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Mathematician Edward B. Burger Named Gaudino Scholar at Williams
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., April 23, 2008 -- Dean of the Faculty William G. Wagner has announced the selection of Edward B. Burger, professor of mathematics, as Gaudino Scholar at Williams College. Burger will succeed Julia Cassiday, professor of Russian, who has served in this distinguished role since 2006.
"We recommended Ed Burger for this honor not only because he is a superlative teacher, but also because of the outstanding quality of his research," said Dean Wagner. "He is exceptionally innovative and creative as both teacher and scholar, and his work in both areas has been very influential. We are delighted that he has agreed to serve as Gaudino Scholar."
Robert Gaudino, a professor of political science at Williams College from 1955 to 1974, was devoted to the idea that to truly learn, students must take the risks inherent in a search for truth and confront uncomfortable ideas and situations.
Soon after Gaudino's death, former students created a fund in support of a Gaudino Scholar, a Williams faculty member who is expected to promote experiences for students to confront differences and learn through contrasts.
Burger is the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2007 Award of Excellence from Technology & Learning magazine, the 2007 Distinguished Achievement of The Association of Educational Publishers, the 2006 Lester R. Ford Award of the Mathematical Association of America, and the 2001 Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College Teaching of Mathematics from the Mathematical Association of America.
He is the author or co-author of more than 30 research articles and 12 books, including "Coincidences, Chaos, and All That Math Jazz: Making light of weighty ideas" and "Extending the Frontiers of Mathematics: Inquiries into proof and argumentation." He is also an associate editor for the American Mathematical Monthly and a member of the Editorial Board for AK Peters Publishing.
His newest book, "Seven," which he is writing with media guru Jacqueline Leo, has been chosen for publication by TWELVE. "There are seven great reasons readers will want this book," said TWELVE publisher Jonathan Karp. "Historical illumination. Memory enhancement. Psychological awareness. Business performance. Personal growth. Mathematical wisdom. And great water cooler conversation."
Burger has written and starred in number of educational videos, including the 24-lecture video series "Zero to Infinity: A History of Numbers" and "An Introduction to Number Theory." He has delivered more than 400 lectures worldwide and has appeared on more than 40 radio and TV programs including NPR and ABC News Now on WABC-TV in New York.
His research interests include algebraic number theory, Diophantine analysis, geometry of numbers, and the theory of continued fractions. He teaches Abstract Algebra, The Art of Creating Mathematics, and Diophantine Analysis.
He has taught or been a visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, Westminster College, James Madison University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Macquarie University in Australia.
He received a B.A. from Connecticut College and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
The Robert L. Gaudino Memorial fund, established in memory of Robert Gaudino's profound impact on his students, has made a distinct contribution to Williams and complements the primary objectives of the college's educational mission: promoting active learning, combating fragmentation of knowledge, and assembling an open community of learning characterized by integrity, mutual respect, and rigorous intellectual endeavor.
Chair of the Gaudino Fund, Dr. Michael Morfit is coordinator of the Master of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University, after having served a distinguished career as a Foreign Service Officer with USAID and was directly involved in U.S. Government planning and policy formation for major international development initiatives.
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Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted. To visit the college on the Internet: www.williams.edu
"We recommended Ed Burger for this honor not only because he is a superlative teacher, but also because of the outstanding quality of his research," said Dean Wagner. "He is exceptionally innovative and creative as both teacher and scholar, and his work in both areas has been very influential. We are delighted that he has agreed to serve as Gaudino Scholar."
Robert Gaudino, a professor of political science at Williams College from 1955 to 1974, was devoted to the idea that to truly learn, students must take the risks inherent in a search for truth and confront uncomfortable ideas and situations.
Soon after Gaudino's death, former students created a fund in support of a Gaudino Scholar, a Williams faculty member who is expected to promote experiences for students to confront differences and learn through contrasts.
Burger is the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2007 Award of Excellence from Technology & Learning magazine, the 2007 Distinguished Achievement of The Association of Educational Publishers, the 2006 Lester R. Ford Award of the Mathematical Association of America, and the 2001 Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College Teaching of Mathematics from the Mathematical Association of America.
He is the author or co-author of more than 30 research articles and 12 books, including "Coincidences, Chaos, and All That Math Jazz: Making light of weighty ideas" and "Extending the Frontiers of Mathematics: Inquiries into proof and argumentation." He is also an associate editor for the American Mathematical Monthly and a member of the Editorial Board for AK Peters Publishing.
His newest book, "Seven," which he is writing with media guru Jacqueline Leo, has been chosen for publication by TWELVE. "There are seven great reasons readers will want this book," said TWELVE publisher Jonathan Karp. "Historical illumination. Memory enhancement. Psychological awareness. Business performance. Personal growth. Mathematical wisdom. And great water cooler conversation."
Burger has written and starred in number of educational videos, including the 24-lecture video series "Zero to Infinity: A History of Numbers" and "An Introduction to Number Theory." He has delivered more than 400 lectures worldwide and has appeared on more than 40 radio and TV programs including NPR and ABC News Now on WABC-TV in New York.
His research interests include algebraic number theory, Diophantine analysis, geometry of numbers, and the theory of continued fractions. He teaches Abstract Algebra, The Art of Creating Mathematics, and Diophantine Analysis.
He has taught or been a visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, Westminster College, James Madison University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Macquarie University in Australia.
He received a B.A. from Connecticut College and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
The Robert L. Gaudino Memorial fund, established in memory of Robert Gaudino's profound impact on his students, has made a distinct contribution to Williams and complements the primary objectives of the college's educational mission: promoting active learning, combating fragmentation of knowledge, and assembling an open community of learning characterized by integrity, mutual respect, and rigorous intellectual endeavor.
Chair of the Gaudino Fund, Dr. Michael Morfit is coordinator of the Master of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University, after having served a distinguished career as a Foreign Service Officer with USAID and was directly involved in U.S. Government planning and policy formation for major international development initiatives.
END
Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted. To visit the college on the Internet: www.williams.edu
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