Participants of the first Consultation Seminar in the Fall of 1999, from left to right: Prof. Peter Wolenski, John Sabino, Aaron McDavid, Fabiana Cardetti, Brian McMahon, Kevin Zito, Prof. Frank Neubrander. Not in picture: Lisa Comeaux, Simone Flory, and Steve Jones

LSU OPENS NEW CLINIC: AN OUTREACH PROJECT THAT WORKS (Flier, March 2000)

Need medical attention? Then this clinic is definitely not for you. The Mathematics Consultation Clinic (MathCon) is a new educational outreach program designed to foster interaction among mathematics students, faculty, and local industry, business and government. Now in its second semester, students with a splash of curiosity as to how mathematical thinking can be applied in real world situations can take this three credit hour course offered by the LSU Mathematics Department. 

Last fall, a group of four students led by Professor Peter Wolenski worked on an optimization problem suggested by a New Orleans chemical company. They developed an Excel spreadsheet interface with MATLAB allowing easy in- and output of massive amounts of data needed to minimize production and shipping costs. The company was so pleased by the final project that future consultations and summer employment opportunities are presently being negotiated. 

Another group of four students, under the supervision of Professor Frank Neubrander, worked on a problem provided by a local company specializing in emergency management procedures and developed a program that helps to design optimal evacuation strategies for buildings or any other structures with clearly defined exits.

This semester, a group of twelve students, led by professors G. Cochran, G. Ferreyra, and J. Madden is working on a project provided by the central office of a major bank that involves the statistical analysis of creditors data. 

Encouraged by the success of the first projects, the LSU Mathematics Department will expand the clinic offerings this fall. In addition to several problems coming from industry and (tentatively) a project provided by the Louisiana Lottery supervised by Professor P. Sundar, the clinic will assist the Baton Rouge based Community Association for the Welfare of School Children (CAWSC) in the preparation of 4th and 8th graders for LEAP and in setting up professional development programs for mathematics teachers. 

MathCon will run next fall as a section of the Capstone Course Math 4020. If you are interested in participating, please contact Frank Neubrander, 314 Lockett Hall (388-1612) (neubrand@math.lsu.edu).