At MathHappens, our people are at the heart of everything we do. In this series, we’re shining a light on the interns and team members who make math happen – with quick Q&As and fun photos so you can get to know the folks behind the math.

First up, meet Megan Do, an Austin native who’s been interning with MathHappens since January 2023.

Hi Megan! Where are you from?

Austin, TX

How long have you been with MathHappens?

Since January of 2023, so a little over two years!

What’s your favorite thing in a math room?

My favorite puzzle by far is the Today’s Date puzzle. Every single day is a brand new puzzle, it never gets old! And I’d like to think that I’m pretty good at solving it too 🙂

The picture is of me solving my birthday for the first time!

Can you tell us about a memorable moment from your time at MathHappens?

There are so many to choose from, but I think one of my favorite MathHappens memories was when Melissa surprised us at one of our holiday parties with homemade bubble tile cookies!! As someone who spent a lot of time working with the bubble tiles and designing materials around them, I was SO impressed and just amazed with how accurate the cookies were to the real thing! And they tasted yummy too!

What are you studying? Why does it interest you?

I am studying marine science! 

Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated by the ocean and the organisms that live in it. Of course, growing up in landlocked Austin, Texas didn’t give me much of a chance to explore my passion… but I did everything I could to learn more about our oceans. From reading books about coral reefs to earning my scuba diving certification in high school, I’ve fallen in love with our oceans for their significance, complexity, and the unknown. While scuba diving, I’ve witnessed the detrimental effects of climate change on coral reefs — the supposed vast, colorful reefs teeming with life were nothing but rocks and rubble with a few fishes. Ever since, I have made it my mission to better understand coral reefs as a marine scientist and help preserve one of the most vital ecosystems on this planet.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I hopefully will be doing something that merges my two passions: marine science and education. Whether that’s in a formal classroom environment or an informal space such as an aquarium or conservation center, I aspire to make marine science more accessible for people of all backgrounds. My goal is to effectively educate the public, especially the younger generations, about the importance of our oceans and how we can preserve and conserve them.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Here are some of my favorite things I’ve made at MathHappens!