Adding a vital new twist to life in South County, in the math
and science worlds, and grandeur in architecture, the
groundbreaking for the American Institute of Mathematics last
Thursday was marked by dignitaries and dignity. Local government
officials included Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate and U.S. Rep. Jerry
McNerney as the keynote speaker.
Adding a vital new twist to life in South County, in the math and science worlds, and grandeur in architecture, the groundbreaking for the American Institute of Mathematics last Thursday was marked by dignitaries and dignity. Local government officials included Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate and U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney as the keynote speaker.
The gate to the spectacular property on Foothill Avenue was open and welcome flags lined the stone wall leading up past the fairways to a fabulous white tent. Inside the open-walled tent, Charles Lewis, executive chef and director of food and beverage for Fry’s Electronics, graciously invited the more than 300 guests into a Moorish decorated haven. Colorful drapery cascaded from the tent poles and a lavish ice sculpture depicting the intended castle held chilled crème caramel desserts.
Monumental comments came from speakers and a letter read by Steve Sorenson from Ralph Cicerone, president of the National Academy of Sciences, proclaiming the Institute “… encourages collaboration and independent thinking … Shows the promise of a new generation of scientists … will produce leaders … fosters understanding of the human condition,” said McNerney, who holds a doctorate in mathematics, during his address to the audience of academics, Silicon Valley CEOs such as Harry Saal of Network General; John Warnock, founder and CEO of Adobe Systems; and Jean-Louis Gassee, founder of Be, and local guests.
“Promethean instead of Epimethian,” said Rostankowski, my friend and an honors humanities professor at San Jose State University, after she discussed the details of the Islamic ornamentation with AIM’s Moorish designer, Jay Bonner. “I agree!” I said planning to dig through my Edith Hamilton “Mythology” as soon as I returned home to find out the meaning of the profound statement Rostankowski had just uttered. She of course was referring to the extensive forethought (the meaning of the Greek god Prometheus) the planners have instituted to produce a world-class facility (Epimetheus, whose name means afterthought, because he had been so reckless with his resources that he had nothing left to bestow). Rostankowski continued to nod enthusiastically while Sorenson spoke about the unique approach both he and the absent John Fry realized in college.
“Cooperative learning is really where it’s at,” whispered Rostankowski during Sorenson’s speech. Somehow I don’t think these mathematicians know how truly fashionable they are becoming or what jokesters they are – as demonstrated by AIM director Brian Conrey when he dug into the mathematician’s joke book and explained the definition of an extroverted mathematician is one who looks at your shoes while talking to you.
Both Sorenson and Fry were mathematicians in school but also athletes, seeing the power of a team’s momentum. Moving away from the traditional mathematician-in-a-closet-working-solo-on-a-problem, AIM will bring together world-class researchers to work on one specific problem in a specified time frame. Where were they when I took the SAT math section?
Tax man Larry Stone endured the congenial and customary boo when introduced, but Morgan Hill officials I’m sure have included the Institute in their value-added entities in the growth and prestige of the community. Few have fully comprehended the international impact the Institute will have and I do believe I saw a smiling red-legged frog outside the gate of the party.
Ciao for now.
