Welcome back!

In your Communication Packet via online registration you will find several pamphlets prepared by the Department. If you haven't read them before, we urge you to do so: they contain useful information on selecting math courses, applying to graduate schools, getting part-time and summer jobs in mathematics, selecting senior thesis topics and advisors, etc. In particular, they describe the Math Expository requirement that students are required to comply with. Even if not all of these topics seem relevant for you, please browse through the pamphlets anyway - you may be surprised at what you learn.

There will be three tutorials offered this year: one in the Fall and two in the Spring.

Fall 09:

• Dynamics of analytic maps, taught by Giulio Tiozzo.
  Prerequisite: Math 113 (Complex Function Theory).

Spring 10:

• Algebraic combinatorics: symmetric functions, taught by Greta Panova.
  Prerequisites: basic knowledge of linear algebra (e.g. Math 121 or 122) will be required; some familiarity with abstract algebra (Math 122 or Math 55a) would be helpful but not required.

• Combinatorial and geometric group theory, taught by Thomas Koberda.
  Prerequisite: Math 131 is strongly encouraged. Math 132 is desirable but not necessary. Though no hyperbolic geometry will be assumed, the content of Math 130 would provide useful background.

The description of the tutorials will be posted on the undergraduate bulletin boards (one opposite rm. 320, the other opposite rm. 503). They will also be e-mailed to all math concentrators on our mailing list and posted on the Math Department website http://www.math.harvard.edu.

We would also like to remind you of some upcoming events:

Tuesday, 9/1, 5:30 pm.

The first meeting of the Math Club at Mather House.

Thursday, 9/3, 4:30 pm.

Organizational sign-up meeting for the Fall Tutorials in room 507.

Friday, 9/11, 3:00 pm.

Math Concentrators' Party in the 4th floor Common Room.

Please check the Undergraduate bulletin boards periodically for more announcements.
Have a good semester,

Peter Kronheimer
Director of Undergraduate Studies