Mission

“Always think about the precise and the simple – that’s where you find the secrets.” Professor Glenn Stevens, Founder and Director of PROMYS

Since our founding in 1989, mathematics has been at the absolute core of what we do at PROMYS. However, the program is so much more. Year after year, alumni in a wide range of fields describe how the practice of delving into a topic and exploring it deeply continues to be transformative in both their professional and personal lives. PROMYS promotes the rigorous habits of mind that interweave independent thought with the power of collaboration.

PROMYS is sustained and enriched by the following principles:

• Mathematics is a deeply human activity best experienced within a vibrant and supportive community across multiple levels of experience – from high school students to professional research mathematicians. The most productive mathematical environment is collaborative, inclusive, and non-competitive.
• Mathematical habits of mind, including independent thought, creativity, and precise use of language, are necessary tools for facing unfamiliar intellectual challenges. Mathematics is best explored when depth is emphasized over breadth and experience precedes formality.
• Financial need should not be a barrier to anyone seeking mathematical challenge.