Math major Angélica González ‘12 spent the spring 2010 semester studying with some of the most prominent mathematicians in Hungary, as part of the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics (BSM) program.
The highly competitive program attracts math and computer science students from all the top colleges and universities in the United States. The courses, which range from Number Theory and Combinatorics to Topics in Graph Theory and Analysis, are conducted in English by pre-eminent Hungarian scholar-teachers, drawn primarily from the renowned Eötvös Loránd University and Mathematics Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. A semester’s curriculum typically encompasses three to four mathematics courses and one or two intercultural courses—all of which, according to the program’s website, focus on “depth of understanding, rather than quantity of material.”
“The classes were really challenging, but it was well worth it,” said González. “A lot of the professors were ‘Erdos Number 1,’ which means they published with Hungary’s famous mathematician Paul Erdos.”
Critical to the BSM experience, too, is time for cultural immersion and experiences in the vibrant and storied city of Budapest.
“I had the best time of my life. I learned a lot of math, and Budapest is just amazing.”
González’ experience abroad will definitely influence her current research on the relationship between Sierpi ski, Riesel, and Fibonacci numbers that is part of her Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship project.
“I am excited to continue my research this summer because Professor (Mark) Kozek got funding for a ‘super computer,’ so I will be able to run a lot of my programs, and hopefully get more results than I did last summer.”
Published in fall 2011 issue of The Rock
