MoMath – A Museum dedicated to Math to open in NYC 2012!!
Maybe you’re thinking “Boring why would I want to visit a museum about Math!” Glen Whitney, a former hedge-fund quantitative analyst, is betting he can change that with a formula that looks like this:
math =discovery =beauty = fun
He is planning to open the only museum in the United States dedicated to Mathematics. The Museum of Mathematics, or MoMath, museum will allow students to view math in a whole new way by connecting arithmetic with art, science and finance.
Whitney told the AP, “There are many great math teachers in the United States, but the subject’s joy of discovery is lost to the tyranny of the curriculum and the almost treadmill of standardized testing…that sensibility has sucked out the life of the subject.” He wants people to see that “Math is evolving. It’s an act of human endeavor. There’s beauty in its many patterns.”
Whitney and the Museums Chief of Operations Cindy Lawrence have been toying with the idea for a math museum for about 2 years with a traveling exhibit called Math Midway. The exhibit has toured seven cities so far and is currently at the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas through May 10th. School children recently scampered through the kind of carnival themed, brightly colored exhibits planned for MoMath (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Teachers are flocking to the Midway Math exhibit to get their students excited about math. “The kids actually get to explore math rather than be told about it,” said Marea Kelly, a 5th grade teacher who brought her kids to the exhibition. “It’s really going to help the kids who don’t see the concepts right away.”
All of the exhibits at Midway Math will be featured at the MoMath. “The Museum’s activities will lead a broad and diverse audience to understand the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics.” says Whitney. Google recently gave a 2 million dollar grant to MoMath that will aid in creating innovative, hands-on math exhibits that will be shared with museums around the world.
Michael T. Jones, chief technology advocate at Google, added: “By transforming the curious learners of today into the innovators of tomorrow, museums perpetuate both
creativity and accomplishment. That’s why I am thrilled that Google is supporting beloved science museums including the Museum of Mathematics.”
Check out the photo gallery from MoMath! If given the opportunity would you take your child this museum? The Whizz Professor is excited MoMath and showing kids that math is fun and cool!
Reference: The Museum of Mathematics Website: http://www.momath.org
