American Institute of Mathematics Research Conference Center: A Model for Collaboration

美国数学学会（AIM）通过促进不同研究群体之间的合作，推进数学知识的前沿。AIM提供以数学为重点的短期项目，以补充NSF其他研究所的学期和一年的项目。AIM长期致力于以包容和广泛的视角看待数学科学，并结合多种工具和机制来支持合作，将其定位为具有机构专业知识的国家资源，以支持研究和人力资源资本开发的基础进步。AIM的主要科学项目是为期一周的重点研讨会和被称为结构化四重奏研究合奏（SQuaREs）的小型研究小组。每年大约有750名数学家访问AIM参加研讨会或SQuaRE。自2002年以来，AIM在数学科学的所有领域举办了300多场为期一周的重点研讨会。由于讲座很少，小组研究的时间也很长，因此研讨会的目的是促进合作。2007年推出的SQuaREs计划支持4至6名研究人员的合作，他们以一周为间隔多次会面，以便在雄心勃勃的研究议程上取得进展。自项目启动以来，AIM已经举办了400多场SQuaRE会议。为了进一步支持科学项目的目标，AIM开发了一套基于网络的工具，以加强参与者在AIM期间前后的协作，并有助于将进展传播给更大的感兴趣的社区。在项目期间，AIM将在96个研讨会和262个研讨会中接待大约4000名数学科学家，这些研讨会将在广泛的数学领域推进知识。预计这些计划将继续保持其既定的生产力记录，在过去十年中，每个研讨会平均出版2.7份出版物，每个SQuaRE平均出版3.9份出版物。AIM项目的更广泛的科学成果包括支持新兴领域，为数学领域之间的新联系和数学科学在其他领域的新应用铺平道路。AIM的项目有意包括不同的研究人员群体，其长期目标是扩大参与研究的群体。在项目选择和规划的每一个阶段，参与者的多样性都是一个重要的考虑因素，在每个项目的研究活动中，我们致力于为所有参与者创造一种完全包容的文化。纵观其历史，AIM还支持了各种特殊项目，包括本科教师研究经验（REUF），这是一个为希望指导本科生研究的本科教师提供的项目；以及数学教师圈（MTC）网络，这是一个将K-12数学教师与研究数学家联系起来的国家外展项目。这些项目有助于AIM作为一个研究所的工作产生更广泛的影响，提供在数学界内外建立伙伴关系的机会，并提高公众对数学科学的认识。最后，研究合作工具传播AIM项目的成果，也有很大的潜力为支持更普遍的科学合作的基础设施做出贡献。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) advances the frontiers of mathematical knowledge by fostering collaborations among diverse groups of researchers. AIM hosts short, mathematically focused programs that complement the semester- and year-long programs of other NSF institutes. AIM’s long-term commitment to an inclusive and broad view of the mathematical sciences, combined with versatile tools and mechanisms to support collaboration, position it as a national resource with the institutional expertise to support fundamental advances both in research and in the development of human resource capital. AIM’s primary scientific programs are week-long focused workshops and small research groups called Structured Quartet Research Ensembles (SQuaREs). Approximately 750 mathematicians per year visit AIM for either a workshop or a SQuaRE. Since 2002, AIM has hosted more than 300 week-long focused workshops in all areas of the mathematical sciences. With few talks and significant time for research in groups, workshops are designed to promote collaboration. The SQuaREs program, introduced in 2007, supports collaborations of 4 to 6 researchers who meet multiple times for week-long intervals in order to make progress on an ambitious research agenda. AIM has hosted over 400 SQuaRE meetings since the program began. To further support the goals of the scientific programs, AIM has developed a set of web-based tools that enhance collaboration before and after participants’ time at AIM, and contribute to disseminating progress to a larger community of interest. During the project period, AIM will host approximately 4,000 mathematical scientists in 96 workshops and 262 SQuaREs that will advance knowledge in a broad spectrum of mathematical areas. It is anticipated that these programs will continue their established record of productivity, which over the past decade has resulted in an average of 2.7 publications from each workshop and 3.9 from each SQuaRE. Broader scientific outcomes of AIM’s programs include supporting emerging fields and paving the way for new connections between fields of mathematics and new applications of the mathematical sciences to other areas. AIM’s programs are intentionally inclusive of a diverse group of researchers, with the long-term goal of broadening the community of those who participate in research. Participant diversity is an important consideration at every stage of program selection and planning, and extensive effort is dedicated to creating a culture of full inclusion for all participants in each program’s research activities. Throughout its history, AIM has also supported a variety of Special Projects, including Research Experiences for Undergraduate Faculty (REUF), a program for undergraduate faculty who want to mentor undergraduate students in research; and the Math Teachers’ Circle (MTC) Network, a national outreach program connecting K-12 mathematics teachers with research mathematicians. These projects contribute to the broader impacts of AIM’s work as an institute, provide opportunities to form partnerships both within and beyond the mathematics community, and raise public awareness about the mathematical sciences. Finally, research collaboration tools disseminate the results of AIM programs and also have significant potential to contribute to the infrastructure supporting scientific collaboration more generally.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.