I obtained my Ph. D. from the University of Cambridge, UK. However, in many ways the most significant part of my graduate studies was a six month stay in Moscow during 1969-70 when I studied with the great Russian mathematician Israil Gelfand. After several more years in Britain (in Cambridge, York and Warwick), I came to the United States in 1978 to take up a position at Stony Brook University, remaining there until recently coming to Barnard.

For the past 25 years or so, my research has been in the area of symplectic geometry. Geometry studies the properties of space in various dimensions. In the usual kind of geometry one can measure lengths of lines and angles between lines; in symplectic geometry one can measure the " size" of two dimensional (rather than one dimensional) objects in space.
These measurements might seem counterintuitive, but are very closely related to various concepts in physics. The resulting mathematical structures are fascinating; their exploration is a very lively part of present day research.

I am also very interested in the teaching of mathematics and in encouraging students to enjoy using their minds in mathematical ways.

Teaching Fall 2008:  V2000 Intro to Higher Mathematics (visit Courseworks for information about this course)

Barnard College | Columbia University | Barnard Math Dept. | Columbia Math Dept.

Dusa McDuff

Helen Lyttle Kimmel Chair

Professor of Mathematics

Columbia University, Barnard College

Rm 612, MC4406
2990 Broadway
New York , NY 10027

Phone
work: 212-854-5079

fax: 212-854-8962

dmcduff@barnard.edu

Curriculum Vitae