How do ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Futurama’ relate to math? Come find out March 17
The university’s Department of Mathematics is hosting the annual Pacific Northwest Section Meeting of the Mathematical Association of America in mid-March.
As part of the event, we invite everyone to the opening lecture, “Geometry of the Earth and Universe with The Simpsons and Futurama,” by Dr. Sarah Greenwald, professor of mathematics at Appalachian State University, at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 17, in Canyon Commons. The event is free and geared toward students and the public.
Did you know that the animated shows The Simpsons and Futurama contain hundreds of humorous mathematical and scientific references? A few of these references connect to the geometry of spaces, and we’ll use them to explore some historical and current theories relating to the earth and universe during an interactive talk.
Popular culture can reveal, reflect and even shape how society views mathematics, and with careful consideration of the benefits and challenges, these programs can be an ideal source of fun ways to introduce important concepts and to reduce math anxiety (see SimpsonsMath.com).
For more information, visit the event website or contact Corban Harwood at rharwood@georgefox.edu.