Mosaic Lecture to celebrate diversity in mathematics

The 2nd Annual Mosaic Lecture, which celebrates diversity in the mathematical community, will focus on the fun and engaging aspects of the field.

Mosaic Lecture 2015: My Favorite Math Fun Facts
Wednesday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Loutit Hall, Allendale Campus
Dessert reception at 7 p.m.

This year’s event will feature Francis Su, author of the Math Fun Facts website and mobile device application and professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College.

“For several years I have been collecting ‘Math Fun Facts,’ which are juicy math tidbits that I have been using to start off math classes as a warm-up activity,” Su said. “Math Fun Facts can be from any area of mathematics, can be presented in less than five minutes, and are meant to arouse my students’ curiosity. Math Fun Facts show that mathematics is full of interesting ideas, patterns and new modes of thinking that come from diverse sources.”

Su received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin and his doctorate from Harvard University. His research focuses on geometric combinatorics, the study of geometric objects and their combinatorial structure, and applications to the social sciences.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for folks to hear an engaging talk from a nationally known speaker who is not only an award-winning teacher, but also the president of the Mathematical Association of America, and the first person of color to hold this post,” said Jonathan Hodge, Mathematics Department chair.

The Mathematical Association of America is one of only two major professional societies for mathematicians in the United States.

The 2015 Mosaic Lecture is co-sponsored by the Political Science Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Frederik Meijer Honors College.

For more information about this year’s Mosaic Lecture, contact Jonathan Hodge at [email protected].

For more information about Su’s Math Fun Facts, visit www.math.hmc.edu/funfacts.