Mathematics for Human Flourishing: 2023 Scientist in Residence

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Mathematics and the Sciences: Challenges and Opportunities

February 2, 2023
A recording of Dr. Su's presentation will be available post-event
In 2020, Su co-authored a report for the American Mathematical Society on the history of racial discrimination in the mathematical sciences. Su will share some of the lessons learned from this report, and discuss why equity diversity and inclusion is important to mathematics and the sciences, and what we can do to move towards making STEM spaces more just, where the dignity of each human being is valued.

Mathematics for Human Flourishing

February 2, 2023
How can mathematics connect to our deepest human longings, such as for beauty, truth, or justice? This isn't the experience most have with math, but it can be. Math is a deeply human enterprise that when properly engaged, builds virtues like persistence, creativity, and an expectation of enchantment. Such virtues will serve us well no matter what we do in life. An incarcerated man—now Su's friend—has helped him see this more clearly than ever before.

Francis Su is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College in California. He has a PhD from Harvard University and is former president of the Mathematical Association of America. He has received the 2013 Haimo Award for distinguished teaching of college-level mathematics and the 2018 Halmos-Ford award for mathematical writing.

His work has been featured in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and the New York Times. His book Mathematics for Human Flourishing (2020) won the 2021 Euler Book Prize. It offers an inclusive vision of what math is, who it's for, and why anyone should learn it.

"Dr. Su's book is a beautiful argument that math is about beauty and justice. It's how I've been trying to inspire students in my own classes over the years," says Tim Rogalsky, CMU Associate Professor of Mathematics and organizer of this year's Scientist in Residence events.