Comments on: Things I Learned From Websurfing http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/05/24/things-i-learned-from-websurfing/ Dedicated to the mathematical arts. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:40:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Walt http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/05/24/things-i-learned-from-websurfing/#comment-39267 Walt Sun, 27 May 2007 03:27:29 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/05/24/things-i-learned-from-websurfing/#comment-39267 Johan: Thanks! Fixed. Johan: Thanks! Fixed.

]]> By: Johan Richter http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/05/24/things-i-learned-from-websurfing/#comment-39022 Johan Richter Sat, 26 May 2007 09:24:08 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/05/24/things-i-learned-from-websurfing/#comment-39022 You might want the "weblog" to point to the blog, instead of repeating a reference to the comment. You might want the “weblog” to point to the blog, instead of repeating a reference to the comment.

]]> By: a little night musing http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/05/24/things-i-learned-from-websurfing/#comment-38692 a little night musing Fri, 25 May 2007 05:40:02 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/05/24/things-i-learned-from-websurfing/#comment-38692 I'm as cynical as the next person, if the next person is middling cynical, but I read the Clay Prizes a bit differently: the extra-mathematical world won't take these things seriously unless there is money, fame, or media exposure, and preferably all three. Clay Institute guarantees at least the money part. I doubt the money inspires even one single person to work on the problems who otherwise wouldn't. In that I agree with the cynical view. But the fact that a million-dollar prize is attached to their solutions does wake the interest of some of my students and non-mathematician friends. I admit to having mixed feelings about this. I’m as cynical as the next person, if the next person is middling cynical, but I read the Clay Prizes a bit differently:

the extra-mathematical world won’t take these things seriously unless there is money, fame, or media exposure, and preferably all three. Clay Institute guarantees at least the money part.

I doubt the money inspires even one single person to work on the problems who otherwise wouldn’t. In that I agree with the cynical view. But the fact that a million-dollar prize is attached to their solutions does wake the interest of some of my students and non-mathematician friends.

I admit to having mixed feelings about this.

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