Contribution Dilemna

[Shaden]

I'm a maths nut. I absolutely love anything in the realm of logic and reasoning that involves numbers and/or abstract representations of numerical quantities. One of my favourite passtimes is quite literally the maths homework I do for my AS maths course. It sounds bizarre, but it's like I'm charged with an undercurrent of maths - whenever I stop thinking for a moment, whenever a quiet moment falls upon me, I find myself automatically tuning into mental maths.

I'm quite a character aren't I

This is my problem though. I absolutely love maths. I love solving problems be they difficult ones that take many hours of logical reasoning and deduction or just basic ones that I can reel off without much effort. I'm passionate about the subject of maths - pure maths , i.e' the exploration of the plane of positive and negative integers (I'm not skilled enough to explore other planes of complex numbers). Maths for me fills a hole. I definitely have the skill to turn my natural born talent into a degree and then a job.

I'm passionate about it. I'm competent with it. And I could probably make a living from it. I can satisfy my heart. I can satisfy the skill and talent criteria. I can make a living with it. But I cannot think of how I could contribute to society with it. And this is something I greatly want to do - not become a secondary school teacher but a really strong presence. Not global of course - unless my ambitions mature over time - but something beyond the level of basic education.

Ii have two-five years to think of a solution of course - but I would greatly appreciate the ideas of other peoples perspectives.

Thank you all in advance and wishing you a very happy new year.

[Mnemosyne]

Isn't mathematics closely related to physics or other types of science? I think of the great geniuses of the world like Einstein, Hawkings, et al, and imagine that math makes up a large part of their accomplishments.

If you can turn it into some type of scientific research that would be a huge contribution!

Good luck!!!

[belugagirl]

If teaching secondary school doesn't appeal to you for whatever reason, how about teaching at the university level? That would also entail research, which would allow you to "do math" for the pure thrill of it. Just a thought.

(Are you steering away from secondary school teaching because you think it's not contributing in a big enough way? If that is so, I humbly beg to differ. I can think of few contributions more significant than educating young people, especially in math, which is a subject notorious for intimidating students who think they "suck at it." If you can give a couple of students a taste of the sense of achievement that comes with "getting it" in a subject they struggle with--or maybe even appreciate the fun of it . . . or if you can just be a positive role model for young people . . . you may not change millions of lives instantly, but you will cumulatively and indirectly!)

[tc33]

What about earning a PhD and then teaching at the graduate/post-graduate level? Don't most college professors still get to engage in research/get published/etc?

From a 'contribute to society' standpoint, math obviously won't directly put food in somone else's mouth, clothes on their back, or put a roof over their head. However, if you adopt the 'I'm a cog in the wheel' perspective (Smith's 'Invisible Hand' or the like), you are certainly contributing toward a better future for America. Yes, it's hard to quantify, but can any pure scientific/mathematical research endeavor directly contribute to the world? Millions of starving people in Africa couldn't care less about our billion-dollar particle accelerators, but we must build them anyways in the name of progress. If we don't advance as a society, we go down; and then where would all of these welfare countries get their billions in foreign aid?

In sum, mathematicians save the world. Any questions?

BTW, have you figured out the last digit of pi? My guess is the number 7.

[tc33]

Looks like Belugagirl beat me to it. Proof, once again, that I've never, ever had an original thought. Well, I do make a good lemming!

[The Probabilist]

This is something I'm contemplating as well. However, I've only been interested in the probability calculus and statistical side of math. This has led me to being interested in everything that involves beating the odds like holdem, sports betting and investing to a certain degree to name some examples. But this is still mostly a moocher's mindset as it doesn't contribute anything to society if you're successfully taking the money from people who are poor gamblers.

So I started a blog of my own and I'm slowly trying to find a link between personal development and calculus. I love patterns so that's basically where I've been trying to find a correlation - putting complex ideas of reality into plain words. One thing I thought is to write a book about how to overcome gambling by using my knowledge on the subject, but it's just a vague idea so far. Overall, I just have to find a crystal clear purpose that addresses all the four questions of living congruently and I just can't fathom one with math being a significant part of the equation. But that's what the world looks like before you create something innovative and unique. So there's no point in giving up on it. Maybe this got a bit self-centered but I hear you're on the same boat with me so perhaps you've got some viewpoints.

[ahimel]

How do you feel about strategy games -- particularly resource management games? Examples would be Monopoly, Risk, Go, Settlers of Catan, Empire Builder, Magic The Gathering and other collectable card games.

Most organizations face resource management problems every day. A good organizational manager can be priceless, whether it's a quartermaster directing supplies to the front line so that everyone gets what they need in time, or a city planner directing snowplows through the streets to get them all ploughed before rush hour.

Given these expenses, these goals, and the cost of each goal, how can we use the cash we have to maximize goal achievement?

Given these personnel, who have these skills, how can we delegate responsibility to maximize employee happiness and efficiency?

Given these projects, which have those sub-projects with this timeline, in what order should we perform tasks in order to complete all projects as quickly as possible?

You can pick an organization that is making the contribution you want to make -- whether it's teaching, providing affordable goods to everyone, or sending food to Africa -- and odds are good that they could use your problem-solving skills.