Mathematical Sciences: A Research Initiation for UndergradesVia Differential Equations and Iterated Mappings

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A Research Experiences for Undergraduates project will be supported by this award. Ten students will work on problems of mathematical analysis under the direction of two faculty advisors. The principal investigator and the visiting faculty member were both heavily involved with the REU program conducted last year at TSU. Again too, there will be joint activities with the University of Houston. Included will be a weekly visit to the UH campus to access the facilities of the Nonlinear Dynamics Laboratory. In addition, a Careers Day and panel discussion will be repeated. Visitors from the surrounding community such as Exxon and the Johnson Space Center as well as other academic institutions will meet with students to discuss career opportunities. The research will focus on two primary topics. These are oscillation theory of ordinary differential equations and iterating of mappings and chaos, sometimes referred to as discrete dynamical systems. These topics are particularly good; one can involve students almost immediately with important and intelligible problems with a strong geometric flavor. Students will be encouraged to prepare reports on their accomplishments and present them at professional meetings. In particular, they will be invited to attend the annual meeting of the Research Association of Minority Professors held each year in Houston.