Last week, math professor Matt Lunsford wrote about his journey of discerning his call to teach mathematics. This week, he describes what it means for him to be a "Christian mathematician" and what it means for him to live the integrated life. ______________________________________ Circa 1996, I embarked on a journey to discover and then to live out the integrated life. I realize that I have not arrived at the final destination. As with most journeys, a guide is invaluable. I found my mentor in a most unusual … [Read more...] about A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Integrating Faith and Mathematics
mathematics
A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Finding My Vocation
We appreciate receiving this extended essay from Matt Lunsford, a professor at Union University. His story is a wonderful example of a journey of thinking Christianly about one's field of study and work in academia. In this first of four parts, Matt describes how he discerned his calling to study and teach mathematics. ___________________________________________ The idea of writing about my goal of living an integrated life as a Christian mathematician grew out of a desire to respond to G. H. Hardy's … [Read more...] about A Christian Mathematician’s Apology: Finding My Vocation
Science Corner: Message in (?) a Klein Bottle
Although not a mathematician myself, I find math endlessly fascinating about for the way one can take a seemingly impossible problem and translate it or express it in another context, and all of a sudden that hard problem can become easy. Of course, you have to make the right choice of a new context, a task which is itself not always easy or predictable. And "easy" may be relative. Still, when it works, the result is intriguing and inspiring. For example, see how a proof involving rectangles and curves was worked out by … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Message in (?) a Klein Bottle
Science Corner: Adding to the Conversation
Last week I mentioned an opportunity to hear from mathematician Francis Su on the topic The Integration of Faith and the Academic Calling (a webinar cohosted by ESN and the Society of Christian Scholars). I am not aware of any opportunities to view the presentation after the fact, so for those of you who were unable to participate, I will share a few highlights. He covers some similar territory in an interview with Quanta (text, video), his Mathematical Association of America presidential address, and this article on … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Adding to the Conversation
Science Corner: The Prizes are in Bloom
Last fall I wrote about the Abel Prize ceremony because I was intrigued by the maze constructed for the occasion. I didn't intend to cover every winner, but I thought that Karen Uhlenbeck becoming the first woman to receive the honor warranted attention. Her work laid the foundation for a whole new branch of mathematics--geometric analysis--and she also provided critical tools to mathematical physicists for working with the Yang-Mills equations, which are central to the Standard Model of particle physics. Beyond her … [Read more...] about Science Corner: The Prizes are in Bloom