Boundary Problems in Differential Equations; Proceedings of a Symposium Conducted by the Mathematics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, April 20-22, 1959

x, 324, [2] pages. Illustrations. References. Index. DJ has some wear and soiling and is in a plastic sleeve. Minor edge soiling. In the post World War II era, the Mathematics Research Center (MRC) was one of the earliest comprehensive examples of collaboration between the government and a university. By taking a broad view of mathematics that embraced both the pure and applied branches, the MRC provided a model of an interdisciplinary effort that interacted very well with the spectrum of sciences. When viewed abstractly, interdisciplinary research is a good idea. Even in a broad discipline like mathematical sciences, many scientific advances have occurred at the interfaces of various sub-disciplines. However, the promotion of an interdisciplinary research in an academic environment has always been a major challenge. As the rich experience at the MRC has clearly shown, such interdisciplinary research crosses different intellectual cultures including science and engineering. During the Vietnam War, Sterling Hall, associated with MRC, was bombed in a protest act of terrorism. Rudolph Ernest Langer was President of the Mathematics Association of America for 1949-1950. Rudolph Ernest Langer was a mathematics professor and directed the Army Mathematics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin. Born: March 8, 1894 and Died: March 11, 1968. 1922 Harvard University, Ph.D. Langer's mathematics research involved asymptotic solutions of differential equations and boundary value problems. Langer taught at Dartmouth College from 1922 to 1925. He taught at the University of Wisconsin from 1927 to 1964 and chaired the department from 1942 to 1952. For 15 years (1946-61), Langer, Bing, and MacDuffee were all on the Wisconsin faculty. At the University of Wisconsin, Langer directed the Army Mathematics Research Center. On his retirement in 1964, the U.S. Army awarded him the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. The citation notes, "Through Dr. Langer's outstanding initiative, leadership and resourcefulness, the Center was established as a unique functioning organization in minimal time. He was eminently successful in attracting and retaining distinguished scientists of the highest calibre to undertake research in mathematical problem areas of interest to the Army, and in developing a mathematics research program responsive to the future needs of the Army. " In 1941, Langer announced the initiation of the Herbert Ellsworth Slaught Memorial Papers in the American Mathematical Monthly. Langer authored the first Slaught Memorial Paper, "Fourier's Series: The Genesis and Evolution of a Theory," in 1947. In the sixth Slaught Memorial Paper, for Lester R. Ford's 70th birthday, he contributed an article on "An Excerpt from the Works of Euler.".…