The Mathematics of Mathematics Houses (The Snaky Connection)

Abstract

from scientists, historians, anthropologists, and others. T he first mathematics house in Iran was established in Isfahan in 1999 to inform the young students in this great historical and cultural city about the history, the beauty, the importance, and the applications of mathematics. It did this by familiarizing these young people with various mathematical sciences beyond the classroom, through observations, collaborations, and so forth, including teamwork with their teachers or other scholars. The house is financially supported by the municipal council of Isfahan. The activities of the Isfahan house are colorfully recounted on its lively webpage, http://www.mathhouse. org/; see also nms.lu.lv/mcg_10/2day-12/Ali_Rejali.ppt, which is the PowerPoint presentation by my colleague A. Rejali of the Isfahan University of Technology, who played a key role in establishing the Isfahan house. In the years after the first house opened in 1999, local authorities, with the advice and the help of mathematicians, have opened houses in Tabriz, Kerman, Zanjan, and other towns in Iran. These houses are supported by the municipal councils of the cities, or by the office of the ministry of education, or by both. In a few special cases, the houses are also supported by the private sector. There is no doubt that in the long run these houses will have an impact on mathematics education in Iranandwill assist the school system in raising the interest of Iranian students in mathematics. The schools and universities in different cities of Iran are usually busywith their routines and are not expected to have a serious impact on the mathematics awareness of the public, but the mathematics houses, in collaboration with the Iranian Mathematical Society, can have a natural and key role in increasing the public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics. (See [4], [1] for more details about the mathematics houses in Iran.) One of the main activities pursued by those in the Isfahan Mathematics House (IMH), which is being emulated in other mathematics houses in Iran, is for the leaders to invite prominent scholars fromboth inside the country and fromabroad to deliver popular talks about mathematics to general audiences, including mathematicians, teachers, students, and laypeople. This provides a good opportunity for the young students to meet some well-known mathematicians, which is very exciting for the students. Past invitees from abroad include Y. Dodge (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland), who spoke on p and random-number generators; S. Gazor (Queen’s University, Canada) on psycho-acoustics; K. Salamatian (Paris VI, France) on internet measurement; A. Enayat (American University, USA) on a gift from Cantor’s heaven; J. Vaananen (Helsinki University, Finland) on logic and mathematics; M. Andler (Universite de Versailles-Saint-Quentin and Animath, France) on current problems in mathematics education in France; G. Frey (Duisburg-Essen University, Germany) on number theory and coding; J.-M. Deshouillors (Universite de Bordeaux 1, France) on prime numbers yesterday and today Submissions may be uploaded to Editorial Manager (see instructions for authors), or sent directly to the Marjorie Senechal, mi.editor1@gmail.com