When I Grow Up I Want To Be A . . . LOBSTER FISHERMAN

Today is the birthday of Vito Voterra born 1860 in Ancona, Italy.  Vito's work focused on partial differential equations with respect to the equation of cylindrical waves.  His major work was on integral equations.  

When I was in senior in high school I was still unsure what I wanted to be when I "grew up".  My mother wanted me to be a pastor and I was considering a career as a member of the Coast Guard or a mathematics teacher.  During my senior, we spent our Christmas visiting my sister in San Francisco. As we walked along the wharf, I had a moment of clarity.  I proudly remarked,"I want to be a LOBSTER FISHERMAN".  My mother erupted.  She explained to me in no uncertain terms, my destiny.  Her 60 inch frame grew as she became more agitated.  I was subdued and have never spoke to her again about lobster fishing.  I have visited the east coast many times and have watched the lobster boats come in to shore.  The life is tough and precarious.

Every year I assign a final project to my calculus students.  Their assignment is find the mathematics in what they love to do.  I have had projects on music, tennis, dance, skating, Rubik's Cube, whiffle ball, Escher, and bowhunting carp to name a few.  I, in turn, was wondering what mathematics existed in lobster fishing.  I found a mathematics game called "Lobster Pots", a mathematical article examining the exploitation of the lobster fisheries, a website sponsored by Gulf of Maine Research Institute that details all aspects of lobsters which contains mathematical activities pertaining to the career of a lobster fisherman, and the use of mathematical modeling in the optimization of productivity of the fishing industry.

I often tell the story of my lobster fishing yearning to my students.  A few years ago, Tyler, a student of mine, created this picture of me.  In addition to my math class, he was taking a digital photography class.  I am sure he was looking for lobsters but was resigned to use crabs from the show, "The Deadliest Catch".  The students still enjoy this picture and it finds its way on social media occasionally.  I particularly like the tattoos.