MoMath December 2021 – January 2022 Upcoming Events
Dear MoMath friends,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ring in the holiday season by expanding your mind at MoMath. Join us as we celebrate a Palindrome Day (12‑7‑21!), tackle dice probability puzzles, take kaleidoscopic selfies at the winter solstice, admire the beauty of hailstone numbers, and explore the math of visual effects in film. And speaking of film, if your idea of wintertime fun is an evening at home with a great movie, you won’t want to miss the upcoming installments of Starring Math, in which Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz and his special guests discuss featured films that profile legendary mathematicians, including Stand and Deliver and The Man Who Knew Infinity. More of a reader than a watcher? Volumes, the MoMath book club, will feature a discussion of Strogatz’s The Joy of X, a thrilling book that finds the mathematics in just about everything: literature, philosophy, law, medicine, art, business, and even pop culture. Looking to get creative? Playing with Palindromes will feature wacky, mind-bending phrases that read the same forwards and backwards. Submit your own mathematical palindrome or just join to enjoy the inventiveness of fellow word lovers. One thing’s for sure — no matter how you’re looking to use your mind, MoMath is the place to be this winter.
There are many programs and activities to enjoy; please read carefully to determine whether programs are in-person, online, or both (in-person/online). Additionally, many of MoMath’s programs are being offered for free or at a reduced rate for those in need and for MoMath members — please visit individual event pages for more information.
| MoMath at a Glance | |
| Ongoing | |
| MoMath is open! Visit the Museum | |
| Building Beauty: The Harmonograph Art of Ivan Moscovich in Composite, the gallery at MoMath — a show at the intersection of engineering and art, available both in-person and online (in-person/online) | |
| Math on the House — sign up to be notified when free, last-minute seats become available for select events | |
| Senior Sessions, educator-led sessions for mature adults (online) | |
| Mind-Benders for the Quarantined!, weekly mathematical puzzles from MoMath’s puzzle master, Dr. Peter Winkler | |
| MathPlay, MoMath’s program for preschoolers (in-person) | |
| MoMath Online: Student Sessions, educator-led sessions for students in grades pre-K to 12 exploring math from home (online) | |
| Math Discovery, educator-led sessions for students and their families/caregivers hosted at the Museum (in-person) | |
| Derivatives, MoMath’s tour program (in-person) | |
| Apply now | Expansions, the gifted program at MoMath for students in first grade through high school (in-person) |
| Steven H. Strogatz Prize for Math Communication — for students 15 to 18 years old | |
| School and group visits: in-Museum or online visits to MoMath for students, educators, and groups (in-person/online) | |
| Free field trips for Title I schools: apply today for a sponsored field trip benefiting your Title I school (in-person/online) | |
| Free visits from Math Midway 2 Go for Title I schools: apply today to bring this engaging math exhibition to your school (in-person) | |
| Integrators, the MoMath high school volunteer program: apply now for the 2021-2022 school year (in-person) | |
| Thu, Nov 25 | Happy Thanksgiving! MoMath is closed today |
| Fri, Nov 26 | Senior Sessions: “Cryptarithmetic” (online) |
| Fri, Nov 26 | Math Discovery: “Shape Shifters” (for grades pre-K–2) (in-person) |
| Sat, Nov 27 | Math Discovery: “Möbius Madness” (for grades 3–6) (in-person) |
| Mon, Nov 29 | Starring Math — discussion of the film Stand and Deliver, hosted by Steven Strogatz with special guests Tatiana Camacho and Thomas Valdez, former students of Jaime Escalante (online) |
| Tue, Nov 30 | Senior Sessions: “Exhibit Explorations: Math Square” (online) |
| Tue, Nov 30 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-1 and 2-3) (online) |
| Wed, Dec 1 | Math Encounters: “Mathematical Models and Card Shuffles — An Exploration in Group Theory and Probability” featuring Dan Rockmore (in-person/online) |
| Thu, Dec 2 | Senior Sessions: “Rep-tiles” (online) |
| Thu, Dec 2 | Animation Creation: “The Art of Digital Sculpting” (first of a three-part series; first session free for MoMath members!) (online) |
| Fri, Dec 3 | Folding Fridays — learn to fold unique origami designs: “Tree” by Mark Bolitho (online) |
| Fri, Dec 3 | Math Discovery: “From Prussia, with Math!” (for grades 5–8) (in-person) |
| Sat, Dec 4 | Math Discovery: “Secrets of Telling Secrets” (for grades 3–6) (in-person) |
| Mon, Dec 6 | Senior Sessions: “Hailstone Numbers” (online) |
| Tue, Dec 7 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-1 and 2-3) (online) |
| Tue, Dec 7 | Playing with Palindromes, a mathematical palindrome contest and special showcase (online) |
| Wed, Dec 8 | Volumes, the book club at MoMath: a discussion of The Joy of X by Steven Strogatz (online) |
| Thu, Dec 9 | Senior Sessions: “Gallery of Graphs” (online) |
| Thu, Dec 9 | Meet a Mathematician featuring Tatiana Toro; hosted by Steven Strogatz (online) |
| Thu, Dec 9 | Animation Creation: “The Art of Digital Light and Color” (second session of a three-part series) (online) |
| Fri, Dec 10 | Folding Fridays — learn to fold unique origami designs: “Estrela Ana Maria” by Lidiane Siqueira (online) |
| Fri, Dec 10 | Equilibrium, MoMath’s adult evening of mathematical games (online) |
| Sat, Dec 11 | Krazy Kahoot, a fast-paced family quiz game with Steve Sherman (online) |
| Sun, Dec 12 | Tween Primes, the MoMath book club for teens and tweens: Starman Jones by Robert A. Heinlein (online) |
| Sun, Dec 12 | Unlimited, MoMath’s mix-n-mingle program for students in middle and high school (online) |
| Mon, Dec 13 | QED: Pitfalls for Parents (online) |
| Tue, Dec 14 | Senior Sessions: “Magic Squares” (online) |
| Tue, Dec 14 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-1 and 2-3) (online) |
| Wed, Dec 15 | Math Gym, a workout for your brain (online) |
| Thu, Dec 16 | Ask a Mathematician — Anything! with Steven Strogatz (online) |
| Thu, Dec 16 | Animation Creation: “The Art of Digital Movement” (third session of a three-part series) (online) |
| Fri, Dec 17 | Senior Sessions: “Making Math Solid: Tetrahedron” (online) |
| Fri, Dec 17 | Family Fridays: “Re-flexions: a new look at flexagons” with Yana Mohanty (in-person/online) |
| Mon, Dec 20 | Senior Sessions: “Alternative Perspectives” (online) |
| Mon, Dec 20 | Starring Math — discussion of the film The Man Who Knew Infinity, hosted by Steven Strogatz and featuring special guests Manjul Bhargava and Ken Ono, both math consultants on the film, as well as the director and writer of the film, Matthew Brown (free to members!) (online) |
| Tue, Dec 21 | Solstice Reflections (in-person) |
| Tue, Dec 21 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-1 and 2-3) (online) |
| Wed, Dec 22 | Writing About Math for The New York Times (members-only) (online) |
| Thu, Dec 23 | Senior Sessions: “Making Math Solid: Hexahedron” (online) |
| Tue, Dec 28 | Senior Sessions: “Sensational Puzzles” (online) |
| Wed, Dec 29 to Thu, Dec 30 | MoMath Mini-Camps (in-person) (limited online sessions available) |
| Fri, Dec 31 | Senior Sessions: “Chessboards and Dominoes” (online) |
| Tue, Jan 4 | Senior Sessions: “Polyomino Puzzlers” (online) |
| Fri, Jan 7 | Senior Sessions: “Making Math Solid: Octahedron” (online) |
| Fri, Jan 7 | Folding Fridays — learn to fold unique origami designs (online) |
| Sun, Jan 9 | Bridge Basics 1 — first session of an eight-week course (online) |
| Mon, Jan 10 | Senior Sessions: “Skipping Towards Infinity” (online) |
| Mon, Jan 10 | COVID Science: “What does herd immunity mean?” (first session of a three-part series) (online) |
| Tue, Jan 11 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-3) (online) |
| Tue, Jan 11 | Math Gems — first session of an eight-week minicourse presented by Steven Strogatz (in-person/online) |
| Wed, Jan 12 | Math Encounters: “Tag Deal: Discrete Chaos in a Deck of Cards” featuring Barry Cipra (in-person/online) |
| Thu, Jan 13 | Senior Sessions: “Vote Counts: Ranking and Tanking” (online) |
| Fri, Jan 14 | Folding Fridays — learn to fold unique origami designs (online) |
| Jan 15-17, 2022 | Mini-MOVES gathering: the math of puzzles (in-person) |
| Mon, Jan 17 | COVID Science: “Clinical trials from A to Z” (second session of a three-part series) (online) |
| Tue, Jan 18 | Senior Sessions: “Luck, Magic, or Math?” (online) |
| Tue, Jan 18 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-3) (online) |
| Tue, Jan 18 | Math Gems — second session of an eight-week minicourse presented by Steven Strogatz (in-person/online) |
| Wed, Jan 19 | Math Gym, a workout for your brain (online) |
| Wed, Jan 19 | Volumes, the book club at MoMath: a discussion of The Weil Conjectures by Karen Olsson (online) |
| Thu, Jan 20 | Ask a Mathematician — Anything! with Steven Strogatz (online) |
| Thu, Jan 20 | Rocket to the Moon with Kevin Bowman (online) |
| Fri, Jan 21 | Senior Sessions: “Prime Time” (online) |
| Fri, Jan 21 | Folding Fridays — learn to fold unique origami designs (online) |
| Fri, Jan 21 | Family Fridays: “Balancing Act: The Math, Art, and Science of Balance” with Godwyn Morris (in-person/online) |
| Sat, Jan 22 | Krazy Kahoot, a fast-paced family quiz game with Steve Sherman (online) (free to members!) |
| Sun, Jan 23 | Bridge Basics 1 — second session of an eight-week course (online) |
| Mon, Jan 24 | Senior Sessions: “Möbius Mischief” (online) |
| Mon, Jan 24 | Starring Math — discussion of the film The Imitation Game, hosted by Steven Strogatz and featuring special guest Janna Levin, author of award-winning novel A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines about Alan Turing and Kurt Gödel (online) |
| Tue, Jan 25 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-3) (online) |
| Tue, Jan 25 | Math Gems — third session of an eight-week minicourse presented by Steven Strogatz (in-person/online) |
| Wed, Jan 26 | QED: Pitfalls for Parents (online) (free to members!) |
| Thu, Jan 27 | Senior Sessions: “Math in the Corner Pocket” (online) |
| Thu, Jan 27 | Meet a Mathematician featuring Benson Farb; hosted by Steven Strogatz (online) |
| Thu, Jan 27 | COVID Science: “COVID myths… what is the science?” (third session of a three-part series) (online) |
| Fri, Jan 28 | Folding Fridays — learn to fold unique origami designs (online) |
| Fri, Jan 28 | Equilibrium, MoMath’s adult evening of mathematical games (online) |
| Sun, Jan 30 | Bridge Basics 1 — third session of an eight-week course (online) |
| Sun, Jan 30 | Tween Primes, the MoMath book club for teens and tweens: Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers by Pendred Noyce and Joan Charles (online) |
| Sun, Jan 30 | Unlimited, MoMath’s mix-n-mingle program for students in middle and high school (online) |
| Tue, Feb 1 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-3) (online) |
| Tue, Feb 1 | Math Gems — fourth session of an eight-week minicourse presented by Steven Strogatz (in-person/online) |
| Fri, Feb 4 | Folding Fridays — learn to fold unique origami designs (online) |
| Sun, Feb 6 | Bridge Basics 1 — fourth session of an eight-week course (online) |
| Tue, Feb 8 | Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (for grades K-3) (online) |
| Tue, Feb 8 | Math Gems — fifth session of an eight-week minicourse presented by Steven Strogatz (in-person/online) |
| Wed, Feb 9 | Math Encounters: “Top Picks: How mathematics can be used to rank sports teams” featuring John Urschel (in-person/online) |
| Apr 4-6, 2022 | MATRIX x IMAGINARY Conference — Meet us in Paris! (in-person) |
| Aug 7-9, 2022 | MOVES, Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects — MoMath’s fifth biennial conference (in-person) |
MoMath in the news:
24 Things To Do in NYC With Kids (NJ Mom)
Princeton math whiz creates video based on combinatorial proofs, wins prize from MoMath (centraljersey.com)
Montclair High School Student Wins Prize for Her Poem, “Math Person” (Montclair Local)
John Urschel, The Big Book Of Tell Me Why, And The Making Of A Football Star Turned Math Evangelist (Forbes)
Math Can Help Build a Global Digital Community by MoMath Executive Director, Cindy Lawrence (Scientific American)
American Voices featuring MoMath Trustee John Urschel, mentioning Bending the Arc (SiriusXM Radio)
Visit MoMath — the Museum is open!
Admission tickets to visit MoMath in person are on sale at visit.momath.org. Members receive free unlimited admission! (Not a member? Join today!)
Retail Pick-of-the-Month: Interlox
Twelve grooved pieces spin and slide together in countless colorful configurations. Pick a shape to build, gather the pieces, then twist and join them together to complete the challenge. Combine them correctly, and you’ve found the key to Interlox! Interlox is available for online purchase from Additions, the shop at MoMath.
Support MoMath while shopping at Amazon!
MoMath invites you to shop at AmazonSmile and choose “National Museum of Mathematics” as your charity of choice. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your total purchase price to MoMath. Click here to support the nation’s only Museum of Mathematics as you shop!
A MoMath gift card
Give the gift of math! Purchase by phone at (212) 542‑0566 or stop by Additions, the shop at MoMath, to pick up your gift card today. MoMath gift cards can only be redeemed in the shop or applied toward the cost of admission to the Museum.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
Birthday parties — now with an origami option! (in-person/online)
Looking to host a one-of-a-kind birthday party full of fabulous folding fun? You and your guests can explore the wondrous art of paper folding with an origami expert! With your choice of customized activities, parties can be personalized for all ages of birthday boys and girls — from children through adults, from simple to complicated paper art. Other exciting birthday options are also available. For more information, please email birthdays@momath.org.
Building Beauty: The Harmonograph Art of Ivan Moscovich in Composite, the gallery at MoMath (in-person/online)
This solo show includes almost three dozen original pieces of Ivan’s art — created using his custom-made (and patented) harmonograph — and explores the intersection of the mathematics of Lissajous curves with the aesthetics of beautiful art. Ivan used the harmonograph, an analog drawing machine that uses pens and pendulums, to generate an incredible variety of elegantly swirling, multi-colored graphic configurations known as Lissajous patterns. First exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 1968, the work it produced was acclaimed as the best math art of the time. Since then, Ivan’s creations have been shown in major exhibitions in locations including Berlin, Basel, Mexico City, Tel Aviv, and San Francisco, with a renewed interest in his work in the last few years. The show includes two working harmonographs for visitors to explore how the artwork is created and make their own works to take home. Learn more at composite.momath.org.
MoMath comes to YOU! Visit MoMath without leaving your school campus — limited bookings available (in-person)
Students and educators, are you ready for a field trip, but not able to leave campus just yet? Have MoMath come to you! MoMath’s fully vaccinated, classroom-experienced educators can bring MoMath’s unique blend of enriching math activities and/or hands-on MM2Go exhibits to your campus. Learn more and book your on-campus field trip today at fieldtrips.momath.org.
Mind-Benders for the Quarantined! (online)
Reaching more than 11,000 people in more than 90 countries, Mind-Benders for the Quarantined! is a runaway hit that engages people all over the world during an unprecedented pandemic. Each Sunday, MoMath will send you a challenging mathematical puzzle from the collection of its own puzzle master, Dr. Peter Winkler. On Tuesday, you’ll receive a subtle hint; on Thursday, a serious push; on Saturday, the solution. And the next day, of course, a new puzzle. Learn more and register at mindbenders.momath.org.
MathPlay, MoMath’s program for preschoolers (in-person)
Led by an experienced MoMath educator, MathPlay offers children the opportunity to play well-developed games that help broaden math skills, improve problem-solving techniques, fine-tune motor coordination, and enhance communication and social skills. Give your child every chance of success — recent studies have shown that early development of math skills can be a strong predictor of future school achievement. Learn more and register at mathplay.momath.org.
Student Sessions for grades pre-K through 12 (online)
Mondays through Fridays
Whether your child is already passionate about mathematics or just starting to explore its wonders, MoMath Online: Student Sessions will expose your child to cool areas of mathematics not covered in school and stoke the flames for a lifelong appreciation of mathematics. Drop-in classes guided by an experienced educator are available every weekday, and registration is always free for families in need. Learn more and register at studentsessions.momath.org.
Math Discovery for students and their families/caregivers (in-person)
Fridays and Saturdays
Don’t miss the chance to join one of MoMath’s specially trained educators in Math Discovery, a series of hands-on classes exploring intriguing math topics. For students and their families/caregivers. Limited space available. Learn more and register at discovery.momath.org.
Senior Sessions (online)
Exercise your mental muscles in 45-minute math sessions! Join MoMath’s experienced presenters for intriguing classes on a variety of stimulating topics, including topology, puzzles, and cryptography. Enjoy the sense of discovery and challenge in these engaging, interactive activities with a collegial cohort of mature minds. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Share the gift of math! Gift registrations for Student Sessions and Senior Sessions now available: mathgift.momath.org.
Derivatives, MoMath’s tour program (in-person)
Enjoy a new perspective on MoMath in a small group setting as you stroll through the Museum with an expert tour guide leading the way. Learn more at derivatives.momath.org. To request a tour, please email groupsales@momath.org with the subject line “Derivatives Tour.”
Math tutoring (in-person/online)
Is your child struggling in math? We can help! MoMath is offering limited private tutoring for grades K–12 with certified teachers who have extensive experience successfully teaching students online and in the classroom. Whether your child needs assistance with homework or exam preparation, MoMath’s instructors are ready to help. For more information, please email tutoring@momath.org.
APPLY NOW
Expansions: an afternoon enrichment program for gifted math students (in-person)
Reinvent math class with Expansions, MoMath’s afternoon gifted program. Featuring programs for math-loving students enrolled in first through twelfth grades, Expansions workshops are designed and delivered by MoMath’s educational team to illuminate the wonders of mathematics, challenge and inspire students, and broaden their mathematical horizons. With topics ranging from fractals to cellular automata, these afternoon classes provide an opportunity for participants to learn advanced and fascinating topics not included in the standard K–12 curriculum. Plus, students can benefit from enjoying math together in small groups of talented and focused young scholars. MoMath is currently accepting applications for limited spots in the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more and apply, visit expansions.momath.org.
Steven H. Strogatz Prize for Math Communication — for students 15 to 18 years old
Now accepting applications
Are you a high school student who wants to share your love of math with the world? Enter this worldwide contest! Cash prizes will be awarded for compelling math communication projects, and award-winning projects will be posted online. To apply, visit strogatzprize.momath.org.
School and group visits (in-person/online)
MoMath has almost two dozen great programs, from constructing polygons to creating Möbius strips, for school groups visiting the Museum, in person and online. Bring your students to MoMath — virtually or in person — for a peek into the exciting world of mathematics, and see why students and teachers of all ages love the Museum. And as a newly available option, MoMath educators can bring our activities and exhibits to your campus! Learn more and register at fieldtrips.momath.org.
Free field trips for Title I schools (in-person/online)
Support for Title I school trips is now available, thanks to contributions from individuals and organizations, including: Akamai Foundation, Inc.; Con Edison; Judy Gibbons and Francesco Scattone; The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts; Two Sigma; and New York City Council Members Mark Levine (7th District) and Carlina Rivera (2nd District). This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. To apply for a free trip (online, in-person, or on your own campus) during the 2021-2022 school year, visit titleone.momath.org. Interested in sponsoring a field trip? Email donation@momath.org.
JOIN THE TEAM
Are you passionate about spreading a love of mathematics? Contact us — we’d love to welcome you to the team! Send the following to jobs@momath.org: a cover letter, your résumé with GPA, and a 150- to 500-word statement describing your views on mathematics or an experience you’ve had related to mathematics.
Positions available in education, administration, marketing, technology, communications, and more — visit jobs.momath.org for a complete list of MoMath’s exciting job and volunteer opportunities.
Know a recent college graduate looking for a collaborative environment at a meaningful institution? Direct them to jobs.momath.org.
Featured positions:
Facilities Coordinator
MoMath is seeking someone to oversee its physical assets, including its Museum facility, administrative office, and offsite assets, and to coordinate and participate in the management of the storage, moving, and organizational systems supporting its assets.
Technology Manager
MoMath is seeking a technically skilled, enthusiastic, and energetic person to oversee, develop, enhance, and ensure the robustness of its diverse computing, software, and technology assets.
UPCOMING EVENTS
For a complete listing of upcoming events and programs at MoMath, please visit events.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Cryptarithmetic” (online)
Friday, November 26 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Arithmetic is fun, but arithmetic with letters is even better! Using the process of elimination and clever logic, we will explore fundamental properties of base-10 arithmetic in a unique and challenging way. Join us for CRYPT4R1THM3T1C! For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Math Discovery: “Shape Shifters” (in-person)
Friday, November 26 at 2:30 pm ET (New York)
Shapes are all around us and form the basic building blocks of modern life. Using wooden squares, rectangles, rhombuses, trapezoids, and hexagons, discover how shapes are different from each other and how mathematicians identify and name them. Through games and interactive activities, explore geometrical symmetries and how to construct polygons with many sides, including the tetracontakaihexagon! Learn more and register at discovery.momath.org.
Math Discovery: “Möbius Madness” (in-person)
Saturday, November 27 at 3:00 pm ET (New York)
Join us to construct fascinating topological objects such as Möbius bands, discovering their fundamental patterns and structures. Through hands-on activities, uncover the surprising properties hidden around every twist and turn! Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Starring Math — discussion of the film Stand and Deliver, hosted by Steven Strogatz (online)
Monday, November 29 at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Math goes to the movies! Join Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz and special guests Tatiana Camacho and Thomas Valdez for an hour of discussion. Each month, you’ll watch the featured film at your convenience, then join Steve and his special guests, who will take us deeper into the making of the film, the math in it, or the true stories of the mathematicians themselves. The series continues with a discussion of Stand and Deliver, in which math teacher Jaime Escalante comes to an underprivileged high school to find students performing well below their grade levels. While other, more cynical teachers don’t believe the students are capable of improving, Escalante sees potential in them and takes it upon himself to teach them advanced calculus in time for senior year. In this special evening event, Steve is joined by Tatiana Camacho and Thomas Valdez, former students of Escalante’s, for an hour of conversation about the man — and the math — behind the movie. Learn more and register at starring.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Exhibit Explorations: Math Square” (online)
Tuesday, November 30 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
The interactive Math Square floor is the centerpiece of the Museum’s lower level, and among its varying programs is a Voronoi diagram, which creates colorful polygons under your feet. Learn exciting details about this Museum exhibit and how to make your very own Voronoi diagram. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, November 30
Grades K–1: 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm ET (New York)
Grades 2-3: 4:00 pm to 4:40 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Math Encounters: “Mathematical Models and Card Shuffles — An Exploration in Group Theory and Probability” featuring Dan Rockmore (in-person/online)
Wednesday, December 1 at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm ET (New York)
How can ordinary playing cards lead us into an adventure in group theory? What are the chances that an ordinary shuffle will result in a random ordering of cards? Are seven shuffles really enough to thoroughly mix up a deck of cards? Join Dan Rockmore, Dartmouth Professor of Mathematics, to investigate the math behind the shuffle. Special introduction by Steven Strogatz, Cornell University Professor of Mathematics and MoMath’s Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics. Learn more and register for free at mathencounters.org.
Senior Sessions: “Rep-tiles” (online)
Thursday, December 2 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Come discover mathematical rep-tiles, geometric shapes that can tile into repetitions of themselves. Learn about scaling, special tessellations, and mathematical proofs, while solving fun rep-tiles puzzles. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Animation Creation — the math of visual effects: “The Art of Digital Sculpting” (first session of a three-part series; free to members) (online)
Thursday, December 2 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Join Emmy Award–winning Visual Effects Supervisor Beau Janzen for an exploration behind the scenes of computer graphics and the math used to create the stunning visual art in movies and games. Each session in this engaging three-part series will highlight a different aspect of the art of digital creation and will feature work from Janzen’s career in feature films and television. Sessions are appropriate for middle school students and above; participants should have a basic understanding of geometry and simple algebra. Join a single session or sign up for all three — but don’t miss this fascinating journey into the many mathematical aspects of digital creation. In this first session, dive into how digital sculptors or “modelers” can create any type of object using the digital clay of mathematics. Learn more and register at animated.momath.org.
Folding Fridays (online)
Friday, December 3 at 4:30 pm ET (New York)
Join origami expert Kathleen Sheridan for Folding Fridays. This week, join us to fold fir trees. You’ll want to make an entire forest after learning “Tree” by Mark Bolitho. Explore the wonders of paper folding — there’s math in every fold! Learn more and register at foldingfridays.momath.org.
Math Discovery: “From Prussia, with Math!” (in-person)
Friday, December 3 at 2:30 pm ET (New York)
Discover the mathematics of constructing paths on graphs in this introduction to graph theory. Find out what bridges in 18th-century Prussia have to do with this interesting branch of mathematics, while tackling classical problems along with mysteries that remain unsolved today. Learn more and register at discovery.momath.org.
Math Discovery: “Secrets of Telling Secrets” (in-person)
Saturday, December 4 at 3:00 pm ET (New York)
Explore cryptography, secret codes, and ciphers in this introduction to the substitution cipher, which hides messages by replacing letters or groups of letters with other letters or groups of letters. Using patterns and perseverance, discover how to create hidden messages — and how to break secret codes! Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Hailstone Numbers” (online)
Monday, December 6 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Hail is formed when ice repeatedly travels up and down within a cloud, growing and shrinking until its mass is steady enough to fall to the ground as hail. Hailstone numbers are repeated patterns of numbers with the same property. They increase and decrease sporadically according to a set rule until they finally plummet in size and eventually become the number 1. These number sequences are easy to create but often impossible to fully understand. Come learn what these numbers are, why they are so mystifying, and how they might just represent the next big breakthrough in mathematics. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, December 7
Grades K-1: 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm ET (New York)
Grades 2-3: 4:00 pm to 4:40 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Playing with Palindromes (online)
Tuesday, December 7 (that’s 12-7-21!) at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Was it a car or a cat I saw? Eva, can I see bees in a cave? Palindromes — that is, words and sentences that read the same forwards and backwards — are among the most elegant phenomena in language. Join us on 12‑7‑21 (a palindromic date!) for a special showcase of mathematically-themed palindromes submitted by audience members such as YOU. All are welcome to attend, whether you’ve submitted a palindrome or not. Visit submitpalindromes.momath.org to share your best palindromes by Sunday, November 28, then invite your friends and plan to attend Playing with Palindromes, where a selection of entries will be shared by their authors and a prize will be awarded for the longest, most creative, math-related palindrome. Learn more and register at palindrome.momath.org.
Volumes, the book club at MoMath: a discussion of The Joy of X by Steven Strogatz (online)
Wednesday, December 8 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Love mathematics and books? Looking for a stimulating and fun discussion? Volumes, the MoMath book club, is just the thing for you. This reading group is designed especially for those interested in mathematics and science and how they affect our lives. No prior math or science background is necessary. In The Joy of X, take a delightful tour of the greatest ideas of math, revealing how it connects to literature, philosophy, law, medicine, art, business, and even pop culture in ways we never imagined. Did O.J. do it? How should you flip your mattress to get the maximum wear out of it? How does Google search the Internet? How many people should you date before settling down? Believe it or not, math plays a crucial role in answering all of these questions and more. Math underlies everything in the cosmos, including us, yet too few of us understand this universal language well enough to revel in its wisdom, its beauty — and its joy. Learn more and register at volumes.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Gallery of Graphs” (online)
Thursday, December 9 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Dig into graph theory by exploring the connection between vertices and edges — and the walls of any house. Discover a method to determine whether a ghost can haunt a castle or if a figure can be drawn without lifting the pen. Explore how these two problems are related and learn what they have to do with bridges in 18th-century Prussia, all while enjoying a unique and accessible introduction to this sophisticated branch of mathematics. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Meet a Mathematician featuring Tatiana Toro, hosted by Steven Strogatz (online)
Thursday, December 9 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Did you ever wonder what a mathematician does all day? Or what made someone decide to become a mathematician? Or even, what a mathematician does for fun? You may be surprised by some of the answers! Join Steven Strogatz, MoMath’s 2021-2022 Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics, as he brings diverse and talented guests to the MoMath stage to share their experiences, their stories, and their love of mathematics. In December, meet Tatiana Toro. When she was a student, Tatiana competed for Colombia in the 1981 International Mathematical Olympiad. She’s now a professor at the University of Washington, where she does research at the interface of geometric measure theory, harmonic analysis, and partial differential equations. In addition, Tatiana was recently named the next Director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, a world-leading mathematical center for collaborative research in Berkeley, CA. Learn more and register at meetmath.momath.org.
Animation Creation — the math of visual effects: “The Art of Digital Light and Color” (second session of a three-part series) (online)
Thursday, December 9 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Join Emmy Award–winning Visual Effects Supervisor Beau Janzen for an exploration behind the scenes of computer graphics and the math used to create the stunning visual art in movies and games. Each session in this engaging series will highlight a different aspect of the art of digital creation and will feature work from Janzen’s career in feature films and television. Sessions are appropriate for middle school students and above; participants should have a basic understanding of geometry and simple algebra. Join a single session or sign up for all of them — but don’t miss this fascinating journey into the many mathematical aspects of digital creation. In this session, explore how artists control virtual light and color to create objects and worlds that are indistinguishable from reality. Learn more and register at animated.momath.org.
Folding Fridays (online)
Friday, December 10 at 4:30 pm ET (New York)
Join origami expert Kathleen Sheridan for Folding Fridays. To celebrate the holidays and the superstar folders this season, fold “Estrela Ana Maria” by Lidiane Siqueira. Explore the wonders of paper folding — there’s math in every fold! Learn more and register at foldingfridays.momath.org.
Equilibrium, an adult evening of mathematical games (online)
Friday, December 10 at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Prepare a snack, log on from home, and connect with new and interesting people, all while enjoying uniquely mathematical games, hosted by the nation’s only Museum of Math. Learn more and register at equilibrium.momath.org.
Krazy Kahoot with Steve Sherman (online)
Saturday, December 11 at 3:00 pm ET (New York)
Join MoMath’s favorite math quizmaster Steve Sherman for a fun-filled family game bursting with a wide range of entertaining questions for all ages. Is your family up for this lively challenge?! Learn more and register at krazy.momath.org.
Tween Primes, the MoMath book club for tweens and teens: Starman Jones by Robert A. Heinlein (online)
Sunday, December 12 at 5:30 pm ET (New York)
The stars were closed to Max Jones. To get into space you either need connections or money, and Max has neither. What Max does have going for him are his uncle’s prized astrogation manuals — books on star navigation that Max literally commits to memory word for word, equation for equation. When Max’s mother decides to remarry a bullying oaf, Max takes to the road, only to discover that his Uncle Chet’s manuals, and Max’s near complete memorization of them, is a ticket to the stars. But serving on a spaceship is no easy task. It’s going to take every trick Max ever learned from his tough life and his uncle’s manuals to save himself and the ship from doom. Learn more and register at tweenprimes.momath.org.
Unlimited, MoMath’s mix-n-mingle program for students in middle and high school (online)
Sunday, December 12 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Middle and high school students, come spend an hour or more with your peers, enjoying interesting mathematical activities, interactive social games, and great music, all led by an experienced MoMath educator. Learn more and register at unlimited.momath.org.
QED: Pitfalls for Parents (online)
Monday, December 13 at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Parents, join Distinguished Visiting Professor Steve Strogatz for an hour of math learning, designed with you in mind. Starting with the basics, we’ll explore — and learn to leap right over — some of the most common stumbling blocks in K–12 math. Anything that you or your child ever found confusing is fair game! Learn more and register at qed.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Magic Squares” (online)
Tuesday, December 14 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Magic squares are a set of puzzles that have long fascinated many of the world’s most brilliant thinkers. Dating back more than 4,000 years to ancient China, magic squares are those in which the sums of each column, row, and diagonal are always “magically” the same number! Discover surprising strategies to solve these mysterious puzzles and learn how to create your very own magic square. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, December 14
Grades K-1: 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm ET (New York)
Grades 2-3: 4:00 pm to 4:40 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Math Gym, a workout for your brain (online)
Wednesday, December 15 at 3:30 pm ET (New York)
Students, spend an hour independently working on engaging and beautiful math problems. Choose whichever challenges you like and explore them with the guidance of an expert mathematician. If you love to experience the incredible joy of mathematical discovery, you won’t want to miss this monthly program. Learn more and register at workout.momath.org.
Ask a Mathematician — Anything! (online)
Thursday, December 16 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Ever wanted to ask a mathematician something, maybe about a curious new idea you have, or a concept you’d like to understand better? Don’t know whom to ask? Here’s your chance! MoMath’s 2021-2022 Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics, Steven Strogatz, will host this one-hour, online session. Learn more and register at askmath.momath.org.
Animation Creation — the math of visual effects: “The Art of Digital Movement” (third session of a three-part series) (online)
Thursday, December 16 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Join Emmy Award–winning Visual Effects Supervisor Beau Janzen for an exploration behind the scenes of computer graphics and the math used to create the stunning visual art in movies and games. Each session in this engaging series will highlight a different aspect of the art of digital creation and will feature work from Janzen’s career in feature films and television. Sessions are appropriate for middle school students and above; participants should have a basic understanding of geometry and simple algebra. Join a single session or sign up for all of them — but don’t miss this fascinating journey into the many mathematical aspects of digital creation. In this final session, explore the way in which digital animators are able to create motion — from graceful dancing to complex moving machinery — by harnessing principles in graphs and geometry. Learn more and register at animated.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Making Math Solid: Tetrahedron” (online)
Friday, December 17 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Explore geometry and discover the beautiful structure of polyhedra! Using modular origami techniques that involve folding multiple sheets of paper, participants will each create their own tetrahedra. Making Math Solid is a series that focuses on different polyhedra, highlighting their fascinating properties. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Family Fridays: “Re-flexions: a new look at flexagons” with Yana Mohanty (in-person/online)
Friday, December 17 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
In this highly hands-on workshop designed to bring families together for fun in math, discover the fascination of flexagons. Whether you’re already a fan or new to these delightful creations, join us in exploring their mechanical and form-shifting properties. As we build flexagons together, experience how the fun of flexagons goes far beyond fidgeting! Thanks to the generous support of Two Sigma, this program is free to attendees. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at familyfridays.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Alternative Perspectives” (online)
Monday, December 20 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Recently featured in MoMath’s Composite gallery, artist Anton Bakker’s work will take you on a journey into a world of mathematical beauty with an added twist: a change in perspective seems to change the very reality of the object before us. Lines, curves, knots, spirals, Möbius strips, optical illusions, and fractals — all are explored in this highly engaging virtual tour. Discover these stunning sculptures and engage in hands-on activities! For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Starring Math — discussion of the film The Man Who Knew Infinity, hosted by Steven Strogatz (free to members) (online)
Monday, December 20 at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Math goes to the movies! Join Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz and his special guests — director and writer Matthew Brown and two mathematical consultants for the film, Fields Medalist Manjul Bhargava and mathematician Ken Ono — for an hour of discussion. Each month, you’ll watch the featured film at your convenience, then join Steve and his special guests, who will take us deeper into the making of the film, the math in it, or the true stories of the mathematicians themselves. The series continues with The Man Who Knew Infinity, in which Srinivasa Ramanujan, a poor young man working as a bookkeeper in India, submits his personal writings to the famous mathematician G.H. Hardy. Recognizing Ramanujan’s mathematical talent, Hardy invites Ramanujan to the University of Cambridge and helps him communicate his unique genius to the world. In this special evening event, join Steve and his guests for an hour of conversation about the man — and the math — behind the movie. Learn more and register at starring.momath.org.
Solstice Reflections
Tuesday, December 21 at 3:00 pm ET (New York)
In celebration of the season of light, MoMath invites passersby to experience the joyful reflection of a life-sized kaleidoscope. Bring the whole family to meet us at the Flatiron North Public Plaza (the triangle bounded by 23rd Street, 5th Avenue, and Broadway) between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm ET (New York) and take home your own mathematical selfie! Learn more at solstice.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, December 21
Grades K-1: 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm ET (New York)
Grades 2-3: 4:00 pm to 4:40 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Writing About Math for The New York Times (members-only) (online)
Wednesday, December 22 at 6:15 pm ET (New York)
In the spring of 2010, Steven Strogatz wrote a 15-part series for The New York Times on the elements of math, from basic to baffling. To his surprise — and his editor’s — each piece climbed the “most emailed” list and elicited hundreds of appreciative comments. Join Steve as he shares his adventures in bringing math to the masses, as well as the lessons he learned about what works… and what doesn’t. If you’re not a member, it’s not too late to join the MoMath family so you can participate in this exclusive event, open only to MoMath members. Learn more and register at nytimesmath.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Making Math Solid: Hexahedron” (online)
Thursday, December 23 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Explore geometry and discover the beautiful structure of polyhedra! Using modular origami techniques that involve folding multiple sheets of paper, participants will each create their own hexahedra. Making Math Solid is a series that focuses on different polyhedra, highlighting their fascinating properties. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Sensational Puzzles” (online)
Tuesday, December 28 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Explore mathematical puzzles that grabbed the headlines! Learn to solve spectacular and controversial puzzles using logic, probability, and basic graph theory. Develop puzzle-solving strategies while diving into these news-making mathematical conundrums. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
MoMath Mini-Camps (in-person) (limited online sessions available)
Wednesday, December 29 and Thursday, December 30
Too cool for school: these interactive, theme-based lessons and creative hands-on projects make math come alive for each and every participant! Learn more and register at minicamp.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Chessboards and Dominoes” (online)
Friday, December 31 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
What shapes can you fit together to cover a chessboard? Dominoes? Trominoes? Learn about mathematical proofs while exploring patterns of odd and even numbers and experimenting with real dominoes and chessboards. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Polyomino Puzzlers” (online)
Tuesday, January 4 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
You’ve heard of dominoes, but have you ever heard of trominoes, tetrominoes, or pentominoes? Discover the many surprising shapes you can create simply by combining single-size squares. For senior citizens / mature adults. Explore various types of symmetry using these unique objects. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Making Math Solid: Octahedron” (online)
Friday, January 7 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Explore geometry and discover the beautiful structure of polyhedra! Using modular origami techniques that involve folding multiple sheets of paper, participants will each create their own octahedra. Making Math Solid is a series that focuses on different polyhedra, highlighting their fascinating properties. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Folding Fridays (online)
Friday, January 7 at 4:30 pm ET (New York)
Join origami expert Kathleen Sheridan for Folding Fridays. Explore the wonders of paper folding — there’s math in every fold! Learn more and register at foldingfridays.momath.org.
Bridge Basics 1 — first session of an eight-week course (online)
Sunday, January 9 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Bridge has been called “one of the world’s most popular partnership card games.” If you’ve always wanted to learn to play, MoMath is here to help. Join American Contract Bridge League accredited bridge teacher Dr. Susan J. Fishbein in a six-week program designed to show you the basics. Grounded in simple arithmetic, bridge inherently includes an assessment of probability as players think about what others are likely or unlikely to have in their hands. Join us for six weeks — and take away a hobby for a lifetime! Learn more and register for a new session beginning on January 9 at bridge.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Skipping Towards Infinity” (online)
Monday, January 10 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Is it possible to add infinitely many things and end up with a single finite number? Sometimes, but the arithmetic of infinity obeys its own strange rules. Achilles and the Tortoise never quite mastered them! Explore this classic paradox and other surprising and other unexpected results that arise when considering the mathematics of infinity. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
COVID Science: “What does herd immunity mean?” (first session of a three-part series) (online)
Monday, January 10 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
MoMath is delighted to announce a series of talks focused on answering your questions about COVID-19 and featuring Dr. Sharon Nachman, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. In this three-part online series, Dr. Nachman will share some of the science and math behind the spread of this disease, discuss what we know — and what we don’t know — and share the facts about how we can best protect ourselves and those we love. Learn more and register at covidscience.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, January 11 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Math Gems — first session of an eight-week minicourse (in-person/online)
Tuesday, January 11 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
In this eight-week minicourse, Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz will show you eight of the most beautiful gems in the history of math — clever calculations, nifty numbers, ingenious proofs, and the stories behind them, from cultures around the world — and then invite you to jump in and play with some engaging puzzles based on these jewels of mathematics. Learn more and register at gems.momath.org.
Math Encounters: “Tag Deal: Discrete Chaos in a Deck of Cards” featuring Barry Cipra (in-person/online)
Wednesday, January 12 at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Insanity, it’s sometimes said, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Mathematics, it might be said, often involves doing the same thing over and over and actually achieving different results. Join freelance mathematics writer Barry Cipra for some mathematical insanity with Tag Deal, a game of unpredictable repetition. Learn more and register for free at mathencounters.org.
Senior Sessions: “Vote Counts: Ranking and Tanking” (online)
Thursday, January 13 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Voting for a preference may seem simple, but when multiple options exist, the math gets complicated! The different methods of counting the vote can often result in different winners. Explore the mathematics behind various vote-counting systems and develop a deeper understanding of what it means for a system to be equitable. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Folding Fridays (online)
Friday, January 14 at 4:30 pm ET (New York)
Join origami expert Kathleen Sheridan for Folding Fridays. Explore the wonders of paper folding — there’s math in every fold! Registration coming soon. Learn more at foldingfridays.momath.org.
MOVES: “The Fascination of Puzzles” (in-person)
Mini-MOVES, Saturday through Monday, January 15-17, 2022
Full conference rescheduled to Sunday through Tuesday, August 7-9, 2022
The fifth biennial MOVES (Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects) Conference, hosted by MoMath and sponsored by Two Sigma, will feature an amazing lineup of keynote speakers, including Yoshi Anpuku, Scott Kim, Tanya Khovanova, Oskar van Deventer, and Peter Winkler. The conference will now take place in person on August 8 and 9, with an opening reception at MoMath on the evening of Sunday, August 7. In the interim, from Saturday, January 15, through Monday, January 17, a Mini-MOVES gathering will be held — in person — at MoMath. Learn more and register at moves.momath.org.
COVID Science: “Clinical trials from A to Z” (second session of a three-part series) (online)
Monday, January 17 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
MoMath is delighted to announce a series of talks focused on answering your questions about COVID-19 and featuring Dr. Sharon Nachman, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. In this three-part online series, Dr. Nachman will share some of the science and math behind the spread of this disease, discuss what we know — and what we don’t know — and share the facts about how we can best protect ourselves and those we love. Learn more and register at covidscience.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Luck, Magic, or Math?” (online)
Tuesday, January 18 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
At first glance, the occurrence of an “unlikely” event might seem like luck… or magic. However, when this event occurs over and over, we have to look more closely. With a bit of math, we will see that some events, which might seem unlikely at first, have a higher probability than intuition would suggest. Learn how a clever magician can “read the minds” of an unsuspecting audience using a little knowledge of probability! For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, January 18 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Math Gems — second session of an eight-week minicourse (in-person/online)
Tuesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
In this eight-week minicourse, Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz will show you eight of the most beautiful gems in the history of math — clever calculations, nifty numbers, ingenious proofs, and the stories behind them, from cultures around the world — and then invite you to jump in and play with some engaging puzzles based on these jewels of mathematics. Learn more and register at gems.momath.org.
Math Gym, a workout for your brain (online)
Wednesday, January 19 at 3:30 pm ET (New York)
Students, spend an hour independently working on engaging and beautiful math problems. Choose whichever challenges you like and explore them with the guidance of an expert mathematician. If you love to experience the incredible joy of mathematical discovery, you won’t want to miss this monthly program. Registration coming soon. Learn more at workout.momath.org.
Volumes, the book club at MoMath: a discussion of The Weil Conjectures by Karen Olsson (online)
Wednesday, January 19 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Love mathematics and books? Looking for a stimulating and fun discussion? Volumes, the MoMath book club, is just the thing for you. This reading group is designed especially for those interested in mathematics and science and how they affect our lives. No prior math or science background is necessary. The Weil Conjectures begins as a historical account of the Weil siblings ― Simone, a social activist and mystic, and André, a mathematician. However, the book quickly expands in scope, also becoming a meditation on creativity and on the author’s own years studying math. As Olsson grapples with the intellectual obsessions of these singular French thinkers, she revisits her own obsessions and the way in which her path from math major to writer illustrates the odd detours of life that sometimes lead to discovery. Learn more and register at volumes.momath.org.
Ask a Mathematician — Anything! (online)
Thursday, January 20 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Ever wanted to ask a mathematician something, maybe about a curious new idea you have, or a concept you’d like to understand better? Don’t know whom to ask? Here’s your chance! MoMath’s 2021-2022 Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics, Steven Strogatz, will host this one-hour, online session. Learn more and register at askmath.momath.org.
Rocket to the Moon (online)
Thursday, January 20 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
On July 20, 1969, in one of the greatest feats ever achieved by the human race, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon and became the first humans to walk on a celestial body other than Earth. Now, you can experience (or relive, for those old enough to remember) the sights and times of those days as well as other things “moon-related” in an exciting, immersive presentation. Join Dr. Kevin Bowman, Professor of Mathematics at the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute for Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy at the University of Central Lancashire, as he explains not just the mathematics and science behind this adventure but also what it was like to live through those historic times. Strap in and join the race to the moon as you become an Apollo astronaut, meet the mighty Saturn V rocket, and embark upon your own epic voyage to a lunar landing! Learn more and register at space.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Prime Time” (online)
Friday, January 21 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Come explore modular arithmetic and prime numbers by learning about Cayley graphs, which resemble circular connect-the-dots patterns, but encode important mathematical information. Turn multiplication problems into simple shapes and discover the surprising patterns that emerge. For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Folding Fridays (online)
Friday, January 21 at 4:30 pm ET (New York)
Join origami expert Kathleen Sheridan for Folding Fridays. Explore the wonders of paper folding — there’s math in every fold! Learn more and register at foldingfridays.momath.org.
Family Fridays: “Balancing Act: The Math, Art, and Science of Balance” with Godwyn Morris (in-person/online)
Friday, January 21 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Join us for a fun and challenging adventure exploring the strategies of balancing equations by using a variety of craft materials and assorted objects. Attendees will design and build a series of Alexander Calder-style sculptures by arranging assorted components to create perfectly balanced projects. With lots of hands-on activities for everyone, we will explore the math, art, and the science of balance. Registration coming soon. Learn more at familyfridays.momath.org.
Krazy Kahoot with Steve Sherman (online) (free to members)
Saturday, January 22 at 3:00 pm ET (New York)
Join MoMath’s favorite math quizmaster Steve Sherman for a fun-filled family game bursting with a wide range of entertaining questions for all ages. Is your family up for this lively challenge?! Learn more and register at krazy.momath.org.
Bridge Basics 1 — second session of an eight-week course (online)
Sunday, January 23 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Bridge has been called “one of the world’s most popular partnership card games.” If you’ve always wanted to learn to play, MoMath is here to help. Join American Contract Bridge League accredited bridge teacher Dr. Susan J. Fishbein in a six-week program designed to show you the basics. Grounded in simple arithmetic, bridge inherently includes an assessment of probability as players think about what others are likely or unlikely to have in their hands. Join us for six weeks — and take away a hobby for a lifetime! Learn more and register at bridge.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Möbius Mischief” (online)
Monday, January 24 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Participants construct fascinating topological objects such as Möbius bands, discovering their fundamental patterns and structures. Hands-on activities lead participants to discover the surprising properties hidden in these surfaces! For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Starring Math — discussion of the film The Imitation Game, hosted by Steven Strogatz (online)
Monday, January 24 at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Math goes to the movies! Join Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz and special guest, Janna Levin, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College and award-winning author of A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines about the ideas and lives of Alan Turing and Kurt Gödel, for an hour of discussion. Each month, you’ll watch the featured film at your convenience, then join Steve and his special guests, who will take us deeper into the making of the film, the math in it, or the true stories of the mathematicians themselves. The series continues with a discussion of The Imitation Game, which begins when, in 1939, England declares war on Germany, and the allied code-breakers at Bletchley Park are desperate to crack the Enigma code, which the Nazis are using to transmit seemingly indecipherable messages containing essential intelligence. When a young mathematician and computer scientist named Alan Turing arrives to join the team, he sets out to do the impossible: to build a machine capable of converting Enigma-encoded messages into English. Learn more and register at starring.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, January 25 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Math Gems — third session of an eight-week minicourse (in-person/online)
Tuesday, January 25 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
In this eight-week minicourse, Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz will show you eight of the most beautiful gems in the history of math — clever calculations, nifty numbers, ingenious proofs, and the stories behind them, from cultures around the world — and then invite you to jump in and play with some engaging puzzles based on these jewels of mathematics. Learn more and register at gems.momath.org.
QED: Pitfalls for Parents (online) (free to members)
Wednesday, January 26 at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Parents, join Distinguished Visiting Professor Steve Strogatz for an hour of math learning, designed with you in mind. Starting with the basics, we’ll explore — and learn to leap right over — some of the most common stumbling blocks in K–12 math. Anything that you or your child ever found confusing is fair game! Learn more and register at qed.momath.org.
Senior Sessions: “Math in the Corner Pocket” (online)
Thursday, January 27 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Explore angles and the law of reflection while tracing the path of a billiard ball as it bounces off the walls of a pool table. Use patterns to discover a simple method to predict in which pocket the ball will land and learn how to prove your prediction is correct. Game on! For senior citizens / mature adults. Learn more and register at seniorsessions.momath.org.
Meet a Mathematician featuring Benson Farb, hosted by Steven Strogatz (online)
Thursday, January 27 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Did you ever wonder what a mathematician does all day? Or what made someone decide to become a mathematician? Or even, what a mathematician does for fun? You may be surprised by some of the answers! Join Steven Strogatz, MoMath’s 2021-2022 Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics, as he brings diverse and talented guests to the MoMath stage to share their experiences, their stories, and their love of mathematics. In January, meet Benson Far, a math professor at the University of Chicago. He’s known for his work in geometric group theory and low dimensional topology. He’s especially remarkable as a mentor, and has advised 38 PhD students and over 23 postdocs in the last 25 years. Join us for a freewheeling conversation about Benson’s approach to making mathematical discoveries and helping students reach their potential. Learn more and register at meetmath.momath.org.
COVID Science: “COVID myths… what is the science?” (third session of a three-part series) (online)
Monday, January 27 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
MoMath is delighted to announce a series of talks focused on answering your questions about COVID-19 and featuring Dr. Sharon Nachman, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. In this three-part online series, Dr. Nachman will share some of the science and math behind the spread of this disease, discuss what we know — and what we don’t know — and share the facts about how we can best protect ourselves and those we love. Learn more and register at covidscience.momath.org.
Folding Fridays (online)
Friday, January 28 at 4:30 pm ET (New York)
Join origami expert Kathleen Sheridan for Folding Fridays. Explore the wonders of paper folding — there’s math in every fold! Learn more and register at foldingfridays.momath.org.
Equilibrium, an adult evening of mathematical games (online)
Friday, January 28 at 7:00 pm ET (New York)
Prepare a snack, log on from home, and connect with new and interesting people, all while enjoying uniquely mathematical games, hosted by the nation’s only Museum of Math. Learn more and register at equilibrium.momath.org.
Bridge Basics 1 — third session of an eight-week course (online)
Sunday, January 30 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Bridge has been called “one of the world’s most popular partnership card games.” If you’ve always wanted to learn to play, MoMath is here to help. Join American Contract Bridge League accredited bridge teacher Dr. Susan J. Fishbein in a six-week program designed to show you the basics. Grounded in simple arithmetic, bridge inherently includes an assessment of probability as players think about what others are likely or unlikely to have in their hands. Join us for six weeks — and take away a hobby for a lifetime! Learn more and register at bridge.momath.org.
Tween Primes, the MoMath book club for tweens and teens: Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers by Pendred Noyce and Joan Charles (online)
Sunday, January 30 at 5:30 pm ET (New York)
When thirteen-year-old cousins Ivan and Daphne go on a treasure hunt in the rain one summer day, they never expect to stumble into a whole new world where words and numbers run wild. After the cousins outwit a plague of punctuation, grateful villagers beg them to find Lexicon’s missing children, who have been enticed away by dancing lights in the sky. Trekking between villages in search of clues, the cousins encounter a talking thesaurus, a fog of forgetting, the Mistress of Metaphor, a panel of poets, feuding parts of speech, and the illogical mathematicians of Irrationality. With time running out, will Ivan and Daphne find a way to solve the mystery of the lights in the sky and restore the lost children of Lexicon to their homes? Learn more and register at tweenprimes.momath.org.
Unlimited, MoMath’s mix-n-mingle program for students in middle and high school (online)
Sunday, January 30 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
Middle and high school students, come spend an hour or more with your peers, enjoying interesting mathematical activities, interactive social games, and great music, all led by an experienced MoMath educator. Learn more and register at unlimited.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, February 1 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Math Gems — fourth session of an eight-week minicourse (in-person/online)
Tuesday, February 1 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
In this eight-week minicourse, Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz will show you eight of the most beautiful gems in the history of math — clever calculations, nifty numbers, ingenious proofs, and the stories behind them, from cultures around the world — and then invite you to jump in and play with some engaging puzzles based on these jewels of mathematics. Learn more and register at gems.momath.org.
Folding Fridays (online)
Friday, February 4 at 4:30 pm ET (New York)
Join origami expert Kathleen Sheridan for Folding Fridays. Explore the wonders of paper folding — there’s math in every fold! Learn more and register at foldingfridays.momath.org.
Bridge Basics 1 — fourth session of an eight-week course (online)
Sunday, February 6 at 2:00 pm ET (New York)
Bridge has been called “one of the world’s most popular partnership card games.” If you’ve always wanted to learn to play, MoMath is here to help. Join American Contract Bridge League accredited bridge teacher Dr. Susan J. Fishbein in a six-week program designed to show you the basics. Grounded in simple arithmetic, bridge inherently includes an assessment of probability as players think about what others are likely or unlikely to have in their hands. Join us for six weeks — and take away a hobby for a lifetime! Learn more and register at bridge.momath.org.
Loving Math — stories, games, and laughter in a hilariously fun children’s hour (online)
Tuesday, February 8 at 4:00 pm ET (New York)
Join master storyteller Steve Sherman for an exciting session designed for kindergartners through third graders. If your child loves stories, games, and laughter, don’t miss this wild and wacky event! Learn more and register at loving.momath.org.
Math Gems — fifth session of an eight-week minicourse (in-person/online)
Tuesday, February 8 at 6:30 pm ET (New York)
In this eight-week minicourse, Distinguished Visiting Professor Steven Strogatz will show you eight of the most beautiful gems in the history of math — clever calculations, nifty numbers, ingenious proofs, and the stories behind them, from cultures around the world — and then invite you to jump in and play with some engaging puzzles based on these jewels of mathematics. Learn more and register at gems.momath.org.
Math Encounters: “Top Picks: How mathematics can be used to rank sports teams” featuring John Urschel (in-person/online)
Wednesday, February 9 at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm ET (New York)
How good is your team? In any sports league, a team’s win/loss record is often used to measure success. But in large leagues where not all teams play each other, often this simple win/loss record doesn’t fully answer the question. Join mathematician John Urschel, a former professional football player himself, to discover how a little bit of math can go a long way in answering this and other related questions. Learn more and register for free at mathencounters.org.
MATRIX x IMAGINARY Conference in Paris (in-person)
Monday, April 4 through Wednesday, April 6, 2022
MoMath is pleased to announce that it is joining forces with Institut Henri Poincaré and the IMAGINARY team to bring you MATRIX x IMAGINARY 2021 on the future of mathematics engagement. Mark your calendars now for three days of sharing, networking, and learning as we gather for the fourth biennial MATRIX conference in Paris. Registration coming soon. Learn more at matrix.momath.org.
VOLUNTEER AT MoMath!
We need you!
Interested in volunteering on the Museum floor? If you love math, would like to help others enjoy MoMath’s interactive suite of exhibits, and are willing to devote two 4-hour shifts each month, please send an email to jobs@momath.org with the subject line “MoMath integrator.” Please include a cover letter, current résumé, and a newly written essay that, in approximately 150 to 500 words, describes an experience that shaped your love of mathematics.
Perspectives: The MoMath Summer College Volunteer Program
Each summer, MoMath offers Perspectives, a volunteer program for college undergraduates. Students who complete Perspectives gain knowledge and experience in what it takes to operate a successful business and are exposed to a variety of interesting programs, lectures, and people. The expected commitment is five days per week for eight to twelve weeks, and it typically includes assignments on the floor of the Museum, in the retail shop, and in MoMath’s administrative office. Perspectives is an unpaid volunteer program. MoMath is currently accepting applications for summer 2022 and will be admitting candidates on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply at perspectives.momath.org.
Integrators: The MoMath High School Volunteer Program (in-person)
MoMath accepts a limited number of high school students for ongoing volunteer roles during summer vacation and/or the academic year. The Integrators program offers a unique chance to improve interpersonal and communication skills, explore mathematical concepts, and learn valuable job skills. MoMath Integrators interact with visitors (on the Museum floor or online) and train with professional educators, interpreters, and managers. Students who participate during summer vacation commit five days per week, while school-year participants commit approximately one day per week, typically a Saturday or Sunday, from September through June. Apply now for the 2021-2022 school year. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply at volunteers.momath.org.
Math on the House — mailing list; sign up to be notified about FREE events
MoMath is pleased to offer Math on the House, a mailing list for valued Museum patrons to receive free last-minute tickets to select events, when space is available. To subscribe, visit mathonthehouse.momath.org.
Beautiful Math
See what mathematicians think is beautiful about mathematics at beautiful.momath.org.
Spread the MoMath word
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Join the MoMath community
Become a member today and take advantage of exciting and engaging math programs for all ages. Visit momath.org/join to become a member and receive unlimited access to MoMath’s innovative exhibits, plus discounts for select programs and for products in Additions, the shop at MoMath. Members also receive free registration to select online programs, free access to recordings of MoMath programs, and exclusive invitations to members-only online events. Become a premium member and receive early notices, special invitations to exclusive MoMath events, discounts on birthday parties, and more. Join now and take advantage of MoMath’s low rates. To learn more about long-term memberships, call 212-542-0566.
We hope to see you — virtually and in person — soon!
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