Edward S. Thomas

Edward S. Thomas is Distinguished Teaching Professor of Mathematics at the University at Albany. You can contact him at: et392@math.albany.edu. Here is a bite size CV.

I'll be teaching TWO sections of MAT 314 in the Fall. One is MWF at 9:20-10:15 and the second will be MWF at 1:40-2:35. I would like to get two balanced classes, so if you are already enrolled in the AM class but could switch into the PM class, let me know.

Here is the webpage for MAT 314 What is this course, anyway, you ask? It is a collection of topics in what could be called Mathematical Physics including: vector analysis, calculus of variations, differential equations ( ODE and PDE), special functions and complex analysis ( this is spread out over two semesters). We spend some quality time on each topic and then move on...so every couple of weeks the course renews itself.

Here's a picture of Lindsay Guilz, who graduated a year ago. She gave the welcome remarks at the Math Department Commencement Ceremony in May of this year.

And, just for the heck of it, here's a picture of a Cornwall sea cliff climb called Terrier's Tooth, take this summer.

If you don't have other pressing matters and you want to keep going....read on!

Thomas received his Ph. D. in Mathematics from the University of California at Riverside, taught for five years at the University of Michigan, and has been at Albany since 1969... a long time. His mathematical interests include dynamical systems, the dynamics of smooth flows, and, in recent years, discrete dynamics with applications to difference equations.

His most recent Ph. D. students are:

• Deborah Lawrence, who is Associate Professor and former Head of the Mathematics Department at Russell Sage College, and
• Steven Bourgault, who is a Research Mathematician with MapInfo.

A long time ago, as a Visiting NASA Scientist at Johnson Space Center, Houston, he was involved in exercise countermeasure studies aimed at reducing muscle-mass loss in prolonged microgravity environments. That project was handed over to the Russians, while, regrettably, Thomas himself continues to lose muscle and gain mass at an alarming rate.

ATTENTION MATH NERDS...here is a link with some information about life after mathematics

One of Thomas's principal stress-reducing activities is technical rock-climbing. Below is an old picture of him coming to grips with "HighExposure" in The Gunks in New Paltz, NY. Next to that is a vintage picture showing the thin and incedibly exposed second pitch of "Cascading Crystal Kaleidescope". And then a recent shot of the overhanging "Triple Bulges" ( a name that refers to characteristic features of the climb, although it certainly could apply to Thomas himself ) For some reason, the horizon is very often tilted the wrong way in this shot. I think it's because photographer/belayer is usually working quickly...multi-tasking, you know?... and tends to get the tree vertical, when in fact, it leans out from the cliff. A picture taken in June, 2007, of a thin climb on the "Mental Block" in the Gunks. And, then a shot of the crux of " Easy Overhang", which isn't getting any easier.

Here is a second page that contains a variety of links.
MATH AND AFTERMATH

(This site was last tweaked in late July, 2008.)