It’s Not Just Numbers

We continue our exploration of mathematicians outside mathematics departments, the AfterMath, joining our former students Bram Brongers and Majken Driessen-Roelfszema. Their different work histories, personalities and experiences allow us to explore how mathematics helped or got in the way of them finding a job, what extra skills they found important to nurture and, most importantly, the challenge...

In this episode, Heleen van der Ree (NVvW – Dutch Association of Teachers in Mathematics) and Gerrit Roorda (Teacher Educator, University of Groningen) join us in a conversation around what it means to become a high school mathematics teacher. Together, we discuss their personal transitions into math education and the day-to-day realities of their roles. We explore the rewards and challenges of st...

In this episode we sit down with Lara Vicino and Armin Pirastehzad to discuss what it is like to become a Postdoctoral Researcher. The life of a researcher is often romanticized, but what really happens the day after you defend your PhD? With the help of our guests, we explore the transition from PhD life to being an independent researcher, and what it takes to navigate that shift. Episode links:...

In this episode we get to know Remco de Jong and Ilinca Antonache, board members of the mathematics and physics study association FMF. Together we get to understand what are study associations at Dutch universities, how they differ from student associations, and what is like to run one. Episode links: FMF website = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri, Jamara Admiraal and Jard Nijholt = = = {...

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 -...

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 b...

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....

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...

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 t...

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&#3...

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...

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 re...

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, a...

In this episode we are joined by Ekin Özman and Bart Besselink to discuss what are the work days of a mathematician at a univerisity like. With their help we get a little panoramic on what a career in mathematics looks like and what are the expectations, the priorities and sometimes the compromises that it requires. As usual, the episode touches upon a great variety of topics, don't miss it! Episo...

We are back with an episode on what makes mathematical problems interesting. In the studio with us, for this impossible topic, are Serte Donderwinkel and Steffen Müller: together we explore what we find interesting in mathematical problems, how beauty affects our taste, and how the way we present the problems influences the interest around them. As usual, the episode touches upon a great variety o...

For the the last episode of this season, we are joined by Henk Broer and Harry Trentelman, two emeritus professors at our Institute. They share their views on how the mathematical landscape has evolved over the past forty years, sharing with us their insights and their hopes for the future. During the episode we touch upon a great variety of themes, don't miss it! Episode links: Henk Broer&#39...

For the ninth episode, we are joined by three Mathematics PhD students from our institute: Anne-Men Huijzer, Dijs de Neeling and Armin Pirastehzad. They share their perspective as final year PhD students in Mathematics, answering some questions from our listeners and sharing their views on what is like to pursue a doctorate, including some obstacles they encountered and many useful tips for curren...

Welcome to the eight episode! This time we are joined by two Mathematics students, Naná Giadresco and Anna de Bruijn. They share their perspective as Mathematics students, as we discuss studying and teaching during the pandemic, expectations about studying Maths and who will be the co-host next year! Episode links: The fruit puzzle of Naná’s thesis , and a paper discussing a more general version o...

Welcome to the sixth episode of It's Not Just Numbers! For this episode we challenged a probabilist, Gilles Bonnet, and a statistician, Marco Grzegorczyk, to sit in the same room and explain us the commonalities and differences among their disciplines. As usual we get to know our guests and then we head straight into the theme of the episode, exploring what probability and statistics are about...

Welcome to the sixth episode of It's Not Just Numbers! Complementing last month’s episode, we are joined by Cristóbal Bertoglio and Juan Peypouquet to discuss the multifacet world of applied mathematics. We discuss why communicating as a researcher is more important than most people realise, and the idea that people cannot switch between different fields within mathematics. Episode links: Cris...

Welcome to the fifth episode, where we focus on so-called 'pure' mathematics, together with our guests Oliver Lorscheid and Jaap Top. We discuss the term 'pure' mathematics,  the relation to applied mathematics, and a question mathematicians might come across often: why should we care about mathematics that is not immediately applicable? Other topics of discussion are how our guest...

Welcome to our fourth episode, on public engagement with mathematics. Sitting with us are Julian Koellermeier and Roland van der Veen, which will share what drove them to mathematics and their deep passion for engaging with adults and kids outside our university bubble. We will discuss the importance of time and reflection, the role of grants in our research, the many advantages of learning how to...

Welcome to our third episode, on teaching mathematics. Sitting with us are Tamás Görbe and Cecília Salgado, which will share their enthusiasm for mathematics and for teaching. The discussion is broad and ranges to a number of themes that will overlap also with future episodes. We will discuss the impostor phenomenon or impostor syndrome, how it affected us in different ways and in different stages...

Welcome to the first "real" episode of the podcast, where we meet Alef Sterk and Henk van Waarde and talk to them about the transition from high school to university. In our discussion we get to know them and explore their experience in studying mathematics and their recommendations for newcoming students. This episode features a very personal discussion that leads us to the myth of the...

Welcome to the first episode of Not Just Numbers! As you can hear, this episode started as a pilot for us to learn how the equipment works. In this conversation, we introduce ourselves and share our far from linear paths to mathematics, discussing both our work, our experience of doing mathematics. Towards the end we touch upon what it is like to do a PhD in mathematics. If you liked this episode,...