Q: What object did you choose to represent your work in the shoot and why?

A: In my mathematical modeling and data analysis work, I rely mainly on pencil and paper along with my computers. For teaching, I use chalk and blackboards almost entirely, so I brought some chalk in my pocket to write up my favorite equation, Euler’s identity, e^{i*pi}+1=0, which contains five of the most important numbers together in a single elegant statement. In both my teaching and research, I seek out such simple and elegant ways to understand mathematical ideas and to explain empirical observations and natural phenomena.

Q: What are you most looking forward to about the new building?

A: The Department of Mathematics and Statistics will remain in Seeley Mudd, while enjoying several new spaces in the Science Center: a consulting room, where we can interact with science faculty and students on their research, and two undergraduate research offices, in which thesis students can work during the academic year and undergraduate research fellows in the summer. These spaces will play a key role bringing together math, statistics and science faculty and students to engage in collaborative research and maintain our connections with each other.

Q: How will the building impact your work?

A: I’m looking forward to the opportunity to teach in the Science Center from time to time since the new classrooms will be fabulous in supporting active learning and computational work in my applied math classes. I also think the new consulting room will strengthen our ties with the sciences. We’ve done both formal and informal consulting over the past decade—mostly in statistics and applied math—but having this new dedicated consulting space in the Science Center will bring our consulting work to a new level of engagement with the sciences and other disciplines on campus.