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Visit Events Exhibits Donate Shop OPPORTUNITIES AT MOMATH How to Apply | Open Positions | Fellowships | Volunteering The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. _____________ HOW TO APPLY To ensure a successful application, please follow these instructions carefully. Application requirements: * Send an email to jobs@momath.org expressing your interest in a position at MoMath * Include the name of the position in the subject line * Include all three of the following items * Cover letter * Résumé with GPA * Personal statement describing your views on mathematics or a personal life experience you have had related to mathematics (must be separate from the two items above; one paragraph to one page in length) Incomplete application packages will not be considered. _____________ OPEN POSITIONS ASSISTANT DESIGNER The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is seeking a creative and skilled assistant designer to help develop its one-of-a-kind exhibits and installations. The Museum features innovative, interactive, and exploratory exhibits — created with a sophisticated design sensibility and an inventive use of technology. The assistant exhibit designer will help develop current and future exhibits and consult with vendors, fabricators, and third parties through all steps of the design and fabrication process. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Assist the Associate Director / Chief of Design with tasks associated with current and future exhibits and program materials. * Develop 3D computer drawings based on Director’s design and technical lead, from concept sketch through to bid drawings. * Create concept renderings for presentation in various formats including slide shows and brochures. * Ideate and create visuals of design alternatives. * Explore and document design solutions addressing spatial, technical, and structural issues. * Devise detailed and coordinate drawing sets for price estimation and fabricator bids. * Research materials and equipment. * Monitor communications with fabricators. Qualifications: * Degree in exhibit design or related field (architecture, interior design, industrial design) required. * Proficiency with Vectorworks or similar CAD program (MoMath is a Vectorworks office) required; proficiency with other 3D modeling programs that complement Vectorworks is a plus. * Strong 3D design skills; modeling, rendering, graphics integration. * Familiarity with Adobe suite of graphic design and publishing programs (most graphic design tasks are handled by MoMath’s graphics designer). * Familiarity with the physical properties of typical materials found in exhibits and furnishings. * Prior experience and familiarity with exhibition design. * Ability to work independently and collaboratively with Museum staff and to effectively communicate with external partners. The pay rate is $16.19 to $18.22 per hour. To apply, please send the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Assistant Designer” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. The National Museum of Mathematics is seeking an Assistant Project Manager to assist the Executive and Associate Directors with the daily management, coordination, and successful completion of construction projects. He/she will function as a project team member, have an understanding of the scope of the project, be familiar with project participants, and will coordinate with both internal and external project teams. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Providing coordination and support to overall project activities including design and construction. * Functioning as an adjunct to the Directors and completing tasks as assigned. * Assisting the Directors with procuring, negotiating, and approving contracts. * Assisting with the development and review of internal and external reports including project budgeting, project cash flow forecasts, and project status reports. * Assisting with exhibit design, fabrication, and installation processes. * Assisting with the invoice review processes. * Assisting with the change management process and claims mitigation. * Developing and establishing documentation and filing systems. * Assisting and participating in internal and external project meetings as needed, including responsibility for drafting and issuing agendas and meeting minutes. * Maintaining project tracking logs and monitoring overall project correspondence. * Assisting with project turnover documentation, recordkeeping/retention, warranty administration, and project closeout. Qualifications: * Have a Bachelor’s Degree (preferred in architecture, engineering, or construction management). * Have three to five years of experience in a design or construction-related field. * Demonstrate a general knowledge in these areas: design management, estimating, scheduling, budgeting/cost control, financial reporting. * Be capable of working on multiple projects simultaneously. * Work well in a team environment. * Have strong technical and communication skills. * Be proficient in scheduling and spreadsheet applications, including MS Project and Excel. * Have OSHA 10-hour certification. The salary range for this position is $90K to $120K, commensurate with experience and qualifications. To apply, please send the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Assistant Project Manager” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is entering an exciting period of expansion. To support its growth, the Museum is seeking an experienced, dynamic Chief Development Officer. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and CEO of the Museum, the Chief Development Officer will serve as a key member of the Museum’s leadership team and will lead the Museum’s overall fundraising strategy and execution; expand the Museum’s network of potential donors; and increase support from individuals and institutional contributors. Candidates must be creative, nimble, and capable of working collaboratively across the organization. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic annual fundraising plan. * Build relationships with existing individual and institutional donors and identify, research, and cultivate potential new donors. * Orchestrate the implementation of all development initiatives. * Utilize a full spectrum of fundraising methods, including individual/major donor appeals; foundation and corporate grant proposals; special events; government funding applications; memberships; direct mail; and online fundraising. * Partner with Museum management to aid in the development of a robust schedule of donor cultivation events and provide support for the Museum’s two annual fundraising events. * Set fundraising goals and budgets. * Manage the day-to-day operations of the development function and development staff and ensure a high level of quality, efficiency, and support. * Maintain close communication with Museum management regarding fundraising strategies and progress toward goals; report periodically to Board of Trustees. Qualifications: * At least seven years of progressively responsible work experience, with at least three years of experience in not-for-profit organizations; experience with museums or educational institutions in New York City preferred. * Demonstrated proficiency in establishing and managing relationships with donors in all categories. * Ability to lead, motivate, and organize a team. * Strong analytic and project management skills. * Demonstrated experience organizing and executing multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously. * Proven ability to implement annual and long-term strategic development plans. * Strong interpersonal skills, together with excellent verbal and written communications skills. * Experience working with a donor management system. * Bachelor’s degree required. The salary range for this position is $150K to $210K, commensurate with experience and qualifications. To apply, please send the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Chief Development Officer” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. DIGITAL CONTENT ASSISTANT The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is seeking a digital content assistant whose technical skills and attention to detail will motivate them to ensure high-quality, user-friendly content. The successful individual will coordinate a busy schedule of electronic communications in support of MoMath’s communications team. In all communications, the individual will be responsible for maintaining a high level of excellence; for ensuring that messaging is accurate, complete, consistent, timely, and appropriate; and for adhering to the Museum’s voice, style, and standards. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Uploading content to webpages and registration pages for MoMath events in a timely manner. * Keeping a variety of webpages up-to-date at all times. * Providing quality assurance for all newly published or recently updated content. * Identifying and communicating content and site issues, while helping coordinate across teams to find solutions. * Ensuring that all external inquiries receive prompt and courteous replies. * Facilitating a variety of communications over digital channels. * Contributing to documentation and improving processes relating to content production. * Other tasks as assigned. Qualifications: * 1 to 2+ years of experience with digital content production, management, or creation. * Proficiency in WordPress and HTML; familiarity with database management. * Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, adapt to changing priorities, and multi-tasking, all while staying organized and maintaining a high attention to detail * Excellent written and verbal communication skills * Creativity in problem solving * Goal-oriented * Team player The pay rate is $16.00 to $20.24 per hour. To apply, please email the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Digital Content Assistant” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. EDUCATOR The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is seeking creative, energetic individuals to join its staff as educators. The educator role offers the opportunity for a teacher with strong formal K-12 classroom teaching experience to participate in one of America’s major efforts in mathematical outreach to students, teachers, and the public. This role is an excellent opportunity for an experienced math teacher to stay active in education. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Educators will deliver a variety of online and in-person MoMath programs, including: * Field trip offerings for classes, camps, and other groups that visit the museum * In-museum public demonstrations and group activities * Mobile museum curricula, including educational outreach activities occurring in schools, community centers, public spaces, and other off-site venues * Internship programs * After-school and weekend math clubs or enrichment programs * Summer math camps and programs Qualifications: * A minimum of one semester of formal K-12 classroom teaching experience is required; experience of at least one year is a strong plus. Candidates with longer experience, as well as candidates with state certification, are encouraged to apply. Preschool experience is especially desirable. * A strong mathematics background * A record of successfully conveying the breadth, beauty, vitality, usefulness, and excitement of modern mathematics to diverse audiences * Experience with and enthusiasm for working with groups of K-12 students on mathematical activities * A love of communicating mathematical ideas at all levels of sophistication and understanding, especially in ways pitched to be meaningful to a broad public * The demonstrated ability to manage a classroom and present a compelling, thought-provoking, and fun experience The pay rate is $20.24 per hour. To apply, please email the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Educator” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is entering an exciting period of expansion. To support its growth, the Museum is seeking an experienced, dynamic Marketing and Communications Manager. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * The Marketing and Communications Manager’s primary job responsibilities will be to elevate the MoMath brand by implementing standards of strategic creative excellence that tell the MoMath story while consistently and effectively aligning with MoMath’s mission, vision, and voice. * Understanding leadership’s main objectives and translating those objectives into actionable communication and marketing strategies. * Building market share and presence to drive outstanding results in terms of attendance (both in person and online), membership, tourism, and retail patronage. * Significantly growing event revenue by actively and aggressively marketing, coordinating, and overseeing external events. * The Marketing and Communications Manager will work collaboratively with leadership, external partners, and internal teams, formulating both short-and long-term goals, defining metrics, and managing execution to meet those goals. * Often under tight timeframes, this position has the ultimate accountability for the quality of the work, timely delivery, and service standards with an emphasis on teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect. Qualifications: * Bachelor’s degree or higher; master’s degree preferred. * Seven (7) years of full-time progressively responsible work experience in marketing and communications. * Flawless written communication skills. * Experience developing communication and marketing strategies. * Experience working collaboratively and strategically across multiple functions. * Experience creating proven campaigns elevating a brand. * Experience with strategies and best practices for communications, including sophisticated and creative use of digital media. The salary range for this position is $75K to $110K, commensurate with experience and qualifications. To apply, please send the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Marketing and Communications Manager ” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. MUSEUM OPERATIONS MANAGER The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is seeking a responsible, efficient, and energetic individual to oversee the daily operations and visitor services of the Museum. This is an on-site, regular full-time position based in New York City. It offers a full suite of benefits. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * The Operations Manager’s job responsibility is to direct all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the visitor center and to ensure that the Museum provides a welcoming and mission-effective atmosphere. * Responsibilities will include oversight of the floor operations, including the management and training of staff. * The Museum Operations Manager will closely collaborate with other departmental managers to successfully administer public programs and offerings, including in-house events as well as outreach programs offered to the broader community, always ensuring that the Museum deploys its exhibition space, various events and programs, and other offerings at a high level of excellence. * This leadership role requires a fully on-site presence in the Museum from pre-opening to post-closing per day, with a five-day work schedule generally including one weekend day, evenings if/as needed, and a minimum of 50 hours per week; regular hours are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm with flexibility in scheduling required. Qualifications: * Bachelor’s degree required; STEM field preferred. * Operations experience with a museum or visitor center, preferably a hands-on science center, is a must for this position. * A strong commitment to visitor service and visitor satisfaction. * Strong personal communication skills and rapport with staff and visitors. * Advanced organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects with the day-to-day running of the Museum. * Experience leading a diverse team and collaborating with colleagues. * Ability to creatively problem-solve. * A strong work ethic with a track record of reliable attendance. * Background in or love of mathematics or a closely aligned field preferred. The salary range for this position is $75K to $90K, commensurate with experience and qualifications. To apply, please send the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Museum Operations Manager” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria, a current résumé, and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath seeks an office administrator to facilitate the business operations of the Museum by providing a broad range of administrative support that touches on a variety of aspects of program coordination, event planning, and office management. This role is an excellent opportunity for a jack-of-all-trades with strong administrative experience to contribute in various ways to the business of running a dynamic, expanding not-for-profit. This position may be either part-time or a full-time permanent position. The full-time position offers a full suite of benefits. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Aid in the execution of the work of MoMath’s administrative office by performing a wide variety of ad hoc tasks including research projects, database management, travel arrangements, phone coverage, scheduling, copying/scanning, running errands, and any other tasks that may be needed * Communicate effectively and professionally with MoMath staff, vendors, business partners, visitors, and program participants, in writing and on the phone * Help in a multitude of ways to ensure that programs and events are executed at a high level of excellence, with impeccable attention to detail and consummate professionalism Qualifications: * Strong experience with a variety of administrative tasks in an office or business setting * Demonstrated record of excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and reliability * Intelligence and strong judgment sufficient to conduct research and make appropriate recommendations * Patience in performing repetitive tasks * Polished oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write flawless and grammatically correct professional correspondence * Aptitude for working collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment * Passion for MoMath’s mission and a positive attitude towards mathematics * Familiarity with Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel * Three to five years of relevant work experience preferred * Bachelor’s degree required * Availability to work a 40-hour workweek if full-time, or the availability to work at least a half-day every weekday if part-time. The pay rate is $16.00 to $18.22 per hour. To apply, please send the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Office Administrator” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé, including grade point averages. PROGRAM ASSISTANT The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics to a diverse audience of all ages. Its interactive exhibits and stimulating programs encourage inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is seeking a Program Assistant to provide administrative and coordination support to a variety of highly visible events and ongoing activities such as online and in-person classes and events, after school programs, prizes/awards, public presentations, and summer camps. This is an on-site, regular full-time position based in New York City. It offers a full suite of benefits. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Implementing day-to-day plans for a variety of MoMath initiatives, events, programs, and activities * Ensuring that related schedules and deadlines are met * Communicating effectively and professionally with MoMath staff, vendors, visitors, and participants * Executing programs at MoMath’s high level of excellence You may also be asked to host birthday parties and other group events and/or to help out with other operational or administrative tasks in the Museum, the retail shop, or the office. Also note that because the Museum is a not-for-profit organization, everyone may be asked from time to time to pitch in on a variety of tasks, from stamping envelopes to carrying boxes to collating papers, etc. Qualifications: * Minimum of three years’ work experience in a relevant role required * A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university * Superb organization skills and attention to detail * A successful record of administrative problem-solving and trouble-shooting * Extraordinary communication and presentation skills in writing, on the phone, and in person * The drive and patience to roll up sleeves and ensure that the minutiae of a complex plan fit together perfectly * Comfort with and positive attitude toward mathematics, and a passion for education or museums * A strong sense of professionalism and responsibility * Previous experience in organizing events, programs, or activities is a strong plus The pay rate is $16.00 to $18.22 per hour. To apply, please send the following to jobs@momath.org, with a subject line that includes “Program Assistant” and your name: a cover letter explaining how you meet the above criteria; a current résumé; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. SCHOOL GROUPS COORDINATOR The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is a growing institution that provides a diverse audience insight into the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics. Its dynamic exhibits and programs stimulate inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of math. MoMath is seeking a School Groups Coordinator with excellent administrative and communication skills to serve as the point of contact for planning and scheduling online and in-person class trips for K-12 students. This is a full-time permanent position that offers a full suite of benefits. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Representing the Museum to teachers and other visitors planning online and in-person class trips for K-12 students * Maximizing Museum attendance by scheduling a high volume of school visits * Maintaining ownership of a complex and fluid calendar of visiting groups * Managing the invoicing process, including checking that invoices match the correct services and ensuring that they are paid * Advising visitors on details of arrangements, such as the most appropriate presentations for the class and the availability of resources * Accurately tracking details of visits and transactions in a variety of spreadsheets and lists * Preparing reports showing monthly and year-to-date student, group, and school booking data * Aiding in the invoicing and collections process ensuring compliance with all applicable Museum and departmental policies * Contributing to a variety of other Museum efforts as the need arises, including but not limited to coordinating volunteers assisting at Museum programs and events, helping to answer the phones, and helping with general office tasks as needed. Qualifications: * Exceptional customer service skills * Extraordinary attention to detail and organization skills, in order to flawlessly work across multiple systems and spreadsheets * Professional and polished phone presentation skills and written communication skills * Strong spreadsheet and analytical skills * Demonstrated record of achievement performing some complex administrative function * Team orientation, with the ability to work in close cooperation with other Museum staff members * Excellent creative problem-solving skills, an ability to be calm under pressure, enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic * Previous experience in a call center or billing/invoicing function is a plus * Bachelor’s degree required. The pay rate is $16.00 to $18.22 per hour. To apply, please email the following materials to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “School Groups Coordinator” and your name: a cover letter that explains how you meet the qualifications for the position; a current résumé, including grade point averages; and a statement (no more than one page) describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. Incomplete applications will not be considered. _____________ FELLOWSHIPS 2024-2025 CENTROID FELLOWSHIP The National Museum of Mathematics is pleased to announce the MoMath Centroid Fellowship program. A limited number of May 2024 graduates from around the country will be accepted for this highly selective, paid, year-long opportunity to work in museum administration at the National Museum of Mathematics, where they will: * Provide behind-the-scenes support to a unique New York City museum. * Help coordinate school visits and other school outreach programs. * Provide professional and polite customer service support via phone and email to visitors, patrons, and partners from around the world. * Collaborate to help provide high-quality, flawless public communications. * Aid in the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the Museum’s online presence. * Perform miscellaneous administrative tasks as needed. * Learn what it takes to operate a successful business. * Gain exposure to a variety of interesting programs, lectures, and people. * Interact with a motivated and talented team of colleagues. The successful candidate will have: * A bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a 3.5 GPA or higher; math or STEM majors are preferred but not required. * Excellent written communication skills. * Strong attention to detail. * A desire to support a mission-driven organization. * Prior employment experience demonstrating a solid work ethic. * Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for 14 months without visa sponsorship from the Museum. Total compensation for this position in the 2024–2025 fellowship program will be approximately $50,000, with roughly $47,000 paid during the program and a $3,000 completion bonus. To apply, please email the following to centroid@momath.org with a subject line that includes “MoMath Centroid Fellowship” and your first and last name: * A cover letter that explains how you meet the qualifications for the position. * A current résumé, including grade point average. * A statement describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you’ve had related to mathematics (no more than one page, please). * Three letters of reference, including two from your college math professors and one from your most recent manager or supervisor from a position you’ve held. (Letters should be submitted directly by your recommenders to centroid@momath.org.) _____________ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HIGH SCHOOL INTEGRATORS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Each academic year, MoMath accepts a very limited number of mathematically-talented high school students for ongoing volunteer roles in the Museum. 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 and online) and train with renowned mathematicians, professional educators, interpreters, and managers. The applicant pool is highly competitive and many Integrators go on to top colleges. Students who participate in the summer program must commit to volunteer for five (eight-hour) days a week, including a Saturday or Sunday, for a minimum of eight weeks during the summer. The summer program typically runs from Memorial Day weekend to the weekend after Labor Day. Students who participate during the school year must commit approximately one eight-hour day per week, typically a Saturday or Sunday, from September through June. The High School Integrators volunteer program is unpaid. Participants are eligible to accrue hours towards the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), a program for which MoMath carries the honor of serving as a Certifying Organization. Recipients of the PVSA receive a letter of appreciation from the President of the United States, an official recognition pin, and a certificate. MoMath is currently accepting applications for the 2024–2025 school year, due no later than July 31. Candidates must be able to attend in-person interviews to be conducted in August. To apply, download the application form at momath.org/integrators/apply. INTEGRATORS GENERAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (ADULT VOLUNTEER DOCENTS) MoMath is seeking volunteer Integrators to interact with individual visitors and school groups on the exhibition floor to help them have a rewarding experience during their time at the Museum. This position requires a solid math background, the ability to connect with learners of all ages, and a comfort with hands-on education. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: * Helping to maintain a friendly and welcoming environment for Museum visitors of all ages * Engaging with children and adults exploring the Museum and explaining various math concepts through floor activities and permanent exhibits * Understanding the Museum’s mission and helping to make MoMath a great family experience * Being an active member of the Integrators Program, which includes a commitment of at least two four-hour shifts a month * Attending a monthly professional development meeting * Dressing in a professional manner and being a positive representative of the Museum * Working on other projects as assigned Qualifications: * Passion for mathematics and for the mission of MoMath * Bachelor’s degree in math, science, or closely related field * Excellent presentation skills and a strong grasp of customer service * Comfort speaking in front of large audiences * Experience in education, museums, and/or informal learning * Previous experience working with children and/or families is a plus To apply, please email the following to jobs@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Volunteer Integrators” and your name: a cover letter that explains how you meet the above criteria; your résumé, including grade point averages; and a separate 150- to 500-word statement describing your views on mathematics or a life experience you have had related to mathematics. VOLUNTEERING AT MOMATH (ONE-TIME OR ONGOING AS NEEDED) MoMath welcomes volunteers who provide valuable support in a variety of individual ways across the Museum, in both public-facing and internal roles. * Do you love math and would you like to help others enjoy MoMath’s interactive suite of exhibits — and are you willing to devote two four-hour shifts each month? Apply to become a volunteer Integrators in the Museum! * Can you occasionally assist with MoMath events, demonstrations, birthday parties, and other activities at the Museum? * Are you a professional who would like to donate your expertise and time to MoMath? MoMath welcomes your support, especially if you are an educator, administrator, videographer, or technologist. To apply, please send an email to volunteer@momath.org with a subject line that includes “Volunteer” and your name. Include a cover letter, current résumé, and a newly written statement that, in approximately 150 to 500 words, describes an experience that shaped your love of mathematics. _____________ Are you passionate about spreading a love of mathematics, but don’t see the right fit listed here? Contact us at jobs@momath.org — we’d love to welcome you to the team. MoMath actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Equal opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. MoMath is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives any balance on Direct Loans after ten years of full-time employment in public service. JOBS AT MOMATH Open Positions * Assistant Designer * Assistant Project Manager * Chief Development Officer * Digital Content Assistant * Educator * Marketing and Communications Manager * Museum Operations Manager * Office Administrator (full- or part-time) * Program Assistant * School Groups Coordinator Fellowships * Centroid Fellowship Volunteer Opportunities * High School Integrators volunteer program (math skills required) * Integrators volunteer program (adult docents; math skills required) * MoMath volunteer program (all volunteers welcome) Please see application requirements; incomplete applications will not be considered. 225 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010 212-542-0566 • info@momath.org Open 7 days a week 10:00 am – 5:00 pm * Home * Visit * Calendar * Exhibits * Contribute * About * Press * Join * Jobs * Shop * Volunteer © MoMath, 2019 • Website designed by Mathigon.org THOMAS LI, SKATEBOARDING IN 4 DIMENSIONS The judges are excited to recognize the video, “Skateboarding in 4 Dimensions,” by Thomas Li from Clarksville, MD, for its originality in making the connection between skateboarding and rotations in three dimensions. The video is passionate and fun, and the judges loved its playfulness. The skewering of the apple and Thomas’s genuine enthusiasm—conveying his belief that quaternion multiplication is cool—added to the video’s charm. This engaging and educational video stands out for its creativity and the enthusiasm it brings to learning and applying complex mathematical concepts. Click here to watch Thomas’s video. CLOSE ARIA MAKHIJA AND OMA MAKHIJA, PRIMES CARD GAME The judges are thrilled to recognize “PRIMES Card Game,” by Aria and Oma Makhija from Florham Park, NJ, for its elegant and original design, presenting a challenging yet accessible experience for players of all ages. The game involves using four given numbers and the basic operations of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) to make a target prime number at the center of the card, encouraging players to find multiple solutions when possible. This engaging game can be played solo or with multiple players, providing excellent practice in mental arithmetic and fostering an appreciation for the properties of prime numbers. The card design is particularly commendable, offering clear instructions and examples that enhance gameplay. The accompanying video is both fun and informative, brimming with great energy. PRIMES Card Game stands out not only for its simplicity but also for its ability to engage and entertain children and adults alike. Click here to watch their video. CLOSE ALEX ROSENZWEIG, “THE FACE FIELD” While taking a course in multivariable calculus, Alex Rosenzweig became fascinated by the concepts of gradients and vector fields. Struck by the use of the same word — “gradient” — in art, he composed this watercolor painting to illustrate the mathematical meaning of gradients and vector fields in this innovative, three-dimensional series of self-portraits. The image charmed the judges mathematically and pedagogically, as well as artistically. Click here to view the painting. CLOSE SOHIL RATHI, MASTERING AMC 8 – RECURSION Sohil Rathi created a comprehensive prep text for students interested in the American Mathematics Competition. This hybrid book, featuring both text and videos, serves as a valuable resource for aspiring competitors. In particular, the judges were intrigued by a collection of problems about recursion formulas, including a nifty stair-climbing problem related to the Virankha-Fibonacci numbers. With accompanying video solutions, as well as helpful pointers and strategies, this collection is sure to benefit students seeking to excel in the AMC competitions. Click here to view Sohil’s writing. × PARTH PATEL, ORTHOGONAL FRIENDS In this captivating expository paper, Parth Patel’s novel concept of on “Orthogonal Friends” emerges from his initial misunderstanding of a calculus lesson on orthogonal trajectories. The paper not only demonstrates a clear understanding of the mathematical concepts but also successfully conveys the broader point that mistakes can be remarkably fruitful, and that mathematics is a realm of endless exploration and discovery. This paper was a joy to read! Click here to view Parth’s paper. × ROHAN MEHTA, THE ATTENTION MECHANISM DEMYSTIFIED Rohan Mehta’s attempt to explain the mathematical underpinnings of transformers, such as ChatGPT, demonstrates a deep understanding of advanced mathematical concepts. Despite the complexity of the topic, Rohan’s explanations are clear and provide intuitive understanding. The writing style showcases a remarkable level of grace, confidence, and sophistication, leaving the judges astonished that this work was produced by a high school student. Click here to view Rohan’s writing. × ANAYA WILLABUS, COOL MATH IS COMPLEX/HAIKU’S BEAUTY IS SIMPLE/MATH MAKES POETRY In this remarkable exploration of communicating math concepts through the art of haiku, Anaya Willabus offers a new way to entice people to learn about complex mathematical topics. The inclusion of notorious unsolved problems, such as the Collatz conjecture, adds a captivating twist. The judges were particularly impressed by the inventiveness of this endeavor, recognizing its potential as a gateway to bridging the gap between mathematics and poetry and enhancing the public’s engagement with math. Click here to view Anaya’s poetry. × ZOË NADAL, ZERO’S LAMENT The judges were delighted by Zoë Nadal’s exceptional performance in the entry “Zero’s Lament.” With witty lyrics, captivating singing, and impressive piano playing, she conveyed the mathematical quirks of zero in a memorably original fashion. Zoë’s musical talent and humor, combined with the video’s educational content, add up to a uniquely entertaining experience. Click here to watch Zoë’s performance. × JAEMIN KIM, BENFORD’S LAW Immersing viewers in a whimsical cartoon fairy tale, Jaemin Kim tells a tale of a kingdom in financial distress as a narrative device to introduce the statistical regularity known as Benford’s law. This creative video serves as an engaging platform to demonstrate how Benford’s law can be employed as a powerful tool for fraud detection. The judges were struck by the clarity of the explanation, which effectively conveyed the meaning and intuitive understanding behind Benford’s law, and they admired the playful videography and storytelling that brought the concept to life. Click here to view Jaemin’s video. × GRIFFIN HON, PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS Griffin Hon’s video effectively conveys the key ideas of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a fundamental tool in linear algebra and data analysis. With a spirit of invention and playfulness, Griffin reveals the hidden geometry underlying PCA. The judges were impressed by the engaging approach taken in the video and commend Griffin’s ability to communicate complex mathematical concepts in an entertaining, down-to-earth fashion. Click here to see Griffin’s video. × AKILAN SANKARAN, EXPLORING AND EXPLAINING THE ELEGANCE OF MATHEMATICS THROUGH TWITTER The judges were enthralled by Akilan Sankaran’s exceptional teaching and warm demeanor in the writing entry entitled “Math on Twitter.” With clarity and expertise, he presents the “éclair puzzle,” related to Fibonacci-Virankha numbers, and uses this puzzle to illustrate problem-solving strategies more generally. His post on Eulerian circuits offers clear graphs, historical insights, and optional proofs. Akilan’s skill at blending theory, history, and education truly create an engaging and unique Twitter experience. The judges commend Akilan for his stellar ability to teach complex mathematical ideas with clarity and enthusiasm, making the journey through mathematical concepts both enjoyable and satisfying, all while fostering a dedication to an inclusive and welcoming learning space. Click here to view Akilan’s Twitter stream. × ISABELLE SCHWARTZ, COVID AMERICAN ANGELS The judges were deeply moved by the emotional impact and thoughtfulness in “COVID American Angels.” This poignant piece delves into the overwhelming reality of the unfathomable 200,000 deaths caused by COVID, employing a powerful symbol—the American flag—to represent each life lost. Through this visual representation, Isabelle Schwartz explores the profound challenge of visualizing such vast numbers and implores us to connect with each human life beyond mere statistics. “COVID American Angels” stirs our emotions and provokes reflection. The judges applaud her for tackling such a challenging subject matter with grace and sensitivity, creating a stunning piece of art that leaves a lasting impression. Click here to view Isabelle’s art. × KAREEM JABER, THE UNSOLVABLE CONFIGURATION OF THE 15 PUZZLE AND AN INTERESTING APPROACH TO ABSTRACT ALGEBRA In Kareem Jaber’s essay on the 15 puzzle, the exposition builds from the concrete to the general, and gently walks the reader through this classic puzzle as well as through problem-solving techniques more broadly. By the end, it becomes clear that this puzzle is actually a case study in group theory about permutations. The judges felt that Kareem’s entry was particularly suitable for students with a serious interest in mathematics. Click here to read the essay. × Adam Dhalla, Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence: Selected Writings ADAM DHALLA, MATHEMATICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: SELECTED WRITINGS In this impressive collection of videotaped lectures about the math of neural networks, deep learning, and artificial intelligence, Adam Dhalla keeps it old school, standing in front of a whiteboard and using colored markers, but he modernizes the classic style by providing useful timestamps in the video description. The judges also admired his stage presence, his clear voice, and the production quality of the videos. Click here to visit Adam’s site × GRIFFIN HON, RANDOM WALKS The judges were bowled over by the energy and sense of humor in Griffin Hon’s entry, “Random Walks”! This video will appeal to kids of all ages, and it does a great job of conveying the excitement, importance, and universality of random walks. The subject of random walks pops up in many parts of mathematics and has applications in fields ranging from finance to physics, all of which were engagingly presented in Griffin’s video. Click here to watch the video. × RIN FUKUOKA, ORIGAMETRY In “Origametry,” Rin Fukuoka uses origami to construct regular polygons and also to trisect an angle. The judges found the video very fresh, playful, and minimal (no words are spoken, and only a few are written). The level of the teaching is especially skillful (for example, note the appropriate pauses in the trisection argument after the rhetorical question “but why?”). At that point and elsewhere, Rin demonstrates great sensitivity to the audience. Click here to watch the video × ANGELA WU, THE SPECIAL PARALLELOGRAMS Angela Wu earned honorable mention for her suspenseful movie trailer about special parallelograms: rectangles, rhombuses, and squares. It’s a funny and well-edited video that will have wide appeal. Click here to watch the video × RAUNAK BANERJEE, PCA MADE EASY Using shadows of an airplane as an example, Raunak Banerjee’s illustrated essay offers a welcome introduction to principal component analysis, a dimension reduction technique in data science, and then deciphers the jargon that often clouds the understanding of this statistical technique. Click here to read his essay. × THAIS ESTRADA-NUÑEZ, UNIVERSAL MATH In this elegantly brief poem, Thais Estrada-Nuñez starts from “One seed plus one seed is two seeds,” and soon we’re taking flight (and the layout of the poem itself looks like it’s taking flight on the page). The overall effect is stylish, with hints of subtlety and depth. Click here to read the poem. × ARUSHEE JHA, ROUND KÖNIGSBERG Arushee Jha’s website, “Round Königsberg,” is dedicated to combinatorics and is enlivened by Arushee’s colorful original drawings. Viewers will be drawn in by the website’s exposition of such engaging topics as the seven bridges of Königsberg (a seminal problem in the development of graph theory) and the history and reasoning behind magic squares. Click here to visit the website. × WYETH RENWICK, A PROOF OF THE FUNCTION ME Wyeth Renwick’s poem is intriguingly ambiguous and open to interpretation: some of the judges read it as a love poem that winks at the reader with its use of mathematical concepts and language, while others saw it as a poetic animation of a human relationship, viewed as the graph of a function. Either way, it makes math and poetry both seem more accessible to students who might otherwise not be drawn to these subjects. Click here to read the poem. × Madeline Chun, Mathematics and the Marimba In her project, Madeline uses the musical instrument known as the marimba to demonstrate something profound about music: musical harmony is intimately connected to the ratios of small whole numbers, a discovery that Pythagoras and his followers are said to have made 2500 years ago. The judges were impressed with the clarity and elegance of Madeline’s explanations and demonstrations. Click here to watch Madeline’s video. × Jibran Iqbal Shah, @creative_math_ Jibran has an Instagram site, @creative_math, where he introduces high school students to topics normally reserved for undergraduate math majors. The judges admired the attractiveness of his posts and how skillfully he explains advanced mathematical ideas, always with a friendly voice. Click here to read Jibran’s posts. × Alyssa Choi, Tic-Tac-Toe Alyssa wrote a paper that explains the optimal strategy for tic-tac-toe and also explores variants of the game on a 4×4 grid and in a 3x3x3 cubical lattice in three dimensions. The judges appreciated the clarity and originality of Alyssa’s investigations. Click here to read Alyssa’s paper. × Cole Leis, On the Importance of Humanizing Math Communication Cole’s project was an essay about “a disconnect between the way math is typically portrayed and the way that it is actually done.” Math textbooks and papers usually try to look flawless, but anyone who does math knows how messy and confused it can be when you’re actually doing it. Cole interviewed several mathematicians about this disconnect and produced a cogent argument that math communication would be more effective if we humanized it by showing our mistakes as well as our insights. Click here to read Cole’s essay × Ian Liu, The Golden Phi-ano Song For his project, Ian constructed a song out of the digits of the irrational number known as the golden ratio (also known as the divine proportion because of its beauty). All the judges found the project intriguing as an exploration and thought the song itself was surprisingly pretty. Click here to listen to Ian’s song. × Madeleine Farr, A 3D Valerie Thomas, But Not How You'd Think Madeleine created a portrait of the mathematician Valerie Thomas. The judges were impressed with this project’s inventiveness: it uses nothing but the characters “3D”—artfully placed—to create a powerfully evocative portrait of a mathematician known for her work on 3D satellite imaging. × Helena Soares, This Fundamental Theorem - A Found Poem Helena wrote a “found poem” – a poem where every word (except for “you” and “us”) is from another source, in this case the MathWorld article by Eric Weisstein on “Fundamental Theorems of Calculus.” Helena rearranged the words to create something totally unexpected, an understated little poem that took the judges’ breath away. Click here to read Helena’s poem. × Shreya Mogulothu and Amy Wang, Combinatorial Proofs... and Basketball Shreya and Amy teamed up to bring a combinatorial identity to life. Using basketball as a mathematical playground, they showed two approaches to calculating how many ways a player could make or miss n shots, and thereby neatly led the viewer through a proof that the sum of the binomial coefficients “n choose k” from k = 0 to n equals 2^n. The video is goofy and fun: Amy writes (and playfully trash-talks) while Shreya shoots and, before you know it, they’ve derived the identity for the sum of the binomial coefficients. The judges enjoyed the simple but clever videography, the banter between the girls, and their neat explanations of the math. Click here to watch the video × Julia Schanen, Math Person Julia Schanan’s entry for the Strogatz Prize was a free-verse poem titled “Math Person.” The judges were moved by the poem’s artistry and emotional power, its depth and raw honesty, its brilliant use of language, and its eye for the unexpected but telling detail. “Math Person” conveys – in ways both beautiful and haunting – the isolation Julia felt as one of the only girls in the American Math Competition 10th grade and, more profoundly, the intellectual isolation she still feels every day as someone who loves math deeply yet lacks a friend with whom to share it. Mom offers to stop by Panera as a treat for all the painful math that I’ve just endured. Except it wasn’t painful. I’m someone who sat through the slow-drip of middle school math, bored and daydreaming, not seeing what it was all for, wishing – but never working up the guts to push – for more. Not until now. Now, I don’t want Panera. I don’t want to be patted on the shoulder and misunderstood. I want to go back into that auditorium and finish the exam and talk about it all night. The judges felt that their own words were inadequate to summarize Julia’s achievement in writing “Math Person.” Let us simply say, read her poem and experience it for yourself. Click here to read Julia’s poems. × Apoorva Panidapu, Gems in STEM Apoorva Panidapu is a 16-year-old mathematics student, artist, and advocate for youth and gender minorities in STEAM. She writes a blog called “Gems in STEM” and frequently posts the essays on Cantor’s Paradise, the #1 math site on Medium.com. She sees her blog as “a place to learn about math topics in an accessible, light-hearted manner. I assume no more than basic math knowledge and include fun tidbits for learners of all experience levels. For both my own fun and for readers, I weave in pop culture, pick-up lines, and over-the-top stories to let people into the fantastical world of math, and to show them that anyone can enjoy anything.” The judges were very impressed with Apoorva’s joyful, elegantly written blog posts on a wide range of math topics, from the liar’s paradox and partitions to tessellations and fractals. Combining clear explanations with an appealing layout and well-chosen graphics, Gems in STEM is itself a gem. The judging panel loved the wide range of Apoorva’s blog posts. They touch on history, etymology, and puzzles, and make connections to everything from art and architecture to science and nature. Apoorva’s uplifting message is that math is everywhere and approachable by anyone from any background. Click here to read Apoorva’s posts. × Shirley Zhu, Combinatorics: Sticks and Stones Shirley’s animated video is filled with jokes and pop-culture references, intended to appeal to younger audiences (though the audience of older judges enjoyed it very much too). Her goal, she says in her essay, is to demystify “mathematics with humor, fun animations, and real-world scenarios.” In her video, Shirley illustrates a technique in combinatorics known as Sticks and Stones (or Stars and Bars) by telling a story about Grandpa Bob’s dilemma: He wants to know how many different ways there are for him to distribute 10 one-dollar bills among his three granddaughters. With excellent pedagogy (including falling into a tempting mathematical trap and then showing how to get out of it), the video shows the viewer how to count all ways Grandpa Bob can solve his problem. The video is fun and fast-paced, but spends just the right amount of time on the harder ideas and leavens them with colorful graphics and word choice. Click here to watch Shirley’s video × Catherine Stanton, Understanding Set Theory Catherine’s video was inspired by her struggle to understand why the empty set is a subset of every set. As she wrote in her essay for this contest, “I’ve never been one to accept or memorize a mathematical concept unless it makes complete sense to me, so I decided to go beyond sheer numbers and create an analogy. I realized that the sets on my page could be related to my classes at school. As the elements of a mathematical set are numbers, the elements of a class are students. When some are absent, only a “subset” of the class exists. And when all are absent, a subset of the class still exists since the class period still technically occurs. This analogy wasn’t something I wanted to keep to myself, and so it became the basis of my entry to the Strogatz Prize competition!” The judges appreciated Catherine’s lucid explanations and accompanying graphics. Set theory is often regarded as one of the most abstract parts of math, but in Catherine’s hands, it becomes tangible and vivid. Her classroom analogy should appeal to any student. Beyond that, Catherine gives the viewer a glimpse of the universality of set theory and a taste of its applications in computer science. Click here to watch Catherine’s video × Smayan Khanna, 4 Colour Map Theorem In this video about a famous theorem in graph theory and topology, Smayan beautifully explains why every planar map can be colored with just four colors, in such a way that neighboring countries always have different colors. The video is gentle and clear, and enlivened by plentiful graphics, neatly synchronized to Smayan’s narration. He gives the viewer helpful intuition about how inequalities (for vertices, edges, and faces of planar graphs) can be used to cut a seemingly infinite problem down to a finite number of cases, which can then be checked by computer. The judges felt that this was a very crisp presentation of a deep result in advanced mathematics, explained in a way that anyone can grasp and enjoy. Click here to watch Smayan’s video × Math, Music, and the Moral Imagination Jazz saxophonist and mathematician Marcus G. Miller will share a reflection on how math and music can make us whole. Marcus G. Miller is a musician and mathematician living in New York City. × Logic Puzzle John Urschel, current MIT math PhD candidate and former NFL pro, shares his favorite logic puzzle. John Urschel played professional football for the Baltimore Ravens from 2014 to 2017 before retiring to focus on his career in mathematics. He is currently a PhD candidate at MIT, where he studies spectral graph theory, numerical linear algebra, and machine learning. × Brainteaser Kahoot Get ready to take part in a whacky and zany brainteaser Kahoot with Steve Sherman. This is a quiz that will tickle your brain-strings and challenge your thinking skills. Some of the brainteasers will be easy while others will make you think. Do you have what it takes to be our brainteaser champion? Materials needed: * Smart phone, tablet, or personal computer with internet access Steve Sherman is the Chief Imagination Officer and Executive Daydreamer of Living Maths. × The Doomsday Rule When visiting MoMath, the late, great John Horton Conway impressed people by instantly telling them the day of the week that any given date fell on or will fall on. And you can do it too! What date of the week will your birthday fall on next year? Or your anniversary? Or favorite holiday? When’s the next Friday the 13th? What day of the week were you born on? Tune in for a presentation by MoMath Puzzle Master Peter Winkler on the marvelous “Doomsday rule.” It’s easy and fun, and with a little practice you’ll be able to duplicate Conway’s feat. It’s a great trick, and it’s cleverly designed so that you can remember it and wheel it out whenever it’s needed. Materials needed: * Paper * Pencil Peter Winkler is the current MoMath Distinguished Chair for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics and Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Dartmouth College. × Moving in Circles Join Karl Schaffer as we play with several surprising ways of moving our limbs in circles. Apply these actions to create movement sequences with the ultimate mathematical prop — an ordinary sheet of paper. Then, learn how it connects to the curious algebra of quaternions! Materials needed: * Several sheets of 8.5″ by 11″ printer paper * 5′ by 5′ area in which to move (non-carpeted area preferred) Karl Schaffer is a dancer, choreographer, mathematician, and math professor at De Anza College. × Conway's Rational Tangles What can the fluidity of topology and knots have to do with the rigidity of operations on fractions? Join Alex Kontorovich to learn the fascinating connection discovered by the late mathematician John Conway. Materials needed: * 2 strings of different colors (wires or shoelaces are also okay) * Surface to lay the strings on (e.g. floor or table is fine) * Optional materials: paper and pencil Alex Kontorovich is MoMath Dean of Academic Content and math professor at Rutgers. × Folding Fun! Origami expert Wendy Zeichner will teach one or two origami action models that will be folded from regular printer paper. There’s math in every fold! Materials needed: * Several sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ printer paper * Pen or pencil * Scissors Wendy Zeichner is an origami expert and president of OrigamiUSA. × Math in Motion: Build Your Own Paper Spinner Turn two pieces of heavy paper and some tape into a spinning top, and explore the geometry behind it! Join Yana Mohanty, Ph.D., a mathematician and inventor of Geometiles®, as she guides you through this fun STEM activity. You will be provided with a printable template and shown how to transform it into your spinner. Once you master the simple construction, you may decorate your spinner with your own design. Materials needed (metric equivalents in brackets): * 2 sheets of 8.5” x 11” (size A4) card stock paper, ideally in 2 different colors; manila folders cut to 8.5” x 11” will also work * Scissors * Tape * Optional: This project can also be built from Geometiles® Mini Set 2, available from Additions, the online shop at MoMath. Yana Mohanty is a math educator, mathematician, and the creator of Geometiles®. × One Step Back, One Step Forward If repeated flips of a coin determined which step you took, would you get anywhere? Step right in (bring your own coin) and find out! Materials needed: * 1 coin * Paper * Pencil Ralph Pantozzi is the winner of the 2014 Rosenthal Prize and a Presidential Awardee in math teaching. × Numbers Meet Shapes in 3D Geometry Let’s discover the magic of Euler’s Polyhedral Formula while creating structures out of toothpicks and marshmallows. Materials needed: * 1 box of traditional rounded toothpicks with points at both ends * 1 bag of mini marshmallows * Paper * Pencil Bruce Bayly is a math professor at the University of Arizona and bus driver for the Arizona Mathematics Road Show. × Engineering with Paper Join us online for a math-and-paper engineering adventure! Godwyn Morris, Director of Dazzling Discoveries STEM Education Center, will demonstrate some Engineering with Paper challenges. Together we will explore proportion, ratio, and scale as Godwyn shows you how to create structures, furniture, and characters from simple supplies. Materials needed: * Printer paper * Tape * Scissors Godwyn Morris is the Director of Dazzling Discoveries STEM Education Center. × Mathemagics! Dr. Arthur Benjamin will amaze you with some mathematical magic, and then teach you how to do it. Bring a calculator! Materials needed: * Calculator Art Benjamin is an award-winning popular entertainer, mathemagician, and math professor at Harvey Mudd College. × How to Fold Things into Thirds, Thirty-Thirds, and Three-Hundred-and-Thirty-Three-"irds" Bring along something bendy — a tie, a shoelace, a piece of string — and let’s have fun exploring some of the curious mathematics of folding. Materials needed: * Something bendy, such as a tie, shoelace, or piece of string James Tanton is a global educator, math popularizer, and mathematician. × Can Math Help You Juggle? Educator and entertainer John Chase will show you the powerful connections between mathematics and juggling. Math modeling has given jugglers all kinds of new patterns to juggle, and we invite you to come see what mathematics can do. Bring three juggling objects so you can join the fun! Materials needed: * 3 juggling objects John Chase is a mathematical juggler and math educator. × A Four-Card Mathematical Magic Trick Manjul Bhargava will demonstrate an interactive magic trick that exhibits how one can create surprising complexity from extreme simplicity. Viewers are encouraged to participate from home! Materials needed: * 4 playing cards Manjul Bhargava is the MoMath Inaugural Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics, math professor at Princeton University, and Fields Medalist. × Activities from the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival Come and enjoy some non-competitive explorations in mathematics. Mark Saul is the Senior Scientist at the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival. × Let the Math Fun Begin! Cindy Lawrence, MoMath Executive Director, and Tim Nissen, MoMath Associate Director, welcome all to the fifth annual NYC Math Festival, featuring hours of mathematical fun and entertainment. Join presenters from all over the world to share an afternoon of lively, engaging activities. James Tanton, Chair of MoMath’s Advisory Council, kicks the Festival off by sharing the highly intriguing “International Math Salute.” Can you figure out how it works? × NYC Math Festival Pre-Show The Festival site opens at 1:30 pm EDT (New York). Enter at any time between 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm to view some favorite MoMath pix from years gone by. Activities begin promptly at 2:00 pm EDT (New York). × See our selection of Geometiles® and browse for books by Festival presenters Peter Winkler and Art Benjamin. A MoMath retail specialist will be on hand to answer questions and offer expert shopping advice for all your mathematical gift needs. × Stop by to view a selection of Rubik’s Cubes, browse for Christopher Danielson’s delightful books, Which One Doesn’t Belong? and How Many?, and learn more about the film The Man Who Knew Infinity, for which Manjul Bhargava served as technical advisor to ensure the accuracy of the math featured in the film. A MoMath retail specialist will be on hand to answer questions and offer expert shopping advice for all your mathematical gift needs. × Check out MoMath’s selection of colorful origami paper, Karl Schaffer’s book Math Dance, and other great items from Additions, the online shop at MoMath. A MoMath retail specialist will be on hand to answer questions and offer expert shopping advice for all your mathematical gift needs. × Math Meets Art: Rubik's Cube Mosaics Watch as Lauren Rose builds a Rubik’s Cube mosaic, and try to figure out what the picture will be. Math meets art in this creative application of the popular Rubik’s Cube. Lauren Rose is a mathematician and math professor at Bard College. × Rubik's Cube With Feet Daniel Rose-Levine will demonstrate how he solves the Rubik’s Cube with his feet in under 20 seconds. Daniel Rose-Levine is the former Rubik’s-Cube-with-feet world record holder. × Mime-matics How can the invisible world of mime explore mathematical ideas? Join Tim Chartier as he uses mime to investigate weight, magnitude of force, and projective motion with the art of mime. You’ll also learn how to make an infinite chocolate bar. (The candy bar is a real prop but eating is pantomimed so enjoyment is calorie-free.) Tim Chartier is a mathematical mime performer and math professor at Davidson College. He has performed throughout the world and has been trained in several mime schools, including master classes with the legendary Marcel Marceau. × Finding and Creating Symmetry Symmetry is all around us. We see symmetry in our bodies, car wheels, fences, fabric patterns, the MoMath logo, and many other objects! We will learn about different types of symmetry and have fun creating symmetric art using common objects. David Reimann is an Albion College math and computer science professor and artist who uses symmetry in his work. × Fun with Mathematical Definitions Is an elevator a vehicle? Is a hot dog a sandwich? Is a heart a shape? Is an emoji a word? The answers to these questions depend on your definitions of vehicle, sandwich, shape, and word. Precise definitions are essential tools of mathematics, but few definitions start out as precise as they’ll need to be later on. Come play with the boundary between precision and ambiguity in this fast-paced participatory session. Christopher Danielson is an award-winning author and math educator. × Math Raps and the Math Behind Them Join Mr. A. as he shares one of his many Math Raps, discusses how he got started rapping about math, and takes you through some of the mathematical ideas and references in the rap. Mike Andrejkovics is a high school math teacher from Long Island, NY who creates and performs raps about mathematics based on popular hip-hop tracks. × Christopher Danielson is an award-winning author and math educator. × Cindy Lawrence is the Executive Director and CEO of the National Museum of Mathematics. Tim Nissen is the Associate Director of the National Museum of Mathematics. × Steve Sherman is the Chief Imagination Officer and Executive Daydreamer, Living Maths. × Peter Winkler is the MoMath Current Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics. × Karl Schaffer is a dancer, choreographer, mathematician, and math professor at De Anza College. × Alex Kontorovich is MoMath Dean of Academic Content and math professor at Rutgers. × Art Benjamin is an award-winning popular entertainer, mathemagician, and math professor at Harvey Mudd College. × Bruce Bayly is a singer, violinist, and math professor at the University of Arizona. × Daniel Rose-Levine is the former Rubik’s-cube-with-feet world record holder. × David Reimann is an Albion College math and computer science professor and artist who uses symmetry in his work. × Godwyn Morris is the Director of Dazzling Discoveries STEM Education Center. × James Tanton is a global educator, math popularizer, and research mathematician. × John Chase is a mathematical juggler and math educator. × Lauren Rose is a dancer, choreographer, mathematician, and math professor at De Anza College. × Manjul Bhargava is the MoMath Inaugural Distinguished Visiting Professor for the Public Dissemination of Mathematics, math professor at Princeton University, and Fields Medalist. × Mark Saul is the Executive Director of the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival. × Mike Andrejkovics is a high school math teacher from Long Island, NY who creates and performs raps about mathematics based on popular hip-hop tracks. × Origami expert Wendy Zeichner is the Executive Director of Origami USA. × Ralph Pantozzi is the winner of the 2014 Rosenthal Prize and a math educator. × Yana Mohanty is a math educator, mathematician, and the creator of Geometiles®. × Carolyn Figuereo is the retail manager of the National Museum of Mathematics. × Tim Chartier is a mathematical mime performer, math professor at Davidson College. × International Math Salute Details TK × Rohan Jha LIVINGSTON, NJ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The purpose of Math Musings, the magazine I started in high school,” wrote Rohan Jha, “was to show that math is everywhere, yet many times we are not aware of it. It is behind some of the music we play, or how nature uses it for its own optimal benefit, or it could be behind a fancy card trick, or math could help us reduce the ubiquitously observed annoyance of traffic jams during peak hours.” The magazine tries to humanize and enliven math in various ways: by telling anecdotes about famous mathematicians; by challenging fellow students with fun puzzles; or by leading them some deeper ideas, such as a lily pad puzzle that leads to the notion of backward recursion in finance. With clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions for magic tricks and other activities, Rohan attempts to make math fun for everyone… and succeeds admirably. × Kyna Airriess CORONADO, CA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The project submitted by Kyna Airriess is a “zine” based on a quote from A Mathematician’s Lament, a polemical essay by high school teacher Paul Lockhart. “There is nothing as dreamy and poetic, as radical, subversive, and psychedelic, as mathematics,” wrote Lockhart. Reading Lockhart’s essay, says Kyna, “contributed to my own conversion from ardent math-hater to aspiring mathematician; I’d never heard someone describe math, the subject of unfeeling calculations, with words like ‘poetic’ and ‘radical.’ It was a long time before I began to see these traits for myself, but today I self-identify as a math nerd, and I want to study math in college.” In the zine, each of Lockhart’s memorable adjectives—dreamy, poetic, subversive, and psychedelic—is illustrated and connected to math ideas, using symbols, history, color, and imagery. The judges were impressed by the passionate energy conveyed by the zine’s words and design. The overall effect achieves what Kyna intended: to embody “what those of us who love math want the world to understand. It isn’t about cold calculations at all— it’s a field full of creativity and beauty, and it is just as infused with humanity as any other.” × Sarah Thau NEW YORK, NY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Limericks and poetry are not a typical way to convey information about math,” admits Sarah Thau, “but I think it makes it more palatable than learning functions by rote. Who doesn’t love a limerick?” So Sarah created a series of short rhyming poems to list some basic properties of linear, quadratic, trigonometric, polynomial, rational, and other types of functions encountered in algebra and precalculus, and illustrated the pages with examples. The judges were tickled by the playfulness of this entry. Limericks are a lighthearted form of poetry in which creativity comes from working within constraints and overcoming them delightfully—and much the same can be said of math! Indeed, as Sarah wrote, “I love math and am always trying to solve problems but this was a new type of problem to tackle. One that didn’t need any algebra or modeling. Each poem became a problem to solve as I tried to figure out words to make each function type’s properties rhyme neatly.” The poems illuminate the distinctive properties of the various kinds of functions, and draw readers in through a unique, creative, and memorable way of communicating mathematical ideas. × Jonah Yoshida HONOLULU, HI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jonah Yoshida’s project is a pencil-and-paper infographic on graph theory. He says “I conceived of the idea when reading about how Arthur Cayley used trees to represent structures of hydrocarbons with n carbon atoms and 2n+2 hydrogen atoms. The entire structure imitates one of these hydrocarbons, ethane (n=2), and a unique application of graph theory is included inside each atom. I divided the page into two sections so that the hydrogens bonded to the left carbon contain puzzles and fun applications of graph theory, while the ones bonded to the right hydrogen focus more on direct applications, much like our brains’ left and right hemispheres.” For example, the Four Color Theorem (a fun application of graph theory to coloring maps and an longstanding research question) appears on the left, while the right side includes applications of graphs to computer science (neural networks and spanning trees) and electrical engineering (circuit diagrams). The judges appreciated the ingenious design concept of this graphic, which underscores the universality and interdisciplinary spirit of graph theory. The words and imagery combine history, math, chemistry, and psychology, and the questions in the small text boxes invite the reader to do some research of their own. × Yvonne Hong TORONTO, ON -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “My math communication project, Infinity Universe,” wrote Yvonne Hong, “is an illustrative yet mathematical depiction of the world in which we live. Every inanimate object illustrated represents a simple, yet ubiquitous concept in math: upon closer inspection, the monochromatic tree is a fractal Pythagoras tree, the galaxy in the background is constructed using the Fibonacci sequence, and the planet and comet are both different variations of the Apollonian gasket. Infinity Universe promotes the universality of math communication through an abstraction of objects and phenomena that people all around our world are familiar with.” Carefully executed with great attention to detail, the painting submitted by Yvonne drew the judges in with its vibrant colors and hypnotic patterns. Moreover, the theme of infinity pervades the painting, just as it does in all of mathematics. But here, the suggestion of the infinite is magical and otherworldly rather than scientific and literal, and so may appeal to audiences not normally attracted to math. × Zoe Markman NEW YORK, NY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zoe Markman created a visual proof of the “sum of squares formula” by cleverly using three wooden 3-D pyramids that fit together. Each pyramid consisted of a total of 12 + 22 + … + n2 identical wooden cubes; thus, its volume visually represented the sum of the squares of all the whole numbers from 1 to n. To find a formula for this sum of squares, Zoe manipulated and rearranged the three pyramids to form a rectangular prism, whose volume could then be easily calculated to obtain the desired formula for the sum of squares. The judges agreed with Zoe that this sort of visual, hands-on manipulative “provides a deeper understanding of math than that provided by a written project. Since you can observe, hold, and manipulate the pyramids (even more so in person), the audience is able to understand why the formula works rather than just taking it at face value and accepting that it was true arbitrarily. Second, the presentation could be understood even by people without a significant knowledge of math. It put what looks like an intimidating problem in terms that are easily digestible.” Zoe even tested the presentation on friends who said they didn’t like math. That’s a good practice in any form of communication. Overall, this project is modest but extremely well done and produces a very pleasurable “Aha!” moment for many viewers; indeed, it led one of the judges to understand the “sum of squares formula” in a whole new way! × Katarina Cheng SANTA MONICA, CA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To express the universality of math, Katarina Cheng translated it into another universal language: dance. “Just as dance exists as a part of many cultures around the globe to express abstract ideas and emotions through movement, mathematics defies cultural lines to express abstract ideas through structures and forms on the page,” she wrote in her project description. Her video “Dancing the Dihedral Group” sought, through dance, “to represent the visual symmetries, primarily those of a square,” and, through words, “how they translated into algebra, primarily the group D8 .” The judges commend Katarina for the elegance of her communication in the video. Especially notable was the esthetic of minimalism — in how the video is shot, and the choice of clothing, background, and colors — all of which mesh perfectly with the minimal esthetic of group theory. The integration of the math graphics with the dance moves was also carried out gracefully. Although others in the past have recognized the similarities between math and dance, few have conveyed that analogy with such finesse in the execution. The dancing and music were artfully minimal too. The overall effect is to reinforce the central idea of beauty in simplicity. × Hamza E. Alsamraee CENTREVILLE, VA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamza Alsamraee loves Instagram – and he also loves math. But when he noticed that very few math pages existed on Instagram, he sought to change that by starting @daily_math, a page dedicated to intriguing problems and ideas about algebra, geometry, calculus, number theory, and other parts of math. “With high-quality educational posts,” he says, “I hoped to build an Instagram community centered around a shared passion for math.” The judges were impressed with the creativity of Hamza’s entry, expressed through its skillful use of visuals, history, and puzzles, all presented in attractive ways. His explanations of mathematical concepts are clear and insightful, and he is very interactive with his followers, even inviting them to post. The judges also commend him on his growth as a creator and communicator. His Instagram page has evolved from a focus on tricky integrals in the early days to doing more accessible problems now, and the visual presentation has evolved in tandem. With his engaging design choices, which foster clear communication, he is making increasingly good use of the strengths of the Instagram medium. × Hamza E. Alsamraee CENTREVILLE, VA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Click here for the Daily Math Instagram account. Click here for the Daily Math Tik Tok account. × ShareThis Copy and Paste