Science, Technology and Engineering

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Bendigo

Simon Smith

Position

Associate Professor of Mathematics

I am currently Deputy Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics (i.e. Coordinator of Mathematics and Statistics on the Bendigo campus)

Contact Information

Office: Business Building, Room 2.12
Phone: (03) 5444 7265 (From overseas +61 3 5444 7265)
Fax: (03) 5444 7998 (From overseas +61 3 5444 7998)
Email: s.smith@latrobe.edu.au
Post: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, La Trobe University, P.O. Box 199, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, AUSTRALIA

Background

Simon completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, then a PhD in complex analysis at the University of New England in Armidale, northern New South Wales. In 1988 he moved to Bendigo, joining what is now the Department of Mathematics and Statistics of La Trobe University. Simon has taught a variety of subjects, principally in the areas of calculus, numerical methods, complex analysis, operations research and (more recently) discrete mathematics and introductory statistics.

Lecturing Responsibilities in 2008

SEMESTER 1, 2008

Calculus A – link to the University's Unit Database entry or my Resources Page

SEMESTER 2, 2008

Complex Analysis – link to the University's Unit Database entry
Discrete Mathematics – link to the University's Unit Database entry or my Resources Page

Research Interests

My principal research interests are in Approximation Theory, particularly polynomial interpolation. The main emphasis of my work has been on Lagrange interpolation (indeed, it could be said that I have a Lagrange mission) and its generalization to higher orders (the Hermite-Fejér processes), based on special node systems (such as equally-spaced points and the zeros of the Chebyshev polynomials) in the interval [-1, 1].

As an introduction to some of my research work, you can download the slides for my talk 'Lebesgue Constants in Polynomial Interpolation' to the Department of Mathematics, University of Salzburg in October 2004 (407 KB, PDF format). Alternately, go to my Polynomial Interpolation page, which provides further information on the subject and links to relevant web sites.

Some Photographs

My office is upstairs in the centre of this photo. Here is the view from my office on a misty winter's morning, while kangaroos sometimes visit the grounds of the building. Adjoining the campus is the One Tree Hill section of Greater Bendigo National Park – spring wildflowers include the Fairy Waxflower, Finger Flower, Scented Sun-orchid and Wax-lip Orchid.

Bendigo itself has some interesting architecture, including Sacred Heart Cathedral (seen from a hot-air balloon), the Law Courts and this sculpture in Rosalind Park, while here is the city skyline at dusk. Masked Lapwings (or Plovers) have nested several times in my back garden - here is an adult bird and a 1-day-old chick.