Chapter 13 Neil Hindman and Julian Sahasrabudhe's Wikipedia Pages
Project by: Kunpeng (Andy) Zhang, Yuk Kwan (Harry) Chan, and Minh Hoang (Ted) Le.
\(\textbf{Summary:}\) Our group created Wikipedia pages for two contemporary Ramsey Theory scholars: Neil Hindman, Professor Emeritus from Howard University, and Julian Sahasrabudhe, Associate Professor from Cambridge University. These pages include their bibliographies, early life, education, academic careers, awards and honours, current research areas, and a list of publications selected by the respective mathematicians. Citations and references are provided for mathematical results, papers, and important facts. Following a review with each mathematician, the pages were published in Wikipedia's main space for peer editing and open online access.
\(\textbf{Neil Hindman's Wikipedia page:}\) We conducted a thorough 40–minute interview with Neil Hindman to review and refine the draft of his Wikipedia page. Following this, the Hindman Wikipedia page was officially launched into Wikipedia's mainspace, enabling peer review and further editing by the wider community. The page accentuates Hindman's bibliography, educational background, and his academic journey. Additionally, it features his significant experience as a civil rights worker during his college years. Regarding Hindman's mathematical contributions, the focus was primarily on his Ph.D. thesis, which pertains to Topology, and his renowned Hindman's Theorem, a cornerstone in Ramsey Theory.
To access Dr. Hindman's Wikipedia page go to Neil Hindman.
\(\textbf{Julian Sahasrabudhe's Wikipedia page:}\) In a manner akin to the Hindman project, we engaged in a comprehensive Zoom interview with Dr. Sahasrabudhe to review the draft of his Wikipedia page. After the interview and a few more revisions, the page was officially introduced to Wikipedia's mainspace. In addition to showcasing Dr. Sahasrabudhe's bibliography, educational background, and his academic trajectory, the page elaborates on his mathematical achievements in recent years. These accomplishments encompass lowering the upper bounds for diagonal Ramsey numbers, contributions to arithmetic Ramsey theory, proving the existence of flat Littlewood polynomials, and providing solutions to the Erdős covering problems. Furthermore, the page includes the recent accolades and honors Dr. Sahasrabudhe has received, notably from the European Prize in Combinatorics and the Salem Prize.
To access Dr. Sahasrabudhe's Wikipedia page go to Julian Sahasrabudhe.
\(\textbf{Outcome of Project:}\) The impact of this project extends well beyond merely contributing information to the Wikipedia community. Firstly, the creation of these pages offers a detailed introduction to both mathematicians, celebrating their significant contributions to the field of modern mathematics. The presence of these Wikipedia pages enables future math enthusiasts to discover these mathematicians and their areas of expertise, including Ramsey theory, probabilistic combinatorics, random matrix theory, semigroup theory, topology, and more.
To summarize, these pages not only open doors for newcomers with an interest in mathematics but also foster connections within the mathematical community. Personally, our group derived significant learning from this project. Through interviews and reviewing the research of these mathematicians, we gained deeper insights into Ramsey theory. Additionally, we broadened our understanding of the field of mathematics, dipping our toes into harmonic analysis, non-constructive/probabilistic proofs, sphere packing, and more. Alongside this academic enrichment, we honed our interpersonal skills in project management, teamwork, and the intricacies of reaching out to and conducting interviews with professors.