Morning Keynote Speaker

Aparna James Tanton,
Mathematician at Large, Mathematical Association of America

Weird Ways to Work With Pi

(And have you noticed that the spelling of "weird" is weird?)

Many a mathematical scholar has contemplated the meaning and mystery of the number pi: the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. But I ask...Who said the concept of "pi" should apply only to circles? What is pi for a square? What is pi for a right triangle? What interesting non-circular problems can be solved with non-circular pi-values?


Let's get weird and quirky and let pi loose on all kinds of wild shapes!

Believing that mathematics really is accessible to all, James Tanton (PhD, Mathematics, Princeton 1994) is committed to sharing the delight and the beauty of the subject. He worked as a college professor for ten years, as a high-school teacher for ten years, and is now the MAA's Mathematician-at-Large, working to promote effective and joyful mathematics thinking, learning, and doing at all levels of the education spectrum. James regularly conducts professional development activities for teachers across the US, Canada, and overseas.

James is the author of SOLVE THIS: MATH ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS AND CLUBS (MAA, 2001), THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MATHEMATICS (Facts on File, 2005), MATHEMATICS GALORE! (MAA, 2012) and twelve self-published texts. He is the 2005 recipient of the Beckenbach Book Prize, the 2006 recipient of the Kidder Faculty Prize at St. Mark's School, and a 2010 recipient of a Raytheon Math Hero Award for excellence in school teaching.

He also publishes research and expository articles, and helps high school students pursue research projects and publish their own results too. James is also working on the MAA's Curriculum Inspirations project.

He is also making his content-focused development work available for free online.



Afternoon Keynote Speaker

The Lives of Pi

Who is Pi? Over the centuries, the number has attracted the attention not only of mathematicians, but also of politicians, physicians, theologians, and musicians - with mixed results. And Pi has also taken on many lives of its own across mathematics, many of which have nothing to do with geometry. On this most sacred of math holidays, let's pay tribute both to the people behind and the personalities of this endlessly fascinating figure. 		Lukeanderson small Luke Anderson,
University of Colorado, Boulder

Luke Anderson is a leading voice in the celebration of Pi Day and the promotion of Pi's history as a tool to advance the widespread appreciation of math. He is the founder of TeachPi.org, an internationally popular resource for stories, activities, music, and other creative and educational tributes to the number. For more than 15 years, Luke has engaged audiences of all ages (4 to 84) at Pi Day events around the country. His speaking venues have included the National Museum of Mathematics, Harvard University, colleges and universities in California, Colorado, and Minnesota, private corporations, and numerous K - 12 schools. He is a frequent contributor to Pi - related stories in the media, including CBS News and the Wall Street Journal. His efforts have been documented on NPR, in Newsweek, Bloomberg News, and various local TV and print outlets. After studying mathematics as an undergraduate and then starting out in investment banking, Luke moved into college administration. He has held finance and strategy roles at St. Olaf College, Harvard, and presently at the University of Colorado Boulder. Luke holds an Ed.M. degree from Harvard University.


Panelists

Career Opportunities in Mathematics

Panelist Bios


Supervising Undergraduate Research