Math Monthly — Live Research Program
A collaborative research and learning program for PLEM — Physics, Language, Engineering, and Mathematics students, enthusiasts, and hobbyists with Professor Jonathan D. Tullis.
The Main Purpose — Build Knowledge and Research Experience
Math Monthly is designed to create an environment similar to a university research group: we investigate advanced topics, work through unusual and challenging problems, explore emerging scientific ideas, and study what makes unsolved problems difficult.
The goal is to develop deeper knowledge beyond ordinary classwork while practicing the research, technical, and communication skills used by mathematicians, physicists, and engineers. You can participate to support your academic and professional goals or simply pursue your curiosity as a hobbyist.
What the Program Helps You Develop
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Research experience and résumé development.
Build experience investigating questions, reviewing sources, checking assumptions, documenting methods, and explaining results. Describe your actual participation and contributions on your résumé or in your personal portfolio. -
Advanced knowledge beyond your coursework.
Explore mathematics, theoretical and applied physics, engineering connections, and open questions that require sustained investigation. -
Written communication.
Practice writing mathematical arguments, technical explanations, research notes, citations, and organized reports that other people can follow. -
Oral communication and collaboration.
Practice discussing difficult ideas, asking precise questions, presenting your reasoning, responding to feedback, and contributing to a research group. -
Microsoft Office skills.
Develop practical experience with Word for technical documents and equations, Excel for calculations and data analysis, and PowerPoint for presenting research. -
Scientific computing and technical tools.
Depending on the project, tools may include Python and Jupyter notebooks for computation, MATLAB or GNU Octave for numerical work, Maple or Mathematica for symbolic mathematics, LaTeX for technical typesetting, and Git for tracking changes and collaborating. The emphasis is on developing skills you can demonstrate through your work. -
A documented contribution.
Participants who contribute may request acknowledgment in the completed Math Monthly book. Credit will reflect the contribution made and can serve as a record for your personal files, portfolio, or résumé.
Research Together — Create a Monthly Book
Our live sessions contribute to the development of the Math Monthly journal. Follow the process as we investigate physics, examine mathematical structures, test ideas, and turn our work into clear written explanations. Studying an unsolved problem includes understanding existing results, exploring possible approaches, and recognizing the limits of what we can establish.
This is an independent program modeled on aspects of university research. It does not award university credit, a degree, or an accredited qualification. Published acknowledgment documents participation or contributions; it is separate from academic credit.
Live Session Schedule
Sessions take place most days, with two usual windows:
- Daytime: between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Central Time.
- Evening: between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Central Time.
Each session typically lasts two to four hours within its window. There is no fixed starting minute. You will receive an email when I log on. Schedule changes will also be communicated by email.
Joining the Live Group
Return to this page for the current session link. We meet through live streaming software, currently Zoom, though the platform may change. Always use the latest link provided here, and please do not share access links.
Your camera is optional. Keep your microphone muted during instruction and use the hand-raise feature when you would like to contribute. Topics and software use vary with the research and the journal’s progress.
Private Recordings and Topic Requests
Session recordings are saved privately for members with live-session access to review later. Eligible members may request one lesson or podcast topic per month, with requests considered in the order received.
The focus is collaborative research and deeper understanding. I do not complete homework, quizzes, or exams, and sessions are not an on-demand problem-solving service. Bring your curiosity, your ideas, and a willingness to develop and communicate your reasoning.