2021 Festival Online
The 2021 Festival has moved online — join us April 16-18, 2021!
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The National Math Festival brings together some of the most fascinating mathematicians of our time to inspire and challenge participants of all ages to see math in new and exciting ways. The 2021 Festival will feature juicy talks, hands-on demos, art, films, performances, puzzles, games, children’s book readings, and more for all ages.
Sneak Preview Event: March 2021
It’s almost time for NMF Live Online, coming up in a few short weeks. But first… two derring-do math performances! Join Rhys Thomas for juggling as you’ve never seen it before; and Brady Haran of Numberphile for whatever he thinks up next.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 (1:00 – 2:30 pm ET): Believe-It-Or-Not, It’s Math (x2)
- Rhys Thomas, Science Circus
- Brady Haran, Numberphile YouTube Channel
Register via Eventbrite (opens new window)
NMF Live Online Festival: Friday, April 16 - Sunday, April 18, 2021
Join us for the 2021 National Math Festival, with hands-on, interactive activities for youth of all ages, plenty of booths to stroll around and pick up resources for math play at home or in the classroom, and engaging films and lively math talks to round out the program. Don't forget to complete your free registration to gain access to the NMF Live Online events!
Free Registration on Eventbrite (opens new window)
NMF Live Online: Fascinating Math Talks
Take in live presentations by some of the most fascinating mathematicians of our time, featuring:
“The End of Space and Time: The Mathematics of Black Holes and the Big Bang”
Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf (Institute for Advanced Study)
“Changing the ‘Face’ of Mathematics”
Dr. Erica Graham (Bryn Mawr College), Dr. Raegan Higgins (Texas Tech University), Dr. Candice Price (Smith College), and Dr. Shelby Wilson (Johns Hopkins University)
“Math Is Play!”
Dr. Emille Davie Lawrence (University of San Francisco)
“Numbers through Pictures: A Taste of the Geometry of Numbers”
Dr. Jesús De Loera (University of California, Davis)
“Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus”
Dr. Steven Strogatz (Cornell University)
“Math and the Movies”
Dr. Joseph Teran (University of California, Los Angeles)
There will also be a special live reading celebrating the Mathical Book Prize:
Mathical Author Reading: "Slay"
Brittney Morris
NMF Live Online: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Film Screenings and Panels
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Film Room is your go-to for larger-than-life, math-inspired stories on the silver screen. You will also get to chat and dig deeper with panels and Q&As.
The Bit Player (2019)
Film screening and panel discussion featuring Dr. Andrea Goldsmith, Dr. Mark Levinson, Dr. Ronald Rivest, Dr. David Tse
Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani (2020)
Film screening and panel discussion featuring Dr. Hélène Barcelo, Dr. Roya Beheshti Zavareh, Dr. Marissa Loving, and Dr. Marie-Francoise Roy
Spotlight on Hidden Figures (2016)
Panel discussion with film clips, featuring Dr. Erica Graham, Dr. Raegan Higgins, Dr. Candice Price, and Dr. Shelby Wilson
Spotlight on The Man Who Knew Infinity (2016)
Panel discussion featuring Dr. Kathrin Bringmann, Dr. David Eisenbud, and Dr. Ken Ono
Math Movie Sampler: NOVA, NSF "We Are Mathematics" Short Films, and Zala Films Trailers
Screening of television and film programming, hosted by Dr. David Eisenbud and Ralph Bouquet of NOVA Education.
NMF Live Online: Sessions and Booths
Join some of the world’s savviest math organizations for a tour-de-force of online fun! Meet math superstars, find your own math star to steer by, and just plain relax and enjoy.
Come prepared to learn, engage, laugh, grow, play, and be part of an exciting math community for kids and adults of all ages.
Hands-on, interactive activities are the name of the game. You can also expect puzzles, demos, super-short talks, mathletic events, art-making, and more.
Parents and teachers, pick up resources for math play at home and in the classroom. Kids and grown-ups, roll up your sleeves and dive into easy-access, creative, open math activities for all.