ABOUT
Mathematician LaureatesAbout
Mathematician Laureates use mathematics to build strong and equitable communities characterized by creativity, joy, a can-do attitude, and the courage to act on their convictions.
The Youth Mathematician Laureate Project (YMLP) is influenced by American philosopher Nelson Goodman. He was one of the most influential figures in contemporary aesthetics and analytic philosophy.
From his Languages of Art book and subsequent works, we apply a general view of the arts as contributing to and understanding the realities we live in today. We take mathematics as one of these arts — something that in itself provokes new ways of understanding mathematics itself. For more information about Nelson Goodman’s languages click here:
Laureates
Mathematician Laureates are identified by their use of mathematics as an art
More subtly, they are not judged by whether or not they are producing “mathematical art,” but instead by their use of mathematics in creating communities and spreading civic-mindedness.
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The Culture of the Mathematician Laureates
Laureates work with groups to listen, learn, and to create. They do it repeatedly – together with others.
Mathematician laureates are rooted in principles of accessibility, inclusion, self-determination, collaboration, sustainability, and life-long learning. In all of their work, they explore the stories behind the community experience, and they believe in the power of mathematics to express what’s most important. Mathematician laureates value community conversations and hands-on creation, and the deep understanding that can come from the combination of the two.
Mathematician Laureates
Mathematician laureates get their hands dirty. They work with reclaimed and recycled materials and tackle large-scale projects to show what’s possible when a group of creative and dedicated people set out to make or do something wonderful. They help groups figure out what they need, and then help them develop the skills and knowledge to get what they need.
They work with others to tap into our intellectual and creative spirits. They teach in public schools or around a table, in gardens, on the streets, in parks, on bridges, and even inside caves. Mathematician Laureates are constantly making the connections between understanding new ideas and hands-on making. And every time they teach, they learn something new that adds to the story. Mathematician laureates support the ongoing development of a community of creative people who have this experience and activate it across issues and disciplines.
They come to know that this learning is what brings us all together as an ever-expanding community and that it is this way of learning and creating together that helps us make things better in our neighborhoods, cities, regions, and throughout the world.
The Project
Our PrinciplE
All around the world, local communities are identifying the youth mathematician laureates among us, to recognize them and to provide resources for them to expand and elaborate upon their work to benefit their communities.
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Whether their terms are six months, a year, or longer, some are given offices and resources to accomplish their work, while others create a program of projects with various agencies and organizations. Laureates have facilitated the creation of community gardens, investigations on behalf of their local watchdog associations or governing councils, or met with groups of various ages and interests to help them become more independent in their own mathematical practices.
YMLP helps development agencies, NGOs, and community organizers to recruit and support mathematician laureates who help regional communities plan sustainable forms of land use, design thriving infrastructures, and create indigenous cultural celebrations. We also match up potential laureates with organizations looking for them.
Get in touch
Are you Interested?
If you are an organization
If you are an organization interested in YMLP but needing help with recruiting mathematician laureates or choosing among laureate candidates, we have resources for you, and can provide consulting on planning and implementation.
Please complete the contact form by clicking in the button below and we will get back to you.
For now, some background ideas are posted on our MATH LANGUAGES page.
If you are a young person
If you are a young person with a project idea in need of a community organization to support and fund your project, we can help!
Complete the contact form by clicking in the button below and we will get back to you.
For now, take a look at our PROJECTS page for examples of the kinds of things others have done, just to get a sense of how big and or how local your project can be.