Changing the public perception of mathematics
Math is finally getting its due. Increased references to math in movies and on television, no doubt, has helped. In addition, more and more aspects of life are now demanding math, according to a professor at Washington University in St. Louis.
Changing the public perception of mathematics was one of the topics this weekend at a conference hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world's largest general science society.
Math may be hot, but does that mean that mathematicians are the essence of cool? The St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes a look.
Tags: Math, Mathematics, Education, Higher Education, Popular Culture, Education by Sistrunk
5 comments:
I once posted an article about Jack and Jill's Love-Hate Relationship used in trigonometry...
Letter Shredder: Interesting! It sounds like a one-of-a-kind post!
I'm not so sure the entertainment industry is doing mathematics a favor, although I didn't see the Pi movie. Portraying mathematicians as geeks and freaks does a disservice to those who hear music in math and find beauty in the intricacies of statistical permutations. Can you tell I was once THIS close to becoming a math geek? In "NUMB3RS", as soon as either of the math guys start talking, their monologues push my slumber button -- and I love math!
I wonder if luring unsuspecting students into science is a better ploy, because the math sneaks up on them through that venue. Once committed to science, they are obligated to learn the math. Some will catch fire from their exposure to the "hot" math and move in that direction, let's hope.
Me and math are not friends. But I know we are needing it more daily for this high tech stuff...
Georganna: Interesting perspective. "Hot math." Sounds like a marketing idea to me!
Rose: Your new calculus class meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and starts at 7 a.m. :-)
Post a Comment