555:
topics up to first-year graduate level, through gradual expansion of material which although accurate, may be "impacted" and short of standard motivating remarks and heuristics". Ozob says that the most important way someone can help is by notifying the project of what is not clear, and feels that good exposition is their biggest problem, not just as a WikiProject but as a profession: "There's hardly any mathematical exposition for the layman anywhere. And that's despite there being some fascinating stuff which can be explained in very elementary terms. ... The WikiProject has an especially big problem with math articles that have applications to the sciences and engineering. Non-mathematicians frequently try to read those articles and end up stymied by thickets of abstraction, because we often discuss modern mathematical methods that are very abstract but very powerful. But sometimes it's our fault; we think like mathematicians, our reliable sources are written by mathematicians, and without meaning to, we sometimes end up writing for mathematicians."
466:) has been pushed to an FA-ish level by a group of editors, but was not nominated. Reviewers' expectations at the FA candidacy tend to be quite high as far as the accessibility of scientific articles to the "general public" is concerned. This is often the most challenging bit in having a successful GA or FA candidacy, given that most mathematical subjects rely on a rigorous, abstract language that is not part of usual daily life. One way to deal with this issue in a more systematic way might be a "non-peer review", or just a forum for editors to meet mathematically untrained editors willing to work together on the accessibility of advanced scientific articles, outside the rather hasty FA process."
90:
256:
645:
164:
117:
107:
433:. These tools have allowed us to track the huge number of math articles without relying on manual effort or talk page tags. The main limitation in going beyond tracking to actual editing is the ratio of editor time to the number of articles needing improvement." Project members, including Ozob and David, watch the Current activity list, while Kiefer works to provide references and short improvements to core articles, while developing
312:
33:
292:
127:
87:
137:
97:
485:. Improving mathematical articles to GA and FA status is especially challenging, because of the demand that articles be accessible to the reading public. Perhaps Knowledge should feature more good articles on important topics rather than excellent articles on minor topics and trivia? Mathematical scientists worry that Knowledge indulges in "
587:, and we all would welcome new members. Personal invitations have recruited some great editors, but I am embarrassed at not having invited a professional colleague to join the project, yet! Perhaps the Knowledge Foundation should hire staff for the mathematics project, or project members could write a letter appealing for volunteers in the
450:
anytime soon or at all. The main task for this type of articles is to provide accurate references; here steady progress is made. From my personal experience, such highly specific topics actually tend to be more satisfactory than articles on broader mathematical subjects which require much more expertise to write".
550:
in 2009. I don't view this as entirely a bad thing. On a site the size of
Knowledge, there will naturally be differing visions of what an ideal article should be. One of the strengths of Knowledge is we accommodate such a wide range of topics and writing styles." Charles believes that mathematics is
545:
CBM does not think the lack of FA nominations as necessarily negative: "It has been said that
Knowledge is not a unified work, it's a collection of mostly-independent specialist encyclopedias that share goals and build on each other. Only a few members of the mathematics project have been active in
440:
Geometry guy contributed to the assessment of around 2,000 mathematics articles in 2007, but believes that "doing more than this would require substantial concerted editorial efforts that could be better applied to other goals." David sees assessment as "most useful at the top end, where GA and FA
449:
Of the 8,850 assessed articles, there are some 4,053 Start-class articles and 3,401 stubs. What is the project doing to advance these articles? For Jakob, many of these short articles just contain a definition of some specific concept, "in which case, it is unlikely that they will get much longer
596:
CBM's recommendation is for new editors to pick a stub article on a topic that they have some knowledge about, and expand it into something a little longer. For
Geometry guy, "The project has done really well in providing references for the expert, but we need to draw more readers in, while also
554:
We asked what the most pressing needs for WikiProject
Mathematics are, and how a new contributor can help. Charles identifies four areas, "better biographies, particularly for mathematicians outside the English-speaking world; connected historical coverage; referencing; and expository work, for
420:
Although the project has some 8,850 assessed articles, there are actually over 25,400 articles associated with it. We asked how project members keep up with all these, and if there are any plans to assess the other articles. According to CBM, keeping up with such a large number of articles is a
469:
According to Kiefer, "On
Knowledge, mathematical topics present few temptations for editors to engage in point-of-view editing or to make personal attacks; goodwill flows in discussions on exposition (focusing on the public's needs) and scope (applications and generalizations). The cooperative
710:
276:
453:
WikiProject
Mathematics has numerous Featured content. How did the project achieve this and how can other projects work toward this? For Jakob, the project as a whole has an enjoyable, friendly atmosphere: "I found that the usual procedures ensuring a sound article quality such as
110:
445:
are a good hunting ground for articles in severe need of improvement. For the rest, I'd rather spend my editing time improving article space rather than trying to decide whether an article is really B or C class and exactly how important it is".
130:
551:
different when it comes to featured content, "the FA criteria don't fit that well with what survey articles in the subject typically try to do, and we are still wrestling with the consequences for exposition. It isn't easy".
100:
140:
195:
558:
Kiefer suggests that mathematics instructors should consider donating lecture-notes to appropriate articles. "More generally, graphical donations enliven articles and increase their appeal. Instructors in
382:
725:
73:
689:
597:
defending the importance of specialist content to the encyclopedia. Mathematics is a stark example of this tension, but not the only one: I heartily recommend the essay
694:
632:
623:
120:
516:
458:
and Good article nomination, work well. On the other hand, most members of WikiProject
Mathematics don't seem to focus on working on recognized content. For example,
699:
531:
669:
615:
753:
674:
662:
679:
430:
344:
656:
284:
52:
41:
839:
829:
589:
730:
421:
daunting task, "Fortunately, some of the original members of the project set up useful bots that index our articles automatically. The
218:
67:
737:
524:
21:
804:
714:
799:
794:
470:
atmosphere in
Knowledge is similar to that in the world of mathematics, and more generally, in mathematical sciences such as
489:"âdumbing down its content and showing contempt for the public's intelligence and attentionâneglecting the mission of true
789:
442:
336:
478:. At the end of a day of research or teaching, editing Knowledge is a relaxing hobby for mathematical scientists."
417:
became involved because he "found the idea of a public, comprehensive, free reference of that sort, very exciting".
834:
576:
320:
784:
644:
422:
215:
46:
32:
17:
481:"Articles on mathematics are under-represented in the GA and FA categories, which do have biographies of
202:
495:
463:
441:
status provide recognition to excellent articles and at the bottom end, where the lists of stubs and
434:
223:
246:
Submit your project's news and announcements for next week's WikiProject Report at the
Signpost's
560:
535:
426:
182:
611:
406:
374:
810:
599:
572:
568:
378:
229:
8:
604:
547:
520:
398:
340:
614:
next week with a classic project. Until then, let our previous work serenade you in the
748:
459:
389:
was invited to join the project in 2007, and became involved in assessment and review;
364:
264:
241:
at
Wikimedia Outreach. You can help improve the account creation process for new users.
237:
567:
should encourage their students to contribute, perhaps for course projects. Maybe the
721:
564:
386:
247:
571:
should give a special award recognizing the graphical donations by David Eppstein,
471:
500:
402:
283:
performing a simple rotation about a plane which bisects the figure, is one of
190:
823:
584:
539:
508:
482:
300:
296:
260:
255:
150:
490:
455:
410:
393:
is a professional mathematician who joined in 2008 and has a soft spot for
360:
356:
352:
348:
316:
304:
268:
772:
512:
475:
328:
324:
207:
747:
Great interview, with some interesting perspectives on technicality. â
527:
377:
has been on Knowledge since 2003, and has a doctorate in mathematics;
580:
390:
280:
776:
768:
486:
414:
394:
311:
546:
nominating articles for FA status; the most recent promotion was
291:
275:
504:
429:
are maintained by a bot, and these lists are used to create
515:," Kiefer added. He further suggests that Knowledge should
299:
machine, used in World War II to encrypt very high-level
205:
could use some help with their current collaboration:
735:If your comment has not appeared here, you can try
431:Knowledge:WikiProject Mathematics/Current activity
347:, and has 331 members. The project is home to 24
821:
397:articles; computer scientist and mathematician
183:February Wikification Backlog Elimination Drive
335:This week, we take our first in-depth look at
148:
590:Notices of the American Mathematical Society
367:â with a total of 8,850 assessed articles.
68:More than numbers: WikiProject Mathematics
310:
290:
274:
254:
738:
381:joined around 2005, working mainly on
14:
822:
383:frequently viewed mathematics articles
323:, is a Featured picture which shows a
840:WikiProjects featured in The Signpost
51:
371:interviewed seven project members.
303:messages, is used to illustrate the
238:Account Creation Improvement Project
830:Knowledge Signpost archives 2011-02
493:, which has been and should remain
27:
643:
196:Copyedit Backlog Elimination Drive
162:
53:
31:
28:
851:
720:These comments are automatically
517:highlight mathematics and science
443:User:Mathbot/Most wanted redlinks
321:International Mathematical Union
135:
125:
115:
105:
95:
85:
343:, it is one of the top 15 most
186:. Get busy and earn a barnstar!
731:add the page to your watchlist
339:. Started in November 2002 by
13:
1:
754:22:43, 22 February 2011 (UTC)
180:This is the last week of the
706:
579:has hard-working cadre like
423:List of mathematics articles
403:his own article in Knowledge
18:Knowledge:Knowledge Signpost
7:
219:collaborations of the month
10:
856:
600:Many things to many people
575:, and others?" he added. "
499:. Knowledge should inform
413:who joined in 2009; while
331:, another Featured article
287:of WikiProject Mathematics
607:) for wider discussion."
295:This photo of the German
259:The French mathematician
224:Oregon Convention Center
199:in March. Sign up today!
835:WikiProject Mathematics
503:rather than popularize
337:WikiProject Mathematics
728:. To follow comments,
648:
636:"WikiProject report" â
603:(written primarily by
577:WikiProject Statistics
561:computational geometry
536:professional wrestling
525:refrain from promoting
427:List of mathematicians
332:
308:
288:
272:
193:is hosting their next
167:
36:
647:
314:
294:
285:29 Featured pictures
279:A 3D projection of a
278:
258:
191:Guild of Copy Editors
166:
35:
724:from this article's
628:"WikiProject report"
569:Knowledge Foundation
230:Columbia River Gorge
690:Features and admins
548:Euclidean algorithm
715:Discuss this story
695:Arbitration report
685:WikiProject report
649:
507:and so oppose the
460:Riemann hypothesis
405:, joined in 2006;
333:
309:
289:
273:
216:WikiProject Oregon
168:
65:WikiProject report
42:â Back to Contents
37:
739:purging the cache
700:Technology report
565:computer graphics
464:worth $ 1.000.000
365:a Featured portal
361:Featured pictures
349:Featured articles
319:, awarded by the
265:Pascal's triangle
263:, well known for
203:WikiProject Essex
47:View Latest Issue
847:
813:
742:
740:
734:
713:
667:
659:
657:21 February 2011
652:
635:
627:
472:computer science
407:Kiefer.Wolfowitz
375:Charles Matthews
307:Featured article
269:Featured article
248:WikiProject Desk
172:
171:WikiProject news
169:
165:
153:
139:
138:
129:
128:
119:
118:
109:
108:
99:
98:
89:
88:
59:
57:
55:
54:21 February 2011
855:
854:
850:
849:
848:
846:
845:
844:
820:
819:
818:
817:
816:
815:
814:
809:
807:
802:
797:
792:
787:
780:
760:
759:
744:
736:
729:
718:
717:
711:+ Add a comment
709:
705:
704:
703:
660:
655:
653:
650:
639:
638:
633:
630:
625:
573:Oleg Alexandrov
379:Jakob.scholbach
345:active projects
253:
252:
251:
244:
176:
175:
170:
163:
161:
154:
147:
146:
145:
136:
126:
116:
106:
96:
86:
80:
77:
66:
62:
60:
50:
49:
44:
38:
26:
25:
24:
12:
11:
5:
853:
843:
842:
837:
832:
808:
803:
798:
793:
788:
783:
782:
781:
762:
761:
758:
757:
756:
719:
716:
708:
707:
702:
697:
692:
687:
682:
677:
672:
670:News and notes
666:
654:
642:
641:
640:
631:
622:
621:
620:
605:Markus Poessel
483:mathematicians
435:a few articles
399:David Eppstein
353:Featured lists
341:Chas zzz brown
271:of the project
245:
243:
242:
235:Check out the
233:
212:
200:
187:
177:
173:
160:
159:
158:
156:
144:
143:
133:
123:
113:
103:
93:
82:
81:
78:
72:
71:
70:
69:
64:
63:
61:
58:
45:
40:
39:
30:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
852:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
827:
825:
812:
806:
801:
796:
791:
786:
778:
774:
770:
766:
763:Keep up with
755:
752:
751:
746:
745:
741:
732:
727:
723:
712:
701:
698:
696:
693:
691:
688:
686:
683:
681:
678:
676:
673:
671:
668:
664:
658:
651:In this issue
646:
637:
629:
619:
617:
613:
608:
606:
602:
601:
594:
592:
591:
586:
582:
578:
574:
570:
566:
562:
556:
552:
549:
543:
541:
540:Did you know?
537:
533:
529:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
509:commercialism
506:
502:
498:
497:
496:enlightenment
492:
491:encyclopedias
488:
484:
479:
477:
473:
467:
465:
461:
457:
451:
447:
444:
438:
436:
432:
428:
424:
418:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
372:
370:
366:
362:
358:
357:Good articles
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
330:
326:
322:
318:
313:
306:
302:
301:general staff
298:
297:Lorenz cipher
293:
286:
282:
277:
270:
266:
262:
261:Blaise Pascal
257:
249:
240:
239:
234:
232:
231:
226:
225:
220:
217:
213:
210:
209:
204:
201:
198:
197:
192:
188:
185:
184:
179:
178:
174:News in brief
157:
152:
142:
134:
132:
124:
122:
114:
112:
104:
102:
94:
92:
84:
83:
75:
56:
48:
43:
34:
23:
19:
765:The Signpost
764:
749:
684:
663:all comments
609:
598:
595:
588:
557:
553:
544:
501:the populace
494:
480:
468:
452:
448:
439:
419:
411:statistician
387:Geometry guy
373:
369:The Signpost
368:
334:
317:Fields Medal
305:cryptography
236:
228:
222:
206:
194:
181:
155:
811:Suggestions
722:transcluded
675:In the news
532:pornography
456:Peer review
824:Categories
680:Versailles
513:mass media
476:statistics
401:, who has
329:Archimedes
325:bas relief
208:Colchester
79:Share this
74:Contribute
22:2011-02-21
805:Subscribe
726:talk page
610:We'll be
521:main page
800:Newsroom
795:Archives
777:Mastodon
773:Facebook
750:innotata
626:Previous
585:Melcombe
487:slumming
395:calculus
151:SMasters
121:LinkedIn
101:Facebook
20: |
769:Twitter
616:archive
528:Pokémon
523:, "and
519:on its
511:of the
281:4D-cube
267:, is a
111:Twitter
534:, and
505:infamy
131:Reddit
91:E-mail
790:About
409:is a
359:, 17
355:, 35
16:<
785:Home
634:Next
612:Bach
583:and
581:Qwfp
563:and
474:and
425:and
391:Ozob
363:and
351:, 3
315:The
227:and
221:are
214:The
189:The
141:Digg
775:or
767:on
593:?"
542:."
538:on
530:,
437:.
415:CBM
327:of
149:By
76:â
826::
771:,
624:â
618:.
385:;
779:.
743:.
733:.
665:)
661:(
462:(
250:.
211:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
