Recent federal funding cuts stand to significantly impact the mathematical sciences, including the vital work of our sister societies, mathematics institutes, and academic departments. The American Mathematical Society (AMS) recognizes these impending impacts and is launching the AMS Backstop Grants to partially mitigate the negative impact of terminated awards.
Through strategic financial planning and careful allocation of resources, the AMS has been able to budget $1 million for distribution to impacted mathematical societies, institutes, programs, and departments. These grants are intended to provide one-time financial relief and ensure the continuity of some essential projects, conferences, and scholarly activities that align with our mission to advance research, education, and the full participation of all individuals in the mathematical sciences.
We are kicking off this initiative by providing a grant to the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM), to help support its 2025 Research Symposium. The event has a broad range of sessions for pure and applied mathematics, undergraduates, networking, roundtable discussions, and more.
We recognize the vital role each branch of our mathematical community plays in fostering an inclusive and vibrant mathematical ecosystem. The AMS Backstop Grants will be administered through a streamlined application process, with an emphasis on supporting a broad range of activities and a large number of mathematicians. The AMS will seek to be transparent, equitable, and as responsive to immediate needs as our funding and infrastructure allow. We encourage all impacted organizations to inquire about possible support.
The American Mathematical Society is firmly committed to the advancement of mathematics, and we hope that through this temporary backstop, we can help many of our colleagues in the mathematical sciences navigate some of our current challenges.
Read details about AMS Backstop Grants.
Contact: AMS Communications
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The American Mathematical Society is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through our publications, meetings and conferences, MathSciNet, professional services, advocacy, and awareness programs.
The American Mathematical Society (AMS) Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CoEDI) has changed its name to the AMS Committee on Engagement, Participation, and Advancement (CEPA).
"To better represent the voices and experiences and the evolving needs of our community, we are renaming our committee efforts to more clearly reflect our goals," the committee said. "This new name underscores the outcomes we seek: to engage broadly, promote full participation, and support the success of all mathematicians."
"While change often brings challenges, our commitment remains strong: to cultivate a culture where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered," the committee said.
"We believe that Engagement, Participation, and Advancement are not isolated initiatives, but shared responsibilities at the core of all we do."
Contact: AMS Communications
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The American Mathematical Society is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through our publications, meetings and conferences, MathSciNet, professional services, advocacy, and awareness programs.
In April 2025, the American Mathematical Society took a temperature check to understand to what extent graduate mathematical sciences departments are experiencing change in graduate school enrollment and postdoctoral employment.
"Bracing for impact," concluded Sarah Bryant PhD, author of the study and AMS associate vice president for programs and professional services.
"Department leaders are facing a complex landscape with different challenges," Bryant said, leading to a climate of uncertainty. "In Fall 2025, we'll start to see the first wave of impact."
The 10–question exploratory survey was sent to 326 mathematical and statistical science departments, resulting in a 29% response rate (93 responses). The data varies between mathematics departments, which "show signs of contraction," and statistics departments, which "lean more neutral or optimistic, with almost half expecting no change."
National Science Foundation (NSF) funding was a front-of-mind topic, said Bryant, who quoted a New York Times article: “In 2023, the N.S.F. funded half of all federally supported basic research in math and statistics in American colleges. So far this year, math and statistics grant funding is lagging behind previous years by 72 percent.”
She added, "Positions classified as postdocs had been stable for years. They're now down about 20 percent, according to mathjobs.org. That is also worth mentioning."
In addition, departments with large international student populations expressed concerns about students securing visas. Other departments felt that institutional changes were likely to cause reallocation of resources.
Other findings of the study, completed by Bryant and Skylar Homan of the AMS:
Survey respondents also contributed comments:
"Postdoc positions have all but evaporated due to the federal funding stop. Our students are looking for postdocs abroad, which they would not have done in previous years.”
"About 10% of our doctoral students are supported by faculty grants from federal agencies. About 20% of our Statistics PhD students are supported by internships whose initial funding is likely a federal agency. We are certainly concerned about the stability of that support."
"The uncertainty has been damaging.The future reality may be more damaging."
Contact: AMS Communications
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The American Mathematical Society is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through our publications, meetings and conferences, MathSciNet, professional services, advocacy, and awareness programs.
On May 22 staff from several congressional offices gathered with mathematicians for a briefing: "Mathematical Foundations of AI Innovation and Trustworthiness," by Dr. Rebecca Willett, Professor of Statistics & Computer Science, University of Chicago. This event was hosted by the American Mathematical Society and the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI). See a video recap of the gathering.
The AMS holds annual congressional briefings to illustrate the importance of federal investment in basic research in math and science for decision-makers on Capitol Hill. This year's briefing took place while Congress reviews the president's proposed 50% budget cut to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and prepares their formal budget appropriations.
Dr. Willett wrote in her abstract, "Investing in applied artificial intelligence (AI) without understanding the underlying mathematical foundations is like investing in healthcare without understanding biology. Foundational research has had a tremendous impact on AI and machine learning." In her talk she highlighted examples of these mathematical foundations and their subsequent impacts on the AI industry, including development, products, and workforce. Willett discussed areas for which new theory and mathematical foundations are needed, as well as ensuring that machine learning methods are "fair, safe, equitable, and sustainable."
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has provided the majority of funding for fundamental research in the mathematical sciences done on university and college campuses in years past. However, the president’s FY2026 budget request includes devastating cuts of over 50% for NSF. The AMS encourages you to contact your elected officials and ask that they reject the cuts and at least maintain current NSF funding levels. Use this Take Action tool to quickly email your representative and senator.
Contact: AMS Communications
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The American Mathematical Society is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through our publications, meetings and conferences, MathSciNet, professional services, advocacy, and awareness programs.
On a rainy, spring Saturday morning, the state of Rhode Island hosted a math extravaganza, and the American Mathematical Society was there.
“The AMS is focused on advancing mathematics, and we are also proud to have long resided in Providence," said John Meier, AMS CEO. "An event like the MathMattersRI Extravaganza is a perfect way for us to create connections with students and families in Rhode Island and to nurture a love of mathematics.”
In a bustling, crowded atrium, Lisa Odom-Villela announced, "We're all math people, and we're excited to promote math!" Erupting behind her was a rowdy game of Uno played with a giant deck.
Odom-Villela, Rhode Island deputy commissioner of education, was an organizer of the MathMattersRI Extravaganza, a three-hour event for families and teachers held at the shiny Rhode Island Nursing Education Center in Providence's Jewelry District neighborhood. The Extravaganza drew more than 700 attendees and boasted 28 activity tables, hosted by groups from the Mathnasium to Always Learning Rhode Island to the AMS.
Near the giant Uno, a large-scale version of "Connect Four" drew a crowd. Exploring the ground floor of the Extravaganza, Gabriel Emiro-Escobar of Central Falls, RI, was accompanied by his son and his son's classmate from Raíces Dual Language Academy. The trio conquered the series of games available and were looking for more to do. Upon hearing that the AMS had activities upstairs, Emiro-Escobar said with delight, "My uncle is in the American Mathematical Society!"
Upstairs at the AMS station, staff members led children in games from the Julia Robinson Math Festival kit. Some activities were seated and involved concentration, such as Dot Parties. Then there was the Jumping Julia game, a hopscotch-style logic puzzle that excited Lauren Belmont, a teacher at Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence.
"Movement!" she said, pointing to kids on the Jumping Julia floor mats. "They get up and move around, and they're learning math at the same time!"
Besides games, the Extravaganza had classroom sessions (Khanmigo Academy, Foundations of Math, Prisms Presentation) and a screening of the math education documentary film "Counted Out." And there were refreshments, including pastries and empanadas, a popcorn machine, and the Maria Maria coffee cart, where the line was long for Math-Uccinos.
Jennifer DeSimone brought her family of four from the coastal town of Narragansett to Providence for the Math Extravaganza.
DeSimone, who spent all morning at the event, had multiple items on her agenda. "There's definitely need for supplementation, so I'm here to look into grants for after-school programs," she said.
"Also, my kids love math games," she added, watching her daughter and son tackle the Math Escape Room activity.
DeSimone also attended Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee's remarks: "I believe that Rhode Island can be the innovation center for math for the whole country!" he said.
And she stayed for the fireside chat with Shalinee Sharma, cofounder and CEO of the education nonprofit Zearn. "All kids are math kids!" said Sharma, who brought copies of her book, "Math Mind: The Simple Path to Loving Math."
Sharma's words mirrored the sentiment of the event's ubiquitous blue T-shirts, worn by kids, parents, even the governor and state Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green.
The blue shirts sported big bright letters: "I Am Not A Math Person," with a big red X through the word "Not." The backs of the shirts read, "We're All Solv=rs" (with an equal sign for the e).
The shirts were distributed by the Collaborative for Student Success, a Virginia nonprofit that Infante-Green invited to Rhode Island for the Extravaganza. “We believe every student deserves a high-quality math education—and every community has a role to play," said Jim Cowen, executive director.
"It was exciting to see so many people—parents, students, business and community leaders, mayors, education leaders and teachers, and the Governor himself—come out to support Rhode Island’s focus on improving math outcomes," Cowen said of the Extravaganza. "That’s the kind of commitment that can result in real progress.”
Contact: AMS Communications
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The American Mathematical Society is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through our publications, meetings and conferences, MathSciNet, professional services, advocacy, and awareness programs.
IEEE Xplore contains scientific and technical content published by the IEEE and its publishing partners. It provides web access to many full-text documents from publications in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics.
LibKey Nomad is a browser add-on that facilitates access to articles available from Skeen Library subscriptions without needing to go to the library website. And because it is a browser tool, you will know if an article is available before you have to log in to your library account. LibKey Nomad is currently available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Vivaldi, and Brave internet browsers.
LibKey Nomad Chrome Browser Extension
Click the link above, then follow the steps below to add LibKey Nomad to your Chrome browser:
Follow these steps for adding LibKey Nomad to your Edge browser:
You will need to allow extensions from other stores:
Once LibKey Nomad is installed, you will be prompted to select an institution. You can type "new mexico" in the box to get a short list quickly. Click on New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to complete the process.
Once that's done, you should see a screen like the one below:
When you land on a page with an article that is available to download, you get a banner alert at the bottom of your screen. Click to download the PDF. If you are off-campus, you will be routed through the proxy server to authenticate as an authorized user.
LibKey Nomad will connect you to Skeen Library's discovery platform when you land on a page where we don't have current access. In this example from British Journal of Anaesthesia, Skeen Library does not have access and clicking "Access Options" will give you the option of submitting an Interlibrary Loan request.
LibKey.io makes it incredibly easy to find and retrieve items with DOI or PMID identifiers.
Simply put in a DOI or PMID into the search bar and LibKey.io will very quickly present format options (PDF or Article Link or both) for that particular item. Using LibKey.io allows researchers to focus on content rather than worrying about choosing databases or navigating publisher pages.
Some other unique highlights of the result page:
