Founded in January 2024, the Coloring Research Group of South Alabama (CRGSA) is a student-centered mathematics research group dedicated to cultivating a vibrant research community focused on producing original results in graph coloring and broadening participation in mathematics research. In this talk, we discuss several central challenges encountered over the past two years, including encouraging broad student participation, sustaining motivation, and bringing research projects to completion. We also highlight early successes and share lessons learned from launching and sustaining a student-centered research group. In the context of increasing reliance on generative AI, we emphasize the importance of creativity, mentorship, and community-building as essential elements of meaningful, early research experiences.

While this talk centers on building a mathematics research community focused on graph coloring, no prerequisite knowledge of graph theory is assumed.

Presenters

• Sarah Allred, University of South Alabama
• Jeffrey Mudrock mudrock@southalabama.edu, The University of South Alabama