The aim of this lecture series was to bring in mathematicians who are nationally and internationally recognized mathematicians and who have a special penchant for teaching and explaining mathematics. Funds were made available for this lecture series, which began in 2008, by the Baylor administration; special thanks to Dean Lee Nordt and Dean Kenneth Wilkins of the College of Arts and Sciences for their generous support.

14th Baylor Undergraduate Lecture Series in Mathematics

Fourteenth Annual Baylor Undergraduate Lecture Series in Mathematics

Speaker: Satyan Devadoss

Dr. Satyan Devadoss will speak at the Baylor Undergraduate Lecture Series in Mathematics on March 26-27, 2025. https://satyandevadoss.org/

Dr. Satyan Devadoss is the Fletcher Jones Chair of Applied Mathematics, at the University of San Diego and a Professor of Computer Science at the University of San Diego. Before arriving in San Diego, Devadoss was a faculty at Williams College for nearly 15 years, and has held visiting positions at UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Université Nice, Ohio State, Harvey Mudd, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, and Stanford.

Dr. Devadoss earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the John Hopkins University in 1999, and is an author of books, research papers, national opinion articles, and collaborative artworks in permanent collections. His research revolves around shapes and the ways they can deform and evolve, including applications such as origami structures, computational cartography, sonnet linguistics, foldable architecture, beer genetics, and makerspace designs.

Dr. Devadoss is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, for members who have made outstanding contributions to the field. He is also the recipient of two national teaching awards: the Deborah and Franklin Haimo National Teaching Award (2016) and the Henry Alder National Teaching Award (2007) from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), honoring professors who have been widely recognized as extraordinarily successful with influence beyond their own institutions. His ideas and writings have appeared in venues such as NPR, the Washington Post, the Times of London, the Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times. He has been generously supported over the years by the National Science Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the Templeton Foundation, and the Department of Defense.

For a poster advertising Dr. Devadoss' public lecture, click here.

Dr. Devadoss' lectures and abstracts, dates and venues, are:

PUBLIC LECTURE:

The Myths of Mathematics 

Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 4:30 pm - Marrs McLean Science MMSCI - 101

Abstract: Although mathematics is used and coveted in every sector of today’s data-driven market, most of us encounter math through ancient formulas, technical jargon, and painful memories. But what’s math really about? We try to unravel this mystery by exploring Beowulf, Burning Man, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Salvador Dali, the resurrection of Jesus, and origami in the 5th dimension.

COLOQUIUM LECTURE:

Unfolding Regular Polytopes

Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 3:30 pm - Sid Richardson Building SDRICH 344

Abstract: We explore a geometric mystery whose origins date back 500 years to the Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer, who first recorded examples of unfolded polyhedra. Recently, just a decade ago, it was shown that every unfolding of the Platonic solids was without self-overlap, yielding a valid net. With practical applications from airbag designs to the James Webb telescope, we consider this property for all regular polytopes in higher dimensions, proving what works and puzzling over what doesn’t. This talk is heavily infused with visual imagery, with access to numerous unsolved problems.

Some of the large-scale projects undertaken by Devadoss include:

Math Studio: the centerpiece of a $1M funding from the Fletcher Jones Foundation, it serves as an incubator and promoter of a physical experience in mathematics research. Based around the ideals of design thinking, artist workshops, and holy sites, the Studio eschews digital technology in favor of the human senses.

Mage Merlin’s Unsolved Mathematical Mysteries: co-authored with Matt Harvey, a story-driven book presenting sixteen of today’s greatest unsolved mathematical puzzles; MIT Press (2020).

Discrete and Computational Geometry: co-authored with Joe O’Rourke, a visually rich textbook on discrete geometry for the 21st century; Princeton University Press (2011).

The Shape of Nature: a 36-lecture course providing a pointed introduction to the language mathematicians use to study shapes and dimensions; The Great Courses (2010).

Unfolding Humanity: a collaboration with Diane Hoffoss, students, faculty, and community members in the design and construction of a two-ton interactive sculpture, showcased at Burning Man (2018) and the San Diego Maker Faire (2018), embodying unsolved problems in computational geometry and cosmology.

Cartography of Tree Space: collaborative series of paintings and sketches with Owen Schuh (artist) based on the topology of phylogenetic trees. Flaten Art Museum permanent collection. Showings in Satellite Berlin gallery (Spring 2015), Williamson gallery (Fall 2016), and Wriston gallery (Summer 2019).

Folding Borders, Making Unfoldings: working with Perla Myers, Odesma Dalrymple, Daniel Lopez-Perez, the San Diego and Tijuana communities were engaged in live-streamed stations with Knapp Scholars Marty and Erik Demaine, culminating in an exhibition (2018).

Hen Barn: collaboration with Shannon Starkey (architect) on the design and build of a chicken coop inspired by Frank Gehry hay barn design (1967). This barn features a 12-foot chicken run above which the hen house floats, accessed by a grooved ramp, with edge-to-edge ribbon windows and a rear hatch (2017).