From the Editors, Volume 2

We are delighted to present the second issue of the Pittsburgh Interdisciplinary Mathematics Review (PIMR). Building on the success of our inaugural issue, this volume continues our mission to bridge the divide between pure and applied mathematics, connect academic disciplines, and make mathematics accessible to a broad audience. The enthusiastic reception of our first issue reaffirmed the importance of fostering an inclusive mathematics community. In particular the engagement from faculty and students at Carnegie Mellon University was encouraging and illustrated the path forward for our journal as our readership and authorial base expands geographically. We were honored to be selected for archival by the Library of Congress Web Archiving Program in September 2024. 

This second volume would not have been possible without the continued support of our advisory board and the University of Pittsburgh's mathematics department. We are thankful for all of the hard work of our authors, referees, and editors. We would like to highlight Mathematics of machine learning: an introduction by Professor Stephen Wojtowytsch, a rigorous and accessible piece which is all the more timely as we enter this new age of artificial intelligence.  Additionally, we would like to draw your attention to An interview with Professor Piotr Hajłasz, in which Professer Hajłasz describes his mathematical journey as well as math pedagogy in general. Lastly, we are ecstatic to include A history of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh, 1787-1995 by former department chair Professor Stuart Hastings. This thorough and fascinating work of historical scholarship ensures that the stories of our predecessors and all they have done for the field of mathematics will not be forgotten. 

As of this issue Neil MacLachlan will be stepping down as co-editor-in-chief as he begins his studies as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Michigan. Associate Editor Leonardo Finzi will be assuming his role.

We encourage you to submit to future issues, be it through expository pieces, research articles, math history, or beach math problems. We look forward to reviewing your submissions!

Lark Song, Neil MacLachlan, & Griffin Mekler-Culbertson
Co-Editors-in-Chief of the PIMR