Field Trips Motivate Students
to Pursue Mathematics
Jason Miller (Truman State University)
Joint Math Meetings, January 2008

Jon Beck
Professor of Computer Science
Jason Miller
Associate Professor of Mathematics

“School isn’t supposed to be a
polite form of incarceration, but
a portal to the wider world.”
-Richard Louv

Background

Q
a
“What can I do with
a math degree?”
Qualify for a broad range of
careers in business, industry,
government, and teaching.
stockbroker
urban designer
public utilities analyst population ecologist
research scientist
estimator
animator
foreign exchange trader
epidemiologist
statistician
cryptoanalyst
technical writer
quantitative analyst
teacher
market research analyst
commodities trader
air traffic controller climate analyst financial aid director
pollster
forensic analyst appraiser
banker underwriter actuary
production manager
computer programmer claims adjuster
professor benefits administrator
early career profiles /(#&%2&/8(%+()*'(<8'&7,/-(=/)*'8/)7,/$(>%,7');(?67)*(54##%&)(+&%8()*'(<$+&'3(@9(>$%/-(A%4-3/)7%-B
6669/859%&2:'/&$;0,/&''&5:
!\"#$%&'()*'(!\"#$%&'\"#((#&)#*! &$(+(%+(&','-)(./,*'$%&0$'1'$(2&/34/)'5(67)*(3'2&''5(
7-()*'(8/)*'8/)7,/$(5,7'-,'59
www.ams.org American Mathematical Society

Geographically Isolated

The Program

Saddle-up
Sunday noon

Check-in
Sunday afternoon

Check-in
Sunday afternoon

Relaxing
Sunday afternoon

Dinner & Workshop
Sunday dinner

Dinner & Workshop
Sunday dinner

Return to Hotel
Sunday evening

Alumni Social @ Hotel
Sunday evening

Leaving the Hotel
Monday morning

Morning site
Monday morning

Morning site
Monday morning

Presentations
Monday morning

Tour & Mini-shadowing
Monday afternoon

Lunch @ Host
Monday lunch

Afternoon Site
Monday afternoon

Presentations
Monday afternoon

Tour & Mini-shadowing
Monday afternoon

Presentations
Monday afternoon

Heading Home
Monday afternoon

Leaving Town
Monday afternoon

Debriefing @ Dinner
Monday dinner

Heading Home
Monday night

Students benefit:
awareness of ‘real’ early-career opportunities
practice ‘professional interactions’ and networking
Hosts benefit:
Brings cream-of-the-crop to potential employers
Opens lines of communication with department(s)
Program benefits:
post-trip ‘buzz’ spreads to other students
creates good-will with students
Challenges:
Assessment of program impact

This work was developed with support from the following sources:
Jumpstart Program for
2001-2004
Women in Computer Science
Support from Undergraduate
Scholars in Mathematics and NSF CSEMS #0123094
Computer Science
Mathematical Biology Initiative NSF UBM #0337769
Research-focused Learning
Communities in Mathematical NSF UBM #0436348
Biology
Integrating STEM Learning
NSF STEP #0431664
Communities

Past Field Trip Hosts:
FBI,
St. Louis Field
Office
Donald Danforth
Plant Science
Center
Wolfram
Research