This event was digitally recorded and is available for viewing on the Caltech Theater site.
Richard A. Tapia, Noah Harding Professor of Computational and Applied Mathematics, Associate Director of Graduate Studies, Director of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Education, Rice University, is internationally known for his research in the computational and mathematical sciences, but is also a leading voice in the effort to increase educational opportunities for minorities and women in the math, science, and engineering fields. A native of Los Angeles, Tapia earned his doctorate from UCLA, where he also served on the faculty. Prior to joining the Rice faculty in 1970, he also taught at the University of Wisconsin. At Rice, he chaired the department of mathematical sciences from 1978 to 1983, and is also an adjunct faculty member of the Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston.
Because of Tapia's efforts, Rice has received national recognition for its educational outreach programs, and the Rice computational and applied mathematics department has become a national leader in producing female and underrepresented minority Ph.D. recipients in the mathematical sciences. Tapia has directed or codirected 37 Ph.D. students, including 16 women and 13 underrepresented minority students. Tapia also influences hundreds of teachers through two summer programs run by his Center for Excellence and Equity in Education, the Mathematical and Computational Sciences Awareness Workshop and GirlTECH, a program aimed at getting girls interested in computer science.
The lecture is part of the President's Lecture Series on Achieving Diversity in Science, Math, and Engineering.
The Caltech Presidential Lecture Series on Achieving Diversity in Science, Math, and Engineering was established to bring to campus speakers who have had highly successful experiences in promoting women and underrepresented minorities in science and technology. The event is sponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of Minority Student Education, the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Officers of the Faculty.
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