New Mexico State University graduate student Aaron Stewart found a unique connection between mountain climbing and mathematics through the mentorship of NMSU mathematical sciences professor Prasit Bhattacharya. Stewart expressed, “Dr. Bhattacharya has compared mathematics with my favorite pursuit outside of school, alpinism, also known as mountain climbing. To climb a route no one has climbed before involves more failure than success, more struggle than ease and more restless nights than easy years. I think being effective at mathematics requires understanding that.”
Bhattacharya, with the support of two National Science Foundation grants totaling over $350,000, is dedicated to preparing students like Stewart for successful careers in mathematics. Their research is primarily focused on topology, with Bhattacharya explaining, “Topology is an abstract notion of shapes. In ordinary geometry, shapes do not have a lot of flexibility, but in topology, they can. We can take a shape and pull it, squish it, and really study it in unique ways.”
One of the NSF grants, amounting to $319,020, is facilitating research in topology, leading to advancements in equivariant homotopy theory and new applications in equivariant geometry. The second grant, totaling $33,874, supported the South-Central Topology Conference at NMSU for the first time, bringing together researchers in the field of topology from the South-Central region.
Stewart, who was among the nearly 100 mathematicians attending the conference, highlighted the significance of networking and learning from peers, stating, “The networking aspect was key. Having lunch with other mathematicians and picking their brains about jobs and how to do research was a great opportunity. On the mathematics front, it was nice to see what ideas stuck with me. It gave me some ideas for future directions to explore.”
Bhattacharya emphasized the success of the conference, particularly noting the diversity among the attendees, “It was great to see so many young people involved and to see graduate students and young faculty being supported. We had six speakers, five of whom were women, and I think it’s important for these young researchers to experience that diversity.”
In addition to supporting topology research, the NSF grant aids post-doctoral researchers and graduate students like Stewart, as well as fosters a sense of belonging within the program. Bhattacharya plans to continue organizing activities to encourage student participation and expand opportunities for students and researchers alike.
Stewart reflected on the essence of mathematics, highlighting the importance of embracing mistakes and challenges in the learning process, “I think one of the curious things about mathematics is that, since we only really ever see the finished product, we often forget that part of the beauty of mathematics is being wrong and struggling.”
Through his dedication to his students and research, Bhattacharya aims to guide his students towards successful careers by providing the necessary tools and connections. He expressed his commitment, stating, “I want to be around, and I want to take part. I want to see in what ways I can contribute and work with undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs. Working with students and fellow researchers keeps me active, and I pay more attention to all aspects of mathematics. I hope to influence my students, but I also hope to be influenced by them.”
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