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THE
FIELDS INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
20th
ANNIVERSARY
YEAR
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FIELDS
MATHED FORUM MEETING AGENDA
Theme: Mathematics and Aesthetics
November
24, 2012 at
10 am- 2 pm
Fields Institute, 222 College Street, Toronto
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MORNING PROGRAM
10:00 - 10:10 a.m.
Reports: OAME, OMCA, OCMA, CMESG, CMS, and other.
10:10 - 11:00 a.m.
Eva Knoll (Mount Saint Vincent University): Arts-based
Research in (School) Mathematics
Abstract: Arts-based research, or art practice as research
is a form of research that has been increasing in prominence in
recent times. It is most often associated with social science
research. However, it could be argued that mathematics, as a “science”
(in French Canada, mathematics is “one of the natural sciences”
along with physics, chemistry, etc.), does have a social component,
if only in that it is practiced within a community. It therefore
seems reasonable that arts-based research in mathematics is possible.
What could this look like? What could these two practices, which
many consider to be on opposite ends of the spectrum of human
endeavour and human understanding, do when made to cohabitate?
Dr. Knoll will present examples from her own past and future practice,
to propose answers to these questions.
Biography: Eva Knoll studied and began her working life
in architecture, which she expected to encapsulate both of her
interest: mathematics and art. Her further peregrinations led
her to mathematics education, which she now teaches in Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and research in mathematics and art. Her work is
published and presented in mathematics-and-art publications and
conferences, exhibited in galleries, and informs her teaching
practice.
11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Bill Ralph (Brock University): Seeing is Conceiving.
Abstract: A tour of visual media in education, art and
research.
Biography: Bill Ralph grew up in North Bay, Ontario, Canada
where it is very cold, and has always been interested in mathematics,
music and art. He spent three years in Toronto studying piano
and composition before switching to mathematics at the University
of Waterloo where he obtained a Ph.D. in Algebraic Topology. Several
years ago, he was commissioned to design a piece of multimedia
software to teach calculus and moved to San Francisco to create
the CD that is now called "Journey Through Calculus".
This software received the Ontario OPAS award for the development
of educational technology at universities and has been shown at
universities across the world. While he was studying the behaviour
of certain chaotic dynamical systems, Professor Ralph became interested
in exploiting their complexity to create visual art. His research
uses mathematics to both analyze and create art has led has led
to several invitations to speak about his work throughout North
America. He is currently on the mathematics faculty of Brock University
in St. Catharines Ontario where he enjoys teaching courses like
mathematical modeling and the history of mathematics to excellent
students.
11:30 - 12:00 a.m.
George Gadanidis (Western University): Mathematics
through an Arts lens
Abstract: I work in elementary school classrooms on a
regular basis, collaborating with teachers to use the Arts to
develop better ways of engaging children and their parents with
mathematics. I will share some examples and outline the direction
of our work. Parent feedback: "It's amazing that they're
learning this math in grade 3. I thought she couldn't do it but
she really did. I hope you give more homework like this."
Student feedback after parent shared a math activity: "I
don't like math anymore, Daddy. I love it now!"
12:00-1:00 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK
(Light refreshments provided)
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
1:00 - 1:50 p.m.
Yves Jeanson and Raymond Guy (Collège Boréal):
Geometric Abstraction as Art and Language- The Work of Zanis
Waldheims.
Abstract: Latvian born Zanis Waldheims (1909-1993) immigrated
to Canada in the early 1950's. He developed a structured aesthetic
approach to represent concepts that describe the human being in
its integrality. He produced a body of over 600 works of geometric
art. The participants will be initiated to basic symbology and
apply the framework to pedagogical principles. Original artifacts
and reproductions will be available for viewing and stimulate
discussion.
Biography: Passionate about all things abstract, Yves
Jeanson has been studying the artistic and philosophic work of
Zanis Waldheims, his mentor since 1974. He graduated from college
with a merchant marine technical engineering degree in 1973, and
is currently working as a contract administrator for Hydro-Quebec.
He has to his curriculum presented Zanis Waldheims' art and ideas
at three international conferences: in the field of empirical
studies of the arts in Chicago and Dresden Germany; and geometry
and graphics at McGill University last summer. He lives in Montreal
with his wife and daughter and plans to retire next year to give
all his attention to his passion.
Raymond Guy teaches mathematics and geographic information systems
at Collège Boréal in Sudbury. He has over 23 years'
experience as teacher and instructional designer for on-line and
distance course development and delivery. He stumbled upon the
fascinating world drawn by Zanis Waldheims one year ago. He and
his wife have since been investigating the artist's geometric
abstraction language and aesthetics with the help of Yves Jeanson
who has provided guidance and privileged access to original documentation.
1:50-2:00 p.m.
General Discussion
2:00 p.m.
Adjournment
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