Math Encounters - Intuition Gone Awry: Puzzles that S-T-R-E-T-C-H Your Mind National Museum of Mathematics 2026-09-21 | Math Encounters - Intuition Gone Awry: Puzzles that S-T-R-E-T-C-H Your Mind
2014 November 5 – “Cooking Up Math: Culinary dreams and mathematical schemes” Mercedes Siles Molina National Museum of Mathematics 2023-07-13 | Get your creative juices flowing! Mathematician and culinary enthusiast Mercedes Siles Molina provides a recipe for fun as she explores the artistry and inspiration common to two of her favorite pursuits: math and cooking.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics and presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at (212) 542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Halving Your Cake: Trials and Tribulations of Fair Division D Haunsperger 4/42023 National Museum of Mathematics 2023-07-13 | Math Encounters: "Halving Your Cake: the Trials and Tribulations of Fair Division" featuring Deanna Haunsperger Tuesday, April 4 , 2023Here's a problem as old as humanity: given a resource to be shared (water, land, cake), how can it be shared fairly among several people? The answer, in the case of just two people, is simple and ancient and known to every five-year-old with a sibling: I cut, you choose. Things get much more interesting and challenging if one has more than one sibling. How do we make fair divisions? Join Deanna Haunsperger, Professor of Mathematics, Carleton College, for this tasty exploration of sharing.Special introduction by Tim Chartier, Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics, National Museum of Mathematics.Encounters is MoMath’s popular free public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, produced with support from the Simons Foundation. For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or email mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Forbidden Symmetries: The Fractal Beauty of Compound Symmetry Groups - Bob Hearn National Museum of Mathematics 2023-07-13 | Math Encounters: "Forbidden Symmetries: The Fractal Beauty of Compound Symmetry Groups"featuring Bob Hearn Wednesday, March 8, 2023Symmetry is at the heart of much of mathematics, physics, and art. Join Bob Hearn, computer scientist and Gathering 4 Gardner Board Member and Program Chair, in a captivating investigation into what happens when we try to slightly generalize the traditional mathematical notion of geometric symmetry. Amazing new spaces are revealed, featuring a novel family of fractals, quasicrystals, and all manner of delightful structures. There's also a surprising connection to puzzles. Discover what we already know and what remains mysterious in this exciting new world of "compound symmetry."Special introduction by Mark Mitton.Math Encounters is MoMath’s popular free public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, produced with support from the Simons Foundation. For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or email mathencounters@momath.org.
2023-05 Math Encounters: Knot Too Shabby: How to Turn Your Knots from Blah to Fabulous A. Henrich National Museum of Mathematics 2023-07-13 | 2023-05-03 Math Encounters: "Knot Too Shabby: How to Turn Your Knots from Blah to Fabulous" featuring Allison HenrichAre you tired of tying boring old shoelace knots? Frustrated with messy knots in your spaghetti that are impossible to undo? Wish you could make friends and influence people with your amazing knot-tying ability? Join Allison Henrich, Professor of Mathematics at Seattle University, and learn to harness the power of mathematics and the fourth dimension to unlock the secrets of knots. Discover how to make tangled messes magically disappear, learn how to make knots appear out of thin air, and impress your friends and family with fancy new phrases at this "knot-to-be-missed" evening of mathematical exploration! Math Encounters is MoMath's popular free public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, produced with support from the Simons Foundation.Special introduction by mathematician Chaim Goodman-Strauss.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Moving Pictures: the art of M.C. Escher and animation Rinus Roelofs 1/11/2023 National Museum of Mathematics 2023-04-17 | Math Encounters: "Moving Pictures: the art of M.C. Escher and animation"featuring Rinus RoelofsThe work of M.C. Escher can be thought of as related to animation, for example, in the long print Metamorphosis. But Escher didn't really need an animation technique, instead finding his own solutions. A square slowly changes shape and other recognizable shapes — such as birds and fish — emerge, precisely because of the clear visual language that Escher developed. Looking more closely from this perspective, are there perhaps other wonderful worlds that will become visible? Join Dutch mathematician Rinus Roelofs for a closer look at Escher's work, a great source of inspiration from which unexpected moving images have arisen. Math Encounters is MoMath's popular free public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, produced with support from the Simons Foundation.Special introduction by Doris Schattschneider, Professor of Mathematics (retired), Moravian University.Math Encounters is MoMath’s popular free public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, produced with support from the Simons Foundation. For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or email mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: 3D X-Ray Vision: how tomography uses math to reveal the invisible Samuli Siltanen National Museum of Mathematics 2023-04-17 | Math Encounters: "3D X-Ray Vision: how tomography uses math to reveal the invisible" with Samuli Siltanen, February 8, 2023Doctors peek inside patients using CT scanners, combining X-rays and mathematics to produce slice images. How easy is it to decipher what they see? Join mathematician Samuli Siltanen and test your own tomographer skills as you guess the image only by looking at X-ray data. Then, learn how you can use math to more accurately identify the image... even if it’s a unicorn!Special introduction by Jennifer Mueller, Professor Laureate in the College of Natural Sciences at Colorado State University.Math Encounters is MoMath’s popular free public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, produced with support from the Simons Foundation. For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or email mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Mathemagical Themas: A Menagerie of Mathematics and Magic — M. Baker Dec. 14, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2023-03-24 | Math Encounters: "Mathemagical Themas: A Menagerie of Mathematics and Magic" with Matt Baker on December 14, 2022Join mathematician and magician Matt Baker for an evening of deceptive and entertaining magic. From fingertip mindreading to magnetic colors, you’ll be amazed by the magic you’ll see and delighted by the opportunity to learn some of the “tricks of the trade.” But don’t worry — there’s math in there, too!Special introduction by Joshua Jay, author, effects artist, and certified Penn-and-Teller-fooling magician.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Color My World: making modular origami map coloring models — E. Torrence 11/2/2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2023-03-01 | Math Encounters: "Color My World: making modular origami map coloring models" with Eve Torrence on November 2, 2022Why is the coloring of maps an interesting mathematical problem? How can we visualize a map on a torus (doughnut shape)? Join mathematician and mathematical artist Dr. Eve Torrence for this hands-on workshop that combines paper folding, topology, and graph theory to create a three-dimensional mathematical sculpture that demonstrates one case of a theorem that took more than 70 years to prove!Special introduction by Uyen Nguyen, origami fashion designer and educator.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Hidden Patterns: the shape of multiplication — F. Ardila Mantilla September 7, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2023-01-18 | Math Encounters: "Hidden Patterns: the shape of multiplication" with Federico Ardila Mantilla on September 7, 2022You probably had to memorize the multiplication table at some point in your life, but you may not have noticed that there are two beautiful shapes hiding within. Join mathematician Federico Ardila Mantilla as he helps us discover these hidden polyhedra and shares some other unexpected places where they also — surprisingly — appear.Special introduction by Daniel Alarcón, novelist, journalist, radio producer, and professor at the Columbia Journalism School.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Mega-Models: the math behind computer simulations — C. Draghicescu, August 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2023-01-18 | Math Encounters: "Mega-Models: the math behind computer simulations" with Cristina Draghicescu on August 10, 2022What is the weather forecast for next week? Can we predict turbulence and should we worry about it during flights? How do galaxies evolve? We can describe and understand complex physical phenomena by modeling such systems as collections of "particles," where particles can be anything from atoms and molecules to stars and galaxies. But even the fastest computers cannot directly compute all the interactions when the number of particles is very large. Math to the rescue! Join mathematician Cristina Draghicescu as she describes how mathematical methods can tame these seemingly impossible computations.Special introduction by Susanne Brenner, Boyd Professor of Mathematics at Louisiana State University and current President of SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics).Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: The Matrix Revolution: Data, Images, and Beyond — M. Español on October 12, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2023-01-15 | Math Encounters: "The Matrix Revolution: Data, Images, and Beyond" with Malena Español on October 12, 2022What is a matrix and what can we do with it? How do matrices relate to data and digital images? Join mathematician Malena Español as she takes us on a journey into the world of matrices and their applications in data science and image processing.Special introduction by Tim Chartier, MoMath Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics and Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Davidson College.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Error-Correcting Codes: The Mathematics of Communication — N. Kaplan, July 13, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-10-10 | Math Encounters: "Math Encounters: Error-Correcting Codes: The Mathematics of Communication" with Nathan Kaplan on July 13, 2022Suppose we are trying to communicate over a “noisy channel.” There is some probability that the information I send is not the information you receive. We could communicate more reliably by agreeing to repeat the intended message multiple times, but there is a cost to this repetition. A major goal in the theory of error-correcting codes is to understand how to efficiently build redundancy into messages so that we can identify and correct errors. Join mathematician Nathan Kaplan as he introduces us to the ideas that go into the mathematics of communication and shares several neat examples of problems we can solve using ideas from coding theory, including “Hat Problems,” “Twenty Questions with Lies,” and strategies for gambling on soccer matches in Finland.Special introduction by Tony Fisher, Principal, Hunter College High School.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Mission to Mars: human mission challenges and the math addressing them — K. Bowman National Museum of Mathematics 2022-09-13 | Math Encounters: "Mission to Mars: human mission challenges and the math that addresses them" with Kevin Bowman on June 8, 2022For more than half a century, we have sent landers, rovers, and even a drone to Mars. But what will it take for humans to get there? Discover the immensity of this quest as you embark on the most epic journey ever undertaken by humans in this presentation led by University of Central Lancashire mathematician Kevin Bowman.Special introduction by Richard Garriott de Cayeux, video game developer, entrepreneur, and astronaut.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Play Truchet — D. Reimann on May 11, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-08-02 | Math Encounters: "Play Truchet: fun with tiling patterns and generalizations" with David Reimann on May 11, 2022Simple rules allow us to combine basic objects into incredibly complex patterns or actions. For example, Truchet tiles can be used to create a broad range of beautiful motifs. Interestingly, these designs can also be used to encode messages and other information. Join Albion College mathematician and computer scientist David Reimann as he shares the history and leads some explorations of these fascinating patterns.Special introduction by Stuart Denman, creator and developer of Tiny Bubbles and grandson of Cyril Stanley Smith, popularizer of Truchet tiles.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: The Lonely Runner: an unsolved mystery of mathematics — M. Beck on April 13, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-07-06 | Math Encounters: "The Lonely Runner: an unsolved mystery of mathematics" with Matthias Beck on April 13, 2022The Lonely Runner Conjecture is an (in)famous open problem in combinatorial number theory: if n runners with different (constant) speeds move around a circular track of length 1, then for each runner there will be a time when they have distance at least 1/n to the others. How did this problem come about, how is it related to the approximation of real numbers by rationals, and how can we visualize this problem using two- or three-dimensional shapes? Join mathematician Matthias Beck as we explore this fascinating mathematical mystery.Special introduction by Nathan Kaplan, Associate Professor of Mathematics at University of California, Irvine.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Smartphone Privacy — J. Nelson on March 9, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-05-19 | Math Encounters: "Smartphone Privacy: From Fourier transforms to projective geometry and more" with Jelani Nelson on March 9, 2022Many of us use smartphones and rely on tools like auto-complete and spelling auto-correct to make using these devices more pleasant, but building these tools creates a conundrum. On the one hand, machine-learning algorithms require data to "learn," but on the other hand, who among us is willing to send a carbon copy of all our text messages to phone manufacturers to provide that data? Join UC Berkeley computer scientist and engineer Jelani Nelson as he shares how mathematics can be used to construct schemes that, perhaps paradoxically, provably maintain user privacy while still allowing such machine-learning algorithms to learn from our data. Special introduction by Christos Papadimitriou, Donovan Family Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University and author of Logicomix: An epic search for truth.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Navigating with Golden Rotations — P. Sarnak on November 3, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-03-24 | Math Encounters: "Navigating with Golden Rotations" with Peter Sarnak on November 3, 2021Join Princeton University Professor of Mathematics Peter Sarnak in an exploration of some of the subtle features enjoyed by rotations in two- and three-dimensional space, from paradoxical decompositions to optimally efficient universal quantum gates. Special introduction by Dr. Terrence Blackman, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Medgar Evers College, CUNY.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Mathematical Models and Card Shuffles — D. Rockmore on December 1, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-03-24 | Math Encounters: "Mathematical Models and Card Shuffles — An Exploration in Group Theory and Probability" with Dan Rockmore on December 1, 2021How can ordinary playing cards lead us into an adventure in group theory? What are the chances that an ordinary shuffle will result in a random ordering of cards? Are seven shuffles really enough to thoroughly mix up a deck of cards? Join Dan Rockmore, Dartmouth Professor of Mathematics, to investigate the math behind the shuffle. Special introduction by Steven Strogatz, Cornell University Professor of Mathematics and MoMath’s Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Top Picks — J. Urschel on February 9, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-03-24 | Math Encounters: "Top Picks: How mathematics can be used to rank sports teams" with John Urschel on February 9, 2022How good is your team? In any sports league, a team's win/loss record is often used to measure success. But in large leagues where not all teams play each other, often this simple win/loss record doesn't fully answer the question. Join mathematician John Urschel, a former professional football player himself, to discover how a little bit of math can go a long way in answering this and other related questions. Special introduction by Christina Lewis, Founder and President of All Star Code.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Tag Deal: Discrete Chaos in a Deck of Cards — B. Cipra on January 12, 2022 National Museum of Mathematics 2022-03-24 | Math Encounters: "Tag Deal: Discrete Chaos in a Deck of Cards" with Barry Cipra on January 12, 2022Insanity, it’s sometimes said, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Mathematics, it might be said, often involves doing the same thing over and over and actually achieving different results. Join freelance mathematics writer Barry Cipra for some mathematical insanity with Tag Deal, a game of unpredictable repetition. Special introduction by Laura Helmuth, Scientific American Editor-in-Chief.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: QUADS: a SET-like game — L. Rose on October 6, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2021-12-28 | Math Encounters: "QUADS: a SET®-like game" with Lauren Rose on October 6, 2021How good are your pattern-recognition skills? Find out as you learn this exciting, new SET®-like card game, QUADS. Join us for an evening of fun as Lauren Rose, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bard College, shares the rules of this engaging game she co-invented, then dive beneath the surface to see how combinatorics, probability, and algebra are the underlying mathematical engines that drive the fun. Special introduction by Liz McMahon, Professor of Mathematics at Lafayette College, and Gary Gordon, Marshall R. Metzgar Professor of Mathematics at Lafayette College.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Mathematical Storytelling — W. Massey on September 1, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2021-11-21 | Math Encounters: "Mathematical Storytelling: How math can be critical in discovery and decision-making" with William A. Massey on September 1, 2021Join Princeton University Professor William A. Massey for a discussion of mathematics with real-world relevance. How can standing on a hexagon help keep you safe? What three-dimensional coordinate system changed our understanding of the Bible? And what mathematical discovery literally changed our understanding of the world? Special introduction by Peter Winkler, William Morrill Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Dartmouth College.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: The Structure of Space — D. Spergel on July 7, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2021-10-26 | Math Encounters: "The Structure of Space: Measuring the Shape of the Universe" with David Spergel on July 7, 2021Is the universe infinite or finite? Will it expand forever or collapse in a hot Big Crunch? And what is its shape? Join David Spergel, Director of the Center for Computational Astrophysics, Flatiron Institute, as he introduces geometry and topology, the mathematical concepts used to answer these questions. Learn how observations of the microwave background (the leftover heat from the Big Bang) have revealed the universe’s shape and can help predict its destiny. Special introduction by Janna Levin, Claire Tow Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Optimal Tours: The Traveling Salesman Problem with Bill Cook on August 4, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2021-10-13 | Math Encounters: "Optimal Tours: The Traveling Salesman Problem" with Bill Cook on August 4, 2021Is it possible to compute the shortest route through a large number of stops? It sounds simple, but finding a method that can do this quickly for every example would be a stunning breakthrough in mathematics — and would earn you a million-dollar prize. Join mathematician Bill Cook as we explore the history and applications of this fascinating challenge, and examine state-of-the-art approaches to solving it. Special introduction by Alex Kontorovich, MoMath’s 2020-2021 Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics and Rutgers math professor.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Optimal Tours: The Traveling Salesman Problem — B. Cook on August 4, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2021-08-16 | Math Encounters: "Optimal Tours: The Traveling Salesman Problem" with Bill Cook on August 4, 2021Is it possible to compute the shortest route through a large number of stops? It sounds simple, but finding a method that can do this quickly for every example would be a stunning breakthrough in mathematics — and would earn you a million-dollar prize. Join mathematician Bill Cook as we explore the history and applications of this fascinating challenge, and examine state-of-the-art approaches to solving it. Special introduction by Alex Kontorovich, MoMath’s 2020-2021 Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics and Rutgers math professor.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: The Structure of Space — D. Spergel on July 7, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2021-07-16 | Math Encounters: "The Structure of Space: Measuring the Shape of the Universe" with David Spergel on July 7, 2021Is the universe infinite or finite? Will it expand forever or collapse in a hot Big Crunch? And what is its shape? Join David Spergel, Director of the Center for Computational Astrophysics, Flatiron Institute, as he introduces geometry and topology, the mathematical concepts used to answer these questions. Learn how observations of the microwave background (the leftover heat from the Big Bang) have revealed the universe’s shape and can help predict its destiny. Special introduction by Janna Levin, Claire Tow Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics. For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters - Patterns in Permutations — L. Pudwell on June 2, 2021 National Museum of Mathematics 2021-06-11 | Math Encounters: "Patterns in Permutations: the hidden and surprising structures that emerge from ordered lists" with Lara Pudwell on June 2, 2021A "permutation" is a list where order matters. Despite this humble definition, permutations offer a wealth of beautiful mathematics that can be applied across scientific disciplines. Starting simply, with small ordered lists, mathematician Lara Pudwell demonstrates how smaller permutations can be embedded into larger permutations. The results are both unexpected and delightful — not only do some familiar patterns suddenly appear, but this embedding gives rise to a host of interesting counting problems with connections not just to mathematics, but to computer science, chemistry, and more. Special introduction by Dr. Jennifer Quinn, Professor of Mathematics, University of Washington Tacoma, and President, Mathematical Association of America.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Fun with Fractals: Finding patterns in the chaos— S. Koch National Museum of Mathematics 2021-05-12 | A dynamical system pairs a set with a rule that transforms the set. Applying the rule over and over, or iterating the rule, often leads to remarkably beautiful objects that are called fractals. Join mathematician Sarah Koch in an exploration of different kinds of dynamical systems and the fractals that emerge from each. Along the way, meet many famous fractals including the Cantor set, the Sierpinski triangle, the Koch Snowflake, and several entertaining Julia sets. Special introduction by Dr. John H. Hubbard, Professor of Mathematics, Cornell University.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Matchings and Couplings — D. Randall National Museum of Mathematics 2021-04-15 | Math Encounters: Matchings and Couplings: Domino tilings of a chessboard and other tales — D. RandallCovering a chessboard with dominos might sound like a curious blend of old pastimes, but in reality, these tilings reveal rich and beautiful mathematical structures. Interesting patterns can be found in the geometric arrangements of dominos, as well as in the numerical counts of tilings of chessboards and related regions. Alternatively, viewing each domino on the chessboard as pairing a black square with one of its neighboring red squares, tilings can be interpreted as assigning 32 pairs. Viewing these “matchings” in a variety of contexts, Georgia Tech ADVANCE Professor of Computing Dana Randall shares a surprising array of applications, from the physics underlying collections of diatomic molecules to dating algorithms for forming couples in a community. Special introduction by Peter Winkler, William Morrill Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Dartmouth College.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics. For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Beating COVID-19 — C. Bauch National Museum of Mathematics 2021-03-10 | Mathematical modeling has come to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic, but how do these models work? Join Dr. Chris Bauch, Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, as he sketches the mathematics behind "flattening the curve" and herd immunity. Learn why flattening the curve reveals an interplay between disease spread and population behavior and how members of the population can be viewed as engaging in a strategic interaction with one another — a "game" — that determines the trajectory of the epidemic. Take part in an audience participatory example, illustrating how these interactions can be analyzed mathematically using game theory — and how math really can help us emerge victorious. Special introduction by Julie Gerberding, former director of the CDC and current Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer at Merck.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters Bouncing Billiards The Symmetries and Mathematics in the Path of a Rolling Ball Fina National Museum of Mathematics 2021-02-27 | ...
Math Encounters Life in Curved Space From Magnifying Glasses to General Relativity National Museum of Mathematics 2021-02-27 | ...
Math Encounters: Bouncing Billiards: Symmetries and Math in the Path of a Rolling Ball (Feb 2021) National Museum of Mathematics 2021-02-26 | If you hit a ball on a pool table, it will bounce around for a while — it might even return to where it started and repeat its path. It turns out that these periodic trajectories are very beautiful, forming a unique kind of mathematical art. Join Dr. Diana Davis, Phillips Exeter Academy Instructor in Mathematics, as she shares an amazing array of images, discusses how she and her colleagues figured out how to draw these intricate paths, and reveals some surprising properties — buddies, families, and symmetry — that they discovered along the way. Special introduction by Amie Wilkinson, Professor of Mathematics, University of Chicago.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Life in Curved Space From Magnifying Glasses to General Relativity — S. Trettel National Museum of Mathematics 2021-01-13 | Light endeavors to take the most efficient path between any two points, but matter or geometry can cause this path to bend. What would life be like in curved space? Join Steve Trettel, Szego Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University, as he identifies some telltale signs of curvature in the real world — including spooky ring-like mirages appearing in images from the Hubble Space Telescope — and takes us on a geometrical adventure that leads us to Einstein's great insight: that gravity is not a force, but just a consequence of living in a curved world. Special introduction by Dr. Richard Schwartz, Chancellor's Professor of Mathematics, Brown University.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: The Art of Decomposition — J. Ellenberg National Museum of Mathematics 2020-12-29 | Wednesday, December 2, 2020Among the most fundamental tasks of mathematics (or science) is to classify in order to understand what kinds of things there are in the world. A particularly satisfying form of classification is when we can show that every complicated thing is built out of a much smaller set of simpler things. In chemistry, we get this satisfaction from the periodic table; in mathematics, we find it just about everywhere, from numbers to polynomials to curved surfaces. Take a tour of some of these "periodic tables" of mathematics with mathematician Jordan Ellenberg and join us as together we explore the surprising relationships among them.Special introduction by Alex Kontorovich, MoMath's 2020-2021 Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics and Rutgers math professor.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics and presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the Museum of Mathematics at (212) 542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
The Other Side with Pete Muller at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | The Other Side with Pete Muller at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Election Thoughts with Nate Silver at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Election Thoughts with Nate Silver moderated by Manjul Bhargava at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Welcome from Cindy Lawrence at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Welcome from Cindy Lawrence at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Comments from the Chair, John Overdeck, at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Comments from the Chair with John Overdeck at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Conversation with Julie Gerberding at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Conversation with Julie Gerberding moderated by Manjul Bhargava at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Conversation with Eric Schmidt at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Conversation with Eric Schmidt moderated by Manjul Bhargava at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Alternative Perspective with Anton Bakker at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Alternative Perspective with Anton Bakker at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Distinguished Visiting Professor, Alex Kontorovich, at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Distinguished Visiting Professor, Alex Kontorovich, at Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org. To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath Gala on October 20, 2020 National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-29 | Featuring conversations with Eric Schmidt, Julie Gerberding, and Nate Silver, moderated by Manjul Bhargava. Also including comments by Cindy Lawrence, John Overdeck, Anton Bakker, Alex Kontorovich, and Tim Nissen.To learn more about Real and Rational: the 2020 MoMath gala, visit http://gala.momath.org.To donate to MoMath, visit http://contribute.momath.org.
The Limit Does Not Exist on August 27, 2020 National Museum of Mathematics 2020-10-07 | The Limit Does Not Exist on August 27, 2020
The Limit Does Not Exist on July 23, 2020 National Museum of Mathematics 2020-09-25 | The Limit Does Not Exist on July 23, 2020
Math Encounters — Online: Game on! The Mathematics of Game Shows National Museum of Mathematics 2020-09-24 | Many game shows have a rich mathematical foundation, drawing on topics in probability, game theory, and decision theory. Join Paul Dreyer, President of the American Regions Mathematics League, in an exploration of the mathematics behind a number of shows on which he worked, including The Wall, Million Second Quiz, and Spin the Wheel. Some participants will also have opportunities to win prizes, because what good is a game show without prizes? Special introduction by George Reuter, President of the NY State Math League, lecturer at SUNY Geneseo, and Regional Co-Director of the NYS Master Teacher Program.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters — Online: “Mathemagic with a Deck of Cards National Museum of Mathematics 2020-09-24 | Amaze and amuse your family and friends armed with just a deck of cards and a little insider knowledge, thanks to blogger, author, and Spelman College math professor Colm Mulcahy. Professor Mulcahy will demonstrate, explain, and teach several original mathemagical creations that will highlight the power of mathematics to educate and entertain. BYOC (Bring Your Own Cards)! Special introduction by Matt Baker, Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean, Georgia Tech College of Sciences. Note: Colm will include a trick he learned from the late John Conway.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics. For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters — Online: Vulnerable in Digital Life National Museum of Mathematics 2020-09-24 | Math Encounters — Online: “Vulnerable in Digital Life: How Graph Theory Can Help Us Understand and Protect Our Digital Selves” with Dr. Allison Bishop.Join cryptographer and data scientist Allison Bishop, President of Proof Trading, on a journey into the mind of an attacker in cyberspace. Learn how to map the structure of your digital life, systematically probe it for weakness, and improve your defenses. Then, join us in an activity to see how well you'd do against a simulated attack! Special introduction by mathematician David Saltman, Director of the Center for Communications Research, Princeton University.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at 212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
Math Encounters — Online: “Number Theory Problems: From Easy to Undecidable” National Museum of Mathematics 2020-09-24 | Rational numbers are fractions such as -2/7. It turns out that the circle x2+y2=3 has no points whose coordinates are rational numbers, while the circle x2+y2=5 has infinitely many. Why do these equations behave so differently? What about more complicated equations: is there a method to decide whether there are any solutions in rational numbers? Join Bjorn Poonen, Distinguished Professor in Science at MIT, as a search for answers leads to questions about prime numbers, geometry, and problems that a computer will never be able to solve. Special introduction by C. Kenneth Fan, President of Girls’ Angle.Math Encounters is a public presentation series celebrating the spectacular world of mathematics, presented by the Simons Foundation and the National Museum of Mathematics.For further information, call the National Museum of Mathematics at212-542-0566 or e-mail mathencounters@momath.org.
