From Russia to Idaho

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csantee@journalnet.com

POCATELLO -- Yury Gryazin excelled in mathematics competitions in his native country of Russia as a child. He attended Novosibirsk State University, one of the nation's top schools, where he studied math.

So for the 44-year-old Idaho State University professor from Siberia, there has never really been any question about his career field.

But he's found math seems to carry a fraction of the value in the U.S. as it does in his native country.

"There is less focus on math in the U.S.," Gryazin said. "It's not as important as it is in Russia."

In Russia, most people are aware of who the national math champion is at any given time and there are Web sites that highlight the winners for the past few decades.

Gryazin said that math is crucial because it is at the center of all science and engineering.

Gryazin moved to the U.S. in 1997 for a job as a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina. He relocated to Pocatello in 2001.

At ISU he teaches classes such as applied mathematics, calculus, linear algebra, advanced engineering mathematics, numerical analysis and financial mathematics.

While he is proficient in the theoretical side of math, his heart is in its application.

Last summer, during a sabbatical, he worked for a financial company in Los Angeles.

When he's not crunching numbers, the professor enjoys rock climbing.

He has twice scaled peaks in Colorado, has climbed mountains in Yosemite National Park in California and this summer summited the Grand Teton near Jackson, Wyo.

"Idaho is one of the places that gives you such opportunity," Gryazin said.

By Casey Santee

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