Lara Anderson

Old Main Society Dinner, April 1, 2004

 

It is a pleasure to be here tonight and to meet all of you. As you heard, my name is Lara Anderson. I graduated last year from USU with double degrees in Physics and Mathematics and I am finishing a Master's degree in Physics this semester. This fall, I will begin my PhD program at Oxford University.

I will be studying theoretical physics on a Rhodes scholarship. However, I would not be going there now if I had not spent four excellent years here at USU. When I entered this university, I did not know how I would pay for my education. To my great good fortune, I have received a number of awards from USU to help me fund my studies. The years of scholarship support I have received here have been invaluable!

To me, and to most students here, an education is a chance to enter into a field that I love. And I do love physics. The time I spend on physics and mathematics is some of the happiest that I experience. But for me, and many other students, there can be difficulties, financial and otherwise, that stand in the way.

In my field, history is filled with examples of students who were devoted to their subject but none-the-less had to face great challenges in reaching their dreams. In each of these cases, there were people in their lives who were able to offer help and support; to make an investment in someone's future.

There is one example of this that is particularly significant to me. In the early 1800s, a remarkable young female mathematician named Sophie Germain received extraordinary help in reaching her goals.

Sophie Germain was born into a wealthy French family during the period of revolution. As a young girl she read about the ancient Greek genius, Archimedes, and his passion for mathematics. It was the story of how Archimedes died that first sparked her interest in mathematics. The book she read described how Archimedes was killed by an invading Roman soldier because he was too absorbed in a calculation to flee the city. What, she wondered, could be so remarkable that a man would rather risk his life than interrupt his study of it? The descriptions of his fervent devotion to the subject sparked her curiosity. Sophie began to study math from her father's well equipped library.

Not surprisingly, her family did not consider mathematics a suitable pastime for a well-bred young lady and forbid her to continue her studies. Sophie does not seem to have been easily intimidated. When she persisted anyway, she was punished by being restricted to her room. Undeterred, Sophie continued to read about math and try out calculations in her bedroom.

Her family began to get serious about this disobedience! They resorted to taking away all her candles in an attempt to make her relent her late night studying. But Sophie was determined; she just kept studying in the daytime.

By this point her family was getting really desperate! As a last resort, they took away all her clothes and told her she couldn't have them back until she agreed to stop. Fortunately for the future of science, her love of mathematics had grown roots that were too deep to be pulled loose. She did not stop. She kept studying in her nightgown and waited until they eventually changed their minds.

Sophie eventually reached a high level of proficiency in mathematics. But she was unable to learn everything by herself. If she were to attain her goal, she would need help. The person who made an extraordinary difference to Sophie was a man named Karl Gauss. The nineteenth century mathematician Karl Gauss is one of the finest mathematicians in history. He has been called the "Prince of mathematics" and "the greatest mathematician who ever lived".

Trying to find mathematical guidance, Sophie decided to share some of her ideas. Under a male pseudonym, Mr. Leblanc, she decided to take a bold and drastic step. She wrote to Gauss, discussing her mathematical ideas. Gauss was impressed with the insight of her work, and was pleased to correspond with the polite young man that he believed her to be.

This is where the story gets interesting! If Napoleon had not invaded Germany, it is possible that Gauss would never have known the truth about Mr. Leblanc. Napoleon's army was cutting through the countryside, and in most communities, displacing the German upper class from their lands, ransacking their property and lives. As the French army drew nearer to Gauss' town, Sophie was deeply frightened for the safety of her mentor. The story of Archimedes' death returned vividly to her memory. The thought of war needlessly claiming the life of a man she revered as a genius was more than she could bear. She was quick to form a plan! She exerted all of her influence on a family friend, a general in Napoleon's army, to guarantee that Gauss would not be harmed.

When his troops passed near to Gauss' home, the General, true to his word, did nothing to Gauss. But he did confuse the great mathematician by telling him that the name of his savior was Sophie Germain. After some time, Sophie's true identity was made clear to Gauss.

At that moment, Gauss had a chance to be offended, angry at being deceived, or embarrassed to have been corresponding with a woman. However, Gauss believed in mathematics, and he believed in the devotion to that science that he had seen in Sophie's work. Despite her sex, he was happy and willing to continue their friendship and mathematical exchanges. In a letter to her, he once wrote "...The enchanting charms of this sublime science reveal themselves only to those who have the courage to go deeply into it. But when a person of the sex which, according to our customs and prejudices, must encounter infinitely more difficulties than men to familiarize herself with these thorny researches, succeeds nevertheless in surmounting these obstacles and penetrating the most obscure parts of them, then without doubt, she must have the noblest courage, quite extraordinary talents, and a superior genius."

Gauss made the greatest of differences to Sophie Germain by helping her become a part of the thing that she loved most. He took the time and effort to make her future possible. Thanks to his decision, science was given a great gift in Sophie Germain's lifetime of mathematical work.

You are all here tonight because you have helped to give us our futures. There are many different ways of supporting someone, many ways of changing lives. Just like Gauss gave Sophie Germain her mathematics, all of you are giving us, the students here at USU, the opportunity do what we love. You are making it possible for us to devote ourselves to the fields that excite, challenge and delight us. I want to tell you that I am very grateful for your support of our education. So...If Napoleon ever shows up in your backyard yard... you know who to call!!

Thank you for believing in our future, in what we can accomplish and give. By making our education possible, you have given us one of the most essential ingredients for success. Thank you for investing in us. We will do our best to live up to the trust you have shown.