2021 CoM Events

CoM | Maps of Strange Worlds: Beyond the Four-Color Theorem

In 1852, a math student posed a deceptively simple-sounding question: if you want to color a map so those bordering regions always have different colors, how many colors do you need? This opened a rabbit hole that has kept mathematicians, computer scientists, and philosophers occupied for over a century, igniting a fundamental debate about how we know what is true. The central result of this exploration is the Four-Color Theorem.

If your rabbit hole takes a proverbial right turn at Albuquerque, you find a collection of worlds more complex than our own, worlds where aspiring mapmakers need many more than four colors. We will take a tour of these worlds through artists’ renditions in yarn, beads, ceramics, and other media. The journey features visual and conceptual delights for all audiences, regardless of mathematical background.

Dr. Susan Goldstine is currently Steven Muller Distinguished Professor of the Sciences at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she has been a mathematics professor since 2004. For the past decade, her artworks have appeared in mathematical art exhibits across the US and around the world. Together with computer scientist and artist Dr. Ellie Baker, she is co-author of the 2014 book Crafting Conundrums: Puzzles and Patterns for the Bead Crochet Artist, which collects their extensive research on mathematical bead crochet. Susan is a member of the Bridges Organization Board of Directors and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts. Her guiding principle is that a professor’s office can never have too many toys.

CoM | Computer Graphics in Curved Space

Visiting the Thurston Geometries: Computer Graphics in Curved Space

A beautiful observation of classical physics is that “light travels in straight lines” is only an approximation to reality. More precisely, light always takes a geodesic – a path between two points minimizing its time of travel.

While this is often used to explain physical phenomena mathematically (from refraction to mirages to gravitational lensing), we may turn the tables and also use this observation to experience mathematical phenomena physically.

That is, given an abstract three-dimensional mathematical space, we may realistically simulate “what it would be like” to be there, by tracing the geodesics connecting our eyes to objects around us. In joint work with Remi Coulon, Sabetta Matsumoto, and Henry Segerman, we have produced real-time computer and VR simulations of the eight Thurston Geometries: in this talk, I will take you on a brief adventure to each of these worlds and talk a little about how we made it happen.

Steve Trettel is a Szego Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University, and his research focuses primarily on low dimensional topology and differential geometry. Steve grew up in Minnesota and completed his undergraduate at the University of Minnesota before moving to California to pursue a Ph.D. at UC Santa Barbara. Steve is passionate about mathematical illustration and particularly enjoys tackling difficult visualization problems with a computer.

CoM | A Periodic Table of Polyform Puzzles

A Periodic Table of Polyform Puzzles

Kate Jones defines, illustrates, and describes 12 different types of polyform puzzles, in quaint rhyming couplets of verse, showing the mathematical progression from the singularity to open-ended growth. Polyominoes, polyiamonds, polyhexes, polytans, polyrounds, polyhops, polybends, polyocts, polyores, polyrhombs and polyrombiks are included in this purview, showing some beautiful arrangements of each set. It concludes with musings upon how mathematics is the heart of the Universe.

Kate Jones is the President of Kadon Enterprises, Inc., since 1979. She is a game and puzzle designer working with recreational mathematics. Further, she is a Graphic artist, editor, and proofreader.

In April we had 21 presenters for CoM spread over 7 days.

SUNDAY 18th: Mark Setteducati, Bronna Butler, Mark Mitton

MONDAY 19th: Jorge Nuno Silva, Tanya, and Tim Chartier, James Tanton

TUESDAY 20th: Katie Steckles, Ellie Baker, John Railing

WEDNESDAY 21st Lisa Rougetet, Laura Taalman, Peter Winkler

THURSDAY 22nd: Robert Fathauer, Catriona Agg, Ed Pegg

FRIDAY 23rd: Jeremiah Farrell, Craig Kaplan, Alissa Crans

SATURDAY 24th: Marjorie Wikler Senechal, Colin Wright, Debbie Leifer

CoM | Optimal Pentagonal Tilings

Optimal Pentagonal Tilings

In 2001 Thomas Hales proved that hexagons provide the least-perimeter way to tile the plane with unit areas. Of course, among hexagons, the regular one is best. Similarly, the best quadrilateral is square and the best triangle is equilateral. But what is the best pentagonal tile? Unfortunately, the regular pentagon does not tile. But as announced in 2015 there are 15 types of pentagons that do tile. Some were discovered by amateur mathematician Marjorie Rice, to be featured in Doris Schattschneider’s 2021 MathFest talk. The pentagonal champion requires a trip to Cairo, Egypt. We’ll discuss open questions as well as results, some by undergraduates.

Frank Morgan is Atwell Professor of Mathematics Emeritus and founder of the SMALL undergraduate research project at Williams College and inaugural winner of the MAA Haimo national teaching award. His six books range from his advanced text on Geometric Measure Theory to his Math Chat Book, based on his popular live, call-in TV show and column. He has served as vice-president of the MAA and of the AMS.

CoM | Shuffling Polyominoes

Shuffling Polyominoes

Do you know what algorithm is deciding which tetromino piece you get next in a Tetris game? In this talk, I will start by answering this question and then I will tell you about several different ways of sampling random polyominoes (polyominoes are like tetrominoes but with any desired amount of squares). We will also analyze how the topology of polyominoes, measured by their number of holes, change depending on the distribution that we choose to sample them.

Erika Roldán is currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow within the EuroTechPostdoc Programme at the Technische Universität München (TUM) and EPFL Lausanne. Her research interests include biomathematics, stochastic topology, topological and geometric data analysis, extremal topological combinatorics, discrete configuration spaces, recreational mathematics, learning analytics, and educational technology. She accompanies her research with gamification and visualization technology. She recently founded the outreach initiative BAMM at The Ohio State University (2019), co-founded Hypothesis in NYC (2020), Matemorfosis at CIMAT Mexico (2011), and Music-Math in Mexico (2013). All of these projects promote and increase public awareness and enjoyment of mathematics and its applications with special emphasis on bringing underrepresented minorities of all ages and backgrounds into STEAM.

CoM | The Magic of Polytopes–Mandalas

The Magic of Polytopes-Mandalas

Polytopes are 3-Dimensional shadows from higher dimensional polyhedra (4-Dimensional & above). These 3-D shadows, when rotated suddenly out of chaos, line-up & reveal, cast mandala patterns into 2-D of 2,3, & 5-fold symmetry.

While constructing a stainless steel 120-cell (4-D dodecahedron), I asked myself the fundamental question:

‘Why are there 3 symmetry groups’?

The answer: It is a matter of perspective. Where, what vantage point is the object being viewed from?

Edge (which is a line) first creates the 2-fold axis. The corner or vertices first, the 3-fold mandala. The polygon (polyhedra or cell) first, the 5-fold symmetry. This is the reveal, the ‘aha’, the surprise which gives us these beautiful 2-D mandalas, shadows from higher space (4-D & above), a glimpse of the only way that we can physically view them in our 3-Dimensional world.

Amina Bühler-Allen has been lecturing and facilitating hands-on math workshops at math conferences and in classrooms worldwide since 1990. She has also designed and manufactured many interactive math products. Her Color Fields tiles, magnetic, and Static Cling geometric shapes have been used in classrooms across the United States, and at the Institute of Traditional Arts in Casablanca, Morocco. In 1999, she met and teamed up with Marc Pelletier, who was engaged in the same pursuits. He introduced Amina to Zometool. In addition to making tiling products, they explored 2, 3, 4-D (and above) geometry, including Zome architecture and recursive ornament. Her discovery of the Spidronized dodecahedron was featured on the cover of the October 2006 issue of Science News. In addition, Amina has worked on projects with or for Scott Kim, Dale Seymour, H.S.M.(Donald) Coxeter, John Horton Conway, Sir Roger Penrose, Rinus Roelofs, Daniel Erdely, Kristof Fenyvesi, Lennart Green, Sir Roger Penrose, Walt Von Ballegooijen, and others.

CoM | Playing with Math: Squares and Cubes

Playing with Math: Squares and Cubes

Join Cindy Lawrence, Executive Director and CEO of MoMath, the National Museum of Mathematics, for a brief introduction of the Museum, past, present, and future, and a look at how even simple objects like squares and cubes can generate some delightfully mathematical experiences.

CoM | October Week

A full week of enhanced online CoM activities October 18–24 (Monday to Sunday) in place of the in-person G4G14, with 21 presentations for an enhanced CoM experience. The fabulous presentations on puzzles, math, magic, mystery, and much more, were given by Steve Strogatz, Moon Duchin, Dave Richeson, Doris Schattschneider, Burkard Polster, Paula Apsell, Erik Demaine, Tiago Hirth, Jennifer Quinn, Bob Hearn, Adriana Salerno, Matt Baker, Rachel Quinlan, George & Roxanne Miller, Alexandre Muñiz, Tamara Munzner, Glen Whitney, Daina Taimina, Ayliean MacDonald, Red Deupree, and Mark Mitton and friends. George Sicherman (of dice fame) and Norman Gilbreath (of shuffle fame) aso appeared as part of presentations on Wednesday and Sunday, respectively. Presentations were at 12 noon, 4pm, and 8pm ET* (Atlanta time) respectively:

At October’s Mathsjam, we’ll be paying tribute to the legendary Martin Gardner. Crowd favourites of his puzzles as well as a tributary picross and math adventure will mark the day!

The event will begin with a short presentation on Martin Gardner and immediately thereafter several problems will be presented for the attendees to tackle.

The Panamanian Foundation for the Promotion of Mathematics (FUNDAPROMAT) and the Gathering 4 Gardner Foundation (G4G) welcome you to join Mime-matics: Celebration of Mind in Panama, which will take place on Thursday, October 21st, 2021 at 2 pm Panama time, which is 3 pm EDT. This Webinar is free and open to the general public, which means that kids and adults of all ages are welcome to attend. 

How can the invisible world of mime explore mathematical ideas? Join Tim and Tanya Chartier as they use 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.) 

The instructions to access this Webinar will be sent by email the day before the event to all those who register. Please fill out the following form to register: https://tinyurl.com/mime-matics.

5:00 – 6:00 pm 1040 Ross Hall:

Math Colloquium (aimed at general audience) 

Dr. Beth Malmskog (Colorado College) What (Quilting) Circles can be Squared?

6:30 – 8:00 pm University Center Panorama Room

Games, puzzles, other fun activities, and a magic show

World Museum Liverpool will be hosting Liverpool and Manchester Chess and Go clubs as part of its ‘Celebration of the Mind

From Friday October 22nd to Sunday October 24^th . Members of these clubs will be on hand throughout the museum to demonstrate

both games and explain some of their interesting history and strategy. Visitors to the museum will have an opportunity to talk with

expert players, learn more about the tactics of each game, observe players in action and take part guided by experts. The event is free

and you can simply get involved where games are taking place on different floors of the museum

At our event, The Puzzling Universe, we’ll celebrate Martin Gardner and
his legacy, we’ll also celebrate Doris Schattschneider’s birthday, dive
into the beautiful landscapes of generative art by Bogdan Soban, learn a
new Wolfram Demonstration Project submission by Dr. Izidor Hafner,
celebrate Ivan Moscovich’s amazing work (by Teja Krašek), learn about new 4D polyhedra by Jean-Jacques Dupas and much more.

—- EN —–

FREE ENTRANCE** | VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION 

We invite you to another Magic Night at Com Calma, where we share some of the good things that are done in the art of prestidigitation, illusionism and related areas. 

October brings autumn and several festivals. As in past editions we take the opportunity to join a worldwide initiative and celebrate the mind with the Celebration of Mind. This celebrates the areas of interest of the famous disseminator Martin Gardner. 

This event will have a special function, starting early with puzzles, games and problems hosted by the Lisbon MathsJam. Starting at 8:30 pm we open the stage for magic participations, an “open-mic”. For now we have lined up several of the usual magicians. If you are interested in participating, please contact us, showing your interest to Tiago Hirth – xztiago@hotmail.com.

If you are practitioners of the pelotics and magic or know someone who might be interested in debuting on our stage, please contact Tiago Hirth.

—- PT —–

ENTRADA LIVRE*** | CONTRIBUIÇÃO VOLUNTÁRIA 

Convidamos para mais uma Noite de Magia no Com Calma, onde partilhamos um pouco do bom que se faz na arte da prestidigitação, ilusionismo e áreas afins. 

Outubro traz consigo o outono e varias festas. Como em edições passadas aproveitamos para nos juntar à inciativa mundial e festejar a mente com o Celebration of Mind. Celebra-se com isto as àreas de interesse do famoso divulgador Martin Gardner. 

Este evento terá um funcionamento especial, começando mais cedo com puzzles, jogos e problemas dinamizados pelo MathsJam de Lisboa. A partir das 20:30 abrimos o palco para participações de magia, um “open-mic”. Para já temos alinhavado vários mágicos do costume. Caso tenham interesse em participar agradeçemos que nos contactem mostrando o vosso interesse ao Tiago Hirth – xztiago@hotmail.com.

Caso sejam praticantes das artes pelotiqueiras e magia ou conheçam alguém que possa ter interesse de se estrear no nosso palco, entrem em contacto com o @Tiago Hirth. 

CoM | Drawing Three Impossible Figures before Breakfast

Amina Bühler-Allen has been lecturing and facilitating hands-on math workshops at math conferences and in classrooms worldwide since 1990. She has also designed and manufactured many interactive math products. Her Color Fields tiles, magnetic, and Static Cling geometric shapes have been used in classrooms across the United States, and at the Institute of Traditional Arts in Casablanca, Morocco. In 1999, she met and teamed up with Marc Pelletier, who was engaged in the same pursuits. He introduced Amina to Zometool. In addition to making tiling products, they explored 2, 3, 4-D (and above) geometry, including Zome architecture and recursive ornament. Her discovery of the Spidronized dodecahedron was featured on the cover of the October 2006 issue of Science News. In addition, Amina has worked on projects with or for Scott Kim, Dale Seymour, H.S.M.(Donald) Coxeter, John Horton Conway, Sir Roger Penrose, Rinus Roelofs, Daniel Erdely, Kristof Fenyvesi, Lennart Green, Sir Roger Penrose, Walt Von Ballegooijen, and others.

Annalisa Crannell is an Associate Dean and Professor of Mathematics at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and recipient of both her college’s and the MAA’s distinguished teaching awards.  Her early research was in topological dynamical systems (also known as “Chaos Theory”), but she has become active in working with mathematicians and artists on Projective Geometry applied to Perspective Art.   Together with mathematician/artists Marc Frantz and Fumiko Futamura, she is the author of Perspective and Projective Geometry and Viewpoints: Mathematical Perspective and Fractal Geometry in Art.  She especially enjoys talking to non-mathematicians who haven’t (yet) learned where the most beautiful aspects of the subject lie.