News

An upcoming lecture series at Portland State takes an alternative approach to the age-old question from students: Why does math matter?

In the spirit of Portland State’s commitment to diversity, including diverse ways of knowing, the series “Alternative Forms of Knowledge Construction in Mathematics” will explore ways in which mathematics permeates people’s lives in cultural contexts throughout the world.

All lectures are free and open to the public and will be followed by a discussion the next day. The lectures take place at Portland State’s Native American Student and Community Center (710 SW Jackson). For more information or to inquire about course credit, contact Swapna Mukhopadhyay, 503-725-8495, swapna@pdx.edu. The follow-up discussions will be at 10 a.m. the following day in the Graduate School of Education, rm. 604 (615 SW Harrison).

May 11, 7–9 p.m., “Contexts in School Mathematics: Voices of the Others”
Cyril Julie, Education, University of Western Cape, South Africa.

May 18, 7–9 p.m., “To Know How to See: The Realities of Learning and Teaching”
Frank Swetz, Mathematics & Education, Penn State Harrisburg.

May 31, 7–9 p.m., “Cultural Embodiments of Mathematics in Ethnocomputing”
Ron Eglash, Department of Science & Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.

June 8, 7–9 p.m., “The Mathematics of Gift Exchange in the Brazilian Amazon”
Mariana Ferreira, Anthropology, San Francisco State University

June 22, 7–9 p.m., “Quantitative Form in Arguments”
Marilyn Frankenstein, University of Massachusetts, Boston

This series is sponsored by the Diversity Action Council of the President’s Diversity Initiative/Center for Academic Excellence, Internationalization Action Council of the President’s Internationalization Initiative, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Department of Computer Science, Continuing Education, Center for Learning and Teaching in the West, Leadership in Ecology, Culture and Learning, American Indian Science Engineering Society and the Asian Pacific American Leadership in Education.

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For Immediate Release (#06-078)

Source: Swapna Mukhopadhyay (503-725-8495)
Graduate School of Education