Alan Noell

Oklahoma State University

Project: Complex Analysis Reform

There have recently been movements within the American mathematical community regarding Calculus reform (led, in part, by Wayne Roberts), and Linear Algebra reform (led, in part, by David Lay). Both Roberts and Lay are active members of ACMS, and the time they devoted to these particular educational projects has born much fruit.

With the advent of computer algebra systems much of the perceived need for teaching Complex Analysis to engineering students (so they can, among other things, solve real integrals via residue theory) has dissipated. Should the subject die out, or are there good and sufficient reasons for teaching it to engineers in a revised form? In this project I propose to work with Russell Howell to discuss education reform in Complex Analysis with a view to submitting a grant to NSF that will permit discussion within the MAA, AMS, and SIAM regarding the future of Complex Analysis.