A society that ignores mathematics is like a city that ignores its history. To miss out on mathematics is to live without experiencing some of humanity’s most profound ideas and insights. This is the case made by Francis Su, award-winning mathematician, in his new book Mathematics for Human Flourishing (Yale University Press, 2020).

Mathematics, Su writes, meet basic human desires for play, beauty, freedom, justice, and love when they are explored through the art of storytelling and the practice of reflection, revealing how math is intimately tied to being human. Join us for a live-streamed event and interdisciplinary conversation on the intellectual and spiritual fruits of a deeper appreciation of math and its potential to cultivate human flourishing.

This event is made possible through the partnership of Anselm House (University of Minnesota) and Upper House (UW-Madison).

About Our Speaker

Francis Edward Su is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA) and former president of the Mathematical Association of America. His research is in geometric combinatorics and applications to the social sciences, and he has co-authored numerous papers with undergraduates. He also has a passion for teaching and popularizing mathematics. From the Mathematical Association of America, he received the 2018 Halmos-Ford award for writing and the 2013 Haimo Award for distinguished teaching. His book Mathematics for Human Flourishing (Yale University Press) was published in January 2020 and is the winner of the Mathematics Association of America’s 2021 Euler Book Prize.