Student Request

[stoutfellow]

Today, the student who's taking differential geometry from me as a readings course asked me if I would be willing to serve on his thesis committee.

I don't know one damned thing about optimal control theory. Not only is it not my area, it's not even in the same branch of mathematics.

Then again, I don't think anyone else in the department, other than his adviser, knows anything about it either.

Oh, well. Maybe I'll learn something.

Comments

[oilhistorian.livejournal.com]

And you think the accounting prof who served on my dissertation committee knew anything about propulsion technology or petroleum? Granted, he was the outside member of the committee, but I have a feeling you won't be anywhere as lost on this one as he was on mine ....

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

That does put things in perspective, yes. Still, being halfway between the "of course you understand" and "of course you don't understand" positions is a trifle uncomfortable.

[filkferengi]

So it'll be both good *of* and *for* you, what Himself calls "character-building" [and not in a gaming way ;)].

[tygerr.livejournal.com]

I used to know that stuff...back around 1984. Haven't used it since grad school, though, so I barely even remember the *terminology* anymore and am completely amnesiac regarding the actual mathematics. (Lots of Laplace transforms and matrix manipulation, IIRC.)

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Yeah, I can see that it might be useful in your line of work. This guy's adviser specializes in its applications to chemotherapy. I think.