Professor Ahmed Zayed gives lecture to students in China (Photo courtesy of Ahmed Zayed)
Ahmed Zayed, a professor of mathematics in the College of Science and Health, was surprised and delighted when two Chinese universities invited him to their campuses to discuss his new book this past February.Professor Yang Dachun of Beijing Normal University and Professor Zunwei Fu, the dean of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Linyi University in Shandong, China, invited Zayed for a month-long stay in the country to lecture on his research and new book regarding harmonic analysis theories. Zayed’s work focuses on sampling theories, function transformations and signal and image processing optics.
“From an academic point of view, it was very flattering to have someone interested in my work and to invite me to speak on it, generously covering all my travel expenses,” Zayed says. “This invitation proved to me that although DePaul is a teaching institute and not a research one, some of DePaul’s faculty are internationally known leaders in their fields.”
During his month-long stay in Linyi and Beijing, Zayed delivered three lectures a week to Chinese graduate students, post doctorates and faculty conducting research adjacent to his work. Zayed’s new book served as the guide for his lectures.
“If somebody wants to learn about the subject, they have to go and read papers from here and there because there isn’t a book that helps beginner students,” Zayed says. “My book is designed to give students an overview of the subject of fractional integral transforms from its beginning to its state of the art and is written at a level for graduate students in mathematics to understand.”
Zayed says that after the lectures, students and faculty at both universities were inspired by his research and interested in building on it.
“Establishing good relations with scientists in other countries is good for faculty and their universities,” Zayed says. “We conduct research to advance knowledge and then impart that knowledge to students, which is my passion and love for what I do as a university professor.”
One notable aspect of his trip was the stark difference between university life in the U.S. versus China, particularly between Beijing Normal University’s campus and DePaul’s.
“The campus has stores, supermarkets, restaurants, an elementary school, hotel, swimming pools and faculty and student housing,” Zayed says. “You don’t feel like you’re on a campus, but in a small town.”
For Zayed, his experience sharing knowledge with students abroad is meaningful for many reasons.
“I came to know several students and faculty at a personal level inside and outside the lecture halls,” he says. “I was overwhelmed by their generous hospitality and kindness, which will impact me forever.”
Emily Diaz is a student assistant for internal communications in University Communications.