Welcome to the latest edition of the HPM Newsletter. The last edition was that of March 1998, and after the HPM meetings at ICME 10 I was very pleased
to accept the editorship of the Newsletter. The plans for the Newsletter is to publish three times a year, and the deadline for material and publishing
date can be found in the last column. It is also hoped that this Newsletter will be put on a website for those who wish to access it electronically.
Future issues will contain book reviews and small advertisements from people on the mailling list, providing they are received!
Peter Ransom, The Mountbatten School
I was born and studied in Genoa (Italy). At present I teach "Elementary mathematics from an advanced standpoint" in the department of mathematics of
the university of this town. My research concerns both mathematics education and history of mathematics. In mathematics education I have studied the
impact of beliefs, the problem of proof, strategies for teachers education. In history of mathematics my main interest are mathematical journals of
nineteenth century. The study of the role of history in mathematics education and in teacher training is a natural link between these two fields of
interest.
To realise my project I will invest my enthusiasm and good will. I am aware that to be successful I need the help and the collaboration of all
people sharing my aims.
As a final remark I feel that I was fated to be strongly involved in the field of HPM: for about 60 years Gino Loria was professor in my department.
He was one of the pioneers in supporting history of mathematics in mathematics teaching and in teacher education. Moreover the rich library left
by Loria to the Department made my historical studies possible.
Fulvia Furinghetti, chairperson of HPM
Web design by Dr. Katie Ambruso.