The Surrounding Game

Christopher DanielsonIntern Experience, Making Math, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Two diagrams. On the left, a blue circle is surrounded by six yellow circles, with gaps between the points of tangency. On the right, a blue square is surrounded by yellow squares, which are then surrounded by a ring of blue squares.

MathHappens intern Asa Grumdahl is interested in Heesch numbers.  Unfortunately, a formal presentation of Heesch numbers and questions surrounding them is too complicated as a starting place to engage the general public. The question then was “How might we engage novices in this sophisticated bit of mathematics?” Step one was to name this activity we were designing. “The Surrounding Game”

Spring 2024 Remote Internship Recap

Melissa WilkinsonIntern Experience, Making Math, Remote internship, Schools, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Last month we concluded another successful group of MathHappens Remote internships. We had 4 students participating from UCLA, NC State, Texas Woman’s University, and Queen’s University in Toronto. At our headquarters in Austin we rely on interns to help with our mission and everyday tasks.  Interns design and make new models, attend local events, and spend time assembling models to

2024 Spring Remote Internship: Emma Starkman’s Grade 5 Math Toolkit Model

Melissa WilkinsonIntern Experience, Making Math, Remote internship, Teacher Support & Training, Written by Emma StarkmanLeave a Comment

MathHappens offers remote internship experiences to students who do not live near our offices in Austin.  Interns are sent a kit in the mail and the goal is for them to learn digital fabrication of math models (usually using a laser cutter or 3D printer), design and make a model, and host an outreach event showcasing their model(s).  Emma Starkman,

MathHappens @ SE Branch Library Luchadore Edition!

Lauren SiegelCommunity, Community Partnerships, Intern Experience, Library, Spanish version, Ways to like math, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

For the past two years we have participated actively with our SE Branch library community by providing activities at events ranging form Cinco de Mayo celebrations, after school and summer programs, El Día de los Muertos, and holiday festivities of all kinds.  We also have been invited to author readings and this was a really fun one.  Dia de Los

Buda Library STEAMfest

Lauren SiegelCommunity, Community Partnerships, Intern Experience, Library, Public LibrariesLeave a Comment

165 people of all ages were at the Buda Public Library on January 24 to celebrate Science, Technology, Art and Mathematics.  We had something for everyone at our tables.  Huston-Tillotson student and MathHappens intern Niela Williams did a great job facilitating and letting the community know about the free Math Room at ANSC.  We found out that the librarians in

Remote Intern Program: Summer and Fall 2023

Lauren SiegelCommunity, Intern Experience, Making Math, Museum, remote intern, Written by Melissa WilkinsonLeave a Comment

This summer, 5 interns participated in MathHappens projects remotely from Las Vegas, the Chicago area, Knox County, IL, and Lake County, IL. In September, we started our fall cohort with 4 interns in Irving, TX, Edmond, OK, Knoxville,TN, and Appleton, WI. We have interns who are studying or have studied: math, math education, business, data science, economics, computer science, and