Foreword [The Collection, 9]

Abstract

The Science and Society Directorate of the European Commission published a DVD called "Femmes de tete". The stories of established women astrophysicists, mierobiologists, mathematicians, geologists and genetic engineers working on edge-cutting research in Europe arc told in a witty way, highlighting the great hurdles they managed to overcome and the unfailing support of their family and colleagues. One of the protagonists Prof. Ene Ergma who is an astrophysicist and now an active MP in the Estonian Parliament acknowledged that to be a scientist is "madness" in today's world when other easier routes lead to much higher financial gain. However scientists persist in their dedicated work because "the soul sings" as they wade through the rocky paths of research. I can vouch for this exulting feeling from my experience in mathematical research. However what lifts my spirits to higher levels is when our students contract this urge for mathematical discovery.

Encounters such as we have in the "Collection" workshops certainly foster the aspirations of our budding mathematicians. In this session the talents of students, other than in mathematics, have also been encouraged. Romina IvIamo, a local established singer and mathematics student elicited a smile from all present as she sang with great charm the lyrics of fellow student Clinton P. Cilia. The message of the song may sound negative; however it is a hard reality that the path which our students tread till graduation is adorned with thorny challenges.