Arthur F Thurnau Professor Emeritus
About
My original field of study was functional analysis, specifically, the geometry of Banach spaces (as in my Springer GTM text An Introduction to Banach Space Theory), and I still keep track of progress on several seemingly intractable problems in nearest-point theory in such spaces. However, my interests have gravitated toward mathematics education and STEM education in general, particularly as it affects the understanding by students from underrepresented groups of climate science and sustainability, which led to my being the founding associate editor for STEM education for Science Advances. My most recent publication is a survey of sustainability education at U.S. and Canadian tribal colleges, with recommendations for mathematics in their sustainability curricula.
I have also been very involved in the problems of minority mathematics education, especially that of Native Americans. I am a Sequoyah Fellow of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and work actively through the programs of this organization to further the participation of my people in mathematics. In particular, until recently I spent about one month every summer conducting mathematics enrichment programs for Native American students and their teachers at various sites, particularly on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa reservation in North Dakota.
I would be happy to discuss Banach spaces, the participation of minorities in mathematics, or mountain climbing (another passion of mine) with anyone interested.