From July 24 to August 18, 2006, thirty teachers of Mathematics at secondary school level will undergo special training in Mathematics under Professor Balswaroop Bhatt assisted by one of his colleagues form the Department of Mathematics and Computer science, Dr. Sookhoo.

The Teachers are being sponsored by the Ministry of Education to take this course MATH 2180 (M24B): Introduction to Optimization, developed by Professor Bhatt.

Professor Bhatt is a very busy Academic these days. In addition to pursuing research in Fluid Dynamics and building a model for the movement of certain contagious diseases, Professor Bhatt has established a Mathematics Initiative under the aegis of the Institute for Critical Thinking. Through this initiative Professor Bhatt will be hosting a Conference on Mathematics and Its Applications on September 25 to 26, 2006 at the Institute of Critical Thinking, St. Augustine Campus.

Most of the participants will be from the Caribbean region who are teachers of Mathematics at tertiary level. However Professor Bhatt has invited some special guests from abroad to add spice to the occasion.

Among the specially invited guests will be Professor Leo Mosely of Cave Hill who is Professor of Physics and Deputy Principal, Cave Hill. Other special guests include Professor T.J. Pedley, G.I. Taylor Professor of Fluid Dynamics, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge University; Professor C.A. Gilligan, Professor of Mathematical Biology, Department of Plant Science, Cambridge University and Professor Julian Hunt, Director of the Lighthill Institute of Mathematical Sciences, University College London. Professor Hunt will be giving a special lecture on the evening of September 27, 2006.

This burst of energy in Mathematics will continue into 2007 when the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science on this Campus will team up with World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society (WSEAS) to hold a World Conference on Mathematical and Computational Methods in Science and Engineering; this takes place November 5 to 7, 2007.