I am a young man with an intense passion for mathematics and since I was younger, I have excelled in mathematics. Mathematics is the language of science. It is also a communication tool which every physical scientist and engineer must employ to achieve goals and solve problems.

My name is Yao Messan and I am from Togo, West Africa. Currently I am a rising sophomore at North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University (NCA&T) where I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in professional mathematics. As a bilingual, I speak French and English fluently, which gives me an edge to study and work in any French or English speaking country. As a studying math major I know I can succeed in learning how to apply mathematics in diverse fields of study.

During my freshman year, the summer of 2008, I was accepted as an undergraduate researcher in Ocean, Marine and polar science program at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) under Dr. Linda Hayden. I was in the oceanography team and our research was intitled: “Sea Surface Temperature and Chlorophyll a in the Coastal Water in North Carolina.” During our study, we used satellite remote sensing to determine the temporal and spatial variation of water. We had developp a graph that determines the concentration of chlorophyll a and the sea surface tempemrature in the coastal water in North Carolina and then discuss it.This internship has been a great experience; not only because of our research but I had the opportunity to learn a lot of other computers skills such as the Java, C++, GIS, Photoshop and Dreamweaver. During this program, I also had the opportunity to be a participant of the IEEE IGARSS Conference 2008 which took place in Boston, MS. The IGARSS is an international organization which tries to advance science science and technologiy in geoscience, remote sensing, and releted area in thescientific domain. It chooses many scientists and commuty leaders, each year, from all around the world to discuss program of global interest.

Upon graduating from NC A&T SU with a Bachelors degree in mathematics, I plan to further my education at a graduate school until I have earned a masters degree. I would like to do research in designing mathematical model that would interpret and analyze data in meaningful way. I personally enjoy challenges and new discovery and I believe I am ready for any challenge I would find on my way to the success.