Spring 2002 -- Vol. 19, No. 1

FACES OF PENN STATE

Anatole Katok
Raymond N. Shibley Professor of Mathematics

Anatole Katok has played an integral role in two major University mathmatical programs, and he has been recognized for his graduate-level teaching and supervision of Ph.D. candidates.

Anatole Katok's career path began at a quirky intersection of unrealized potential and some not-so-subtle prodding. Reminiscing over old photos in his office, Katok pinpointed the moment he knew he was destined to become a mathmetician.

Katok was a 14-year-old Soviet high-school student when, he recalls with a smile, "I had one good teacher who forced me to enter a Mathematics Olympiad. I was fortunate to earn a high honor. It was then I knew I wanted to be a mathmetician."

That teacher's intervention awakened a dormant passion for mathematics, and led to Katok dedicating his professional life to parallel, but closely related, pursuits—research and teaching.

His propensity for solving highly complex mathematical problems has aided his contribution to developing the mathematical side of chaos theory and the theory of dynamical systems, which involves developing appropriate mathematical paradigms for explaining long-term behaviors such as weather prediction, or the movement of celestial objects.

Katok helps mentor future mathmeticians and researchers by enthusiastically advising doctoral candidates. He has been adviser to nine successful doctoral candidates, six who now hold academic appointments. He's currently advising more. Katok partially owes the success of his advisees to his own sixth sense for spotting the potential for success in others.

"It's an artform. No amount of standardized skill necessarily makes a good mathematician," Katok says. "It takes skill and creativity. It takes creativity put to use to discover new things. And it takes the ability to change an old question or come up with a new approach."

A University committee recognized Katok's dedication to his dual mission by earlier this year awarding him the Graduate Faculty Teaching Award, which honors tenured faculty who have excelled both in teaching at the graduate level and in supervising the thesis work of graduate students.

"I was delighted that someone outside the mathematics department recognized my emphasis on advising Ph.D. candidates and training future researchers," he said.

"It is the greatest joy for an adviser when suddenly something clicks and the student is transformed from a plain apprentice into a master of his or her subject."

Katok also played a key role in starting and developing the University's Mathematical Advanced Study Semesters, which assembles undergraduate math majors from all over the country for an intensive one-semester immersion that features specially designed courses, seminars, and research-oriented projects. Many of these students have gone on to excellent graduate schools. Katok says this program is unique in this country.

He is also one of three investigators on the University's Grants for Vertical Integration of Research and Education in the Mathematical Sciences (VIGRE). The five-year VIGRE program is an ambitious effort to make the Department of Mathematics a premier center for training the next generation of mathematical scientists. Now in its third year, Katok said VIGRE is already showing some desired results.

-- Andy Elder

Back to Science Journal Spring 2002 Index

Penn State Home Page | Eberly College of Science | Find a Person | Locate a Building | Search | Site Index

Students | Alumni | Visitors | Researchers | Faculty and Staff | Postdoctoral Fellows | Corporate Interests
Academic Programs | Research | Dean's Office | Development and Alumni Relations | News and Events | Directory

This page was last updated on 3 July 2002

If you would like to communicate with the keepers of the Eberly College of Science Web server, send electronic mail to: science-web@thunder.science.psu.edu
Technology Webmaster: Joseph K. Carlson < jkc3@psu.edu >
Content Webmaster: Barbara Kennedy < science@psu.edu >