MAY 3: Press Preview Day for 2019 National Math Festival in DC

Free Event Opens to Public on May 4 to Generate Excitement about
Math

–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSRI?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#MSRIlt;/agt;–Mathematical Sciences Research Institute:

WHAT
The 2019
National Math Festival will open a day early on May 3rd to provide
press and pre-registered students from local schools, including several
Title I schools, an opportunity to experience many of the offerings of
the free event in advance. The May 4th festival enables attendees of all
ages to explore playful and accessible presentations and fun activities
on the math behind how the world works. The daylong, experiential event
features creative short films, math-inspired dance, a magic show, team
sports challenges, hands-on art making, puzzles, games, demos,
fascinating speakers, and more. Topics range from pro football to music,
art, dating, cryptography, planet earth, and data. The festival is
organized by the Mathematical
Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) in cooperation with
the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) and the National Museum of
Mathematics (MoMath).

WHEN
May 3, 2019, 10am-2pm: School Preview Day for media and
pre-registered local schools (May 4^th is open and free to the
public from 10am-4pm.)

SELECT MAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS
Below are highlights from the main
event on May 4^th. (The School Preview Day on May 3rd will
only feature major
activity presenters and not speakers from the public festival.)

• Some of today’s most fascinating mathematicians, presenters, and
  performers, including:
  • John
    Urschel, MIT Ph.D. candidate in mathematics and former
    Baltimore Ravens NFL offensive lineman, presents on the physics of
    football and geometry of chess
  • Dr. Marcus du Sautoy, University of Oxford Mathematics professor,
    author, and BBC host, explores whether machines will evolve to be
    as creative as humans
  • Dr. Holly Krieger, University of Cambridge Mathematics fellow and
    popular guest on the YouTube channel Numberphile, dives into the
    dizzying world of pure mathematics
  • Emily Riehl, associate professor at Johns Hopkins, explores the
    mathematics of social choice through the topic of voting
  • Magician Mark Mitton teaches the audience impromptu math-magic
    tricks
  • BARKIN/SELISSEN PROJECT, a NYC-based dance company,
    performs Dance of the Diagram—commissioned by mathematician
    Dr. James Simons
  • Young People’s Project’s 3rd Annual National
    Flagway™ Tournament features middle schoolers participating in
    a competition combining athleticism and math
  • Dr. Lillian Pierce, associate professor of Mathematics, Duke
    University, explores 300 years of math and music in 30 minutes
• Activities—Short films, Mathical Reading Room, and Make or Take
  Spiral, including
  • MathMINDs Games: South of the Sahara—The MIND Research
    Institute’s games mix history, culture, and geography
  • ThinkFun Games— Interactive games produced by ThinkFun, an
    Arlington, Va.-based company that creates award-winning math and
    engineering-inspired games
  • Fairfax Math Circle—Local afterschool math club teaches origami

WHERE
Onsite Press Registration: Upstairs on Bridge Outside
Hall D Entrance
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt
Vernon Place NW, D.C.

WHY
Math is everywhere and part of all facets of everyday
life. Through the National Math Festival, MSRI strives to make math
accessible and exciting to those outside of the field. Located in
Berkeley, California, MSRI is one of the world’s preeminent centers for
collaborative research in mathematics and works to advance mathematical
research, foster talent, and further the appreciation of mathematics.

HOW
The event is free and open to the public. More
information at: www.nationalmathfestival.org.
Reporters interested in covering the School Preview Day or festival
should contact Shawn Flaherty at 703-554-3609.

Contacts

Shawn Flaherty
703-554-3609