Creative Minds, Charmed Lives: Interviews at Institute for Mathematical Sciences, National University of Singapore

This book features interviews of 38 eminent mathematicians and mathematical scientists who were invited to participate in the programs of the Institute for Mathematical Sciences, National University of Singapore. Originally published in its newsletter Imprints from 2003 to 2009, these interviews give a fascinating and insightful glimpse into the passion driving some of the most creative minds in modern research in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, economics and engineering. The reader is drawn into a panorama of the past and present developments of some of the ideas that have revolutionized modern science and mathematics. This book should be relevant to those who are interested in the history and psychology of ideas. It should provide motivation, inspiration and guidance to students who aspire to do research and to beginning researchers who are looking for career niches. For those who wish to be broadly educated, it is informative without delving into excessive technical details and is, at the same time, thought provoking enough to arouse their curiosity to learn more about the world around them.

Yu Kiang Leong obtained his BSc (Hons) from the University of Singapore in 1969 and PhD from the Australian National University in 1972. He taught in the University of Singapore and its successor, the National University of Singapore since 1972, and is currently an Associate Professorial Fellow. His area of research interest is in algebra and he is also interested in the genesis of modern ideas in science and mathematics.