Brigham Young University professor Rodney Forcade will receive the Fourth Annual Distinguished Teaching Award from the Department of Mathematics, Thursday, Nov. 13, at 3:30 p.m. in 1170 James E. Talmage Building. A reception will be held in the Talmage Building lobby 30 minutes prior to the event.
Forcade will then present a lecture, “Fun with Continued Fractions and Cryptography.”
"We'll have a little fun with some elementary mathematics, which just happen to apply to modern cryptography," Forcade said.
In consideration of students who struggle with math, Forcade developed Mathematics 102, a general education course that teaches real-life mathematics and quantitative reasoning, such as personal finance and consumer statistics.
“Rodney succeeded in creating a course that can catch the students’ interest and instill in them an appreciation for the usefulness of mathematics in their own lives,” said Darrin Doud, associate professor of mathematics.
Forcade’s students are very appreciative of the personal, individualized attention he gives, said David Wright, professor of mathematics. A student in one of Forcade’s calculus courses said Forcade takes each class on an “in-class field trip” to his office so they know not only where to visit him, but also that they are welcome to do so.
“Professor Forcade would be the last person who would aspire for recognition of his teaching,” said Wright,. “He goes about his work in a very quiet way, yet he exemplifies outstanding teaching.”
For more information, contact David Wright at (801) 422-4027 or wright@math.byu.edu.
Writer: Brady Toone
