UAlbany Hosts Prestigious AMS Fall Sectional Meeting

University of North Carolina Professor of Mathematics Richárd Rimányi presents his findings at the AMS Fall Meeting at the University at Albany on Oct. 19. (Photo by Cristian Lenart/UAlbany Mathematics)
University of North Carolina Professor of Mathematics Richárd Rimányi presents his findings at the AMS Fall Meeting at UAlbany on Oct. 19. (Photo by Cristian Lenart)

By Michael Parker

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2024) — For the first time in 41 years, the University at Albany recently hosted a meeting of the American Mathematical Society (AMS), the preeminent organization advancing research and mathematics education in the United States.

Founded in 1888 to promote mathematical scholarship and study, AMS today serves the national and international mathematics community through its publications, meetings and programming with the goal of fostering an awareness and appreciation of the role of math in our everyday lives.

In serving as host institution for the AMS Fall Sectional Meeting, UAlbany’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics welcomed more than 550 scholars and students to campus on Oct. 19-20. The program consisted of 30 organized sessions on a variety of topics ranging from arithmetic geometry to harmonic analysis, computational topology and dynamical systems to just name a few.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol Kim provided the opening remarks for the event, while President Havidán Rodríguez attended the second invited address.

The meeting was primarily organized by UAlbany Professor and Chair of Mathematics and Statistics Cristian Lenart, Professor Antun Milas and Christine LaVallo, administrative manager of the department.

“AMS meetings are usually attended by 300 and 400 participants. By contrast, this year’s Fall Sectional Meeting attracted more than 550 scholars from all over the country and abroad. Such meetings greatly enhance the visibility of the University and of the Math Department in the Northeastern U.S. and beyond,” said Lenart. “I would like to especially thank the generous support of AMS, the UAlbany Research Foundation, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for helping to organize this highly successful event.”

The AMS also issued a statement praising the work of the University and the department in hosting the meeting:

“The AMS expresses its sincere appreciation to The University at Albany, Albany, NY, and most especially to Cristian Lenart, Antun Milas, Christine LaVallo and the rest of the Department of Mathematics for their generous support in hosting this sectional meeting.”

UAlbany previously served as host for a summer meeting of AMS in August 1983, which was organized by Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Timothy Lance.