The past decade has witnessed a repositioning of the role of classical real analysis among the traditional subdisciplines of pure and applied mathematics. Formerly perceived as a reservoir of facts and techniques, new results and directions of research in real analysis have infused new vibrancy into several classical areas of pure and applied analysis and newer arenas of dynamical systems and the study of fractals. Examples of this renewed vibrancy include (1) Marianna CsornyeiÕs 2001 complete solution to the functional analysis question of S. Bates, W.B. Johnson, J. Lindenstrauss, D. Preiss and G. Schechtman as to whether the Gorelik principle holds for Lipschitz quotient maps between reflexive (or superreflexive, or finite dimensional) spaces, (2) Chlebik, Kirchheim, and PreissÕs work on rank 1 convexity and applications to the PDE inclusion problems of Muller and Sverak, (3) the work of Mauldin, Urbanski, Olson, Graf et al. on measures, dynamics and dimensions, (4) OlevskiiÕs work in Harmonic Analysis, and (5) BuczolichÕs work with Mauldin, Kahane, et al. on small sets and trigonometrical series.

Real analysis has a long-standing intellectual presence at St. Olaf, one that is built upon a strong faculty group of pure and applied analysts with research interests in quasi-conformal mappings, dynamical systems and integration theory. All mathematics majors at St. Olaf are trained in elementary real analysis, and upper level classes in Lebesgue Measure and Integration each typically attract more than twenty students. We regularly offer supporting analysis classes in Complex Function Theory and Functional Analysis, as well as seminars and independent studies in Dynamical Systems, Wavelets and the Theory of Partial Differential Equations. Therefore, we are confident that real analysis is a programmatic area that our students will be well prepared for and is one in which they can have a meaningful and productive research experience in another academic culture.