It’s Not Just Numbers

Marcello Seri, Anna de Bruijn
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A podcast on mathematics and its human side. In a conversation with mathematicians, we address some common stereotypes and misconceptions, giving space to the people of mathematics. Each episode will start by getting to know the guests, their research, their drive and what they do outside mathematics. In the second half of the episode we will discuss together some theme related to mathematics and mathematicians. Opinions are our own.

  1. 07/27/2025

    S2E10 - Teaching mathematics in high school with Maarten de Witte

    The last episode of this season, is also the first of a new sub-series that we would like to keep exploring in the future: teaching mathematics at school. Maarten de Witte, a former student at our mathematics bachelor and school teacher since three years, shares his experience teaching in Dutch high school. With him we start exploring the rewards and the challenges of the job and the differences between teaching at school or at university. = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    51 min
  2. S2E09 - The afterMath2 with Josselin Kooij and Marit van Straaten

    07/13/2025

    S2E09 - The afterMath2 with Josselin Kooij and Marit van Straaten

    We come back to the question of S2E05: you have studied mathematics... now what? We met our old friend (and former co-host) Marit van Straaten and our former student Josselin Kooij, to talk about the possibilities for mathematicians that don't pursue a career in academia. After getting to know them, with their motivations to study math and their hobbies (mainly sports!), we focus on their careers. Their different seniority levels allow us to span across many topics, with both a fresh and an experienced eye, in an episode that we hope will clarify many of your doubts on what to do to look for a job as mathematicians, and plenty of useful tips for when you interview for a position! We plan to do a few more of these, so if there is anything that you would like to discuss in the next episodes, let us know in the comments (or sending us a message). = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    1h 12m

  3. 06/23/2025

    S2E08 - Actively learning mathematics with Brendan Kelly

    In this special episode, we return to the topics of learning and teaching mathematics. We are joined by Brendan Kelly, Director of Introductory Mathematics at Harvard University, to discuss the opportunities that active learning has to offer. Throughout the discussion, we get to know Brendan, exploring his journey into mathematics and what led him to focus on education. Both lecturers and students will find many useful tips and tricks scattered through the recording, and we are sure you will feel Brendan's infectious energy and passion for both subjects! Links for the episode: Brendan Kelly's webpage = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    48 min
  4. S2E07 - Mathematics outside mathematic departments, with Davide Grossi and Jorge Perez

    05/26/2025

    S2E07 - Mathematics outside mathematic departments, with Davide Grossi and Jorge Perez

    This is the first episode of another small spinoff of It's Not Just Numbers, were we discuss with researchers working on mathematical topics in different disciplines and departments. In this episode, we talk to Jorge Perez (Computer Science department) and Davide Grossi (Artificial Intelligence department). As you will hear, both of them use a lot of mathematics in their research and work on topics that also have very theoretical angles. Throughout the episode, we discuss intedisciplinary collaborations, reaching outside one’s own line of research and the key role ofof asking questions to facilitate the exchange. We also explore if and how common stereotypes on academics change in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from a societal point of view. Links for the episode: Davide Grossi's website⁠Jorge Perez' website ⁠Video: Fundamental computing: Mathematics and logic for software we can all rely onVideo: Fundamental Computing: The Many Sides of Logic = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    1h 22m
  5. S2E06 - Proofs and proof assistants with Sander Dahmen and Jim Portegies

    04/27/2025

    S2E06 - Proofs and proof assistants with Sander Dahmen and Jim Portegies

    What is a proof? And what is a proof assistant? Isn't writing proofs what mathematicians are supposed to do themselves? In this episode, Sander Dahmen and Jim Portegies, will help us explore these questions and introduce us to the fascinating world of fomralizing mathematics. Of course, after taking our time to get to know them better. "I always wanted to turn this around and say there's nothing wrong with being not smart in mathematics and it should be okay if you work on a proof, to not understand it, to struggle with it. So if you do a computation, make three extra steps, it should be okay to give yourself that time." Wouldn't you agree? Listen to this episode to find out where this quote came from and let us know yuor first experiences with proofs. Links for the episode: Sander Dahmen's websiteJim Portegies' website ⁠Links to Lean, the mathlib library and the mathematics in lean bookLink to the ⁠natural number game⁠ and moreLink to waterproof, Jim's constrained natural language proof assistantLink to rocq and the math-comp libraryTerence Tao's talk on machine assisted proofs at Simons Fundation on February 19, 2025 = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    1h 28m
  6. S2E05 - The afterMath with Sven Bootsma, Max Lein, Oscar Koster

    03/30/2025

    S2E05 - The afterMath with Sven Bootsma, Max Lein, Oscar Koster

    You have studied mathematics... now what? In this episode we talk to Sven Bootsma, Max Lein and Oscar Koster about the possibilities for mathematicians that don't pursue a career in academia. After getting to know them, with their motivations to study math and their hobbies (mainly sports!), we focus on theie career in industry after having studied mathematics . In this long episode we span across many themes and discuss how a mathematician can find a job in industry, what the differences are with working in academia and how students could go about choosing a career after their studies. This episode is packed with insights and interesting suggestions but only scratches the surface of this interesting discussion, leaving many additional question unanswered waiting for a future afterMath2 episode! So let us invite you to join us in a future recording: if you are a mathematician and you are not working as an academic, especially if your job is different from the ones that we heard about in this episode, please send us a mail! And if there is anything that you would like to discuss in the next episodes, let us know in the comments (or sending us a message). Links for the episode: Max Lein's website = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    1h 48m

  7. 02/03/2025

    S2E04 - What does it mean to do research with Pinar Kilicer and Hildeberto Jardón Kojakhmetov

    What does it mean to do research? What does a researcher in mathematics do, effectively, to research? In this episode, we pick up a common question from our listeners, and try to give some partial answer with the help of Pinar Kilicer and Hildeberto Jardón Kojakhmetov. After taking the chance to know them better, we look back at their career and what were the most important moments to grow into research, putting this all in the perspective of the students thanks to the help of Anna. Episode links: Pinar's website Hildeberto's website Terence Tao talking about his paper rejections on mastodon = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    1h 25m
  8. S2E03 - Illustrating mathematics, with Constanza Rojas-Molina and Martin Skrodzki

    01/05/2025

    S2E03 - Illustrating mathematics, with Constanza Rojas-Molina and Martin Skrodzki

    In this episode we talk with Constanza Rojas-Molina and Martin Skrodzki about illustrating mathematics. From pseudonyms and hobbies to careers where their illustrative work is indispensable, we talk about their development as artists and mathematicians and how to encourage others to use their creativity when it comes to mathematics. A special episode, exploring the relations between mathematics, art and how the two can empower each other and influence research, teaching and public engagement. There are lots of links for this episode: Coni's website (Coni777 on twitter and bluesky) Martin's website (he can be found as msmathcomp on most social media) Bridges conference and their open-access archive and open-access art gallery Journal of Mathematics and the Arts Illustrating Maths (IM) website,  it has an invitation to the IM Discord channel on the home page Announcements for the upcoming Illustrating Maths seminars To attend the one-week IM program at ICERM in Summer 2025, look here For the ambitious that want to attend a longer event, here is the information for the trimester at IHP in Paris in 2026 #Noethember on Coni's website, on The Aperiodical and on the EMS Magazine The #MathYear challenge on Coni's website and on the EWM website The Blackboard Whisperers, interviews with female mathematicians, by E.A. Casanova aka Coni (here the final interview with Susanna Terracini which is missing at the other link) The RAGE of the Blackboard blog, an illustration of the RAGE theorem, and an interview on the project on the AMS blog. Chladni patterns: on wikipedia (videos at the bottom of the page) and an illustration La misteriosa conjectura de Alicia (comic book's website) The MATRIX x Imaginary conference (2026 edition still to be announced) The Talking Maths In Public community page Feel free to leave a comment if you have questions for our guests :) = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    1h 45m
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About

A podcast on mathematics and its human side. In a conversation with mathematicians, we address some common stereotypes and misconceptions, giving space to the people of mathematics. Each episode will start by getting to know the guests, their research, their drive and what they do outside mathematics. In the second half of the episode we will discuss together some theme related to mathematics and mathematicians. Opinions are our own.

Information

  • Creator
    Marcello Seri, Anna de Bruijn
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marcello Seri, Anna de Bruijn
  • Show Website
    It’s Not Just Numbers