This issue of the Gazette, the first for the 1998 Academic year, contains two articles that ultimately aim to improve the learning of mathematics by students. One of these, by Steven Barry and Stephen Davis, is concerned with the perennial problem of finding and filling the holes in the background mathematical knowledge of students. The second of these articles, by Keith Tognetti and Ian Doust, concerns a new electronic publication that contains a Teaching Module which interested readers are asked to help improve. One motivation for this latter publication is the observation that often when good teachers retire, their teaching skills, knowledge and material leave with them. The large number of mathematicians currently leaving Universities, surely contains a fair share of excellent teachers. The material described in these two articles can be found at the web addresses given in the articles and also listed on the inside back cover of this Gazette. It is hoped that the work of these authors will find widespread useful application. Such application will, of course, need more effort by others.
It is planned to publish in the Gazette, several papers presented at the recent conference at Sydney University to commemorate the passing of half a century since the death of G.H.Hardy. The first of these papers, by Russell Love, appears in this issue.
We also include notes about the portrait of Bernhard Neumann commissioned by the Australian Mathematics Trust, and honours bestowed on Alf van der Poorten and John Philip for years of high quality work.
One book review and two reviews of software also appear. These reviews were produced with little delay, and we are grateful to the reviewers for their efforts.
Thanks to our contributors for your support and your patience. It keeps the Gazette alive. Finally, I wish to express our gratitude to local correspondents for their efforts. From our point of view, the communication arrangements seem to be working. If you have any comments please let us know.
\settabs 3 \columns \+ \hfill Volume \hfill & \hfill Number \hfill & \hfill \quad Deadline \hfill \cr \+ && \cr \+ \hfill 25 \hfill & \hfill 1 \hfill & 9 February 1998 \hfill \cr \+ \hfill 25 \hfill & \hfill 2 \hfill & 3 April 1998 \hfill \cr \+ \hfill 25 \hfill & \hfill 3 \hfill & 3 June 1998 \hfill \cr \+ \hfill 25 \hfill & \hfill 4 \hfill & 3 August 1998 \hfill \cr \+ \hfill 25 \hfill & \hfill 5 \hfill & 2 October 1998 \hfill \cr
It is anticipated that each issue will appear about six weeks after the deadline.
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