Saturday, August 5, 2023
MAA MathFest 2023

Martin Gardner Lecture
Maps of Strange Worlds: Adventures in Topological Art
Susan Goldstine, St. Mary's College of Maryland

In 1852, a math student posed a deceptively simple-sounding question: if you want to color a map so that 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, which covers every map of our world.

Along the way, topological explorers found a collection of worlds more complex than our own, worlds where aspiring map makers need many more than four colors. We will take a guided tour of these worlds through contemporary artists’ renditions in yarn, beads, ceramics, paper, and other media. The journey features visual and conceptual delights stretching from the nineteenth century up to now.

Biography:

Susan Goldstine received her A.B. in Mathematics and French from Amherst College and her Ph.D. in Mathematics from Harvard University. For over a decade, her artworks have appeared in mathematical art exhibits across the US and around the world. Her art and research center around handcrafts, particularly knitting, crochet, and beadwork, and their connections to various mathematical fields, including abstract algebra, combinatorics, and topology. The 2014 book Crafting Conundrums: Puzzles and Patterns for the Bead Crochet Artist, which she cowrote with computer scientist and artist Dr. Ellie Baker, collects their extensive research on the mathematics of bead crochet.

Susan is Professor of Mathematics at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she has been on the faculty since 2004, a member of the Bridges Organization Board of Directors, co-organizer of the Bridges Math + Fashion show, 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.

Every summer, MAA MathFest presents the latest in mathematical research and education to diverse audiences across the nation. As the largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts, MAA is proud to bring an interactive, accessible, and informative experience to you this year.