Does Math Have a PR Problem?

The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.

Simons Foundation

Registration will close at 2 p.m. on the day of the event. Review the complete list of registration and entrance requirements below.

Presents

A free events series exploring the connections between science, culture, and society. Join our scientists and special guests as they discuss the intersections of their work. Come for the conversation, stay for the connections.

What gets people most excited about science? Space, dinosaurs and robots probably top the list. Math, on the other hand, is often perceived as boring and inaccessible, with folks quick to proclaim that math “isn't for them.” Which is a shame because math is the language of our universe.So, how do we engage people with math? How can we encourage people to reapproach their connection to math if they’ve moved away from it? And how can we create math experiences that foster a deeper sense of belonging?Kyne Santos, a drag queen and math communicator, is passionate about crafting new and relevant ways for people to connect with math and discover its beauty. From her recent book, “Math and Drag,” which explores the intersections of math and queerness, to her popular educational videos on social media, she skillfully blends creativity and identity exploration with mathematical concepts to make them more accessible.At Columbia University, Simons Junior Fellow Tim Large studies the math behind how things move in classical mechanics, such as a planet around its star. His research area, called symplectic geometry, is still relatively new and has much to be discovered. That potential inspires Large to collaborate with people with different perspectives, expertise and backgrounds and to find ways to promote greater inclusivity within the field.As president of Math for America (MƒA), Maria Klawe is focused on solving a different problem the field faces: retaining exceptional math and science teachers in K–12 public schools. By providing financial support, opportunities for deep community collaboration and continued learning, MƒA supports nearly 1,000 STEM teachers throughout New York City so they can continue to make lasting impacts on their students, schools and communities.Join them as they sit down with John Tracey, program director of Science, Society &amp; Culture at the Simons Foundation, for a conversation that aims to unpick some of the reasons why math gets such a bad rap and the ways people are working to change that narrative.ABOUT THE SPEAKERS<a href="https://www.mathforamerica.org/about/our-team/staff/maria-klawe" title="https://www.mathforamerica.org/about/our-team/staff/maria-klawe" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Klawe</a> joined Math for America as president in late 2023 after a 17-year term as Harvey Mudd College’s fifth president. Before joining Harvey Mudd, she served as dean of engineering and professor of computer science at Princeton University. Klawe joined Princeton from the University of British Columbia, where she served in various roles from 1988 to 2002. Before then, Klawe spent eight years with IBM Research in California and two years at the University of Toronto. She received her Ph.D. (1977) and B.Sc. (1973) in mathematics from the University of Alberta. Klawe is a board member of Phenome Health, EdReports and the Museum of Mathematics (MoMath). She has also served as a founding advisory board member of Parity.org, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a trustee for the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute. Fortune ranked Klawe 17th on its 2014 list of “The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.”<a href="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/timothy-large/" title="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/timothy-large/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Large</a> is a mathematics postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University mentored by Mohammed Abouzaid. He received his Ph.D. from MIT in June 2021 under the supervision of Paul Seidel. Before that, he studied at the University of Cambridge, where he was named “Senior Wrangler” — the top mathematics undergraduate — in 2015. Large’s work combines ideas from homotopy theory and Floer homology to study problems in symplectic geometry and low-dimensional topology. While at MIT, he developed a new model for equivariant Floer homology with applications to double coverings of 3-manifolds. He constructed a symplectic manifold with trivial traditional Floer homology but interesting Floer-theoretic K-theory. As a researcher at Columbia, his work will focus on using the lens of Floer K-theory and similar theories to investigate examples of mirror symmetry.<a href="https://www.onlinekyne.com/home" title="https://www.onlinekyne.com/home" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kyne</a> is the stage name for Kyne Santos, a world-class drag queen, mathematics communicator, author, podcast host and keynote speaker. Known as the math queen, Kyne makes <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@onlinekyne" title="https://www.tiktok.com/@onlinekyne" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">popular educational videos</a> on social media about math, science, history and drag, which have been viewed more than 350 million times. She shows viewers that math is fun, artistic and inclusive. She started the first drag-STEM podcast “<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6o26mNVCXr6iJCyzo2jxkn?si=9a8dbf012c384d1e&amp;%3Bnd=1&amp;%3Bdlsi=19c11d55ad8f47e2&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=155ae29f2f3d4901" title="https://open.spotify.com/show/6o26mNVCXr6iJCyzo2jxkn?si=9a8dbf012c384d1e&amp;%3Bnd=1&amp;%3Bdlsi=19c11d55ad8f47e2&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=155ae29f2f3d4901" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Think Queen</a>,” in 2023, launched the weekly newsletter <a href="https://onlinekyne.substack.com/?r=1o7gwh&amp;utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist" title="https://onlinekyne.substack.com/?r=1o7gwh&amp;utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Math Queen Digest</a> in 2024 and recently authored a book titled “<a href="https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12813/math-drag" title="https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12813/math-drag" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Math In Drag</a>.” She appeared on the first season of<a href="https://www.etonline.com/meet-the-queens-of-canadas-drag-race-season-1-146602" title="https://www.etonline.com/meet-the-queens-of-canadas-drag-race-season-1-146602" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Canada’s Drag Race</a> and has been named a <a href="https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/tiktok-api-trailblazer-list" title="https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/tiktok-api-trailblazer-list" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">TikTok API trailblazer</a> and one of Forbes’ “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesunder30team/2023/08/09/30-under-30-local-2023-toronto/?sh=47bd2d4437d2" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesunder30team/2023/08/09/30-under-30-local-2023-toronto/?sh=47bd2d4437d2" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">30 Under 30 Local Toronto</a>.” She was nominated for a 2021 GLAAD Media Award for <a href="https://glaad.org/releases/32nd-annual-glaad-media-awards-recipients-include-disclosure-schitts-creek-sam-smith-chika/" title="https://glaad.org/releases/32nd-annual-glaad-media-awards-recipients-include-disclosure-schitts-creek-sam-smith-chika/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">TikTok Queer Advocate of the Year</a>.Image: Jessica Wynne. (2019). David Gabai, Princeton University.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS &amp; DETAILS<ul><li>You must be 18+ to attend this event</li><li>Registration will close at 2:00 PM the day of the event</li><li>Please only register yourself and use your complete first and last name as it appears on your photo ID when filling in the form</li><li>If you have a guest you would like to bring with you to this event, please send them the link to register so they can sign up on their own</li><li>By registering to attend this event, participants agree to follow the <a href="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/code-of-conduct/" title="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/code-of-conduct/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Simons Foundation Code of Conduct</a></li></ul>BUILDING ENTRY PROTOCOL<ul><li>All attendees must be pre-registered and walk-in entry will be denied</li><li>Provide valid photo ID upon entry</li><li>Present your digital or printed Eventbrite ticket confirmation; make sure it is for the correct event and that the name on it matches your ID</li><li>Limited seating is available for this in-person event and is on a first-come, first-served basis</li><li>Admittance to the event closes at 6:20 p.m.</li></ul>Please note that by entering the Simons Foundation buildings, you are attesting that you are not experiencing COVID symptoms and are not knowingly positive for COVID.

EVENT SCHEDULE:Doors open: 5:30 p.m. (No entrance before 5:30 p.m.)In Conversation: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Admittance closes at 6:20 p.m.)Reception: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.If alcohol is served at this event, event organizers reserve the right to refuse to serve guests who are not of legal drinking age or who appear to be intoxicated.The Gerald D. Fischbach Auditorium complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and offers accessible seating to visitors with special access needs.Inquiries: sfpresents@simonsfoundation.org

Building a Truth Machine

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Does Math Have a PR Problem?

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