Welcome to the new year, and to a fresh season of It’s Not Just Numbers! We’re kicking things off with a special episode to meet your new hosts. What drives them inside and outside the classroom? How did they find their way to mathematics, and what brought them to where they are today? Join us as we explore their stories and their journey into mathematics.



Links from the episode:

• Freeman Dyson - Birds and Frogs

= = = { 0 } = = =

Produced by Marcello Seri, Jamara Admiraal and Jard Nijholt

= = = { 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 website
• ⁠Jorge Perez' website
• ⁠Video: Fundamental computing: Mathematics and logic for software we can all rely on
• Video: 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.

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 website
• Jim Portegies' website
• ⁠Links to Lean, the mathlib library and the mathematics in lean book
• Link to the ⁠natural number game⁠ and more
• Link to waterproof, Jim's constrained natural language proof assistant
• Link to rocq and the math-comp library
• Terence 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.

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.

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.