Attending the 16th Gathering for Gardner conference in San Francisco was a great experience for MathHappens! The event, held in honor of the life and spirit of Martin Gardner, brings together mathematicians, scientists, skeptics, artists, and puzzle enthusiasts who share a love for curiosity, creativity, and playful discovery.
Martin Gardner was known not only for his contributions to recreational mathematics, but also for celebrating illusions, paradoxes, and the beautiful intersections between art and mathematics. Being in a space that so deeply embodied his spirit – joyful inquiry paired with rigorous thinking – felt both energizing and inspiring.
Exhibit Booth
We were excited to host an exhibit booth and share the work we do bringing mathematics into public spaces and provide examples of real models that we offer in these public spaces and other outreach settings. Throughout the conference, we connected with educators, researchers, artists, and creators who shared similar passions that aligned with our overall mission of making math visible, accessible, and interactive in everyday environments.
The conversations at our booth were thoughtful and wide-ranging. From discussions about spatial reasoning to the power of playful problem-solving, we were reminded how vibrant and welcoming the math community can be when curiosity leads the way.
Versatile Garden Activity
One of the highlights of our experience was leading one of the group activities, where we were able to share our collaborative “Versatile Garden”. Our activity was inspired by Doris Schattschneider, who educated us on the “Versatile” at the last Gathering 4 Gardner Conference. It allows individuals to fill an individual “Versatile” frame (made up of 6 tessellating Versatiles) with 21st Century Pattern Blocks (by Math for Love). There are a variety of ways to fill the frame with the different tiles, and it was awesome to see everyone challenging themselves to find a unique way to fill them! Once a participant filled the frame, they were then able to tessellate the actual frames with each other, creating what we call a “Versatile Garden”. It was so great to see each person’s individual efforts come together in a collaborative mathematical art arrangement.
This hands-on session invited participants to explore pattern, structure, and design through a mathematical lens. Watching attendees collaborate, experiment, and discover new perspectives through play perfectly reflected the Gardner spirit. There’s something powerful about experiencing math not just as numbers on a page, but as something you can build, arrange, and transform, and the mix of individuality and collaboration really makes for a wonderful activity.
Conference Presentation
Another meaningful moment was the presentation given at the conference by our Executive Director, Lauren Siegel. Her presentation beautifully articulated the vision behind Math Happens, highlighting how mathematics belongs in public spaces and how design can invite engagement rather than intimidation. It was awesome to have a chance to share our mission with such clarity and passion, as well as the progress we have made with our Math Room and Open Play Kit programs, and to witness the audience respond with genuine interest and enthusiasm.
Over several days, we were immersed in presentations that spanned mathematics, magic, skepticism, art, philosophy, and science. Each speaker brought a distinct perspective, and every session offered something new to think about. The diversity of ideas and the openness with which they were shared created an atmosphere that was both intellectually rigorous and deeply welcoming.
To be surrounded by such interesting minds, each exploring different facets of curiosity and creativity, was truly a wonderful and one of a kind experience. We’re so glad Math Happens was able to contribute to the experience, and we look forward to continuing to build spaces where math can surprise, delight, and connect us all.
