Department of Mathematics:
DST – FIST Supported Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Science of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is actively engaged in researches in Analysis, Classical Harmonic Analysis, Special Functions, Topology, Dynamical Systems, Classical General Relativity and Fluid Mechanics.
As early as in nineteen thirties the B. Sc. and M. Sc. programmes in Mathematics were being offered in the Baroda College under the Leadership of Professor Pendse. After the establishment of the University in 1949, Professor S. D. Manerikar, a Senior Cambridge Wrengler, was appointed as the first Head of the Department of Mathematics. The Department catered to the teaching needs of Arts Faculty, Commerce Faculty, Home Science Faculty, Faculty of Technology & Engineering and the polytechnique in addition to the Science Faculty.
Conscious efforts were made to develop Mathematics from the very beginning. In early fifties Professor P. R. Masani from Bombay, Professor S. M. Shah from Aligarh and Professor N. M. Shah were on the Board of Studies in Mathematics and under their direction, and more so that of Professor Masani, a course on “Modern Algebra” was introduced at the graduate level as early as 1954 and several teachers were deputed for advanced study / research to different places. With an aim to initiate researches in Mathematics, the Vice Chancellor Dr. (Smt.) Hansa Mehta, the Dean, Professor N. M. Bhatt and Professor S. M. Shah took initiative and invited Professor U. N. Singh, D.Sc. (Paris), to join the Department in January 1958.
Researches in analysis began with the advent of Prof. U.N. Singh in January 1958 and since then many workers in the department have produced good amount of quality research work in the study of Fourier Series in general and lacunary Fourier Series in particular. While the work on general trigonometric Fourier Series, in connection with the convergence and summability problems, is noteworthy; in the area of lacunary Fourier Series, the department has put in significant research work regarding the problems of their absolute convergence, study of properties of Fourier coefficients and convergence and summability problems not only in the setting of circle group but currently in the setting of totally disconnected compact abelian groups as well. Since 1973 the department is actively engaged in the researches in the field of Special Functions also. The research work done and being done cover varied topics such as Hypergeometric functions and associated polynomial systems, multiple series and associated function viz, Lauricella functions, Appel’s functions H-functions, G-functions, of polynomial sets and their q-analogues.
It is more than 22 years that the department is actively working towards researches in Topology. The work going on in topology can broadly be classified into two areas: Dynamical systems and Compactifications and Projective objects. Interesting problems in the area of dynamical systems include studying the impact of robustly and persistently dynamical properties, like expansivity and shadowing, on compact invariant sets such as homoclinic classes, chain components and chain recurrent sets. Work is also being done in the areas of G-spaces, studying dynamical properties of maps including that of uniform limit maps and time variant maps and Compactifications and Projective Objects. Department is also actively engaged in researches in the area of multidimensional dynamical systems including chaos.
Another field of interest in the department, where research work is going on is the Classical General Theory of Relativity (GTR). GTR is the geometric study of gravitation. One of the important problems in GTR is to find exact solutions of Einstein’s field equations. Work is going on in the field of construction of mathematical models of compact stars with associated space times having definite 3–space geometry.
Department has been actively engaged in researches in Fluid Dynamics, particularly for the solutions of the problems arising in Fluid Flow through Porous Media. Efforts for the analytical solutions of the important phenomenon like Fingering, Imbibition, Ground water seepage are also in progress.
Many department members have published their research work in several reputed National/International Journals. In fact, the quality researches done by the department members have earned the department prestigious research prizes, several visits abroad for carrying out post-doctoral research projects and a prestigious UGC career award in Mathematics.
Our department was first in the Gujarat State to introduce way back in 1975, job oriented courses like Operations Research, Linear Programming, Computer Programming and Numerical Analysis at the undergraduate level and subsequently at the post graduate level under the headship of Professor V. M. Shah. Our department is the first in the Gujarat State to introduce in 2006, an optional paper of “Application of Mathematics in Finance and Insurance” at the undergraduate level.
There is a Departmental Library supported by National Board for Higher Mathematics (DST, DAE, GOI) consisting of advanced level text books, research monographs, and journals. Department has two Computer Labs used for practicals both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and one well equipped Seminar room. Our student’s achievement record is healthy.
Several students have cleared UGC – CSIR NET, GATE, GSLET and other competitive examinations. Our students have also been selected for pursuing researches in recent past at various Institutes and organizations such as Indian Institute of Mathematical Sciences at Chennai, Indian Statistical Institute at Calcutta, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at Mumbai. HRI at Allahabad, DRDO and at various IIT’s. Several students have also won prizes at various mathematical completions. Some of our students have also been awarded NBHM research fellowships. Department has organized successfully many national/ international level conferences, seminars, workshops and training programs.
Mission of the Department
To train the students to extend their intellectual capacities by inculcating the habit of critical reading, critical thinking and problem solving through effective teaching, learning and evaluation. To encourage the faculty to strive to contribute to the discipline of Mathematics by fundamental research in pure and applied Mathematics.
Vision of the Department
To provide learning environment with opportunities. To prepare students for lifelong learning by developing in them discipline, computational skills, critical thinking and problem solving ability. To promote quality and excellence in faculty members through professional activities and access to academic research.