integrity policies. For a compelling account
of what honesty and integrity should especially mean for a
scientist (or a mathematician), read this
famous speech given by Richard Feynman. |