stoutfellow: My summer look (Summer)
[personal profile] 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.

Date: 2008-06-19 10:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 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 ....

Date: 2008-06-19 05:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 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.

Date: 2008-06-21 12:26 pm (UTC)
filkferengi: (Default)
From: [personal profile] filkferengi
So it'll be both good *of* and *for* you, what Himself calls "character-building" [and not in a gaming way ;)].

Date: 2008-06-21 06:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 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.)

Date: 2008-06-22 10:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 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.

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