Delving into the world of mathematics

Updated on: Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Nearly 60 days to go for the most important exams: PU 2! It is that time of the year when tempers run high and frustration sets in and there is one overwhelming emotion among the students and their families — FEAR. Hundreds of thousands of students write the PU exams every year and a majority of them feel a great deal of tension. Most feel they have too much to do and too little time.

Just as one cannot run a marathon if he/she were running for the first time, the brain too cannot perform if it is cluttered and doesn't have enough practice. Make the best of the coming 60 days to warm-up your brain so that during the actual exams it exceeds your own expectations. Here are a few things which could help the students to overcome their fear of examinations and perform better.

Keep yourself physically fit

Contrary to what one would like to believe, physical fitness plays an important role in going a long way during exam preparations. Our brain functions better when supplied with sufficient oxygen and what better way to do that than a round of physical exercise. You need not exert yourself too much, a 10-minute walk and five minutes of deep breathing two times a day should do the trick. There are a lot of studies to suggest that physical exercise improves stamina and concentration.

Mental preparation is a must

Chennai Mathematical Institute

The Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) was founded in 1989.

Situated in a five acre campus in Siruseri

Became a university in 2006

The CMI offers undergraduate as well as postgraduate programmes in physics, mathematics and computer science, besides its key strength in the form of high-end research in mathematics.
Courses

B.Sc. (Hons.) in Mathematics and Computer Science (3-year integrated course).

B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics (3-year course).

M.Sc. in Mathematics.

M.Sc. in Applications of Mathematics.

M.Sc. in Computer Science.

Ph.D. in Mathematics.

Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Ph.D. in Physics.

Admission

The entrance is based on a nation-wide entrance test. The advertisement for this entrance test appears around the end of February or the beginning of March. The entrance test is held in the end of May. Results are declared by the end of June.

How to apply

When applications are open, forms may be obtained online or in person. For all the programmes, applicants will have to take an entrance examination, typically held towards the end of May at centres throughout the country. In addition, selection for all Ph.D. programmes, as well as the M.Sc. programmes in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics, will involve an interview at Chennai.

All students receive scholarships that meet all expenses. B.Sc. (Hons.) students receive a scholarship of Rs. 4000 per month, M.Sc. students receive a scholarship of Rs. 5,000 per month and Ph.D. scholarships start at Rs. 16,000 per month. Students of B.Sc. (Hons.) also receive an additional monthly scholarship of Rs. 1000, made possible through generous private donations. For more information, write to [email protected].

Research

In mathematics, the main areas of research activity have been in algebraic geometry, representation theory, operator theory, commutative algebra, harmonic analysis, control theory and game theory. Research work includes stratification of binary forms in representation theory, the Donaldson-Uhlenbeck Compactfication in algebraic geometry, stochastic games and inductive algebras of harmonic analysis.

Internships

CMI accepts undergraduate and postgraduate students as interns in mathematics or computer science in the months of May, June and July. The students are expected to stay throughout the duration of the programme.

Internships in Computer Science should be for at least one month and could be as long as a semester. Students should have a background in programming, and preferably some exposure to algorithms and/or automata theory.

Typically, CMI does not offer internships to students before the end of their second year of college/university. Those interested can apply directly by email: [email protected]

Applications for all programmes commencing Augustwill open in early March. The exact dates for the opening and closing of applications will be announced on its website: www.cmi.ac.in.

The Institute of Mathematical Sciences

The Institute of Mathematical Science (IMSc) was founded by Alladi Ramakrishnan in 1962.

An institution for fundamental research in the mathematical and physical sciences.

Supported by Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu.

Academic programmes

IMSc encourages able and motivated students with a deep interest in research to apply to doctoral (graduate) programmes in Theoretical Physics, Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science.

Students with an undergraduate degree enter an integrated MSc-Ph.D programme. The normal route to the IMSc graduate research programme is through an interview, screening which may involve a written test.

The precise structure of the test differs from group to group. Once selected, the candidates will spend typically a year or two doing course and project work in preparation for research. Junior Research Fellowships are awarded to all students who are accepted into the programme.

Post-doctoral programme

IMSc provides an ideal environment for both independent and collaborative post-doctoral work. Candidates are encouraged to correspond with faculty members at IMSc whose interests overlap theirs. However, outstanding applications will be considered even if there is no overlap with the faculty's current interests.

Post-doctoral fellows at IMSc are not formally affiliated with individual faculty members but are welcome to collaborate with any of the faculty. Post-Doctoral Fellowships at IMSc are awarded for an initial period of one year but may be extended by an additional year thereafter. Postdoctoral fellows may choose to work alone or collaborate with other institute members.

There are about ten post-doctoral fellows from all over the world working in the Institute at any given time. The most recent announcement for postdoctoral positions is available at: http://www.imsc.res.in/post_doctoral_postions

Visiting student programme

Graduate students who have already registered for their Ph.D with any university may apply to become Graduate Visitors. Under this programme, a Graduate Visitor can visit IMSc several times during the period of his / her studentship with the length and frequency of visits being decided on a case-by-case basis. More on this at http://www.imsc.res.in/graduate_visitor_program

Associateship programme

The Institute has an Associateship Programme for College and University teachers: Short term Associateships and Senior Associateships in Theoretical physics, Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science are available for teachers from colleges and universities to visit and work at IMSc. This programme encourages collaborations between the members of the Institute and scientists in the University system. To participate in this programme, email to [email protected]

Admission

Applicants for the integrated Ph.D programme should have completed a Bachelors degree in respective discipline by the time they actually join the programme. The announcement of t

Delving into the world of mathematics

More Education news