The Duluth REU
This summer, as in the past several years, a series of research experiences for undergraduates (REU) will be happen, courtesy of NSF. Each program is a little different: they vary in length, size, format (for instance, whether there is a series of lectures on-going or at the beginning).

Last summer, I attended the REU in Duluth, Minnesota, at the University of Minnesota under the direction of Joe Gallian. Professor Gallian's program is the prototype for the other REU's; he has been doing summer undergraduate research projects since 1977. The main areas of research are graph theory and combinatorics. The program is ten weeks long, and participants are paid a stipend, get heavily subsidized housing (total cost was under $100 for the summer), and a travel allowance. There are six students. Harvard typically has a strong representation. On arrival, each student receives a paper or papers, sometimes preprints, which include or suggest open directions for research. Individuals work on problems; of course, discussion between students occurs. Although there is no bar to collaboration, there is a current against it. Besides math, outings are scheduled approximately weekly. Minnesota has a lot of beautiful outdoor recreation areas. For more on the official story, see this year's program announcement or contact Joe Gallian.

In the midwest, there's not much going on, so there is plenty of time to think about math. Besides math, a lot of other stuff goes on. I lived with the other students in university apartments. We each had our own bedroom, and each apartment had a kitchen. There were three men and three women at the program, and three people in each apartment. There was also an "advisor", whose role was rather indeterminate. A couple of alumni visited. The combination of kitchen and nearby supermarket allowed me to test a seldom used culinary genius on a captive audience. There's no pressure, except a little on Sunday night to prepare a brief progress report for Monday. The general goal seems to be to get a publishable paper written. The other folks were pretty bright, although the one from a small school was not as prepared as the others and therefore a bit at sea. The problems can get frustrating, especially if you don't make progress for a couple of weeks. One week, my progress report was just a poem.

We were provided with a van every Wednesday and every weekend, which was used to go to movies, to go to Park Point to play Ultimate, and so forth. Joe Gallian is memorable as a Beatles scholar, and hand jiver. I had a lot of freedom and a lot of fun. Matteo Paris was also there this past summer.

By the way, there tend to be about sixty applicants for six spots. The application is simple, but should be done on time. (Deadline is usually around Valentine's Day.
--Lawren Smithline