Remembering Karl Menger 2008
April 24, 2008
About 115 guests heard Dr. Lloyd N. Trefethen of Oxford University speak at the second annual IIT Karl Menger Lecture and Award in the MTCC Ballroom on Monday April 14, 2008. Trefethen is Professor of Numerical Analysis and head of the Numerical Analysis Group at Oxford University. He spoke on "Computing Numerically with Functions Instead of Numbers," describing his "chebfun" system for doing numerical computations with functions.
"It was a great turnout for an event that's become a new tradition for the Department of Applied Mathematics," said Fred Hickernell, professor and chair.
Attendees at Trefethen's lecture included alumni, emeriti, students, faculty, staff and others from applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematics education, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, humanities, science, and more. They also included Mrs. Rosemary Menger Gilmore, one of Menger's daughters, and her husband, as well as President John Anderson.
The event is sponsored by Applied Mathematics, Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund. It honors Professor Karl Menger, who taught at IIT from 1946-1971.
President Anderson spoke briefly about Menger before introducing Trefethen. He noted that Menger is considered one of the great mathematicians of the 20th century as well as a passionate educator. "He was a world-class scholar who loved to teach, a researcher whose discoveries continue to resonate, an instructor whose classes are remembered by his students 40, 50 and 60 years later," Anderson said. "These are all reasons why we remember Professor Menger, and why we honor him today."
Before the lecture, a smaller group of alumni, emeriti and other guests shared their personal memories of Menger, led by Professor Jerry Frank (MATH MS 69, PhD 72). Many remembered, among other things, Menger's famously chaotic office. Those who spoke included Professor of Applied Mathematics and Physics Thomas Erber, Beatrice Lumpkin (Mathematics for Teachers MS 71), Phil Calabrese (MATH 63, MS 65, PhD 68), Professor of Computer Science Ed Reingold (MATH 67), and Mathematics Professor Emeritus H.L. "Len" Pearson (MATH PhD 57).
Charles Uth, Head of Collection Development, Galvin Library (CE 81, MS 85), told the group about a donation of Menger's books to the Galvin Library by Phyllis Kittel (MATH MS 70, PhD 75). The group also viewed student research posters and heard research presentations by fourth-year undergraduate Jon Beagley and Assistant Professor Rob Ellis.
After Trefethen's lecture, Hickernell announced that Applied Mathematics PhD candidates Andrea and Luca Vidozzi were selected to receive the 2008 IIT Karl Menger Award for outstanding student research. Their adviser is Associate Professor Tomasz Bielecki. PhD candidate Oscar Ortega was also named this year's outstanding teaching assistant. PhD candidates Sun Xu and Ben Niu won first and second place in the graduate student research poster contest, respectively, while third-year AMATH major Kevin Ventullo won first place in the undergraduate research poster competition. Hannah Kolb, a third-year undergraduate, placed second in the undergraduate research poster competition.
Hickernell also announced that the department's summer research scholarships will be named for F.R. 'Buck' McMorris, CSL Dean and Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, who is retiring this year.
A dinner at the MTCC Pritzker Club wrapped up the day's activities. Professor Frank talked about progress on the $20,000 matching challenge posed last year by him and his wife, Pat, to help endow the event.
"Our guests enjoyed the day's activities a great deal," said Hickernell. "We met old friends from last year's event plus some that came for the first time this year. We were able to forge stronger bonds among across generations and make many people feel more a part of our Applied Mathematics community."
Photos by Mindy Sherman
