Virginia Tech recently hosted more than 50 students from across the region for the 2025 Mathematics—Opportunities in Research and Education (MORE) workshop in Blacksburg, with another dozen joining in an online forum. MORE is a two-day event dedicated to engaging participants in cutting-edge topics and exposing career pathways in the mathematical sciences. Held April 26–27 on the Virginia Tech campus (and zoom), the conference brought together participants from community colleges, four-year institutions, and research universities. 

The MORE series, which began in 2019, is co-organized by Virginia Tech and Clemson University. MORE 2025 invited undergraduate students interested in the mathematical sciences to an environment described by a participant as "judgment-free and welcoming to participants from all levels of accomplishment in mathematics." It showcased the various pathways available in research, education, and applied careers. Through a series of plenary talks, breakout sessions, and informal networking opportunities, the workshop aimed to demystify the world of mathematical research and expand students' understanding of career possibilities in the field.

The conference featured engaging keynote presentations from Julie Bessac of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who discussed statistical modeling in national lab applications, and Jason LeGrow of Virginia Tech, who explored how mathematics underpins modern cryptography and information security. One of the highlights of the event was the "Near-to-Peer Lightning Discussion," which connected participants with Virginia Tech graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to hear firsthand about different academic and career journeys. Additional panels provided guidance on applying to graduate school, navigating research experiences such as REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates), and pursuing careers in data science, industry, and government. 

"What differentiates MORE from other conferences is that students do mathematics together at the workshop. This year, they performed data analysis and evaluated the appropriateness of cryptographic schemes for various scenarios, all in teams supported by Virginia Tech graduate students and postdocs. We emphasize that today's complex problems necessitate a variety of approaches and that there are many ways to contribute to their solutions."

The workshop was supported by the National Science Foundation, Virginia Tech's Department of Mathematics, the Academy of Data Science, and the College of Science Broadening Participation in Science, along with the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. The local organizing team included Mathematics faculty co-PIs Lauren Childs and Michael Robert, Sarah Arpin, Guher Camliyurt, and Jason LeGrow. 

For more information, visit the official conference site: 

MORE 2025 Workshop