Join us as we discuss women in math and watch clips from the new film Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani. Panelists include filmmaker George Csicsery, mathematician and journalist Erica Klarreich, Founder of the Washington Experimental Mathematics Lab Jayadev S. Athreya, and SUNY Binghamton Math professor and former student of Maryam Mirzakhani; Jenya Sapir. The panel will be moderated by Helene Barcelo (Deputy Director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute ).

About the Film

Filmed in Canada, Iran, and the United States, Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani examines the life and mathematical work of Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian immigrant to the United States who became a superstar in her field. In 2014, she was both the first woman and the first Iranian to be honored by mathematics’ highest prize, the Fields Medal.

Mirzakhani’s contributions are explained in the film by leading mathematicians and illustrated by animated sequences. Her mathematical colleagues from around the world, as well as former teachers, classmates, and students in Iran today, convey the deep impact of her achievements. The path of her education, success on Iran’s Math Olympiad team, and her brilliant work, make Mirzakhani an ideal role model for girls looking toward careers in science and mathematics.