Colin Adams

Thomas T. Read Professor of Mathematics at Williams College

Colin Adams received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983. He is particularly interested in the mathematical theory of knots, their applications and their connections with hyperbolic geometry. Adams is the author of "The Knot Book", an elementary introduction to the mathematical theory of knots and co-author with Joel Hass and Abigail Thompson of "How to Ace Calculus: The Streetwise Guide",and "How to Ace the Rest of Calculus: the Streetwise Guide", humorous supplements to calculus. Having authored a variety of research articles on knot theory and hyperbolic 3-manifolds, he is also known for giving mathematical lectures in the guise of Mel Slugbate, a sleazy real estate agent. A recipient of the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Distinguished Teaching Award from the Mathematical Association of America(MAA) in 1998, he was a Polya Lecturer for the MAA for 1998-2000 and is a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer for 2000-2002. Adams is also the author of mathematical humor column called "Mathematically Bent" which appears in the Mathematical Intelligencer.