I’m feel very lucky. I get to go home. Several of my AMATYC friends are affected by the American Airlines cancellation of more than 1700 flights since Friday. They are scrambling to find new hotels and extending child care for another day (or two.)
Being in the last presentation slot of the meeting, I expected the turnout to be small. It was. But honestly, doubled the attendance I predicted.
And the participants were interested and engaged. I fielded lots of great questions and was grateful for the human connection of this face-to-face math conference. I think I had an impact.
For many, AMATYC 2019 was the last in person meeting they attended. It seems fitting that AMATYC 2021 is the first to restart what I hope is a long and successful future of in person math meetings.
I want to thank Kate Kozak, AMATYC President, for inviting me, and April Strom, AMATYC Southwest VP AND MAA VP, for making me feel so welcome. Kate’s entire presidency has been in the shadow of COVID. Now as we are slowly emerging from isolation, Kate handed the official gavel over to her successor, Laura Watkins.
No one can predict how quickly meetings will return to normal. The attendance here was about half the usual registration numbers. Planning in uncertainty is a careful dance. The AMATYC team did a wonderful job with a positive “first-time-back” experience.
Math in the Time of Corona 