Ethan Akin
- Position
-
Chair
- ethanakin@earthlink.net
- Office
- NA6/287A
- Office phone
- (212) 650-5136
Biography
Back when dinosaurs roamed Manhattan, I was an undergraduate at City College, taking classes with Jesse Douglas, among others, and graduating in 1965. After my PhD at Princeton (1969), I taught at University of California, Berkeley from Fall, 1968 through Spring, 1970. In the Fall of 1970 I returned to City College where I have been teaching ever since, aging slightly. Akin 1, Akin 2, Akin 3, Akin 4, Akin 5
Research
I work in the topological part of dynamical systems theory. Below I have posted pdf files of some introductory material describing two books, "The General Topology of Dynamical Systems" (1993) and "Recurrence in Topological Dynamics: Furstenberg Families and Ellis Actions" (1997) as well as two monographs "Simplicial Dynamical Systems" (1999) and "Dynamics of Topologically Generic Homeomorphisms" (2003). The survey of topological dynamics is my - rather idiosyncratic - view of the subject. It is due to appear in a scientific encyclopedia.
My work in population genetics is represented by an old paper: "Cycling in Simple Genetic Systems" (1982).
Tourist's Guide to The General Topology of Dynamical Systems
Recurrence in Topological Dynamics (Introduction)
Simplicial Dynamical Systems (Introduction)
The Dynamics of Topologically Generic Homeomorphisms (Introduction)
Topological Dynamics: A Survey
Cycling in Simple Genetic Systems
Of perhaps more general interest is "Why the 3X+1 Problem Is Hard?" (2004). This is an introduction to the -simple to state, but unsolved- Collatz Problem.
Why is the 3X + 1 Problem Hard?
"The Spiteful Computer" (1992) is a description of an odd determinism paradox.
In addition, I have posted my contribution, "In Defense of Mindless Rote" (2001), to the current Math Wars over the teaching of mathematics at pre-college levels.
Finally, because of my work in mathematical applications to population genetics, I became interested in the controversy about Intelligent Design. In "Theses on Johnson" (2001) I defend -at length- the view that the ID position is wrong but interesting, as opposed to wrong and stupid, which is the general opinion among biologists.
Teaching
- Fall 2009: Math 32300-RS, T,H 4:00-5:40, Room NA 7219
- Spring 2009: Math 20300-MM, T,H 11:00-12:15, Room 5150; F 12:00-12:50, Room 1511E; F 1:00-1:50, Room 1511A
- Fall 2008: Math 20200-LM, T,H 10:00-11:40, Room NA 4115
- Fall 2008: Math 32300-RS, T,H 4:00-5:40, Room NA 4115
- Spring 2008: Math 20300-LL, T,H 9:30-10:45, Room 6113; F 9:30-10:20, Room 1511E; F 10:30-11:20, Room 1511A
- Spring 2008: Math 20300-MM, T,H 11:00-12:15, Room 5150; F 12:00-12:50, Room 1511E; F 1:00-1:50, Room 1511A
- Fall 2007: Math 20200-KK, T,H 8:00-9:15, Room NA 4115; F 8:00-8:50, Room NA 4115
- Fall 2007: Math 20200-MM, T,H 11:00-12:15, Room NA 6113; F 11:00-11:50, Room NA 4113
Documents
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