Math 290: Introduction to Research at Cuesta College
Math 290: Introduction to Research is a short 12-week 1-unit course that introduces students to the fundaments of research in Mathematics and related fields, and invites them to work on actual open problems with opportunities for publication and dissemination of their names and findings. In addition to being credited in your record, it is transferrable to UC and CSU as elective credit, and it would be a great ally for curriculum building and networking. The course is conducted under the umbrella of IUSE, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (1821351).
In the 2021-22 edition of Math 290: Intro to Research, a great variety of students enrolled (from high school dual enrollment to already graduate ones), and they did the following fun and remarkable things:
- Working in an industrial problem provided by the Department of Public Works in San Luis Obispo. Students studied the problem from different angles (economic, environmental, mathematical…) and presented a report to the Department.
- Working in an academic problem provided by the Mathematical Association of America. Students came with two different solutions to the first part of the problem.
- Three students presented their work in both problems at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, on April 2022.
- Two students presented their work in the industrial problem at MathFest, on August 2022, in Philadelphia, PA (all the expenses paid). This was under the umbrella of PIC Program by the MAA, sponsored as well by the NSF (DMS-1722275).
- One student submitted a full solution to the academic problem to The College Mathematics Journal, and his name was published as a solver in May 2022.
This fall 2022, we have new open problems and new opportunities for students like you. Contact Professor Alvarez (guillermo_alvarezpar@cuesta.edu) for more information.
