During the eight week program, participants master important research skills and contribute to work that is a vital part of the academic research world. In combination with this intensive research, the SURP seminars and workshops provide preparation for entering into Masters and Doctoral programs in science and mathematics at the University of Georgia. Additionally, the seminars and workshops will provide information on how to access financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Organizers and Directors
  Curtis Byrd - As director of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program, Mr. Byrd aimed to recruit more minority students to the University of Georgia.  Being very selective of the participants, he brings to the university an elite group of talented, intellectual, focused, and sophisticated undergraduate students that are driven to learn more about a field through academic research.

    Frank Marley - Conducted workshops, gave individual and group workshops on developing a research paper, and also provided feedback about the progress of the report.  He was incredibly firm and supportive by setting high expectations for the quality of the finished product - a paper explaining the investigative process and the discoveries made during the course of the eight week experience.
 
 

Related Link:  To find out more or even download an application to be apart of SURP, go to:

Purpose of Research
    During my eight week involvement in SURP researching within the math department, I was able to work collaboratively with a group of students to investigate Time Scales.  The study of time scales could lead to the much needed medium between the continuous world of calculus and the discrete world of mathematics.  Applications of Time Scales lead to studies of population growths and studies related to epidemiology.

Abstract
The study of dynamic equations on time scales is a fairly new area of mathematics, having only been in practice for about 15 years.  Still largely theoretical, time scales serve as a binding force between continuous and discrete analysis.  Our lab seeks to determine the most appropriate method for polynomial approximation of the continuous derivative of a function using four discrete derivatives: the delta derivative (in a forward direction); the nabla derivative (in a backward direction); the center derivative; and the average derivative.  We apply these derivatives within the Maple 7 programming environment and employ point-picking methods for the derivatives along several different time scales containing discontinuous intervals and points.

Mentor

Dr. Joan Hoffacker  (with VIGRE Mentor, Bill Rulla)

Travis Bolden -Morehouse College Beverly Gonzalez -University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Rebecca Parker - University of Georgia

FYI: SURP provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to do research in any department at UGA.  Beverly, Travis, and I were working with Joan Hoffacker and with the collaboration of other VIGRE grant participants.  VIGRE is a grant funded through the math department that lasts 4 weeks.  This grant is aimed at students who are math majors, and gives them an opportunity to to quality research over the course of 4 weeks.  SURP gave us an opportunity to work with this group of students for the first 4 weeks, while extending our research for an additional 4 weeks, after the VIGRE program has terminated.

I was a participant in VIGRE 2001.  Check out my VIGRE 2001 website.

Finished Result
To download a copy of our research, click on the title of the paper:
"Derivative Approximations on Time Scales" (PDF File)

The Rocky Mountain Mathematics Conference (in Wyoming)
At this conference, we were able to present out research.  This power point slide show illustrates what we presented, gives references, and contains pictures of the developers of Times Scales, Beverly, Travis, and myself.

Time Scales Slide Show (PDF File)

More Links
University of Georgia's Department of MAthematics
My Scrapbook Pictures from Wyoming