About
In April 2007 the mathematics faculty of the Claremont Consortium proposed establishing a Claremont Center for the Mathematical Sciences (CCMS) to promote collaborative research and creative teaching among the institutions of the Consortium (Claremont Graduate University, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, Pomona College and Scripps College). On Jan. 30, 2008, the Academic Deans Committee (ADC) approved the establishment of CCMS with the proviso that there is a lead institution to provide a home for CCMS. The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) agreed to be the lead institution for CCMS and, on that basis CCMS became an approved operation of the Claremont Consortium.
The department chairs and a few others offered support on a volunteer basis in writing proposals and searching for sponsored research projects. A CCMS web site was constructed to improve communication within the Consortium, to advertise CCMS to the outside world, and to support the math initiatives that were underway.
There are several areas of concentration suitable for CCMS initiatives, areas for which Claremont is already well-known. These areas are: Quantitative and Computational Life Sciences, Mathematics in Industry, Financial Engineering and Mathematics, Mathematics/Science Education, and Decision Science. CCMS was successful in attracting a sponsored research project in Financial Mathematics (from Fair Isaac Corporation), which was carried out during the spring semester 2008. Supported by a grant from the Blais Challenge Fund, three summer research projects involving CGU and undergraduate faculty and students were also conducted during the summer of 2008 (click here). In the spring of 2008 a large proposal for research funds was submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF). CCMS Executive Committee is currently considering a number of diverse math and clinic proposals for events in the academic year 2009-2010.
When funding is completed, CCMS will have a Director (half-time), a Coordinator (full-time), and a computer consultant (half-time). CCMS will aid faculty in writing proposals for collaborative research or outreach projects, coordinate outreach activities, aid in the search for funding, maintain the web site that will provide a hub for the communication for the more than 50 mathematicians in the six Claremont Colleges and other local and distant faculty who work together with them.