Finding Your People: Catherine Buell will Discuss Community and Collaboration at MassURC 2025

Content

Catherine Buell, Professor of Mathematics and Honors Program Director at Fitchburg State University, will be kicking off the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference at the Campus Center Marriott Center (located on the 11th floor) with this year’s keynote presentation. Titled “Let 2+3=3: Continuing Scholarship through Redefining Your Field and Finding Your People”, Buell aims to celebrate interdisciplinary research by showcasing collaborative math-related projects across sciences and humanities that encourage scholars to remain flexible, passionate and open to reimagining their fields. She sat down to talk about the upcoming presentation and her hopes for MassURC!

With MassURC in just a few short days, what are you most looking forward to at the conference and during your speech

I love to walk around and just ask questions and learn about students' projects. Hearing students share their experiences and their work is the best. During the speech, I hope to offer some inspiration while connecting folks to some neat mathematics.

What inspired the title "Let 2 + 3 = 3"?

I needed something catchy, right? The title is inspired by one of my research projects in Tropical Mathematics – which I will discuss in the talk – But it also felt like a literal translation of a symbolic need to redefine your work and your field to find new questions.

What is "redefining your field" and what is "finding your people"? What does that look like in practice?

For me, "redefining your field" is exploring the ways your academic major or field of study can be applied. We are often siloed in our own field and project, and we miss out on ways our expertise and passion can be applied to solving other problems. It is great to delve deep into your field and answer "the next questions", but there is a rich world of problems that need folks from multiple backgrounds and diverse fields to solve. 

"Finding your people", well, in my experience it is often the most important part of the research. Reaching out to folks in your field and outside your field can expand your knowledge, challenge your assumptions, and bring value to your work. Plus, at least for me, working with other people is a necessity to balance life, research, and work. 

In practice, this could mean going to that conference, asking that questions, saying yes to an invitation, attending a talk, attending a barbecue, reaching out and following up with authors, possible collaborators, and community partners. But at the MassURC – chatting with folks who you don't know and engaging in each session of the conference.

What role does research play in building community in your field or in academia overall?

Research and scholarship are often a requirement of academia, but depending on the type of work you do, you have the opportunity to build community. This might be a small cohort with similar interests or even a research program involving multiple disciplines. Some universities do not always value community-building in research when they are more interested in output and single-authorship, but for me, it has always been the sustaining force of my work. I'd say, I built community first and then the research followed.

What do you hope students take away from this discussion?

Ask questions and email authors and speakers for more information. Go to events both academic and social. Meet people, learn what they are passionate about. Talk to people outside of your field and see their strengths. Bring your passions and all the facets of you into your creative work and scholarship – also, math is pretty cool.

If you could go back to undergrad, what advice would you give to yourself about research?

I'm actually framing the talk as "what advice do I wish someone had given me." So you ask a great question. The biggest thing I wish I was told? Continue all activities that are meaningful to me – research, creative, and otherwise – because those experiences are never wasted and may serve you in your research in unexpected ways. I've been involved in more research projects and partnerships due to my ability to connect with people both mathematically and personally.

Join us on Friday, April 18 at 9:15 a.m. to see Prof. Catherine Buell present her keynote at the Marriott Center (located on the 11th floor of the Campus Center) and kickoff an exciting day of research and community!