New Delhi, Jan 12 Mathematics might be a dreaded subject for
a vast number of students because of the calculations it involves,
but it has a human face too. Difficult to believe though it
might the Maths can bring about a lot of cheer. This as the
message that was sought to be driven home by distinguished mathematicians
who addressed the inaugural session of an extraordinary three-week
conclave at St. Stephen's College here today.
"To
become a mathematician, one need not be genius. All that is
need is a bit of hard. Work, asserted Prof. Peter Fillmore of
the Department of mathematics, Dallousie University, Canada,
adding that Mathematicians are made and not born." A specialist
in operator algebra and theory, he affirmed that "hard
work is the only way to become a mathematician
The conclave, "A life of Mathematics", organised by
the ICICI Center for Mathematical Sciences of ST. Stephen's
College and sponsored by The Hindu, includes a series of lectures,
seminars, workshops and interactive sessions with undergraduate
students. It will go on right up to January-end. Besides Prof.
Fillmore, two other international experts participating in the
conclave are Prof. Garret J. Etgen from the University of Houston,
Texas and Prof. Henry Helson from the University of California,
Berkeley. For the participants particularly the students - the
inaugural session was an eye opener as all the three eminent
mathematicians referred extensively to their personal experiences
with the subject. On his first tour of the country which has
the distinction of discovering "Zero", Prof. Etgen
recounted to the audience his family history right from his
parents to their great grandchildren to show how it was all
a matter of simple mathematical symmetry and equation, And as
he went on to explain that his parents now had nine great-grandsons
and nine great-granddaughters, the entire hall was full of laughter.
The senior most of the three mathematicians Prof. Helson, who
specialises in harmonic analysis, said he was here to learn
more then to tell, given the rich tradition of mathematics in
this country. "Indian mathematics is self propelled, "
he said.
Speaking on the occasion the college Principal Dr. Anil Wilson
commended the effort of the ICICI Center for Mathematical Sciences
For organising such a conclave.
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