COVID changed everything: the way we work. The way we play. And how MAA celebrates its award winners. So today, in the heart of the NYC financial district we brought together United States Math Olympiad (USAMO), European Girls Math Olympiad (EGMO), and International Math Olympiad (IMO) winners, together with their families, for a celebration ofContinue reading “September 23 Day 929: Celebrate and Play”
Category Archives: mathematics
September 22 Day 928: Hello Big Apple
My plane landed before 6 am ET (think 3 am PT) and I glimpsed the sun rising as I found my way to the AirTrain. I refilled my MTA card from earlier this summer and joined the throngs riding public transportation to Manhattan. I avoided a deluge by ducking into a Starbucks and was delightedContinue reading “September 22 Day 928: Hello Big Apple”
September 2 Day 908: Zooming Around the World
I gave a math talk today online. In Peru. Three years ago, something like this would have been unimaginable. Now, after teaching online through COVID, it seems like a natural next step to share mathematical joy beyond our borders. It felt novel. I haven’t ‘taught’ online for months and months. So I fretted over everything:Continue reading “September 2 Day 908: Zooming Around the World”
August 27 Day 902: Spreading Math Joy
#TacomaMath participated in the 18th Annual Back To School Bash hosted by Pastor Kevin Rogers and the City of Faith Christian Center. It was amazing! My son Anson and I arrived an hour early at 9 am and families were already lining up to participate. Free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, immunization clinics, and sports physicalsContinue reading “August 27 Day 902: Spreading Math Joy”
August 18 Day 893: Delayed but not Forgotten
It was been 2 weeks since my last post. Where has the time gone? I had every intention to write daily at MathFest. But truth to tell, preparations and other obligations started too early in the morning and kept me up too late at night. Plus I was so focused on my responsibilities that IContinue reading “August 18 Day 893: Delayed but not Forgotten”
August 3 Day 878: MAA MathFest Day 1—Let the Celebration Begin
MathFest is off to a great start. The MAA Congress met in person for the first time since MathFest 2019 in Cincinnati. Most Congress members had only met over Zoom. We learned how much the MAA has accomplished during that time (the last year in particular), and began thinking about setting new strategic goals forContinue reading “August 3 Day 878: MAA MathFest Day 1—Let the Celebration Begin”
August 1 Day 876: Safe Journeys to MAA MathFest Everyone
Let the posts about traveling to MAA MathFest 2022 commence. My own awkward boarding selfie (#ABS) graces the cover of this post. I have been traveling a fair amount this summer and each time I am in an airport, the number of people wearing masks seems fewer and fewer. Even my friend Allison commented onContinue reading “August 1 Day 876: Safe Journeys to MAA MathFest Everyone”
July 24 Day 868: Your Opinions May Vary
I am pleased to announce that the opinion piece I authored for the AMS Notices is now available online. I wrote it specifically for academics in mathematics, yet I believe the need to align metrics of merit with institutional mission and values applies to all disciplines (and all institutions.) I share it with you nowContinue reading “July 24 Day 868: Your Opinions May Vary”
June 23 Day 837: Celebrating RAB Part II
The second half of the mini symposium celebrating the long success of Richard Brualdi featured four more speakers. Michael Schroeder, John Goldwasser, me, and the man himself. More stories, more mathematics, more fun. It was the most technologically diverse session I’ve seen. First, we got the lapel mike working so we could walk about theContinue reading “June 23 Day 837: Celebrating RAB Part II”
June 21 Day 835: Great Lessons
Day two of the ILAS conference in Galway featured the first half of the mini symposium honoring the work of my thesis advisor, Richard Brualdi. It is the reason I am here. The “Brualdi insights” that I pick up from today’s speakers: are: Drive somewhere with Richard (preferably to a conference.) The key to writingContinue reading “June 21 Day 835: Great Lessons”
Math Belongs to All of Us 