The National Math Festival brings together some of the most fascinating mathematicians of our time to inspire and challenge participants of all ages to see math in new and exciting ways. The 2021 Festival will feature juicy talks, hands-on demos, art, films, performances, puzzles, games, children’s book readings, and more for all ages.
Events will take place online beginning in December 2020, with a concentration of live, interactive online events during the Festival weekend, April 16-18, 2021. See below for the schedule.
All events are free and open to the public. View all past 2021 Festival events, with recordings when available.
2020 – 2021 National Math Festival: Upcoming Events
1:00 – 2:30 pm ET Register for this event
- Rhys Thomas, Science Circus
- Brady Haran, Numberphile YouTube Channel
2021 Live Online National Math Festival Weekend
Friday, April 16 – Sunday, April 18
SESSIONS
Dozens of simultaneous, hands-on, interactive mathy activities by major math organizations, designed for all ages from very young children through adults
BOOTHS
Booths to browse for live, on-camera chats with math fun experts from leading math organizations; you can pick up tips, kits, and resources for play at home
FILM PANELS
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Film Room hosts film panels & screenings for The Bit Player, Hidden Figures, Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani, The Man Who Knew Infinity, NOVA Highlights, and the NSF “We Are Mathematics” Short Film Contest Winners.
PRESENTATIONS
Playful, insightful, and provocative math talks by some of today’s most fascinating mathematicians. These talks are by some of today’s best math “explainers” so all math backgrounds and experiences are welcome.
Changing the “Face” of Mathematics
- Dr. Erica Graham, Bryn Mawr College
- Dr. Raegan Higgins, Texas Tech University
- Dr. Candice Price, Smith College
- Dr. Shelby Wilson, Johns Hopkins University
In 2017, Dr. Erica Graham, Dr. Reagan Higgins, Dr. Candice Price, and Dr. Shelby Wilson and launched the website Mathematically Gifted and Black (MGB). MGB is a website to celebrate the diversity of Black mathematicians, highlighting their contributions to the mathematical sciences and community. The MGB founders will talk about the inspiration behind this website, discuss some of the profiles, and describe the impacts of this initiative.
Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, Institute for Advanced Study (IAS)
Einstein showed more than a century ago how his theory of relativity captures gravity and the evolution of the cosmos in the geometry of space and time. However these laws of the universe break down at the frontiers of science: at the Big Bang, where time begins, and inside black holes, where time stops. New mathematical ideas about quantum geometry suggest a structure even more fundamental than space and time.
Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus
Dr. Steven Strogatz, Cornell University
Everyone has heard of calculus, but why is it so important? In this talk, Dr. Strogatz will try to clarify the fantastic idea at the heart of calculus. With the help of pictures and stories, he’ll trace where calculus came from and then show how it – in partnership with medicine, philosophy, science, and technology – reshaped the course of civilization and helped make the world modern. This talk is intended for everyone, whether you’ve taken calculus or not, and whether you like math or not. By the end, he hopes to convince you that calculus is one of the greatest triumphs of human creativity ever.
Math and the Movies
Dr. Joseph Teran, University of California, Los Angeles
Who made the ocean flow in “Moana”? Who made the snow swirl in “Frozen”? Mathematicians, that’s who! Come learn about the math behind the magic of modern movie visual effects!
Dr. Emille Davie Lawrence, University of San Francisco
My love for mathematics is rooted in my childhood love of playing games and puzzles. In fact as I learned more math, the game play didn’t stop. Mathematics can be found in popular games such as Rubik’s cubes, Chess, Sudoku, Poker, and countless others. I hope to introduce you to some of my favorite games and explore the mathematics behind them, including winning strategies (if they exist!).
Numbers through Pictures: A Taste of the Geometry of Numbers
Dr. Jesús De Loera, University of California, Davis
Everyone who has studied high-school mathematics has learned about numbers, equations, and a little bit of geometry. But what is the most important topic in mathematics? Is it all about numbers? Is it about equations? Is it about shapes and forms? Well, it is about all of them!
Modern research in mathematics, combines the study of numbers, with the study of shapes and equations. In this lecture, Dr. De Loera will introduce the audience to Minkowski’s Geometry of Numbers. He will present some problems connecting whole numbers and familiar geometric shapes such as lines, circles, polygons. It should be understandable to a very broad audience that likes mathematics.
Past Events
1:00 – 2:30 pm ET
- Hosted by Cliff Freeman, Scarlitte Alameda, and Shawn Bernier of The Young People’s Project
View the event video:
Six mathematicians take center stage with the single objective of presenting a very big or deep idea in math to a panel of six youth judges.
The contest organizers hope this competition calls attention to culturally responsive, grounding, and sustaining approaches to engage young people with mathematics.
Each presentation is followed by reactions from the student judges, with scores from audience feedback shared after the last presentation.
- Introduction of event and student judges from The Young People’s Project by Shawn Bernier (Starting at 1:44)
- Jessica Andrews-Todd: Is a Square a Rectangle? (10:20)
- Fega Okwa: Is 0 an Even Number? (19:52)
- Dr. Pamela E. Harris: Why is 0.99999… = 1? (31:41)
- Andrés R. Vindas Meléndez: Arithmetic & Geometric Sequences (46:07)
- Michael Dairyko: Can We Divide By Zero? (1:01:54)
- John Urschel: Are Some Infinities “Bigger” Than Others? (1:14:32)
- Conclusion and Feedback Scoring (1:28:43)
This event was hosted by Shawn Bernier of the Young People’s Project and Albert Sykes, Executive Director of IDEA: The Institute for Democratic Education in America, a supporter of public education for children in the U.S.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff and volunteers of the Young People’s Project and our middle school, high school, and university student judges!
The Young People’s Project (YPP) uses Math Literacy Work to develop the abilities of elementary through high school students to succeed in school and in life, and in doing so involves them in efforts to eliminate institutional obstacles to their success.
1:00 – 2:00 pm ET
Featuring book readings with Mathical award-winning authors. This video is available to view until March 1, 2021.
To view event resources and book information, visit the Mathical site.
- Introduction to Mathical by Betsy Bird (Starting at 03:39)
- Mathical winners, Grades 9-12 – Announcement by Katie Hendrickson (08:31)
- Author Reading: Jeannine Atkins, Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math (09:50)
- Mathical winners, Grades 6-8 – Announcement by Mike Shaughnessy (14:35)
- Author Reading: John Rocco, How We Got to the Moon (16:26)
- Mathical winners, Grades 3-5 – Announcement by Katie Hendrickson (20:57)
- Author Reading: Rajani LaRocca, Seven Golden Rings (22:27)
- Mathical winners, Grades K-2 – Announcement by John Urschel (27:58)
- Author Reading: Sara Levine, The Animals Would Not Sleep (30:31)
- Mathical winners, Pre-K – Announcement by Mike Shaughnessy (37:33)
- Author Reading: Ana Crespo, Lia & Luís: Who Has More? (40:09)
- NMF Weekly Math Puzzles Newsletter, featuring Dr. James Tanton (44:44)
This event was hosted by David Eisenbud, director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) in Berkeley, California, and Elizabeth (Betsy) Bird, co-chair of the 2021 Mathical Selection Committee.
1:00 – 2:30 pm ET
- Dr. Susan Gerofsky, University of British Columbia
- Dr. Moira Chas, Stony Brook University
- Dr. Nancy Scherich, University of Toronto
- Dr. Shelly Jones, Central Connecticut State University
Witches of Agnesi Play Performance (Pre-Recorded) (Starting at 06:08)
Witches of Agnesi is a play that brings together three women mathematicians—Maria Agnesi, Sofya Kovalevskaya, and Emmy Noether—from three centuries in a mysterious meeting place outside of ordinary time and space, where they share a pot of tea and tell the stories of their lives and careers. The title draws on a deliberately mischievous mistranslation of Maria Agnesi’s ‘curve of Agnesi’ to ‘witch of Agnesi’. Each of the protagonists has a song, in the style of her place and time, revealing aspects of her life and work. This play should leave you with ideas about the important work women mathematicians do, and questions about why women have faced so many barriers.
(You may also access the play performance as a stand-alone video.)
Live Panel Discussion on Women in Mathematics (Starting at 1:05:37)
- Dr. Susan Gerofsky, University of British Columbia (Playwright, “Witches of Agnesi”)
- Dr. Moira Chas, Stony Brook University
- Dr. Nancy Scherich, University of Toronto
- Dr. Shelly Jones, Central Connecticut State University
This event was hosted by Albert Sykes, Executive Director of IDEA: The Institute for Democratic Education in America, a supporter of public education for children in the U.S.
1:00 – 2:00 pm ET
Math Concert with the Music Notes (Starting at 01:41)
Math + Rap = Fun for the whole family! Join LaMar “Mr. Q-U-E” Queen and David “Mr. D” Landix for a math concert like you’ve never seen before. These teachers from Los Angeles, CA combine math and music to show that math is cool. Just don’t be surprised when you start dancing and singing along!
Hip Hop Math with Professor Lyrical (Starting at 21:23)
Professor Lyrical, a mathematics professor who is also a rapper, will demonstrate through performing, speaking and crowd participation how making rap songs — both written in advance and through improvisational “free-styling” — has helped him become a better mathematician and professor and, conversely, how the process of thinking like a mathematician has also helped him as a creative performer. The audience is welcomed to help create a rap song, as well as partake in some mathematical and logical activities.
Performances are followed by a live freestyle rap session and Q&A with performers (starting at 36:39).
This event was hosted by Albert Sykes, Executive Director of IDEA: The Institute for Democratic Education in America, a supporter of public education for children in the U.S.
1:00 – 2:00 pm ET
- Pigeon Math, by Asia Citro
- Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant, by Songju Ma Daemicke
- Nothing Stopped Sophie, by Cheryl Bardoe
This event was available to view online during December 2020. * This recording’s public availability has expired due to copyright restrictions. Thank you to those who joined us live or viewed the recording in December 2020. We encourage you to check out the titles contained at your local bookstore or library!
1:00 – 2:30 pm ET
- SOLVING FOR M, by Jennifer Swender
- DK LIFE STORIES: KATHERINE JOHNSON, by Dr. Ebony Joy Wilkins
- SLAY, by Brittney Morris (*pre-recorded, with special live guests from #BlackInMathWeek)
This event was available to view online during December 2020. * This recording’s public availability has expired due to copyright restrictions. Thank you to those who joined us live or viewed the recording in December 2020. We encourage you to check out the titles contained at your local bookstore or library!