Category Archives: math in the media

I’m Just Not a Math Person…

Posted on May 1, 2020 by kthompson

We as mathematicians seem practically hell-bent on removing the phrase “I’m just not a math person” from students’ vocabularies. Maybe that’s why they scream it so loudly and defiantly? Math has so many tactical advantages over sports and the arts. … Continue reading →

Posted in attracting math majors, math in the media, math problems, outreach, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Offensive Words/Phrases: Who Should Know Better?

Posted on February 17, 2020 by kthompson

Required reading for any academic is Philip Roth’s “The Human Stain.” In the first few pages an older, tenured professor is “forced to retire.” Why? There were two students who never were present when he called roll. Even after roll … Continue reading →

Posted in attracting math majors, books, funny things students say, math in the media, minorities in mathematics, outreach, public awareness of mathematics, social aspects of math life, Social situations with students | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Submitting

Posted on December 15, 2019 by kthompson

Recently, I have been re-reading Michel Houellebecq’s 2015 novel Submission. It’s about a hedonistic literature professor who sleeps with his students, has the diet of a frat boy, and occasionally does “work” researching an obscure (at least, to me) 19th-century … Continue reading →

Posted in bias, books, elections, math in the media, teaching evaluations, tenure, Uncategorized, work-life balance | 1 Comment