From: Juri M.Rappoport jmrap@landau.ac.ru
Subject: Report on Chebyshev Memorial Conference

The Mechanics-Mathematics Faculty of Moscow State University, the Chebyshev Fund and the Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering (Obninsk) held an International Conference Modern Problems in Mathematics and Mechanics - CHEB96 in honour of the great Russian mathematician Pafnutij L'vovich Chebyshev's 175th anniversary. The conference was held in the main high-rise building of the Moscow State University from 14th to 19th of May 1996 and was partly sponsored by the Moscow State University and the Russian Foundation of Fundamental Investigations. The Organizing Committee of the Conference was chaired by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor N.S. Bahvalov. Among the general sections of the conference we mention the sections on approximation theory and computational mathematics. On Chebyshev's birthday (May 16th), a visit to his native land, grave and museum was organized. The excursion to the museum was very interesting because it is situated now in a country school. A special performance devoted to mathematics and Chebyshev was prepared by schoolboys and schoolgirls and their teachers. Among the participants at these events were leading and famous Russian mathematicians: the former President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Professor G.I.Marchuk and Academician Professor S.M. Nikolski. Some relatives of Chebyshev visited the conference also, and it was possible to obtain their autographs. About 280 participants attended the conference. I'd like to mention the following reports which were made on the Conference: Academician, Professor N.S. Bahvalov "The use of Chebyshev polynomials in computational mathematics", Professor Y. Matiasevich "Computer evaluation of generalized Chebyshev polynomials" and the report of the author of this column: "The use of Chebyshev polynomials in the computation of special functions".

Juri M.Rappoport
Moscow, Russian Academy of Sciences