Final UAS Evening at Egan of the Season Features “Ethnomathematics: Mathematics of People” with Dr. Swapna Mukhopadhyay, Nov 22

She will discuss how mathematics are embedded in culturally, socially, and historically important areas such as construction, trade, and craftsmanship.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: November 18, 2019

The annual fall lecture series Evening at Egan continues Friday, November 22 at the University of Alaska Southeast Auke Lake campus with Dr. Swapna Mukhopadhyay, Professor Emerita from Portland State University. She will discuss how mathematics are embedded in culturally, socially, and historically important areas such as construction, trade, and craftsmanship.

Ethnomathematics rejects the common perception of mathematics as independent of culture. These activities don’t always involve solving quadratic equations or other academic math concepts. Mukhopadhyay argues that the societal need for skilled academic mathematicians does not justify the collateral damage done by unnecessarily cutting of cultural identities. She’ll discuss how it builds on advances in anthropological ideologies away from white cultural and intellectual supremacy to acknowledge that mathematics is pervasive in everyone’s life and community in non-academic ways.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay notes, “Disembodied mathematical exercises that are so prominent in school often alienate students. It does not have to be like that.”

This presentation is sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Institute, the PITAAS Grant program (Preparing Indigenous Teachers & Administrators for Alaska’s Schools), and the Native Lecture Series. The Evening at Egan lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Egan Library and live-streamed on the UAS YouTube channel. View the full schedule for the lectures series. Presentations can be watched live or recorded on the UAS YouTube Channel.