About the Society of Mathematics at Boston University
And thus by degrees was lit, half-way down the spine, which is the seat of the soul, not that hard little light which we call brilliance, as it pops in and out upon our lips, but the more profound, subtle, and subterranian glow which is the rich yellow flame of rational intercourse.The quote describes the intellectual and material environment of a dinner at the fictional college, 'Oxbridge." The dinner, which she so venerates for being exemplary of 'rational intercourse,' is flawed in that it is open only to a select few. We believe that academic discussion should be an experience available to everyone, and we seek to provide that experience for all undergraduates.
We firmly believe that the ability to enjoy and engage with a mathematical conversation is primarily dependent on curiosity and excitement, and merely facilitated by formal education. It is our goal to ensure that everyone who is excited about and interested in discussing, learning, and doing mathematics has access to a place where they can do so, outside the formal (and sometimes restrictive) setting of a classroom.
Weekly meetings form the backbone of our society. These are intentionally unstructured and informal; we eat food, discuss math, and relax. We have found that building a community requires regular meetings and conversations, but rewards those involved with a network, a safety net, and a group of friends. In addition to this, we hold semiweekly colloquium talks. These are more formal events. The talks are given by upper level undergraduates, for undergraduates; they are designed to be accessible, and provide a view towards graduate classes and even research. These talks also provide other upper level undergraduates the opportunity to branch outside of their concentrations and expand their knowledge.